Devil's Desire (16 page)

Elysia looked into the stall, curious as to what Jims finally had selected for her, and gave an indrawn breath as she saw the sleek, muscular, white
flanks.

"Ariel!" Elysia cried, opening the gate and rushing in as the big horse turned at the sound of her voice. Remembering her, he neighed softly, putting his head against her neck and snorting hotly. .

"Oh, Ariel, Ariel," she murmured as the tears cascaded down her cheeks. She rubbed his velvety nose and hugged his muscular neck with outstretched arms.

"Well, I see ye've not forgotten each other," Jims finally broke in, his voice muffled by emotion.

Elysia released her hold on Ariel, and turned to look at the little man, a warmth of undying gratitude in her green eyes. She impulsively hugged him, planting a kiss on his leathery cheek, unable to express her feelings in words. Ariel nudged her back, neighing for her attention again, and she turned back to him, murmuring softly into his cocked ear.

"Aye, the two of ye belong together, and no one else would he allow on his back, not even His Lordship, who has a way with horses that I've seldom seen. But ol’ Ariel wouldn't let him on–for two years now. Even so, the Marquis wouldn't have him destroyed, or sold–said he was too beautiful an animal to send out of this world, even if he was apparently a one-master horse. And seein' how I knows him, and could care for him, he lets the beastie have his way. We been breedin' him. Have a couple of nice young 'uns about the place now, and His Lordship be real proud of them."

"I can't believe it, Jims," Elysia tearfully managed to say, "that I should see both of you again, when I had come to believe that the past was indeed dead, and inhabited by mere ghosts of the people and things that I had loved." Elysia sighed deeply. "If you only knew how many times I thought of you, and Ariel; wondering what had happened to you, and if Ariel's new owner would be kind to him. And now here. he is–my Ariel. It just seems too utterly fantastic to believe."

"Not so fantastic–after all, the Marquis has the best stables in England, so it's not strange that he'd want Ariel–seein.' how he's such a fine horse," Jims explained. "But I have to admit I’d been a might worried that, day we left fer London, Oh, we got down easily enough, but t'was the auction that had me feelin' between hawk and buzzard. Didn't care to part with him that I didn't, what with all them young bucks too eager to use the whip eyeing him over, and seem' how he wasn't likely to let any of 'em, on his back. But then His Lordship shows up, and buys him right off. He'd watched me working with Ariel before the auction and liked my style, so before I knows it, I be workin' fer him, and takin' Ariel down to his estate' fer him. I’d told him I couldn't get no references, seein' how my last employer had died, but he says all he needed to know was what he'd seen me do with the horse."

"So you and Ariel have been here–safe, all of this time, I'm so relieved." Elysia turned back to the big horse and planted a kiss on his nose. "Does Lord Trevegne know that Ariel is my horse–was my horse?" Elysia! asked Jims.

"Well now, when Ariel wouldn't let him ride him, he did ask who had owned him before, but when I said it was a woman–well, he smiled crookedly and sorta sneered like, and said, ‘Then it doesn't surprise me that he's so difficult! Although he was a bit surprised to think that a woman could handle such a big stallion. Remember he said it must have been some fierce Amazon. Whatever that be. And then he didn't ask any more questions."

"An Amazon, did he say?" Elysia demanded, feeling oddly put out. She shrugged away the feeling–what did she care what he thought of her. -Shall
we
go for a romp, Ariel? I'll bet you've longed for one as much as I have in my exile. All right, Jims?" Elysia looked for permission.

"Aye, Miss Elysia, we'll get him saddled up,"

They stopped at a closed stall and opening it, Jims showed Elysia a new-born foal, its coat ruffled and damp as it wobbled on unsteady legs. Ariel snorted behind Elysia's shoulder, and the mare standing protectively by her new-born foal neighed softly in answer. Elysia looked at the little foal with new interest.

"You'll have to be using a firm hand on Ariel, what with him strutting about playing the proud sire," Jims chuckled

"So this is one of Ariel's," Elysia breathed softly, having fallen in love immediately with the precariously-balanced foal.

