Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

“How kind of you to think of me and my long-term happiness, Miss Parker. It’s almost as if you’re winning my brother over just to save me from a lifetime of misery. I’m much obliged.”

“I’m always thinking of others.”

“People who say they’re always thinking of others are usual y thinking of themselves.”

Chloe sighed. As if she wil ed Sebastian to do it, he turned his horse away from Grace’s and cantered toward her, tipping his hat. She went al aflutter, and certain swaths of her skirt unfolded.

“Have fun on the trail,” she said to Henry. She brought her horse to a walk and left Henry in the dust. She patted Chestnut and gave a nod to Mrs.

Crescent and Fifi under a tree on the sidelines.

“Ready for the hunt?” Chloe asked Sebastian. His designer stubble glistened in the morning sun.

He shook his head. “I’m not real y a hundred percent. I’ve been rather out of sorts since the night of the dinner party. One of my French cooks kept the cream off the ice too long, and it went bad.”

Chloe’s mouth fel open. “I was sick the night of the dinner party, too.”

“You were? I think we were the only two. I’m so sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”

“It only lasted a few hours for me.” Chloe wanted to change the subject, and quick. “Perhaps you can inform me, Mr. Wrightman, what exactly it is we are hunting?”

He smiled. “It’s only the smel of a fox we’re after, not a real fox. The hunt master lays down the scent and trees it at the end.”

“Trees the scent?”

“The hunt master wil end the scent at a certain tree and the dogs wil surround it, signaling the end of the hunt.”

They trotted toward the gate, where the hunt master and the rest of the riders stood ready.

“I do so love the chase,” Sebastian said as he adjusted his cravat. “Even if it is just a mock hunt.”

“Do you prefer to chase or be chased?” Chloe asked.

“Why he prefers to be chased, of course,” Grace butted in. “Isn’t that why we’re al here, darling? To chase you?” Sebastian looked out past the fence, toward the field. Henry slid his horse between Julia’s and Chloe’s.

The hunt master raised the horn to get attention and shouted. “I might remind everyone that fifteen Accomplishment Points are at stake in this race. Lady Grace, Miss Tripp, Miss Potts, and Miss Harrington lead with twenty-five Accomplishment Points each. Miss Parker has fifteen. Now, a scented trail has been laid out—along with some false leads and dead ends. Experienced riders may take the jumps. Others are advised to take the way around. Ladies are advised to keep pace with Mr. Wrightman and me if you can. Be the first to finish the race by finding the ‘fox’ and win.

Everyone ready?” He brought the horn to his lips.

Chloe tightened her grip on the reins. “Let the chase begin,” she said to no one in particular.

“I believe it already has, Miss Parker,” Henry said.

“Tal yho!” shouted the hunt master. He blew the horn, the gate swung open, and the hounds came hurtling through, barking and yipping. A pounding of hooves sent a spike of determination up Chloe’s back.

She gripped the reins, doing her best to stay on Sebastian’s tail for what seemed like forever, until the hounds howled, the hunt master blew the horn, and the pace increased. Her riding hat flew off, and the ribbons chafed her neck, until final y she released one of her tight fists from the reins and untied the hat, letting it soar into the thicket.

Sebastian looked back at her and winked. He didn’t have to ride sidesaddle, so he was able to go increasingly faster. Stil , she gained on him with Chestnut. Grace’s horse huffed and snorted right behind her, but Chloe knew better than to look back and lose any rhythm. The camera crew drove alongside them on ATVs.

Final y she caught up to Sebastian and leaned over, tapping him on the butt with her riding crop.

“Caught you!” she shouted.

He flashed a smile and spurred his horse to go even faster. Suddenly he turned, driving his horse off trail into the thick of the forest. Far ahead, the hunt master had stopped, his horse pointing in the direction of the yipping hounds, his hat signaling the turn.

Chloe hesitated just long enough for Grace to lunge ahead of her. Julia charged past, too. Kate and Gil ian were stil behind her, but Chloe realized she’d fal into second, then third, and then no place at al .

She kicked Chestnut, spurring him on, gaining on Grace, and final y passing her. But where was Sebastian? She saw his horse’s backside way up ahead, and the horse seemed to be doing a jump. She couldn’t do a jump, she’d have to go around, but she’d lose time. She leaned into the horse and squinted, making out a long tree trunk stretched over two stumps. Chloe’s neck tightened as she bore down to steer him around it—but she had waited too long and Chestnut stumbled.