by Sandy Raven
“Good morning!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “The day promises to be wonderful.”
“Get down from that beast right now,” he said with barely controlled rage. She could so easily have come off the horse, been horrifically injured, or even killed. He’d been afraid from the moment he recognized it was her on the mare.
“And good morning to you, too, Elise,” she replied, her grin changing quickly to a sneer. Then she continued to mock him as she imitated his autocratic voice. “I see you’ve started out your day in your favorite pastime. Tell me, Elise, how does the mare go?”
“Don’t get impudent with me, Elise,” he ordered, wanting nothing more than to take her over his knee. “You could’ve broken your neck. Or worse.”
At the booming anger in his voice, the filly began to step sideways away from the fence. “Temper your voice, Michael, you’re making the mare nervous. And, no I couldn’t have gotten hurt. This spirited mare is wonderfully responsive and a joy to ride.”
“You could have fallen.”
“And so? I would have fallen. I know how to fall, Michael. I’ve done so more times than I care to count.”
“Get off that horse.”
“I will when I’m ready. Not because you want me off or the horse wants me off, that’s for certain. It wouldn’t be good for her training.” She walked the mare forward, then backed her away from the rail, turned her away and cued her to canter across the field again. Then she disappeared onto the trail leading into the woods.
He called for a boy to bring him his gelding and to be quick about it. Within minutes, he was following behind her. Hopefully she had the sense to slow down. He didn’t see her, and his heart hammered inside him as he looked ahead for some sign of a fallen rider or riderless horse. There was none.
When he reached the wooden bridge crossing the creek, he stopped. Elise stood at the creek with the mare’s reins in hand, allowing it to drink. He leaped from the saddle and went to her, crushing her to him, to reassure himself she was indeed in one piece.
She turned her face to his and opened her mouth to say something. He silenced her with a bruising kiss. He intended to punish her, to teach her not to take lightly his feelings, especially when it concerned herself. But when her free hand wrapped around his neck, he became the one reprimanded. When she returned his fear and anger-filled kiss measure for measure, he understood. The things he wanted to discipline her for were the very qualities he adored about her—her passion for living, and her unconventional independence of spirit and mind.
He was falling in love with her. And that was why he was so frightened for her.
His hand roved lower and when he felt her bottom covered in leather breeches, he remembered this bit of unconventionality, too. Breaking the kiss, he looked into her face and stated flatly, “You are never to ride out like this again, understood?”
“No, Michael, I don’t understand,” she retorted. “Do you mean me taking a horse from your barn without asking you? Or not using a saddle? Or is it my wearing leather breeches? Because I have a very good reason for all of these, if you would care to hear them.”
“I don’t want to hear any excuses you may have. You are not ever to do these things again. You could have killed yourself.”
“Michael, I’ve been riding since I could walk. And riding astride for nearly as long. These breeches are made to my specification for exactly what I do. They provide better grip on horses’ backs than a saddle does. The horses seem to like it, too. They feel my seat and leg cues more clearly, thus understanding comes easier. I’ve found when training a horse, the most common mistake the human makes is not being clear in his or her requests. Once the horse understands what I am asking, I reintroduce each cue from the saddle and their learning proceeds in a less complicated, more natural way.”
He stood there, stunned speechless. “I never knew....”
“Michael, you’ve ridden horses I’ve trained at Haldenwood. Your chestnut in town, Attila, I trained him for you, Michael, because you’d shown interest in him.”
That was the horse Ren had refused to sell him because he’d originally wanted it for his own. While his friend was in Morocco, the Caversham groom had sold him the horse, saying his master decided to sell the horse before he sailed.
He groaned with sudden realization. “That was you with Old Ned at Monument Corner the day of the sale.”
It wasn’t a question, rather an observation made several years too late. Elise just nodded. As she did, his heart fell. Understanding slowly dawned and it both relieved him and angered him. Relieved that she obviously was more skilled than he’d ever known, and angered because this information was kept from him, though he understood why Ren did so. If the society matrons knew this about her, it could ruin her. Ladies simply did not ride astride, most especially without the use of a saddle.
Michael remembered how quiet and obedient Attila was, and gave up, deflated, his last argument nullified.
“Michael, Ren will tell you, that I’m good at what I do. In fact, I’m surprised he never has.”
“Perhaps it’s because he thought to protect your reputation.”
“Poppycock! No one pays a bit of attention to me or what I do. Why, I believe that until Marcus’ christening, half the ton didn’t even know I existed.”
“You’ve been allowed free rein too long, Elise.” His voice sounded weary, even to himself. He feared first for her safety, then for her being shunned by society. “Now you must think about your future and the future of our children. Your eccentric ways need tempering. I’m not saying you have to stop doing the things you love and being the vivacious young woman you are, but....” His voice was strained. Pained even. “I know what it is like to grow up in the shadow of scandal. It isn’t something I’d wish for our children.”
