Page 55 of In the Prince's Bed

“Very funny. But really, do you know how?”

He smiled. “Training a horse merely requires patience and plenty of rewards. For example, if you want to accustom a horse to the jingling of armor—or a soldier’s gear—you tie a metal flask containing a coin to his saddle. You put the horse through his paces, moving the flask around. Once he’s used to one coin rattling, you add more coins, then more flasks, until the horse ignores any metallic sound coming from his rider. And to accustom him to pistol shots—”

“You certainly know a great deal about training horses.”

Alec blinked. “Sorry, I…get carried away on the subject.”

“It’s all right. I find it fascinating. I didn’t realize you knew so much.”

He fixed his gaze on the stage. “I helped my uncle.”

She said quickly, “I suspect that training horses isn’t as difficult as training humans. Take that fellow on the stage there—” She gestured to a rider whose horse kept shying from crossing the stage bridge other horses were stepping blithely over. “He doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing.”

Alec nodded. “He’s giving the horse mixed signals—pressing too hard with his heels while reining him in too much. He’s clearly not experienced with this sort of riding. I wonder why Astley would use him at all. Astley is very particular about his employees.”

“Do you know Mr. Astley?”

“I…er…met him once.” He slid his hand to cup her shoulder. “But what do you think of the famous Miss Woolford? She’s good, isn’t she?”

Sneaky devil, trying to distract her from all her questions. “Indeed she is. I’d love to learn how to ride like her.”

He shot her a heated look as he caressed her shoulder. “I could teach you.”

Her mouth went dry. The very thought of Alec and her alone, his large hands moving over her legs to correct her seat on the horse, one of them resting on her thigh while he gave some instruction—

“I can’t imagine why I’d need such lessons,” she said, fighting back a blush.

“Why not do it for fun?” As if he’d read her thoughts, he bent close to whisper, “I promise I would make it fun.” When he punctuated that promise with a kiss to her ear, a shiver of anticipation ran through her.

“Stop that, Alec.” She cast Mama a furtive glance. “You really shouldn’t—”

The door to their box suddenly swung open with great force, and a swarthy man with his arm in a sling strode in. “Senhor Black!” the man exclaimed as he hurried to Alec’s side. “Thank God Senhor Astley was right, and you are really here.”

Alec rose to face the stranger. “França? What are you doing in England?”

“Did the senhor not tell you I work for him now? No matter, he sent me to find you because—” The man broke off as he caught sight of Katherine. He gave a quick bow. “Forgive me, senhorita, but we are in urgent need of Senhor Black.”

Alec scowled, and Katherine waited for him to demand that he be addressed by his title. Instead he said, “I already told Astley—”

“That you would ride for him another time, yes. But surely you can oblige him tonight. I broke my arm in a foolish stunt last night, and we are desperate.”

The noise had awakened Mama, and she came up out of her chair sputtering, “What is…who…young man, what do you think you’re doing in our box?”

Alec’s jaw tightened. “Mrs. Merivale, Miss Katherine Merivale, this is Mr. Miguel França, a friend of mine from Portugal. He has come to…er…”

“Beg Senhor Black to help us.” Mr. França flashed Mama a courtly smile.

But she was having none of it. “If you want his lordship’s help, you should address him properly.”

“Pardon?” Then the man’s confusion turned to surprised pleasure. “So Senhor Astley was not joking? You truly are a lord, my friend?Magnifico!I suppose that I must now call you Lord Something-or-Other—”

“That isn’t necessary, França,” Alec said.

“You should call him Lord Iversley,” Mama put in helpfully.

“Thank you, senhora. Now if you will excuse me, I must steal your Lord Iversley away. The cavalry officer Senhor Astley hired to replace me tonight has not appeared. Since he only demonstrates cavalry cuts and does a few tricks on horseback, we thought perhaps Senhor Black—that is, Lord Iversley—”

“It’s out of the question, França,” Alec snapped. “I’m not dressed for it, and I won’t abandon my guests.”