Elysia felt mixed emotions as they led the frisky Ariel out into the stable yard. Outwardly, they were the same–but time had changed them. Ariel and she did not belong to each other as they had before. They'd been carefree and one as they'd raced across the fields, but now Ariel had a mate–and she, Elysia, belonged to the Marquis.

Jims saddled him up while the stableboys and grooms stood about, gawking at the sight of the big, white stallion that no one could go near, nuzzling gently the face of the beautiful lady in green.

Jims helped Elysia mount, and cautioned her, "Go easy, Miss Elysia. Ye've both got plenty 'o time to catch up and no hurry to do it in, so don't try to race the wind."

Elysia waved as she and Ariel cantered sedately out of the yard, not fooling Jims, who knew they'd be flying as soon as they cleared the yard.

Elysia headed eastward, racing down the road which connected Westerly with the village of St.Fleur and the major road further inland. She halted on a rise, trying to decide which way, to ride, and looked back at the huge H-shaped house, the Great Hall forming the bar of the H. Westerly seemed to loom above the sea, as it sat on a promontory of rocks. The Marquis' flag waved in the breeze, pro- claiming his residence–the crimson, black and gold crest brightening the sky.

Giving a last glance to the sea, Elysia headed inland, galloping wildly across the moorland paths, feeling the cool air caressing her cheeks. The golden oranges and yellows of the autumn landscape merged into one blur of color as it flashed past the galloping hooves.

They jumped a stone wall in one fluid motion, Ariel's hooves clearing it by feet
as
they sped on across the rolling expanse of ground, mud flying upwards by the heavy hooves. She felt so free–so safe, to be riding on the familiar back of the big, white horse, and knowing her dear Jims was back at the stable. She could so easily have been back at her home, out for an early morning canter, her brother riding hard to catch up with her, scolding her with a smile for her fool-hardiness.

Elysia could almost hear the hooves pounding furiously behind her, and involuntarily she looked over her shoulder, only to see a rider closing the distance between them. For a brief moment she thought her dream had merged into reality as she watched the familiar figure, then she recognized the big black horse, and knew that it was not her brother–but the Marquis–who was trying to intercept her. Elysia felt a spark of defiance and excitement race through her veins as she urged Ariel to a faster pace, his mane flying backwards as they increased the distance. But Lord Trevegne was still gaining upon them, until finally, he was even with them. He reached across and pulled up on Ariel’s reins, slowing them down until they both stopped abreast of each other.

"Hell and damnation! What the devil–" Lord Trevegne began, only to stop abruptly when he saw who the rider was. "Elysia!” he said incredulously, his eyes blazing in his white face. "What the devil are you doing on this horse? No one rides him. He's dangerous." He reached across and tried to draw Elysia from her saddle and into his arms, but she jerked the reins and backed Ariel up, moving out of his reach and allowing the horse to rear up. his hooves pawing the air threateningly.

"Obviously you are mistaken, M'Lord, for as you can plainly see I am on his back," Elysia said, enjoying herself immensely at Lord Trevegne's expense.

"Yes, I can plainly see that, but how the devil you managed it is a mystery. You could be lying out
there with a broken neck!" he said tersely, making an obvious effort to control himself. His black horse nervously pawed the ground as he sensed his master's anger.

"It's no mystery, Lord Trevegne, for you did call me a witch one time–if I recollect accurately, so I am merely utilizing my powers," Elysia couldn't resist taunting.

"I did not think that you would have forgotten
that
occasion, Elysia," he retorted, both of them well aware of his inference. He always did manage to get in the last word, Elysia thought resentfully.

"How did you get him out of the stables? I've strict orders that no one is to go near him, he said severely, yet puzzled by her feat.

"I took full responsibility when I ordered the mount of my choosing," she explained quickly in defense of Jims, should he be blamed.

"Damn, you've no right to go over my authority. My word is law. That Jims would have allowed you to take Ariel out, knowing the danger and that I forbade it, he must be crazed–and I’ll have his–"

"There was no danger, and Jims knew that."