Elise’s brows came together as she squeezed her eyes shut. In the silence, Michael could see she struggled with some decision, as she was quiet for a moment. She heaved a deep, shaky sigh before turning those beautiful golden-brown eyes up to him. “I might be willing to concede to some of your points, but only while in town. When I am at home, in the country, I will continue as I have. It’s what I do, Michael. I don’t know anything else. I’m easily bored indoors. I’m hopeless at the pianoforte, I’ve tried. I also cannot sing or paint watercolors. And if that isn’t enough, my embroidery skills are wretched.” She wiped at something on her cheek and sighed. “So I suggest that if those are qualities you seek in a wife, then you need look elsewhere, because I can’t fulfill your requirements.”
If he ordered her to not to ride astride or wear breeches, she would only disobey him. With a sigh, he said, “Never in town and only when I am with you. Agreed?”
She was silent, refusing to acquiesce. Well, he didn’t care if she agreed or not. He was doing this for her own good.
“Also, please refrain from this behavior while my mother is here. I want her to think you a perfect countess—not judge you as too young and impulsive.”
A rumbling in his stomach reminded him they’d missed breakfast. “Let’s get back. I’m hungry.”
Rather than ride, they walked back to the barns, giving both of them time to collect themselves before running into the children or his sister.
After they breakfasted, Elise and Michael took the children for a ride in the field behind the main barn where she’d ridden earlier. Elise was surprised to learn that the two older girls had their own ponies at Woodhenge, a gift from their Uncle, with little Sophia holding fast to a promise that he would get her a pony of her own as soon as her mother said she was old enough. When Sophia realized she would not be able to ride alone today, but only seated in front of her Uncle or Elise, she began to cry and ask to go back to the house. Her sisters were willing to let her leave, rather than include their youngest sibling. So Elise shared a secret with Sophia, then took the little one by the hand and went back into the barn. They returned a few minutes later with an aged gelding devoid of saddle. Elise ha
d also removed her skirt, and was again in her breeches.
“Once I’m up, lift your arms to me, Sophia.”
Michael trotted up, intending to stop her, afraid his niece would get injured.
“Nonsense, I’ve done this for years with my own sister, and Lucky too,” she said. “Watch her, Michael. Her face will light up when she believes she’s the one in control of the horse. Believe me, she’ll enjoy herself so much, we’ll have a hard time getting her off the horse. Even better, her sisters will be envious.”
“If she falls, Christina will....”
“My arms will be around her, and I will be in control of the horse the entire time,” she reassured. “Now, please do your part and keep the other two away from us for a few minutes.”
She felt his eyes bore into her as she swung onto the gelding’s back, then easily lifted his niece, setting the child in front of her. She spoke to Sophia and as she did, she walked the horse around in small circles. Once the girl was comfortable, Elise handed the reins over to Sophia and allowed her to ‘steer’ the horse.
What Sophia didn’t know and couldn’t have known, was that Elise was in control the entire time, effectively using her body to guide the horse in the directions Sophia wanted to go. After twenty or so minutes, she even had Sophia drop the reins and hold her arms out to her side.
The child giggled as she learned to keep her balance without Elise holding onto her. The little one was a wonderful pupil, she thought. One day, she and Michael would have children and she’d teach them the same way she taught Sarah, Lucky, the other children at Haldenwood, and now Sophia.
They went to the far end of the field where Michael rode with Sophia’s sisters. Elise met his gaze and returned his smile. His look sent a warm shiver coursing through her. She thought of the night before and decided she couldn’t wait for the day she could ride like this with their sons and daughters.
“Look at me, Uncle! No hands!” The child held her arms out and so did Elise, mimicking the actions of the little one in front of her.
Michael knew that at any moment the animal could spook and they might both be hurt, which was the root of his worry. Horses at best were controlled energy on four feet, at worst uncontrollable and dangerous killers. They were livestock one used to get from one place to another, sometimes in a fashionable manner.
During the past few hours, he’d learned what an excellent horsewoman she was, and his respect for her was growing, still he worried for her safety. Now that he realized he cared for her deeply, he didn’t want to think of the possibility of losing her.
He hated this helpless feeling as he realized he was falling in love with her.
And it was love, without a doubt. The foundation was there. He was attracted to her as he’d never been attracted to a woman before. His respect for her grew by the hour. Not just as an equestrienne because it was obvious she was talented just from witnessing what he had this morning. But he respected her as a woman, one who was strong enough to stand up to him and to her brother. She was a woman accustomed to doing the conventional in an unconventional way, to traveling her own path to happiness, never deviating from what she loved most, and did so uncaring of what others thought of her.
She was untouched by the pretensions of society and hadn’t learned how to feign the look of interested boredom so often seen in the women of his crowd. Her genuine mien, always honest and straightforward, never left you to guess where you stood with her. And he loved that about her. He didn’t want her tainted by the artificial games played by those considered his peers.
Mother. His mother would arrive soon. He didn’t know when, for Christina hadn’t said. But mother, along with Sabrina and her girls would soon descend on Woodhenge and he hoped to have Elise prepared for them.
He watched her come toward them, her arms now wrapped around Sophia. His niece held her arms out to her sides, showing off in front of her older sisters. But he didn’t concern himself with what the children were thinking. He watched Elise, the graceful way she sat this horse, and the one from this morning, as though each mount were an extension of her.
