Chapter Ten
Sabine was relieved when January arrived and it finally became time to return home. She’d loved every minute of being surrounded by her family once again but she was anxious to see Connor again. It had been nearly a month since she’d left Southerby and she’d felt the separation.
It had been emotional saying farewell to her family though. She did not know when she would next see her grandmother as it was hard for her to leave her farm unattended. She knew the next time she saw the Alcott’s that there would be a newborn with them, and Sabine wished Kitty all the best luck with birthing her child.
She’d barely been able to keep still on the journey home. Every few minutes she would look out the window to see if the ivy covered Southerby House was in sight. Her parents and brothers had asked her what she was doing and she’d replied that she was excited to see Puissant. That was true, but there was another she was excited to see also.
She was completely relieved when the grounds of Southerby suddenly surrounded them as the carriage. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she thought about seeing Connor again. She hoped he’d thought about her during their separation.
“You can relax now, dear,” Jane said comically, knowing that Sabine was excited.
“You won’t disappear on a trail ride, will you?” Daniel asked. “Because I want to have a family dinner before the boys return to Eton.”
Sabine nodded. “I’ll be back for dinner,” she promised. “I just want to see Puissant. I want to make sure that the Scot has taken care of her properly,” she added, playing up her disdain for Connor. As she said it though, she remembered that soon she would be telling her parents that she was getting married to him.
“Connor is perfectly capable, Sabine,” Jane scolded. “I think he adores horses more than you do.”
“And that’s saying something,” Philip goaded.
Sitting in between her brothers, Sabine was in the ideal position to smack him for teasing her. Seeing her moves in advance, Daniel caught her wrist before her hand connected with him.
Her father’s brown eyes were amused. “Don’t, Sabine,” he said, smiling slightly.
Taking her hand back, Sabine returned her attention to the window, watching as the house came into view.
The horses pulled to a stop and the footmen immediately opened the door and began unloading the trunks. Her parent’s thought nothing of it as she avoided the front door to walk around the back of the house. Once out of sight, she gathered up her skirts and broke into a run. Even though her legs were on show, she didn’t care. The quicker she moved the quicker she would be with Connor.
Disappearing over the hill, she beamed as the familiar stable came into view. As she approached the double doors, she let down her skirts and clutched her carved horse necklace for luck. Opening them, fully expecting to see Connor in the aisle, she frowned. He wasn’t there.
Walking briskly up the aisle, searching in each one of the stalls, she still failed to see him. Coming to the end, she found that Puissant’s stall was missing as well. Checking the hooks, she saw that Puissant’s bridle was missing and her blanket and saddle were gone from the stall as well.
Smiling, she knew that he was exercising Puissant for her.
Exiting the stables, Sabine walked further down the hill, towards the stream where her mother had hit her head all those years ago. Jane preferred that none of her children frequent the stream, but Sabine was exceptionally careful when crossing it. Keeping her skirts out of the water, she smiled as she heard Puissant’s familiar whinnies and Connor’s firm instructions.
Coming to the clearing, she watched in awe as Connor rode Puissant so spectacularly across the length of grass. The stirrups were a lot higher than they should have been for his height, which meant that his knees were bent. He was squatting in the saddle, not actually sitting in it. Slouching forward, he pushed Puissant to sprint across the field. Once again, his white shirt was abandoned on the ground nearby and he rode shirtless, even in the cool January weather. His muscled skin looked a little bronze under the rare ray of sun that Nottingham was experiencing. The lashing scars on his back were on full display, yet they only made him look stronger.
Watching her beautiful mare’s strong legs at work looked truly majestic. Puissant was a born runner, and she would foal runners.
“Whoa!” Connor exclaimed, pulling on the reins to make her slow down. His eyes flashed to her and his wide, crooked grin returned to his face. Climbing down from Puissant and fixing her reins to a tree, Connor ran to Sabine and enveloped her in his strong arms.
Giggling like a child, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Connor lifted her off the ground and spun her around twice. Sabine pressed her lips to his lightly, enjoying his familiarity.
Connor kissed her back instantly, letting her know how much he missed her. Pulling back, he placed her back on the ground and cupped her face. “Oh, I missed ye,” he said sincerely, shaking his head. “A month is far too long.”
“I know,” she sighed, laying her head on his chest. “But I’m home now. Did you spend Christmas with your family?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “I told Merida an’ Grant about ye. They can’ wait to meet ye.” He grinned, pressing his lips to her forehead. “I’ve been thinking about what to say to ye da’, but I have no’ come up with anything tha’ won’ get me shot in the arse,” he laughed. “When do ye wan’ to go an’ speak to them?”
Sabine pursed her lips. “Well, my papa wants a few family days before Philip and Louis return to Eton, so perhaps then? I was also thinking that I should do it alone … papa might take it a little easier if it comes from me …” she said nervously.
Connor looked a little disappointed, but he ultimately smiled. “I would no’ like to be shot in the arse again,” he chuckled.
“Again?” she repeated.
“It’s why I was lashed,” he explained. “I shot my brother in the arse by accident, so he returned the favour on purpose. We both received the cat o’ nine tails.”
