She saw the pleased expression in his eyes at her use of his given name. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. His eyes got an intent expression while focusing on her mouth, and desire shimmered around them. They were standing so close. Just a few more inches and his mouth would be on hers.
He had kissed her only once. That first day, by her folly. It seemed like such a long time ago. And yet the kiss was fresh in her mind. It made her lips tingle with anticipation. Why hadn’t he kissed her again? Did he not want to? She leaned in, waiting for the exquisite pressure of his lips on her, but he stepped back, breaking the spell.
“Ready for your morning ride?” he asked. The wicked man!
“Always.” She stepped closer to her mare’s side, and he put his hands on her waist. Again, that sizzling awareness. He had done this several times before, and yet... Was it her imagination that his touch seemed more possessive this time?
His muscles tensed, and she almost expected he was going to draw her against his body. But he only effortlessly lifted her onto the saddle, helping her arrange her skirts. Then, with a graceful but powerful movement, he vaulted onto his own horse. And they set off for the park.
The streets were quiet this early in the morning. Only delivery wagons and other workers. Most of the aristocracy still slept. The few who were awake, it was probably because they had not gone to bed yet.
They rode down South Audley Street and cut through Deanery Street onto Stanhope Gate, but when she made to cross Park Lane to reach Hyde Park, he called out to her.
“Not here.”
“I thought we were going to Hyde Park.”
He shook his head, drawing closer. “Not unless you want to be spotted riding with me.”
She dropped her eyes, not up to the challenge. Still... “This early in the morning, it is unlikely.”
“There’s still a risk. That is the preferred park of the Ton. Any English aristocrat who fancies himself a serious horseman could ride down Rotten Row. I have another location in mind.”
“Green Park?” she asked, continuing to ride down Park Lane towards Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill.
He actually laughed. “How is that any better? No, Duchess. Follow me, please. I promised to show you London beyond Mayfair. And that is exactly what I’m going to do.”
He turned his horse to ride down Grosvenor Place, the Palace Gardens, extending all the way to Buckingham Palace, to their left. At Buckingham Palace Road, he made a right, continuing south through Commercial Road to emerge by what had once been the place of Ranelagh Pleasure Gardens, now only a pasture.
“Are we going to Ranelagh, then?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” was the cryptic answer, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. He was enjoying keeping her guessing. And she was enjoying the game too, if truth be told. She couldn’t wait to see where he was taking her.
The impressive towers of the Chelsea Bridge loomed in front of them, and he rode towards them, with her following not far behind.
“Oh! We are going to the South Bank. Battersea, then. Tell me, is it Battersea Park?”
He threw her a smile of assent as they cantered through the bridge and turned right to enter the park. As soon as they crossed the gates, the atmosphere changed. The path, dappled in the soft morning light, wound its way through majestic stands of trees, their branches forming a tunnel of green high above their heads. The air was crisp and filled with the intoxicating fragrance of dew-kissed grass. A melodious symphony of waking birds drowned out the city’s hum.
In complete accord, they gave their mounts their head. The quickening staccato of the horses’ hooves ironically seemed to make time slow. As they meandered along, putting the horsesthrough their paces, glimpses of the London skyline emerged here and there.
As Gabriel had surmised, there were few people in the park at this hour, and none of them were members of the aristocracy. They could be in a different country, for how distant the Ton seemed from this enchanted world, even though they were less than thirty minutes away from Mayfair.
“This place is lovely. Thank you for bringing me here,” she said as they slowed the horses to a walk.
The lake unveiled itself up ahead, its mirrored surface reflecting the palette of the awakening sky.
“I’m glad you approve. It bodes well for the rest of the less than aristocratic entertainments I have in store for you,” he replied as he drew his horse next to hers.
She liked this teasing and playful Gabriel. It encouraged her to do the same. To laugh, let loose, be young and carefree again.
“And where are you taking me next?”
“Oh no, that is a surprise. What fun would it be if I just told you?”
“I’m sure it would not diminish my enjoyment of the activity in the least.”
“Maybe not, but how could I deprive you of the joy of trying to guess?”
