Dawn in My Heart by Ruth Axtell Morren

Where are your family’s estates?”
    â€œOh, the main one is in Hertfordshire—a monstrous thing. There’s another up near Leicester, another down in Dorset and there’s even a very gothic property way up in the West Riding in Yorkshire. I haven’t been there since I was a child. I daresay we shall have to visit them all once we’re married. Who knows when my father has last been to them, except for the family seat in Hertfordshire, of course.”
    â€œWell, I shall enjoy touring them all!” she said, her eyes shining in delight. “May we entertain at each?”
    â€œEntertain away. As long as I have a few good hunting and fishing companions, I can always manage to avoid the rest of the company if they prove too tedious.” As he was speaking, they walked around the animals being walked about the courtyard.
    â€œWhat do you think of this one?” he asked Gillian of the black horse snorting and pawing the ground.
    The groom holding the animal spoke up before giving Gillian a chance to reply. “Oh, he’s a high-spirited fellow, but you’ll get sixteen miles an hour outta ’im once you’ve got ’im well broken in…”
    â€œHe’s not broken in?” Gillian asked.
    As the groom continued listing the selling points to Gillian, Sky walked around the animal. He bent down and examined his knees and fetlocks, then went to his hindquarters. When he felt the animal’s hock and cannon, the horse fidgeted.
    â€œYou take it easy,” the groom spoke to the horse.
    Straightening, Sky asked the groom, “Has he ever thrown a splint?”
    â€œNaw, me lord, never!”
    Sky touched Gillian on the arm. “Come, let’s see what they have in the stables.”
    â€œBut guvner, this one here’s the finest you’ll see today. He’ll be up on the block soon.”
    They left the man talking and entered the stalls.
    â€œYou didn’t like him?” Gillian asked curiously.
    â€œThe groom was lying about him. That horse has clearly had some injury near his hind cannon.”
    They ignored the hunters and matched pairs and concentrated on the riding horses. Gillian liked a high-stepping bay mare. Sky kept going back to a gray gelding.
    â€œHe’s a beauty,” agreed Gillian, smoothing down his forelock. “Aren’t you?” she asked, directing herself to the horse.
    â€œWe’ll see how he performs,” Sky said, watching her fondness for the horse. She had an affinity for animals, and the tenderness in her manner drew him. Her skin was so soft he craved to reach out his forefinger and touch her cheek, but he didn’t know how she would react. Her embarrassment over his mention of their wedding told him she wasn’t ready to face the physical aspects of marriage. It was understandable. She was a young lady, probably as innocent as a babe. He’d have to be patient and initiate her into the ways of a man with a maid gradually.
    â€œShall we stay for the auction?” he asked.
    She turned to him with an eager smile. “Oh, yes. I haven’t been to one since Papa passed away. Will you bid for this one today?”
    He shook his head. “Likely not. There’s still time. I just came to look around today.”
    â€œYou must have been quite a whip in your London days,” she said in a teasing voice as they continued along the dim, straw-strewn passages of the building.
    He smiled. “Yes, I was a member of all the clubs…the Four-in-One, the Jockey, the Whip…Edmund and I would compete against each other. Our favorite pastime was bribing the jarvey of the stage to let us have a go at the reins. We’d start out at the White Horse and ride neck-or-nothing between London and Salt Hill.
    â€œWe’d come roaring into the inn, our horses in a lather,all of us caked in mud, our poor rooftop passengers hanging on for dear life. It’s a wonder we didn’t