Her Grace's Stable: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 2 Read Online Free

would surely regret having to call the sheriff if I find any more ponies being mistreated.”
    “You can take that up with the boss.” But the way Jemm shrugged indicated his opinion on how welcoming she’d be to the inquisitive. “I doubt you’d care to have the sheriff digging around in your stable now, would you, Your Grace?”
    She smiled, icy and so damned hard her face felt like it would shatter. “Indeed, Benton’s most welcome to tour my stable anytime she wishes. Any mistress—or master, for that matter—knows that ponies can have delicate constitutions. A beating is inhumane and uncalled for.”
    “I hope you still think so once that bloody stud kills one of your people. He’s done that, Your Grace. He tore one of the handlers apart the first night we acquired him. Watch yourself around him, or you might find your pretty face shattered by his…er…hooves.”
    “Perhaps he didn’t like your method of acquisition.” She stood to indicate an end to this unpleasant interview. “I’d have gleefully killed the bastard who did such damage to him last night. It’d be a shame to have to castrate such a fine stud due to your negligence.”
    It galled to pay a man who’d at least been a witness to that kind of torture on another human being and done nothing to prevent it, but Violet had no choice. At least she’d hopefully secured an invitation to a future event where she could see the auctions firsthand. If they were as appalling as she feared, she’d have no choice but to put an end to the business once and for all.
    As the man left clinking his gold, the sheriff sighed. “I have a feeling that this isn’t the end of some very unsavory business. I don’t know what kind of mischief you caught that man in, Your Grace, but I don’t like him. Not one bit.”
    “Me neither, Benton. We might have to get Her Majesty involved if his business is as bad as I fear.”
    “I’ve never said anything bad about the Blackmyres.” Benton met her gaze unflinchingly. “Some gossiped that the late Duke had too much interest in his stable. I don’t know exactly what that means nor do I care. People have a right to privacy as long as there’s no wrongdoing involved. I just wanted you to know, Your Grace, that I disapproved of the late Dowager Duchess’s treatment of you. Everyone always said she’d married so far beneath her that it shamed the family name, but I say she had no one to blame but herself. Taking her regrets out on her only child was not only wrong but ridiculous, in my opinion. Your father might have been lowborn compared to Her Grace, but I’ve never met a finer man. If you gained your interest in horses from him, then more power to you. If you need law on your side, you can count on me.”
    Before Violet could shut her mouth and frame a reply, Benton tipped her hat and strode out the door. She’d laugh out loud if she didn’t have tears pooling in her eyes. Some of her fondest memories of her father were with horses. When Tiernan Kelly Meacham had walked into the stable, every single horse would nicker a welcome. He’d spoken to the horses like they were people and she’d sworn they’d understood every single word.
    Some gossiped that the late Duke had too much interest in his stable.
    Which is exactly why Mama hated him—and me—so much.

Chapter Three
    Jerking awake in a cold sweat, Arthur seized whoever hovered nearby and prepared to rip the attacker apart.
    “You’re safe,” Cole whispered, albeit raggedly since Arthur had his throat gripped in his hand. “You’re dreaming.”
    If only the past weeks could be just a bad dream. If only he hadn’t returned to Britannia on a short but necessary leave. If only he hadn’t admitted his secret desires to anyone. If only…
    Releasing Cole was surprisingly difficult. The non-threatening human contact was warm, safe and comforting like nothing he’d known in years. Even if from another man.
    “Are you in pain?” Cole asked.
    He closed