“Hello.” Elise stopped the horse and dismounted, leaving Sophia sitting atop its back.
He motioned to the stable lads to come forward as he dismounted his horse. “Hello yourself, minx,” he said as he handed his horse off to one of the boys, and another began to lead Sophia around the field.
“You looked far away. Might I hope I was in those thoughts?”
“You were, my lady.” They watched the girls ride in the small corner of the field, keeping an especially close eye on Sophia, though they were never out of reach of the girls should they need help. “You handled the children very well and my respect and admiration for your skill has increased ten-fold.”
Her cheeks pinked, and she lowered her gaze. “Don’t be the blushing miss now! You’ve proved to me how wrong I was this morning. I acknowledge your incredible skill.”
She scraped a booted toe in the dirt. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” After a moment’s silence, he said, “Elise, we are soon to be joined by my family and yours. Some of these people we love will have a hard time understanding what has occurred between us.”
“Like my brother.”
“No. Worse. My mother.” He hoped his mother accepted Elise as his choice for a bride. She was the person he most feared not accepting Elise into the family.
“I see.” She glanced his way then turned back to the children. “What does she know about me? About what I’ve done in the past?”
“I’ve never told her about your antics, but somehow she always found out. She was friends with your mother, and she’s stayed in contact with your godmothers all these years. Perhaps in their letters they informed my mother of your continued affections.”
“Wonderful,” she muttered. “She’s never, ever liked me you know. Ever since....” Elise leaned back against the stone fence, and closed her eyes, wondering if he knew what had happened. “Ever since I fell out of the tree and landed on her.”
“What?”
Shifting uncomfortably, Elise couldn’t face him so she stared at her foot as the toe of her boot scraped dirt. “You should probably know that I was the one who knocked your mother down, ruining her dress at Papa and Amelia’s wedding. Of course I ruined my own as it snagged a limb and ripped. If your mother hadn’t broken my fall I could have been seriously injured. I was pretty high up.”
“She never said it was you,” Michael whispered as she nodded. “And I always assumed the child of a servant bumped into her and ran off in fear.”
“I told her who I was. She was very cross with me Michael, and rightfully so. Though I apologized profusely, she still told Papa, who swatted my bottom then punished me for a month afterward. I was not allowed to leave the nursery at all. I could not ride, could not fish....”
“Oh, but you did. You even hid my horse from me the morning a group of us were going into the village to shop.”
Elise turned a bright shade of pink and looked away. “They could never keep me in if I didn’t want to stay punished. Please understand Michael, this was after I’d heard you tell Ren what you wanted in an ideal wife.” Elise covered her face with her hands. “Even then I felt you were describing me.”
Michael watched the children riding, and the groom leading an indignant Sophia, who insisted she could ride by herself now. He smiled, wanting several just like her one day. “After the trellis incident, Mother suggested that I stay away from Haldenwood for a while, to give you time to grow out of your girlish infatuation.” Elise groaned. “She means well.” He turned to face her, hoping to make her understand his mother’s position. “While she wants me to be happy, the specter of an old scandal and what it did to my uncle is not lost on her. My uncle loved an unfaithful woman. She cuckolded him while he was on the continent. He never got over it, nor spoke of it the rest of his days. I’m afraid she might see our relationship as a mirror of that one.”
&n
bsp; “I am not her, Michael,” Elise insisted, “and you are not your uncle.”
“If mother were to see you as I did this morning, her opinion would not change. In face, it would only worsen.” He spoke frankly, adding, “I don’t want her to think I’m taking an impulsive, over-indulged hoyden to bride. Elise, you are so much more than that. I know this. Please, let mother see the compassionate, intelligent woman you’ve become, not the child you were. It will go a long way toward making our future a peaceful one.”
She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek, and Michael could have sworn his heart stopped a few beats. Elise backed away and looked up at him from a safe distance, in case the children were watching them. “I will do as you ask because I love you, Michael. I have always loved you, and always will.”
“Thank you,” he said.
“I am surprised anyone who knew me could imagine that I would be unfaithful to you. Much as I’ve tried to keep it a secret, everyone in my family knows that you have been my heart’s only desire my entire life.” He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her, but couldn’t because of the children and stable staff within sight. “I just wish it hadn’t taken you so long to feel the same way.”
“Elise, if I’d done anything any sooner, I’d be one of the worst sort of lechers.” He relaxed, feeling more optimistic about their arrangement. Leaning back against a stone post, he pulled a long blade of grass from next to his booted foot and put it in his mouth. “I still feel... odd about this. Though I’m sure in time I will get over it.”
Elise heaved a sigh and started walking toward the gate. As her breech-clad bottom swayed, she looked over her shoulder at him and said, “Nothing about last night felt odd to me, Michael. In fact, it felt very right and beautiful. So I suggest you get over this reservation your having. And soon.”
He groaned as he felt his cock stir. Michael strode after her, catching up to her as she called for the children to come in. “Believe me, I am doing my best to get over it as quickly as possible.” They waited at the gate for the children to come through on their ponies. Michael met her gaze. “Your brother will be here soon. He’ll want to talk to you.”