It felt good to ride Filigree again. Since getting my bike, I had spent more time riding it than my horse. The two experiences were completely different but equally as delightful, and it was not a hardship to race across the paddocks that separated the palace from the Château de Monterey, especially not when Drew waited for me at the other side.

It was dangerous to think like that, I knew it with every cell within me, but I couldn’t stop the flutter of excitement that lit me up whenever I was around him. I wasn’t married yet and I felt it was my right to enjoy this little innocent dalliance before I would be locked into a marriage that had little for me in it. I know my mother thought that by having a title I would have everything I’d ever need, but that wasn’t how I felt about it. A title to me was nothing more than a gilded cage and until the time that the door on that cage was closed and locked, I intended to enjoy my freedom.

And that meant spending time with Drew without feeling guilty.

I slowed to a trot as I entered the stable yard and was greeted by a stable hand who took Filigree’s reins when I came to a stop. I swung down, not bothering to wait for someone to help me dismount, and strode into the cool interior of the stables where I heard Freddie and Drew discussing a particular horse.

“Hullo Freddie,” I said, exaggerating the pommy sound of my accent.

Freddie turned and grinned before greeting me with a kiss on the cheek. His comings and goings from the palace in the lead up to, first, Alyssa’s coronation and then the wedding had meant that we had all become well acquainted and formality had been brushed aside. Not to mention he was marrying Alex, who was one of us, and that made him like a brother to us all.

“Have you come to spy on my stable for Cliff?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m sure Cliff has his own spies and doesn’t need me,” I replied before turning to Drew. “Have you already decided then?”

Drew’s eyes seemed to be glued to my body. I blushed realising that he probably hadn’t expected me to turn up in riding jodhpurs, which were quite form fitting, although no more than my riding leathers were.

“Ah, no, not yet,” he said, dragging his eyes up to mine. He smiled unabashedly and winked at me before turning back to the horse they were currently discussing. “Freddie has recommended Bold here, but I told him I was waiting for your expert opinion.”

“Bold?” I asked, looking at Freddie questioningly.

“His stud name is Wandin Valley, but I think Bold suits him.”

I peeked into the stall and took in the large dark bay who waited patiently while he was inspected. He was a beautiful horse, his dark coat shiny, his chest broad and muscled, his stance solid. He reached out to me and nuzzled my shoulder and I reached up to stroke the velvet of his nose, reaching into my pocket for a treat for him.

“He’s beautiful,” I said, looking at Drew who was looking at me with a mystified expression on his face.

“He’d want to be,” Freddie said affectionately as he scratched the horse between his eyes, “He cost me a small mint.”

“Can I see him walk?” I asked.

“Of course,” Freddie said, waving over a groom with a halter and lead.

I led him out into the sunshine where Filigree waited patiently, her intelligent gaze watching me as I approached with Bold. Bold tossed his head and I laughed as Filigree turned away.

“Is your horse dissing my horse?” Drew asked.

“I think she’s just playing hard to get,” I replied.

I led Bold around and watched the play of powerful muscles under his coat.

“So what do you think?” Drew asked. Freddie had disappeared and it was just the two of us and the horses.

“I think he’s perfect. He’s new to Freddie’s stable, so I haven’t seen him run, but I can imagine he would be a sight to see.”

Drew stepped closer to the horse and patted his shoulder before stroking his neck. “So you want to go hunting with me, Bold?” he asked the horse and Bold tossed his head in clear affirmation.

“Seems like the two of you are a match,” I said, “Why don’t you get him saddled up and we take him out for a spin.”

I watched as Drew called over a groom and they saddled the big bay. He stood patiently under their ministrations and he looked to me to be a good mount, not flighty or easily excited. Freddie wandered out of the stables with his own master of horse to watch Drew mount up. I admired Drew’s ease in the saddle. He was by no means a beginner, but he did look a little rusty.

“All right then Drew?” I asked, peering up at him. Bold stamped his feet, wanting to get moving and Drew shifted in the saddle.

“Yep,” he said with a grin.

I mounted Filly, again not waiting for a groom. I had been getting up and getting off horses for most of my life, I didn’t need someone to give me a boost.

“You don’t want to come with us?” I asked Freddie.

He shook his head as he rubbed the neck of Bold, “No. I’m going to go and find my wayward fiancée and see if I can coax her out of the wedding planning fugue she’s been in for the last three months.”

“Good idea,” I said with a grin.

“Take care of my CFO,” he called to us as I led the way out of the stable yard, “I’ve only just broken him in.”

