Chapter Three

Sabine’s muscles were aching when she awoke the next morning. Sleeping on a stone surface was not what she was used to. Squinting her eyes out into the bright sunlight at the entrance of the cave, she saw that the storm had indeed stopped. She the air smelled fresh with rain and the birds were chirping as morning dawned.

Connor was sleeping upright against the wall of the cave. His eyes were still closed, and he looked very uncomfortable. His arms were folded against his chest and his lips were pursed shut. His hair was every curlier as it had dried. There was almost little ringlets that curled around his face.

Sabine liked him like this. He wasn’t talking, and he looked innocent.

The fire had died down and was now just glowing embers. She stood up as quietly as possible and crept out of the cave. Kneeling down, she collected several handfuls of soil and held them in the skirt of her dress. She carried them back inside and was relieved that Connor’s eyes were still shut. If they’d opened he would have seen her undergarments.

Kneeling back down at the fire, she poured the soil over the embers to extinguish them. She brushed the remaining soil off of her dress and wiped her hands on her hips, not caring about the mess.

“Perhaps ye know more about the woods then I thought,” Connor chuckled with his eyes still closed.

“How long have you been awake?” Sabine demanded, wanting to know if he’d seen anything indecent.

“I never fell asleep. Someone had to make sure that no wild animals ate ye in ye sleep. I don’ think I’d get my next pay if I returned ye in pieces,” he shrugged, opening his brown eyes. His crooked smile appeared when he saw how annoyed Sabine had gotten with him.

Sabine huffed impatiently. “Did you see anything?” she asked awkwardly.

“No,” he promised. “I dinna see your undergarments at all. My eyes were closed the entire time.” He was stirring her, and completely enjoying it.

Sabine glared at him. “Get up,” she demanded. “Take me home this instant.”

He stretched his arms before rising to his feet. He went over to the horses that were still standing idly on the opposite side of the cave. He stroked their faces and then proceeded to check each one of their shoes for stones. “Who’s a good girl?” he asked Puissant as she calmly let him check her shoes.

Sabine felt a little jealous that Puissant seemed to be so comfortable with someone that was not her. She took her mind off of it by rehearsing what she had to say to both her parents when she returned home. She had to apologise to her mother first and foremost for blowing up at her. She then had to apologise to them both for running away. She couldn’t apologise for the storm, she hadn’t realised it was coming until the thunder hit. She also had to apologise to someone else.

“Mr McKenzie,” she said in a timid voice.

“I’ve been ‘Connor’ my whole life, lass. I don’ like formalities,” he replied as he began saddling the horses for the ride home.

Sabine didn’t know how she felt about addressing him with his Christian name but she couldn’t exactly ignore his wishes. “Connor,” she breathed. “I just wanted to apologise for bringing you out into the storm. It was very irresponsible of me.”

He looked up at her and grinned deviously. “How did it make ye feel?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“How did what make me feel?”

“Being irresponsible,” he said simply.

Sabine laughed lightly. “Not that great,” she admitted. “Next time I’ll be sure to make sure there is no rain coming before I ride off alone.”

“Next time?” he said, sounding surprised. “Am I to set aside some time each week to come out and find ye? Because … I do have a job to do,” he teased with his crooked smile, the lines on his face becoming more apparent.

“No, I assure you, I won’t be running off again any time soon. I believe I may be chained to my bed for about a month after what I did,” she sighed.

Once the horses were saddled, Connor motioned for Sabine to follow him out of the cave. As she did, he spoke. “My little sister, Merida, did something similar when she was about sixteen. My da’ had her lashed so she’d learn her lesson. She would have welcomed being chained to a bed,” he said shaking his head.

Sabine’s eyes widened. “Lashed?” she repeated. “My parents never hit us …” she whispered. She was glad that the biggest punishment she’d ever received was being sent to bed without supper.

Connor didn’t say anything else on the subject. He offered her a leg up onto Puissant and she settled in the saddle. She followed him as he rode his horse in a walk. The ground was moist but it wasn’t slippery so it was safe to ride the horses. Everything was a brilliant green. The trees and brush all smelled so fresh and if it were any other day she would have stopped to enjoy the scenery, but not when she was headed towards her parent’s wrath.

“If ye aren’t in too much trouble after you’ve spoken to your parents, ye can come down to the stables and I can give ye a lesson on riding like a man,” he said after a while.

“I’d like that,” she smiled.

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Sabine liked how it wasn’t uncomfortable silence, they didn’t have to say anything. They could just enjoy horse riding together … even if they weren’t together … because there was absolutely no way Sabine was going to let her mama say ‘I told you so’.

By the time the edge of the Southerby estate came into view, Sabine was feeling thoroughly sick. They came to the stables and Connor dismounted. Sabine jumped down from Puissant just as Connor was coming to help her.

“I’ll rub down Puissant an’ feed her for ye,” he offered. “Good luck, milady.” He wasn’t teasing her, he was being genuine, an expression that looked nice on his usually cheeky face. 

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, handing him the reins. “Thank you for finding me. I would be sick with a fever by now if you had not found me.”

He shrugged. “Anytime, milady.” With that he turned away from her and led the horses into the stables.

