Page 50 of My Beastly Duke

Baron Wallace eyed him suspiciously before accepting his hand. This mistrust in his eyes was only briefly overshadowed by arrogance.

“There now, I think we can all enjoy a prosperous hunt.” Adam clapped them each on a shoulder before walking back to his chestnut stallion and mounting.

A moment of tension ensued between the two men as Aaron tightened his grip, noting the twitch in the other man’s eyes as he did.

Coward.

“We had better be off before the sun is too high in the sky.” The organizer of the hunt mounted his mare, bringing the standoff to an end as Aaron took a step back.

Viscount Morris nodded to Adam, acknowledging his request to shoot with the baron and his brother before pointing his horse toward the line of trees on the other side of the estate. His pointed mustache twitched slightly in the wind as he urged his horse forward.

Taking a few steps back, Aaron tore his gaze away from the baron long enough to notice the look that his brother was giving him.

Not now.

He read the message clearly enough before placing his foot in the stirrup and pulling himself onto the back of the spotted mare.

Adam urged his horse alongside Aaron’s as the baron made his way toward his own horse. Speaking through his teeth, he kept his smile fixed in place as he watched the baron. “You need to keep your emotions in check, Aaron. I know you want me to pummel the man into the ground, as do I, but we have to wait. We will be found wanting if there are any witnesses to our little drama, and Marina will not thank you for that.”

Flexing his fingers over the reins, Aaron steadied his horse. “No, I dare say she would not.” He saw reason in his brother’s words as he thought of Marina. It was because of her that he was about to confront a man who had been harassing her family. No matter how badly he wanted to shame the man, he needed to think of how his actions would affect her.

“Then let us not waste any more time.” Adam gave the reins a quick flick and dug his spurs into the horse’s flanks before setting off at a trot.

Holding back for a second, Aaron watched his brother following the baron before urging his horse forward.

The pack of hunting dogs set off at alarming speed as they japed and barked, announcing the start of the hunt to all who cared to listen.

Fields and trees passed in a blur as both Aaron and his brother kept close to the baron, clearing a stream and several bushes.

“Fox to the left!” The Viscount called over his shoulder to the rest of the party just as the dogs veered off into the bushes.

Acting quickly, Adam jumped at their chance. “We will take this one!” He veered his horse in the direction of the dogs before anyone else had a chance to protest.

Seeing the hungry look in the baron’s eyes, Aaron kept a close watch on the man as they changed course in the direction of the dogs’ howling.

It wasn’t long before the three men realized that the dogs had chased their prey into a section of the woods that was too thick for them to venture with the horses.

“Blast it all!” The baron screeched in anger, turning red in the face. Yanking the reins of his horse, he pulled the poor creature to an abrupt stop, making the horse snort in protest.

No wonder the bloody bird cannot stop swearing.

Aaron almost laughed at the thought before gently bringing his horse to a stop in the clearing. Looking around, he realized thatthe rest of the hunting party had left them far behind. Only a faint sound of japing could be heard in the distance when Adam nodded to his brother.

Dismounting in unison, the brother led their horses to the side of the clearing where they could be tethered to an old stump with enough room to graze.

“What the devil are the two of you doing?! We should be rejoining the party! All of the best will be gone if we do not hurry.” The baron was almost out of breath as he yelled at them, the corners of his mouth practically foaming with rage.

“We will have to carry on by foot from here on, My Lord. I do not think you will want to miss this fox if I am not mistaken, her coat was white.” Adam called over his shoulder.

Speaking under his breath, Aaron whispered to his brother as he went to fasten the reins. “A white fox? Don’t you think that is a little too much?”

“The old dunce thinks we can carry on by foot up an embankment, I hardly think he will catch on,” Adam whispered back before reaching for his unloaded gun.

Looking back at the baron, Aaron noted the greed in his eyes his tongue flicked over his cracked lips. He looked almost manic and out of control as he waited for them.

Flinging his fat leg over the saddle, the baron struggled to dismount before landing with a dull thud on the forest floor. “I will ask you boys to let me have this one. Only an experienced hunter such as I am, will be able to catch it.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow before exchanging a look with Adam.