A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing Read Online Free Page B

looks. Expected to ride sidesaddle — a societal norm she had no intention of following — she’d robbed Toby’s wardrobe, pretending to be him when she galloped into Exeter.
    Toby was Uncle Sebastian’s illegitimate son. Though the former earl had a reputation as a rake, he’d truly loved Toby’s mother, Celia Coopersmith, but the girl’s father bellowed so many objections during the wedding ceremony, the clergyman stopped in embarrassment. Celia moved into the Tudor mansion all the same, and then along came Toby. He’d make it up to her, Uncle Sebastian said, especially when Celia could travel again. And of course, no one guessed the life of a horseman like Sebastian Albright would end with him being dragged by a boot in the stirrup as his mount took a stone wall. The plans for Celia and Sebastian to wed in Gretna Green ended that day, as did Toby’s chance of becoming heir apparent. But being an earl had never been Toby’s ambition. He, like his father, was a horseman, and he intended someday to be the finest jockey in England.
    “I’m taking Papa’s gelding for a few days,” Ellie told Toby. “Papa won’t miss him, and I can’t bear to be here without Manifesto.”
    “Can’t blame you for that. It’s a grim future for me without him. I was going to ride that horse to victory in the Haldon Gold Cup. Nice whopping purse with it, too. Would have done the farm a world of good. My breeches are on the chair,” he added, throwing a shirt and jacket to Ellie.
    “Turn your back,” she said, before slipping on the garments. She secured the Fitzcarry pearls deep in a pocket, then stuffed her dress into the bottom of Toby’s closet.
    “Now I need a hat,” she said.
    Toby fetched a tweed cap.
    “No, something big, I have to hide my hair completely.”
    Toby eyed her suspiciously. “Why?”
    “I’m riding the public streets to Aunt May’s.”
    He grabbed a broken down tri-corn from a nail. It flopped over her cheeks like the wings of a crow, effectively hiding her hair. She secured the hat with a black pin through her gathered coiffeur.
    He scratched his chin and eyed her suspiciously. “When are you leaving? I’ll go with you.”
    “No, Toby.”
    “The hedges are filled with starving soldiers. I should come.”
    “I’ll ride over the moors.”
    “Well then, you won’t need a hat.”
    “Toby, I don’t have time for all this. Now, if you’ll be kind enough to step out of the way, I’ll go saddle up.”
    “I don’t like the sound of this … ” he said, moving to block her from leaving the room.
    “Step out of the door before I punish you with my fists,” she commanded.
    Toby laughed, but Ellie fixed him with her most dangerous look. It had been a while since they’d tussled, but she could hurt him and he couldn’t hit back. He humphed, and slid one foot over, shifting out of the doorframe.
    “I’ll look for you in a few days,” he said.
    “That would be just dandy,” she replied, and bolted past him.
    • • •
    A light touch of the spurs and Ellie had the gelding headed at a gallop across the moors toward Exeter. Jimmy James would insist on walking Manifesto so he wouldn’t be in a lather by the time they got him to the fair. With luck, she could beat Lank to town, sell the jewels, and get to the auction before the bidding started.
    At the next gate, Ellie didn’t bother to dismount and open it; she aimed the gelding straight for the center and felt his muscles bunch and release as he soared over the fence. Exaltation rose in her heart with him. A girl could do wondrous things as a boy.
    Trotting down Exeter’s cobblestone streets, Ellie pulled the gelding to a stop a few doors down from a jewelry shop.
    She wanted to double secure her hair under the floppy hat before entering the store, but a plump wench swept the walk nearby. Ellie waited for the girl to go inside, but each time she looked the chit stared at her and smiled.
    Oh, be gone with you,
Ellie
thought, growing