Sabine took a deep breath and made her way up to the house, keeping a quick pace. The house appeared before her which made her heart take off.

When she came to the back door, she took a deep breath and opened it. As she peered inside she couldn’t see anyone. She knew that they would most likely be in the dining room having breakfast. At the thought of food, her stomach growled. It hadn’t been attended to since lunch the previous day.

She crept through the house and arrived at the dining room door. She could hear cutlery moving against plates. Turing the handle, she heard forks being dropped and chairs moving outward. As she walked into the room her mother practically flew into her arms, crushing her with a tight hug.

“Oh, don’t you ever do that to me again!” she exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, mama,” she apologised. “I didn’t know it was going to rain.” She hugged her mother back, enjoying the fact that she wasn’t angry.

Jane pulled back and then frowned at her. Her mother’s dark blue eyes looked disappointed. “I don’t want you ever to talk to me like that again. I don’t want anything but the best for you. There aren’t that many people in this world that would give their right arm for you, so you can’t just throw away genuine concern,” she scolded.

Sabine hung her head. “I know, mama,” she sighed. “I was foolish. I know you love me.”

“Come and sit down, Sabine,” her father beckoned. “Come and eat some breakfast and tell us what happened.

Two hours later, breakfast was finished and Sabine had bathed, taking special care to scrub the dirt from underneath her fingernails that seemed to want to stay there permanently.

Her parents hadn’t punished her, they were both just relieved that she was home safely. She’d skated over Connor’s involvement, not wanting her parents to think anything had gone on between them. Remembering what Connor had said about the punishment his sister had received when she was still a child it made her know she was lucky to have the parents she did.

Wearing a fresh, blue dress and tying her damp blonde hair in a simple braid, Sabine made her way down to the stables to receive her riding lesson.

As the stables came into view, Sabine had a sudden thought. Where did Connor sleep? She couldn’t imagine he would make his way back and forth between the house every day so he must reside in the stables somewhere – but where?

Just as she was about to open the door, Connor stepped out, once again wearing a white button down shirt that was undone and covered in dirt. “You’re alive,” he commented comically. “An’ clean.” He looked like he had cleaned his hands and his hair, his dark blond ringlets were drying around his face.

Sabine nodded, gesturing to her clean hands. “I don’t like dirt. You seem too though,” she said, motioning to his dirty shirt.

His crooked smile appeared as he chuckled. “It’s white when I put it on in the morn,” he shrugged. “I’d work without one but I’m fairly sure your da’ would prefer I did no’ do that. What did they say, anyhow? I don’ see any chains.”

“I wasn’t punished,” she admitted. “They were just happy I wasn’t ill.”

Connor rolled his brown eyes. “Did ye tell them tha’ I won’ touch ye?” he asked, seeming curious.

Sabine shook her head. “I didn’t really talk about you. I don’t want them worrying about something happening between us when I’m going to be spending time down here,” she explained. “Not that anything is going to happen, of course,” she added quickly.

“Of course,” he nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’m sure they’ve go’ men lined up for ye to meet anyway. They won’ need to worry about me. So, which do ye prefer – Lord or Duke?”

Sabine couldn’t help but wonder why he was behaving so strangely. He hadn’t teased her in since she’d arrived at the stables. She chose to ignore it. “I don’t mind,” she sighed. “I just want a marriage like my parents … eventually. You hear stories of the noblemen around here that have mistresses in London as well as hoards of illegitimate children. I don’t want that. Give me a man that would be faithful and I would gladly marry him.” She smiled at Connor warmly who just plainly stared at her. “What?”

“You’re just … I think my first impression of ye, milady, was a little off,” he admitted. Sabine could have sworn that just for a second, Connor appeared vulnerable. The look quickly disappeared.

“There is more to me than meets the eye, Mr … er … Connor,” she replied. ‘Much more,’ she thought. There was more to him then what met the eye also. She still did not know how he came to be in England and why he seemed to have such a rocky relationship with his family. The only thing she was sure of though, was that he loved his little sister – Merida – Sabine recalled.

“I don’ doubt there is, Lady Sabine. Perhaps ye will tell me about it sometime?” he offered.

Sabine knew he was only being nice. He didn’t want to hear about her abandonment issues. “I’ve come for my riding lesson – are you busy?” she asked, changing the subject.

Connor pursed his lips. “I s’pose I could spare ye an hour. I don’ want your da’ thinking I’m slacking off. Wait here,” he instructed.

Sabine did as she was told, and waited by the door of the stables. After a few moments she heard the familiar sound of Puissant’s hooves walking up the aisle. He beautiful chestnut mare was saddled and ready to go.

Holding onto her reins, Connor looked her up and down. “Ye might want to try trousers next time,” he suggested. “Unless you’re happy with giving me a good look at your legs,” he shrugged, his cocky smiled returning to his face.

Sabine’s jaw dropped as she looked down at her sensible dress. She realised that her skirt would indeed ride up if she rode like a man. “Must you make crude comments? You were being nice to me before, why the sudden change?”

