CHAPTER IX

Following Isabella Bendip's lead--as they rode together the next day--Alec pulled his horse in from a trot to a walk. He wondered what her motive for reining-in might be. They had just ridden through a village of gray-stone cottages, inland from Bendip Towers, and were coming out on the yellow downs, where he expected a canter. "Do you think it quite fair to Mrs. Hollister"--Isabella brought her horse closer to his as she, turning shrewd gray eyes towards him, spoke--"for you to be seen going about with her so mu…