I waved over my shoulder and then as soon as we were clear of the yard, I kicked Filigree into a canter.

I took it easy on Drew as we rode through the fields and woods. I didn't make him attempt any fences, not on his first time out. The wind whipped through my hair as we galloped across the green grass, pulling it from my ponytail until I gave up and pulled the band out completely, letting my hair flow freely. Mother would have been appalled and I knew I would pay for it later when it came time to brush it, but I didn't much care. There was something about being with Drew that made me want to push against the boundaries that had fenced me in for so long.

We slowed to a walk as we reached the line of trees that designated the woods. It was the same woods in which the hunt would traverse, also the same woods where the king and the crown prince had lost their lives. That tragic event had set off a series of other events, like dominoes, which had led to me being here and working for Alyssa. It seemed so long ago now, with so much that had happened since, and as awful as it was to admit, I was glad it had happened. Not because the king and the crown prince had lost their lives, never that, but because it had meant that I had come here, to Merveille, and it felt like I had been given a second chance to make something of my life.

“Are you all right?”

I turned my head to look at Drew and smiled.

“Just thinking,” I replied, “Alyssa’s father and brother were killed in these woods.”

“Geez,” he muttered, looking around.

“They were hunting deer when their party was attacked by a pack of wild boars.”

“Seriously? Maybe we shouldn't go in there then.”

“It was a set up,” I explained, “They were murdered by someone who wanted the throne. We've never had a female head of state before, all our crowns have been male born heirs. Alyssa had to fight to become queen.”

“It seems a little unreal to think that in this day and age that the natural heir, whether male or female, would have to prove their worth simply because of their gender.”

I sighed. “Unfortunately, as wealthy and seemingly advanced as Merveille is, they still have some antiquated beliefs. Do you know Lady Priscilla?”

He shook his head.

“Her father had set up an arranged marriage for her when she was a child, for money to get himself out of debt.”

“He sold his own child?”

“That's pretty much what it amounted to. The man in question came to collect, but Dom saved her.”

Drew shook his head. “I didn't think that kind of thing happened anymore.”

I looked down at my hands as they held Filigree’s reins. How could I tell him that I was in the same sort of bind as Priscilla? Oh, no one had sold me, but I knew what my duty to the family was. I needed to marry a title and it looked like Lord Cameron was it.

“Tell me about your life in Australia. I've never been there, but you hear some wild stories.”

He grinned. “It's not as wild as the Internet makes it out to be. Sure, there are venomous snakes and deadly spiders, but we don't live our lives in fear of them. I've spent the last few years travelling with Brooks until he decided it was time to settle down in Melbourne. It was nice to actually have a home to go to and not just a hotel room.”

“What about where you grew up? Do you miss it?”

He looked up and his eyes lost focus as he stared into the woods.

“Not really. I suppose I miss my brothers, but we keep in fairly regular contact. My mother is a bit overprotective, so it's good to have distance from her. That sounds terrible, doesn't it? I don't mean it to, it's just that she's never accepted that I wouldn't be returning to the family business. I'd hoped moving half way across the world would finally make her accept the inevitable, but still she thinks this is just a holiday.”

“Mothers can be like that,” I mumbled.

“I love her, I do, but I never wanted the life of a cane farmer. I never wanted to spend my days in the fifty kilometre radius of our farm and the local town. My parents have never even left Australia. My brothers have, but only for short trips to Bali or New Zealand. They are content with their lives, but I could never be.”

“Do you think you'll be content here?”

“Working with Freddie is bound to be fulfilling and exciting. He has so many contacts and fingers in so many pies that I can't wait to get stuck in. And Merveille is beautiful.” He looked at me then and I blushed. “I think I'm going to really love it here.”

The horses had ambled to a stop as we’d talked and I took the opportunity to slide from Filly’s saddle and laid my head on her withers, allowing my cheeks to cool before looking back at Drew.

He had also dismounted and stood staring out through the trees. We weren't far from the shore of the lake and I gathered Filly’s reins and started in that direction. We walked in silence until the vista opened before us and I heard a small gasp of surprise from Drew. I tied Filly’s reins around her neck so she wouldn't stand on them and let her graze freely. I knew she wouldn't wander far and Bold seemed so taken with her that I knew he would stay close too.

I walked across the rocky shore to where the water lapped gently and stared out across the still water to the mountains beyond. Drew approached and I felt the warmth of his body as he stood beside me. Our shoulders brushed and just like he'd done when we were looking at the view from the top of the rise, he took my hand in his.

