Olivia reached out to stroke the mare’s neck. “Hello, you beautiful girl.” She turned to the groom. “What’s her name?”
“It’s Clara, my lady.”
“Well, Clara, I think you and I are going to be great friends.”
Robertson moved next to Olivia. “My lady, may I assist you?” When she nodded, he lifted her into the saddle and held onto her small waist a moment longer than necessary before releasing her and vaulting onto Hades’s back. “Shall we be off?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
They rode out of the yard together, heading toward the meadow beyond the formal gardens.
“The estate is quite beautiful,” Robertson said. “I found a folly the other day. Would you care to see it?”
Olivia smiled. “I’d love to.”
“It’s just beyond that line of trees,” he said, pointing off in the distance. “Shall we race there?”
Much to his surprise, Olivia and Clara took off running toward the trees without waiting for him.
He gave them a bit of a head start before leaning into Hades. “Come on, boy. Ready to run? Let’s catch those ladies, shall we?”
Hades snorted and took off like a shot. His long strides ate up the ground, and he overtook Olivia and Clara before they reached the tree line.
Olivia pulled back on the reins. “Whoa, Clara.” She patted the horse’s neck. “Such a good run.”
“My lady, you surprised me!”
She glanced at him and smiled. “I hope in a good way, my lord.”
“Please, you must call me Everett in private.”
“Of course, Everett. I knew we didn’t stand a chance of winning against your magnificent mount, but I thought we could all use a little thrill.”
“Indeed. You ride very well.”
“Thank you. It’s been my sole pleasure for a long while. Which way to the folly?”
Her only pleasure? What had the lady been doing since she was widowed, he wondered. Perhaps she’d share more of her life with him today. “It’s this way,” he said, steering Hades to the left of the trees. “There’s also a stream where the horses can drink.”
“That sounds lovely. Lead the way,” she said.
The folly soon came into view. Columns held up an elaborate dome of iron latticework. There were also three stone benches inside, where weary travelers could have a respite. Lord Fleming obviously took good care of the grounds, and the flowers around the base were in bloom, scenting the air.
“It’s beautiful,” Olivia said.
“Indeed,” Everett said, looking at Olivia, not the folly.
Everett helped her dismount before leading the horses to the stream for a much-needed drink. He walked back to Olivia and took her hand, leading her to the center bench inside the folly. “I hope this is to your liking.”
“It’s one of the loveliest follies I’ve ever seen,” she said.
Her smile warmed his heart. The sadness that had clung to her since she arrived was momentarily gone. He wanted to keep it that way and moved to sit next to her. “Olivia, I adore your smile.”
“Thank you,” she said, a blush coloring her cheeks pink.
Robertson leaned toward her. “May I kiss you again?” he asked in a husky voice. “I might perish if I don’t feel your lips on mine once more.”
“Well, my lord, we can’t have that, now can we?”
