“Yes,” I agreed. But what if Ollie had seen? What would he think of my behavior? What wouldMamathink?
I pulled back harder on the reins and did not let up until my horse had slowed to a safe and proper walk. “We should return our horses to the stables,” I said.
Damon looked up. Clouds covered the sky, but they did not appear to be heavy with rain. In fact, they were rather light in color, like cream-whipped potatoes. He lifted a brow in question.
“There is no one near to witness our charade,” I explained, “so we need not endure any more time in each other’s company.”
“Is that what we were doing?” Damon straightened in his saddle. And with a curt nod, he abruptly turned Ares, and we started back the way we’d come.
Chapter Ten
Rain pelted the library window.The Winfields had a diverse and large book collection. They even had a copy ofGuy Mannering—the sequel toWaverley—which I’d enjoyed the previous year. I sat on the cushioned window seat and opened the book in my lap.
As I read the first page, I relished the feeling of escaping into Henry Bertram’s world. Only, I couldn’t fully focus on the story. Was it true that I made myself small for Ollie as Damon claimed? I didn’t think so, but I had to admit that I’d been excited to ride the stallion until Ollie said it wasn’t proper. But he had been correct—a stallion surpassed my skill level—so my choosing not to ride the animal hardly proved anything.
Satisfied, I smoothed open my book and reread the first sentence.
But something still tugged at me. I didn’t like that Damon thought poorly of me. Even if I’d ridden the stallion, I would not have been the victor of our little race. I was unfamiliar with the horse, the terrain, and—Why did I even care what Damon thought?
Perhaps I wasn’t bothered because of Damon’s accusations, but rather because I cared about Ollie. The hurt in his eyes when he left the stable would haunt my dreams for a long while.
Though I didn’t relish his pain, I admired the way he wore his heart on his sleeve. Why hadn’t I been able to voice that quality to Damon earlier? Perhaps because there were so many things I loved about Ollie. Not only was he handsome, but he had a terrific sense of humor. No one else could make me laugh the way he did. He was intelligent, thoughtful, and kind; honest, articulate, and charming. The next time Damon asked what I saw in Ollie, I would be ready to recite him a long list of his fine qualities.
I setGuy Manneringaside and looked out the window. The garden outside was only barely visible in the fading light, but I could make out the outline of the hedgerows. A memory brushed across my mind of Ollie and me running through the garden. I circled Mama’s emerald ring on my finger, thinking about what Papa had told me about Mama. How she and Lady Winfield had sat in this very window seat, watching Ollie and me running through the hedgerows and dreaming about us one day marrying.
I let the curtain fall back into place and turned away from the window. But nothing could banish the memory. It was like Mama had risen from the grave to tell me not to give up on Ollie.
Today had been toilsome, but this memory of Mama brought with it a renewed sense of purpose. My happy marriage to Ollie was her heart’s desire. No matter how difficult things may become, I would not,could not, let Mama down.
I set my book on a side table so that I could return to read it tomorrow and slipped from the library into the corridor. I quietly made my way to my bedchamber, not wanting to run into anyone and have to explain myself. When I stepped inside, Nora stood at the base of my bed, readying my dinner clothes.
“The country air has done your complexion well, miss. Shall I help you dress for dinner?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I wish to take a tray in my room tonight.”
She frowned.
“I have a headache,” I explained.
“I’d say more like heartache, but I’ll tell a footman to request a tray all the same.”
“Thank you, Nora.”
She bobbed a quick curtsy and quit the room.
While I waited for her, I removed my slippers and stockings, then set to work pulling the pins from my hair. I had just pulled out the final one when she returned.
As Nora assisted me into my night rail, she asked, “How was your ride with Lord Jennings?”
Onerous, I almost said, but I somehow resisted borrowing Damon’s word. “The country air is so refreshing.”
“And the company?”
“It was fine.”
“Oh dear. That does not sound good.”
“The ride was enjoyable. That is all that matters. Now tell me, how areyousettling in?”
