by Marie Hall
"No, I..." She managed to get her hand back, preventing him from lifting her skirts again. He lifted it away and, sitting up completely, shoved her skirts high but only on one side. He didn't try to roll her to her belly, either. Rather, he pointed at her exposed leg.
"That has nothing to do with your abilities with a horse," he ground out and reached like he meant to touch her. She put her hand back again, blocking both his fingers and his eyes. Again, he lifted her hand away. She instantly tried to cover the scars again. "Stop it." The command was all but shouted and came with a look that told her he was done. "This is not because you cannot ride." He set his fingers on the marred flesh, stretching them so that he touched all four of the worst marks left when she was impaled on the pitchfork. "This is because spikes were placed under the saddle. Your well-mannered Wednesday would have tossed you if she was set up like that." His expression softened. "I would be thrown if a horse I mounted felt such pain. This…" His hand smoothed down and up her thigh. "…is not a testament to your ability to ride. If it was, you'd not be able to ride Wednesday."
"I do not," Io confessed. She knew he wasn't truly aware she'd not gotten back on her little mare. But he also knew she did prefer to walk.
"You do not? Because she needs to be reshod?" She could only shake her head. "Are you telling me you haven't gone riding at all?"
"I cannot," she whispered.
"Io, when was the last time you went riding?"
"The day before you rode out to stop the men raiding."
"Just now?" He sounded so hopeful and she heard him groan when she shook her head at him.
"No, back when—"
"When Charlotte was here. Io, why so long?"
"I wasn't doing anything far from the house and then you gave Wednesday to Lady Sabrina and…" she tailed off when he sighed heavily and rolled to his back.
"We were supposed to go when I brought your new saddle home," he said, covering his eyes with his hand. "But—"
"Charlotte came back and Neville stabbed you, and then the week after your brother left—"
"The snows came, hard." She nodded again and saw him peeking at her between his fingers. "But, Io… these last few weeks?"
"I was using the cart." She dropped her eyes when he rolled back toward her. "I tried, but Wednesday—"
"What about her?" He put his fist under her chin and lifted her eyes back to his.
"She is not the same horse that you gave me."
"Io, that is Wednesday."
"No, I know it is, but she is not… she is different." A pain spread across her chest. Having been so completely hurt when she'd been told her little friendly, gentle mare went to slaughter, only to know joy like she'd never known when Xavier learned the truth and returned her. Wanting back the only horse she'd ever ridden, the only one she trusted not to stomp her to death, Io worked not to let everyone see the tears when the creature shied away. It became frightening to see the way the big brown eyes rolled back white when Io tried to groom her. She could still coax her close with a treat, but after taking it, Wednesday retreated.
"Io, I do not say this to deny what you are saying, so hear me out." Xavier waited for her to acknowledge she would, but she knew, because he prefaced it with the statement, he'd be telling her she was wrong. Still, she nodded. "You haven't used your horse in some time now. And if Sabrina was the last to ride her before she was sent away, well, I suspect, much like you, she needs to learn again the way it is supposed to be. What she knows now is people are sometimes cruel."
"I have been good to her since you brought her back. She does not trust me anymore." But she did wonder if the animal held it against her those bad things happened.
"It will take some time and some work, but we will bring her around."
"And I can walk until then?" Well, maybe she did get her way, after all.
"No, you will ride. And..." He held up his hand to stop her protest. "And you will be riding a few different horses. As well, I want to see your abilities improved. It does not suit to have you barely capable of only plodding along. And I think it would serve if you can take a horse over, not around obstacles."
"Xavier," she cried, horrified at the thought. "I cannot."
"No, you cannot, yet. But you will learn to." He again took her hand from her leg. This time, he brought it to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles before setting it down and covering her chilled flesh with his warm hand. "This is no reason to not return to the saddle, Io. This is no comment on your abilities to ride and control an animal. Even if it were, it is only a statement to your strength. And none of this matters, anyway. Because, even if in all this time, you have forgotten everything about how to ride, it is no less than you were when I first set you on Wednesday. If you must learn from the very beginning again, so be it. You did it once. You will do it again." He slid closer until his body was flush with hers. "You will do it again because you are capable, you do not quit, and if I had any doubt about such, I would never command you this. I would never risk you to harm."
She could hardly deny his words. If he thought there was even a slight chance she'd be hurt doing something, he forbad it and he wasn't kind if she tried to do it anyway. "You are certain?" She could feel the cold fading away, and he wrapped his arms around her and drew her nearly under him.
"I am most certain," he said, reaching over and drawing the furs around her. "No more defying my commands. You need to trust I am not giving them without consideration."
Io snuggled in. "You will not give them often?"
"I will not. You will obey them, mostly?"
"I will," she said, confirming again the vows they made to each other when they wed.
"This is settled now, Io. We will be all right."
Of course, they would be. They were strong together. And she relied heavily on that strength as he started her learning better how to ride. But the lessons came easily as most were conducted by him or he was there to watch and give advice and praise. Mostly praise.
