Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 55

"Ugh, I know."

"I didn't know why he didn't just decline...but I think I know the reason."

I smiled at her warmly, rightly guessing her theory. "He doesn't want to back out and live free, because he likes you too?"

"At least that's what I hope. You never know -- he might just marry me because he doesn't want to hurt his grandma's feelings. It's obvious he adores her."

I snorted at the last part but I heard the truth in her words. Just as I was about to say something again, a knock came from the door.

"Come in!" I called.

Frederick poked his head inside. When he saw us smiling at him, he entered, holding a bar of Snickers. He winked at Viv. "You've been murmuring this in your sleep, madam," he teased.

Vivian brightened. "Thank you!" she said brightly. Leaning toward me, she whispered, "And I simply fall for his accent!"

I chuckled. "Now you have an imported boyfriend, just like you wanted."

"An imported fiancé," she replied cheekily.

Frederick came up to us and placed a hand on her neck and forehead, as soon as he got near her. "You feeling better?"

"Much better," she whispered, nodding, while her eyes never strayed away from his. "Thank you."

She blindly squeezed my hand.

I smiled, comprehending. "I'll leave you two alone."

Frederick turned slightly to look at me. "Emerson asked me to tell you to come down to the garden. She's talking about whooping your arse."

"And Michael?" I queried, raising an eyebrow.

"Same thing. Go on!"

"Oh, all right!" I huffed. "Bunch of lovebirds."

But he didn't reply. He was too busy brushing Vivian's hair away benignly from her smooth face.

Momentarily, I saw a flash of Michael and myself doing that to one another. I also remembered the time in the living room, before we went to Kent.

I blushed.

When I'd thought about what Emerson and Michael had said regarding whooping my ass, it wasn't what I had expected at all.

We were in the humongous garden grounds, fresh out of the Cuttings' stable in brown breeches and white polo shirts, a pair of tan leather gloves and beautifully tailored equestrian jackets -- green for me and red for Emerson. We were going to play the traditional Cutting game: horse racing.

"You ready for it, Keller?" Emerson piped up, bouncing in front of me ecstatically, her silver eyes dancing in challenge and excitement.

In front of the two of us was a massive -- and I mean, massive -- horse that looked like it could eat me alive. I saw four mahogany legs and the muscled torso and rump of a powerful hunter. Her eyes were the color of birch and her head bowed down low as Emerson gave it a piece of carrot.

Written in its face said, "I will eat you, Keller."

I could feel Onyx glaring at me through glassy, black eyes.

It was official: I, Keller Blakely, was not animal friendly.

Cookie didn't like me -- he mocked me, in fact; Slippy wanted to maul me alive whenever she saw me (she'd kept licking my face, like I was some chicken leg), and now Onyx here was shooting daggers in my direction! It was a good thing Gabrielle and my new horse Tessie seemed nice and gentle --

Goddamit, Gabrielle just snorted furiously in my direction.

This made me want to whine.

Emerson felt something was wrong in the picture so she looked at Gabrielle, Onyx, Michael and me. With a raised eyebrow, she asked her brother, "What's wrong?"

Michael smirked. "My fiancée here is not the favourite of animals. It's like she's the plague or something."

I smacked his thigh lightly with my riding crop, resting lightly on the side of Onyx's personal space. This made the black stallion whinny dangerously, staggering heavily in my direction. Calmly and professionally, Michael pulled back his reins, coming close to the horse's ear, murmuring gentle words.

Instantly, Onyx calmed. But that didn't stop him from staring evilly in my direction.

"Onyx doesn't like crops," Michael explained patiently.

"Couldn't you have told me that sooner?" I demanded, backing away.

In the background, Emerson was laughing. I glared at her, but she only mouthed her apology and expertly hopped onto Gabrielle's back. I looked at Tessie on my right, quietly tapping her hoof on the grassy, earthy ground. And again, she was munching that stupid carrot Emerson offered her minutes ago.