Austin stood at the stable entrance, his gaze fixed on the stablemaster, and his expression unreadable. He was dressed for riding himself.
The stablemaster turned pale.
"Your Grace. I didn't…I wasn't…"
Austin stepped inside and the man flinched with each step he took. The horses went still and suddenly the air felt tense.
"Aplogize to Miss Ashworth," Austin said. "Now."
"Your Grace, I didn't mean…"
"Apologize," Austin repeated, "or I'll make sure you leave Ravenmoor and never return. The choice is yours."
The man swallowed.
"I apologize, miss," He muttered. "I was wrong. Please forgive me."
Instead of saying something to return the humiliation, to make him feel small as he had made her feel, she just nodded.
Austin turned to the stalls.
"Sapphire," he said. "Saddle her for Miss Ashworth."
The stablemaster hesitated.
"Your Grace, Sapphire is…"
"I know what Sapphire is." Austin cut him off. "Saddle her."