Chapter 6
Xavier threw his head back and laughed again before bringing his horse back beside Io's on the road. "No, you must hold the reins firmer. Her head should be almost at her chest." He demonstrated again how to make a horse trot in place.
"Yes, but see, I do that and she…" Io pulled the reins in like he'd shown her, the mare, a bit feistier mount than the other he'd had her on so far, began to pull against the bit. "She does that," Io squeaked and let the reins go slack.
Again, Xavier laughed. "Yes, because she knows you let her have her way. You are supposed to tell her how it will be." He backed away a little. "Try again, and this time, don't give in to her fit." He laughed again at the searing look his wife gave him. He saw Io take a breath and then try again. "Now hold her when she resists," he advised and knew his words were exactly as he'd give them to any young man trying to manage a woman. He might be ashamed at the comparison, given how many men referred to their wives as old nags. But in his case, it was most appropriate because Io was as any wild creature was. She was majestic in her untamed nature. Beautiful for the freedom she found when she did things her own way. Xavier could sometimes put a rope around her and occasionally could rein her in, but it was a rare thing and always a battle. Worse, doing so stripped some of the light from her eyes. She wasn't meant to be broken. This little bay mare she rode, however, was, and as Io held her until she stood still and he watched Io's confidence rise, a rush of heat filled him.
The pride he had in Io was going to one day be his doom, but if the fall was to be the biggest in history, it was well worth it.
"There now, not too much or she will step backwards. A bit of pressure to her sides but pull back if she steps out." He waited as Io negotiated through the complex instructions and didn't give up when the animal's movements weren't as she wanted. A little adjustment of her own and the mare lifted hooves one at a time but remained in place. When all four again left the ground, he heard Io gasp. The animal seeming to understand the mess
age and began to move in a slow but steady rhythm. Io squealed with delight. "There, you see. You make her know what you want, and she will do it for you." He again came alongside her as she let up on the reins and the pressure to the horse's side. "Once you can do that quickly, I will see about teaching you how to ride more smoothly when you do it."
"My teeth were bumping," Io said with a smile as she shifted in the saddle and urged the mare forward down the road back toward home. "I do not see you so tossed about when you make your horse dance. I do not even see you move if you are on Cloud."
"Some of that is practice, but some is the animal. Cloud comes from a solid line. He steps very naturally. That makes riding him in any circumstance easy."
"But any creature can learn to be so natural in its movement?" she asked, and Xavier wondered a moment if she only asked in reference to horses of if she might wonder at a large matter. They'd passed a few people on the road, a few of the other ladies who populated his lands. He'd not missed how Io eyed them and how easy they seemed on horseback.
"Given time and training, any creature, no matter breeding, can be made perfect for its purpose," he told her. The words, carefully chosen, relaxed her features and put a hint of a smile on her lips.
They rode back through the gates and Io held off Liam, who tried to help her down. Even as Xavier dismounted and began to unsaddle his horse, he watched Io try to get the horse to step in place. It took two tries, but she showed everyone standing there what she'd mastered today. And everyone was quick with the praise, same as they'd been every day of the last three weeks.
"Io," Xavier called when she started to lead her horse back to the stable area. When she turned, he smiled, to reassure her of the work well done. "We are back early enough, see about spending some time with Wednesday." She smiled back and nodded.
A close inspection of the little mare, as well as a longer discussion with the grooms and the horse master, revealed some rather disturbing maltreatment. Sabrina hadn't just ridden Io's sweet little mare the one day; she'd taken the animal out on several occasions, returning her bloody from her heavy use of the crop. It was actually when Randolph stepped in and said he'd not ready the horse for Sabrina anymore, claiming her an unfit mount for the woman if such measures were necessary for a simple ride, that prompted Charlotte to send Wednesday to slaughter.
But now, like Io, the little creature was again gaining confidence the people around her were not out to do her harm. And while he'd make sure his wife didn't fall back into the habit of only riding the one, he'd be glad when she could again finally ride out, with confidence, on the little black and white horse.
He watched Io disappear around the corner then turned and headed inside. There wasn't much for him to attend as he tried on days he spent with Io to have nothing pressing that he might be distracted. Io didn't say anything overly dramatic most days, but when she did, what she said came out of nowhere and usually required his full attention. Though, almost every time she spoke of such things, it was during a walk. Perhaps, given how many times her revelations caused him to trip, his little scold might only be concerned she'd make him fall out of his saddle. The idea made him chuckle as he headed down the hall to his cabinet.
"A good day today?" Lucas asked stepping in the room as Xavier took a seat behind his desk.
"A good day and, like the one before, better than the last," Xavier confirmed as his knight and friend stepped up and held out a parchment.
"Seems the happier our lady, the happier the world," Lucas said as he moved to pour drinks.
"Yes, and well we remember it."
"As if Sarah would let me forget." Lucas laughed and handed the cup over.
"Another message about making sure Io is being seen, too?" Xavier mocked as he took a sip then set the cup down to open the message he'd received.
"Yes, only more urgent as Seth is not allowing her to travel here," Lucas said a little too casually.