“I apologise,” he said sincerely. “I don’ usually, ye just bring out tha’ side of me,” he shrugged. “I’m a nice person, honest.” He leaned over and grabbed Sabine’s hand.

She jumped at the contact. She’d never held a man’s hand before unless she was dancing, but even then, she was wearing gloves. She didn’t mind it, she liked how his hand could completely envelope her little one.

Connor didn’t notice her surprise. Sabine concluded that he must have done it a thousand times with ladies in Scotland. There wouldn’t have been any protest, not when he flashed that crooked smile at them. “Now,” he began. “I think it’s pretty clear what ye have to do with your legs. Put one over each side of the horse. Then ye dig your heels into her side and she’ll go. Personally, I think it’s easier – but then I’ve never tried side saddle.”

Sabine nodded, understanding. Connor placed her hand on top of the saddle and helped her hook her foot in the stirrup.

“Put all your weight on that foot and swing your leg over,” he instructed.

Sabine did as he said. She used the stirrup as if it were a stair and put all her weight on it. As she attempted to stand she fell back down. Connor caught her in his arms before she fell to the ground. “Sorry,” she huffed bashfully. She tried to ignore the fluttering feelings she got in her stomach as Connor held her. She closed her eyes and put those thoughts out of her arms.

“Dinna fret, I’ll give ye a leg up. It took me a few tries my first time,” he said sympathetically. He righted her foot in the stirrup and motioned for her to stand up again. Instead of bracing her, he lifted her up by the hips and then helped her over by pushing her over Puissant’s back by touching her behind.

Sabine gasped as her head snapped around to glare at him. Men and women barely had any physical contact before they were married, and in a period of four days, she and Connor McKenzie had slept beside each other, been alone in the same room a lot, held hands and he’d just touched her in a private place. She could practically hear her mother rolling her eyes.

Connor, however, didn’t seem to realise that he’d touched her inappropriately.

It was then that Sabine realised she was sitting on Puissant like a man. It felt like an awkward position to sit in. Her legs had never been so far apart before. Connor was right, though, her dress had risen up to around her ankles, so that a little of her stocking covered legs were visible.

Connor didn’t seem fazed though. He’d had a sister after all, he probably thought of Sabine the same way. “How do ye feel?” he asked as he fixed her other foot in the stirrup.

Funnily enough, she felt more in control of Puissant then ever. She could feel both sides of her strong body as she breathed. She knew that with one kick of both her heels she would move and with this control she knew she would be able to feel Puissant really fly.

“This is incredible,” she breathed with a huge smile on her face.

Connor laughed as he rubbed Puissant’s nose. “I promise ye, once you’ve felt a horse like Puissant go at her fastest, ye won’ want to ride any other way.”

Sabine didn’t doubt it. Just as she was about to take off, she heard her name being called.

“Lady Sabine.”

Sabine turned to see a footmen in his dinner livery standing twenty feet from them, looking very curious. She wanted to flush red when she saw his small, green eyes flash to her exposed ankles. Just as she was about to try to cover up, an intuitive Connor stepped in front of her, making sure he couldn’t see her.

“Yes?” she said, trying to sound confident.

“Lady Southerby has asked me to inform you that there is to be a guest for dinner and that you are to dress your best,” he said formally.          

Sabine furrowed her eyebrows. Her family didn’t usually entertain. “Do you know who the guest is?”

“Mr Percival Rochester, milady,” he replied. “He’s expected at seven o’clock.”

Sabine resisted rolling her eyes. If there was one person on earth more boring than she was, it would be Mr Percival Rochester. Not only was he boring, he was pompous. He was about ten years older than Sabine and was one of her father’s business acquaintances. He’d never publically announced his interest in Sabine but she knew he liked her. The only man that fancied her was one that she would never consider. “Thank you,” she said as she forced a smile. “Tell mama I shall be up presently,” she instructed.

The footman retreated and made his way briskly back towards Southerby House.

“Who is Percival Rochester, if ye don’ mind my asking, milady,” Connor asked, looking up at Sabine. She couldn’t read his expression, his dark eyes were blank.

“Nobody,” she said hurriedly. “Thank you for covering my ankle by the way, he was making me feel uncomfortable.”

Connor flashed her a crooked smile. “You’re welcome, milady. I don’ appreciate gawking.” He held out his hand to her to help her down.

Sabine accepted it and he helped her slide of Puissant’s back, this time his hands securing around her waist. He didn’t let her go straight away and she met his eyes timidly. He didn’t give anything away, she had no idea what he was thinking.

“Your rich suitor awaits ye, milady,” he said without his usual comical tone. “Ye don’ want to keep him waiting.”

Sabine nodded. “I suppose he is. He’s not my suitor though, I don’t think of him in that way,” she stammered.

“Ye don’ need to explain anything to me, milady. I know my place. I’m just a stable hand after all,” he shrugged and turned away from her, leading Puissant away.

Sabine was left there standing alone. She watched Connor disappear into the stables curiously. She didn’t know what to think. She was utterly baffled.

She took a deep breath and looked in the direction of the house. Before she could properly give thought to anything, she had to endure dinner.  

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Hope you like it :)

Photo on the side is how I imagine Connor to look :)

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