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Franny

Franny stormed into the stables. The insufferable man! She had truly believed they had turned a corner. She thought they were moving forward. Everything had been…perfect. Her eyes burned, and she rubbed them fiercely with her fists. Rubbing away the ache, burying the tears far back into the recesses of her skull. She should have known it wouldn’t last. The moment his mother reappeared, the old Rupert returned with alarming alacrity.

A despairing breath huffed from her lungs. His mother hadn’t even arrived yet, and he was already reattaching his strings.

Panic skittered through her blood, scraping along her veins. She forced her breaths to remain even, trying to control the fear gathering deep in her belly. The fear that she was going to lose him. Because this was it. The true test. Could their marriage survive his mother? Pain lanced through her. Because she didn’t know how she’d survive if the answer was no.

“Hi, Jonny.” She forced a smile as she greeted the stable boy. “Are any of the grooms about? I would like Blaze readied for a ride.”

Jonny tugged on his sandy blond forelock. “Right aways, m’lady.”

A moment later, hooves dancing against the stone stable floor rang through the aisle. Blaze’s prancing figure was led by one of the grooms, a saddle cloth slung across his back, Jonny carrying a shining walnut leather saddle.

“He’s in a right mood this morning, m’lady,” the groom said. “Think he needs a good hard run.”

She grinned, running her gaze over the stallion’s rich chestnut coat, rippling over quivering muscles like a flame, like a blaze.

“It appears he and I are aligned then.”

The groom slung the saddle over the horse’s back, adjusting it and cinching the girth.

She ran her hand down Blaze’s neck, his muscles trembling beneath her palm. Yes, a hard run for sure. He was seconds away from jumping out of his skin.

She gripped the saddle with one hand and lodged her boot in the stirrup.

“My lady,” the groom started. “Please allow—”

She bounced a few times and then, with an almighty heave, thrust herself up and onto Blaze.

She smiled down at the groom as she settled herself in the saddle, Blaze impatiently stomping underneath her.

“I appreciate the offer of assistance, but I have always done just fine on my own.”

The groom gave a quick bow and unclipped the lead attached to Blaze’s bridle.

She held Blaze in check as he skirted out of the stable. But the minute his hooves hit earth; she gave him his head.

And they flew.