I wanted to kiss her. I'd wanted to kiss her from the moment I'd seen her with her bike, but right then, as we stood holding hands and looking at the spectacular view, the urge to pull her into my arms and brush my lips across hers was almost unbearable.

I turned toward her and she looked up at me with those big brown eyes of hers, her cheeks red from the sun and the wind of our ride, her lips slightly parted, begging me to kiss her. I searched her eyes for permission and I saw hope but also a wariness that made me stop myself from leaning down to take her lips with mine. The moment stretched out between us and then she squeezed my hand and let me go, walking back to the horses and breaking the connection.

I sighed before following her. Couldn't she feel the chemistry between us? I'd never felt anything like it before, my body hummed with it whenever she was near. The woman had gotten under my skin and we'd barely even touched. Our one and only kiss had been interrupted before it could even start and ever since I hadn't been able to stop wondering just what would have happened if her brother hadn't intervened. I don't mean something inappropriate, just that maybe we would have kept in touch, that maybe when I moved here we would be further along in our relationship than we were.

We mounted our horses and she led me back to Freddie’s stables, a heavy silence between us. There was so much I wanted to say, but I didn't have the words. I didn't know where to even start to try and explain what was going on inside me. We barely knew one another, and yet I felt like we were kindred spirits. Something inside me called to her and I didn't know if she just couldn't hear it yet or whether she was denying it.

We reached the stable yard and were met by the master of horse.

“Lord Bingham suggested you leave Miss Filigree with me,” he said to Jeanette, “On account of the two of you riding together over the next few weeks.”

“Thank you Forrester,” she said, handing over the reins and then looking around, seemingly a little lost.

“What's the matter?” I asked coming over to her after handing off Bold to a groom.

“I rode Filly here, so I have no ride home.”

“I can take you,” I said.

She smiled but shook her head. “No, it's all right. I'll just ring the palace and ask them to send a car.”

“Nonsense,” I said, “Let me take you home. I have to pass the castle on my way, anyway.”

She quirked an eyebrow at me, “You're not staying here?”

I shook my head, “No, Freddie put me up in a townhouse in town.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her feet before looking back up at me. “Okay, then, if it's not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” I replied with a grin.

We said our goodbyes and she followed me over to where my bike waited.

“Oh,” she said, holding back.

I turned to her, “What's the matter?”

“I thought you were offering me a lift in your car.”

“I don't have a car, not in Merveille anyway.” I watched her as she bit her lip, her eyes sliding over my bike. “I don't understand what the problem is.”

“I've never been a pillion before,” she said.

“There's nothing to it,” I replied, watching her carefully.

“What if someone sees us?”

I sighed and hung my head for a moment. Was she ashamed of being seen with me? I wouldn't have thought she was the type.

A small hand settled on my shoulder. “No, Drew,” she said, “I didn't mean it like that. It's just that no one knows I ride—”

“Me dropping you off won't give anything away. Just tell them the truth, you were teaching me to ride for the hunt and I gave you a lift home.”

She bit her lip again, but I could see that she was warring with herself. She wanted to do it, but that good girl side of her that she showed the world was trying to talk her out if it. I opened one of the panniers and took out my spare helmet and handed it to her. She hesitated only for a moment before taking it. I grinned as I put on my own helmet and then threw my leg over the bike. It started first try and I turned my head to Jeanette. Her eyes were bright and a smile split her face as she climbed on behind me, snuggling close. Her arms went around my waist and I closed my eyes for a moment, relishing her touch.

I revved the engine and then took off and her arms tightened around me. She laid her head between my shoulder blades. We cruised up the driveway and then onto the deserted road. I turned right instead of left, but I didn't think she'd mind. The sun was going down, but unlike in Australia where twilight lasts about a second, I knew we had time to enjoy the dusk and I didn't want this ride to be over too soon.

The engine was too loud for us to talk, but it didn't matter. We drove the winding roads, taking in the scenery and enjoying the little bubble that we were in. The noise of the bike wrapped around us like a cocoon and if not for the occasional car or truck that we passed, I could have believed we were alone in the world.

As darkness fell, I turned into the gates of the palace. Jeanette spoke to the guards on duty, who let us past and then we were at the steps and she was getting off the bike and handing the helmet back to me.

I put it away and then turned back to her. I reached out to cup her cheek, words failing me. She closed her eyes and leaned in to my touch for a moment before pulling away with a regretful smile.

“Thanks,” she said before turning away and mounting the steps, disappearing through the large wooden doors.