Page 49 of Riding High

‘I’d rather be branded,’ Jed whipped back.

Paul, the owner of the Goat, the village pub, stood up and held out his hand for Henry to shake.Paul invited Henry to take a seat at the trestle table opposite him, next to Eden, and Jed ground his teeth together.A few people sat at the table, the lady from the pharmacy, the owner of the bookstore and another grey-haired lady with hair so stiff a category-five tornado wouldn’t dislodge it.

All their eyes bounced from his face to Henry’s and back again.

‘We’re so happy to have you here,’ Paul said, unaware of the undercurrents.‘The late Duke didn’t show much interest in village affairs.’

‘I intend to change that,’ Henry replied smoothly, laying his arm across the back of Eden’s chair.Jed swallowed his growl.He was going to break his bloody fingers!‘The village and the Hall have been intrinsically connected for centuries, and I want to foster that relationship.’

‘Bullshit!’Jed muttered.

Henry pushed every one of his buttons at the same time.It didn’t help that everyone else seemed to like the guy.Even Mick beamed at him when she finally arrived, dropping into a chair, filching Eden’s notepad, and launching into full-throttle planning mode.

Thirty minutes in, the group looked shellshocked at her grasshopper ideas.Jed was about to call for a break when Henry– of all people– took charge.Within ten minutes, he had a clear vision and had assigned tasks, and annoyingly somehow everyone, including Mick, was letting him lead.

‘I think we got a lot accomplished,’ Henry said, looking around pleased.

And all of it within a short time.Jed didn’t want to be impressed but was.Damn, he needed a beer.Or better still, a whisky.

Eden lifted her head and raised a hesitant hand.The smile Henry directed at her was too warm, far too flirty.Jed clenched his fist when Henry half-turned to face her, his expression suggesting she was about to explain the mysteries of the universe.

The man had skills.And if he used any more of them on Eden, he might lose his shit.‘Would you like to say something, Eden?’Henry asked.

‘Um… just that you don’t know what you’re raising money for.People won’t donate just for the hell of it.’

Mick propped her chin on her hand.‘We could split it between the RSPCA, the British Heart Foundation and the Bancroft Foundation,’ she suggested.

Eden flinched.She clearly didn’t like that suggestion… at all.

‘Would you consider another option?’she carefully asked.

Everyone nodded.

‘There’s a collective of single mums in Southend who run a house for kids in emergency foster care.They’ve lost their funding.Without help, they’ll have to shut down or drastically cut back.It’s called Hope Harbour.’

Silence.

Jed’s gaze locked on Eden, noting the way she gripped her pen, the tension in her shoulders.This was personal and he wanted to know more.

Everyone was silent for a moment, taking in the horror of kids who’d experienced too much, too young.Jed wanted to know how Eden knew of this collective.He opened his mouth to ask, but Henry jumped in first.‘I’m happy to consider them.I like the idea of helping kids.’

‘I’d also like to know more about Hope Harbour,’ Paul said, looking at Eden.‘Can you get us some more information on the organisation, Eden?And if it checks out, I’d like to propose that the funds we raise be donated to them.’

Eden released the smallest gasp and placed her hand on her heart.Were those tears in her eyes?Jed squinted, but then she blinked and they were gone.‘Of course, I’ll do that as soon as I get home,’ she said.

Home.She’d called Elmsleigh House home.He sat back, folded his arms and smiled.If Eden had a connection to the charity she would want to help make the polo fundraiser as success.

Eden Ennis wasn’t going anywhere.Not for the time being.

It both pleased and terrified him.

* * *

This was it.This was the real deal.

The practice event a month ago had nothing on the high-stakes polo match unfolding at Cowdray today.It was another perfect spring-melting-into-summer day, filled with sunshine and a slight breeze that kept the day from being overly uncomfortable.After consulting Mick on what to wear and raiding her cupboard, Eden had finally settled on an off-the-shoulder, paisley-patterned maxi dress cinched in at the waist with a broad leather belt.She’d also borrowed a slouchy hat to keep her face out of the sun.

Eden, a glass of champagne in her hand, stood on the grassy bank, revelling in the late afternoon sunshine.It was the last chukka between the Castle Kings and a team whose name she couldn’t remember, and tension and excitement permeated the air.