"It was agreed to," Xavier almost shouted and made to grab paper and a quill to send word that his other knight wasn't to prevent the women, best friends, from seeing each other. Only Lucas' laughter halted him.
"I think Io will understand, and Sarah has sent her a letter explaining."
"Explaining what?" Xavier snapped. He wasn't about to let his wife's heart be broken by any pettiness.
"That until the sickness passes, Sarah won't be much for travel. She says it isn't restrained to the mornings." Again, Lucas laughed. "And she is letting poor Seth know she blames him completely for the misery. I did try to warn him off my sister."
Xavier took a minute to think about everything Lucas just said. The couple was hardly wed six months. "Sarah is with child?"
"If he was not such a good friend, I would punch Seth in the head," Lucas griped, but with humor. "And you."
"Me?" Xavier gasped out.
"Yes, you. You said when you sent them to Southtown, there would be a good deal of work to keep Seth busy. Clearly, you didn't make sure it was enough to keep him off my sister."
Xavier laughed so hard, he almost fell off the chair. "I doubt completely that any of what has happened his Seth's doing. Your sister is about as able to be put second as her friend."
"What exactly are you saying about my sweet little sister," Lucas said, almost choking on his own words as he laughed.
"I'm saying, had it not been for fear you would kill him, Sarah might well be coming to the end of her pregnancy by now, not starting it."
"Damn if that is not the truth. I think I knew she wanted him two days after she came here to serve Io. Poor man, he did not have a chance."
"Well, congratulations on becoming an uncle. Perhaps with Io back in the saddle, we might venture that way."
"If you convince your lady to go further than a half a day's ride from here, you will have accomplished more than improving her horsemanship. She will not go, but Sarah knows this; there will be no hurt feelings."
Xavier might have disagreed, but he did wonder now how Io would take her friend already having a child when they did not. Xavier, while surprised, found relief in Io's acceptance of her miscarriage. His wife didn't handle death well, but looking back, he took the loss much harder than she did. At least as much as he could tell. He'd not had a clue she was distressed over the presumed loss of her horse. She'd suffered silently, and try as he might, he'd not yet gotten her to voice her feelings on their loss. She would, someday, he knew. But not until she was ready.
Chapter 7
Xavier sat back and observed the hall. Everyone seemed in good spirits and some good natured, if not intense, roughhousing happened as the people boasted on the day's training or hunting. It was pleasing to have life back to the simple and easy. If he ever feared boredom would kill him once his usefulness to the crown faded, he no longer worried. Io kept life lively and full of surprises. He turned his head and looked slightly to the left and behind him.
Io and her group of lady's maids sat in a close circle discussing something rather intensely. He might be concerned if the discussion wasn't broken by squeals and laughter. Whatever mischief they were up to, it was hardly going to be much of a matter. It was most plausible they were planning some adventure where they'd need to be without Io's personal guard. Though it was still far too cold to swim, they sometimes wanted to escape into the further reaches of the orchards. What they all did there, he didn't know, and that was fine.
Io had spent her life without friends; she had some now who were fiercely loyal and protective. He didn't need to be overbearing on their activity. Add many of the women were being courted by the soldiers, even knights, in his ranks meant their own men would keep any foolishness well in check. As if to prove the point, Xavier watched Roth move from the group of knights he'd been talking with over to the ladies. Giggles and a warning to hush went through the group of women and a flush of guilt or perhaps lust washed up over Mistress Ann's face. A moment later as Io leaned in and whispered something to her, she flushed bright red and gasped, causing e
veryone else to laugh merrily.
Turning to the center of the hall, he again reveled in the ease he regularly found in this new life. He'd never envied his father or brothers their chosen domestication. As a younger man, he'd seen nothing appealing in the administration of lands and a house. Now he could want nothing else than this. He did hope those men, both here and at his other holdings, felt the same. He'd hate to lose any to want of adventure and need of bloodlust. He did think to perhaps mention to Io the possibility of taking advantage of her improving riding skills to set out and visit one or more of those five men who were, from the start, instrumental in helping both him and his wife get to this contentment.
Io's distaste for travel could perhaps be superseded if the destination was only to see Jon or Ian, being they were closest. And perhaps if he took her on such short trips and showed her they'd always return home, she'd be easier to convince to travel, see more than only the limited bounties of his own lands. But as more delighted sounds from those females echoed through the halls, he knew it didn't matter if he never again saw more than these walls as long as Io was here for his eyes to fall upon as well.
A disturbance at the far end caused a stir, and as men moved to secure the doors, Thomas pushed through the crowd and ran towards the dais. Xavier turned to glance back at Io, who was coming to her feet. He stayed her with a hand then turned back to Thomas, who came up panting.
"My lord," Thomas said, bowing. The very last of the formalities known in this house.
"Are you about to upset my digestion?" Xavier asked, but he tried to give the boy—man—a reassuring smile.
"I hope not, my lord." Thomas's cheeky reply almost made Xavier laugh. Good for the new chamberlain to keep with the preferred methods of rule in this house. "I only wish to give you warning that a messenger claiming to be one of Lord Deux Saunds' is demanding entry at the gates."