"No danger! Good Lord, if anyone knows that horse, Jims does. Granted you kept your seat, but he
is
dangerous. Jims is a fool to have let you mount him. My God, he trained the brute and–"

"–and I owned him," Elysia admitted quietly, watching the surprise enter his eyes as the heavy lids momentarily lifted to give her the full effect of those golden eyes.

"You
owned him?" he demanded in disbelief.

The Marquis looked at her as if she had sprouted horns, Elysia thought in amusement. "Yes. Ariel was mine, until I was forced to sell him at auction, along with all else that my family possessed, to pay the debts when my parents died."

The Marquis stared at Elysia, his eyes narrowed in thought as he sat contemplating her defiant face. "So, you were the owner of Ariel. I now know why he acted so prickly and stubborn. He takes after his mistress when he refuses to be ridden," he added softly.

Elysia gasped at his crude comparison, her eyes roving over him in derision as she said acidly, "We both happen to be very discriminating in our likes."

 
"What a tragic circumstance for you, Lady Trevegne, since I happen to be your
loving
husband," he told her menacingly as he made a quick lunge and lifted Elysia from her saddle in one smooth sweep. He held her tightly in his arms, hurting her with his strength.

Elysia struggled ineffectively, staring up fearfully into his angry face, afraid she had taunted him too far this time.

"So, you do not care for my caresses, my kisses," he whispered in a hard voice before his mouth closed down upon her lips, pressing hard against them in his anger, bruising them beneath his. The painful pressure lessened as his lips softened on hers, persuasively moving against them–parting them and invading their softness. This altered and gentle attack was far more devastating than his previous brutality. She was crushed against his hard chest as he continued to kiss her determinedly, until he felt her body relax against him, and Elysia gave a small sigh of surrender.

"Are you sure you do not desire my kisses, Elysia? he demanded against her softly trembling mouth. She kept her eyes closed, refusing to look into his golden eyes-knowing she would find them mocking her. "Look at me, Elysia," he persisted, giving her a little shake.

Elysia opened her eyes at last, and stared up into his, which reflected her hatred of him in their darkened golden depths.

"You shall admit your true feelings one day, Elysia–I shall make you," he said arrogantly, his proud, dark head held high as he stared hypnotically into her flushed face.

He rode over to where Ariel had grazed and lifted Elysia back onto her saddle, giving a deep, almost violent laugh at her obvious relief at being out of his arms. Elysia shot him a murderous look, and turned Ariel, urging him into a gallop as they headed towards the house. The Marquis followed, easily keeping pace with Elysia.

"Ariel is fast, Elysia, but Sheik is faster. You could not outrun me, you know." He grinned at her stubbornly-set jaw, yet Elysia heard the warning in his voice.

Still, she was able to answer him casually. "Sheik it a beautiful horse, and more than likely he is faster than Ariel. Ariel has stamina–can you say the same of him?" she asked.

"I can push him hard, but very seldom will he lather up, or become winded. He can hold his own, never fear. I see you have, been taught well how to ride. Jims was your family's groom since you were a child, no doubt. In truth, I must admit that I have seldom seen a better seat on a horse than you have, my dear," he was forced into acknowledging as he watched Elysia ride–a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Yes, Jims was a superb teacher, as was my father. But thank you, M'Lord, for the compliment," Elysia replied, flustered by his praise, and added reluctantly, "you handle Sheik extremely well, I have also noticed"

The Marquis laughed loudly, in genuine amusement. "That is the first compliment my wife has paid me. This is indeed a historic occasion—not only do I find that my wife can nearly outride me, and on a horse that no one else can mount, but also that her acerb tongue has a light coating of sweetness when she so desires."

Elysia sent him a scowling look under drawn-together brows, but he continued to laugh deeply, ignoring her lifted chin and pouting mouth. They rode on towards the big house in the distance, its mullioned windows reflecting the light from the pale morning sun as it struggled valiantly to dominate the cloudy sky.