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.Before his feettouched earth, his legs were already driving in a fearsome pace.They carried him without hesitation toward a mass ofthornbushes several rods away.A peal of terrifying laughter rang out behind him, and heredoubled his pounding progress.He did not halt as he plungeddeep in the protection of the thicket, hardly aware of the thornsthat shredded his nightshirt and hide.Later he swore that he had heard the beat of ghostly hoovesclose behind him, and his wife smiled and noddingly commentedthat he had run so fast it took him until nearly four in the morningto reach the cottage again.His friends at the Boar's Inn whoknew of Timmy's bent toward brawling buried their laughter inmugs before agreeing in strained, stentorian tones that his braveryhad been stouthearted in the face of the winged creature.The days of Lord Saxton's absence numbered four, and thoughshe had kept busy with her duties as mistress of the manor,Erienne grew restive within the stone walls.She remembered herhusband's statement that if she desired an outing, she was free toride the mare from the stables.Taking him at his word, shegarbed herself in riding habit and went down to present her pleato Keats.Since her arrival at Saxton Hall, she had not ventured to thestables, though the idea of escape had nibbled at her thoughts andshe had wondered how far she would get taking one of herhusband's horses.The overriding fear that he would come afterher and she would then have to deal with his wrath put quickdeath to such meanderings of the mind.The only place where shecould even hope to find safety was with Christopher Seton, buther pride would never yield that victory to him.If he had trulycared about her as he had claimed, he could have at leastpresented some form of protest about the roup.Instead, he hadreadily accepted payment for the debts and voiced no objectionto her being bought by another man.When last she saw him, hehad seemed most content with his freedom, and if she ran to himnow, ready to give all he demanded of her, then surely she wouldonly be feeding his arrogance.She had no doubt that an affairwith him would be wildly exciting, but one day she would have toface the fact that he was just using her for a time.When anotherwoman came along whom he liked better, it would be the end.Itwas better that she saved herself such grief before fallinghopelessly in love with him.When she entered the stables, Erienne saw a youth about hersize and near an age of ten and five cleaning a far stall.Hestraightened as the door squeaked behind her, then his eyeswidened as he caught sight of her.He came at a run to meet her,and snatching off his hat, halted before her.He bobbed his headforward several times in what might have been a hesitant bow,and the grin that split his face made her smile. Are you Keats? she inquired. Aye, mum, he replied eagerly and gave another jerky bow. I don't think we've met.I'm. Oh, I know who you are, mum.I've seen ye comin' and goin',and.beggin' yer pardon, mum.I'd have ter be blind not ternotice a mistress as comely as yerself.Erienne laughed. Why, thank you, Keats.His face took on a deeper hue of red, and slightly befuddled byhis boldness, he gestured toward a dark mare with whitestockings that stood in a nearby stall. The master said ye mightbe comin' ter fetch Morgana.Would ye be wantin' me ter saddleher for ye, mum? I would like that immensely.If it were possible, the grin widened, and he slapped his hatagainst his flanks as he spun joyfully about.He led the mare fromher stall and held her for Erienne's inspection.The animal seemedof a calm, friendly spirit as she nuzzled the lad's arm, yet she wasof a class that would have made Socrates shrivel in dismayedembarrassment.She was nearly black and silky smooth with along-flowing mane and tail.Erienne scratched the dark neck. She's beautiful. Aye, that she is, mum, and she's yers.The master said so.Erienne was overwhelmed.She had never owned a horse beforeand certainly had never considered that she would possess ananimal of Morgana's beauty.The gift pleased her and made hereven more aware of her husband's generosity.Though she hadnot yielded as she had promised, the presents still continued toflow.Whatever the depths of his scars, he seemed to be severalsteps above Smedley Good-field and the host of other suitors whowould have stopped the gifts at the first hint of her rejection. Would ye be wantin' me ter go with ye, mum? Keats askedwhen the mare stood ready. No, that won't be necessary.I shan't be gone long, and I plan tostay in sight of the manor.Keats locked his hands together to accept the slender bootedfoot and was amazed at the agility his mistress displayed as shewas boosted into the saddle
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