Page 24 of Affair

Duke Of Gordon’s Estate

Present Time

One Month Later

It was a gorgeous day, and there was one thing that Duke Liam Seville enjoyed more than anything in the whole world. It was a day with the horses. There was something cathartic about it.

If it were up to him, he’d spend all of his time in the barn, running them in the fields, and being in their company. They just gave him that calming energy that the turbulent times in his life threw at him.

When his son was killed in war, the only reason he’d survived it was the horses. He and his wife had been decimated, and with Poe in another country, they had been able to find that calmness through their most cherished pets.

They were like children to him.

All.

Of.

Them.

There was a connection there that would always be strong, until the day that he died.

For him, horses were wise animals, and more compassionate than any humans he ever knew.

Well, with the exception of his sons and wife. They were sweet, gentle humans, and that was why they related to horses.

You could always tell a horse person when you met them. They just had an energy about them.

That energy was something they obtained by being surrounded by the majestic beasts.

He was blessed, and he knew it.

Too many people didn’t get to have this kind of a day relaxing in the breeze.

Today, he was out with his wife, riding, and they were so enjoying the day. It was gorgeous out, and both horses were giving them a tour around the estate.

He was letting them roam, and just going around for the ride.

“It is so lovely out, my love,” he said, smiling at his wife. “Don’t you agree?”

Penelope Seville did agree.

In fact, the air was crisp, the sky was blue, and there wasn’t a better day to be out riding than this. It was what one might call a perfect day.

That was for sure.

The only thing that might make it a bit better was if they actually had their other son here. He hadn’t been back for a while. It had been three years since his brother died that he returned, had gotten some things, and then left again.

Sometimes, she doubted that he’d be back ever again. He’d become more of an American than a Duke’s son—which was fine, since she wanted her boy to find his own way. She just didn’t expect it to be this far from them.

Granted, being here hurt Poe, and she knew that once Hemmingway had died in that terrible helicopter crash, that his life had been changed.

All of their lives had been.

Now, she was curious.

“Have you heard from Poe,” she asked, as they trotted along, Liam on a chestnut mare, and her on a white gelding.

The man already knew what his wife was going to ask. Their jaunts around the estate were often filled with conversations regarding Poe.