“There’s no need, Mama. Anyone lurking with attack in mind will not take on two Amazons.”
They were soon in Green Park. “Ah, this is better,” Ariana said as she strode along a path. “Such an open space reminds me of the countryside, and a nip in the air is particularly refreshing.”
“You could have brought one of your horses to Town so you could ride,” Ethel said.
“It didn’t seem worth it for a short visit. I didn’t even bring a habit.”
“You could send for one and hire a horse.”
“I could. But I hope to... have this settled soon.”
She’d almost said “be home soon,” but she might never be home again.
She put that out of mind and they walked along incompanionable silence. It was enjoyable, but not successful as a husband-hunting venture. There were few people out at this time of day, and no riders. She’d find them when she reached Hyde Park.
Then Ethel said, “Who’s that short man over there, staring at you?”
Ariana looked, then turned to walk on. “Lord Inching. An unpleasant creature. Ignore him.”
“Not hard to do when we’ve turned our backs on him. But that’s not wise if he’s dangerous.”
“He’s not dangerous in that way. He simply has a ridiculous attraction to tall women.”
“Perhaps he’ll take to me, then. Think I could become ‘my lady’?”
Ariana chuckled, but then eyed her maid. “Do you want to marry? I’d not stand in your way.”
“I might, but no man has taken my fancy as yet.”
And you have all the time in the world to wait.
Ariana disliked feeling watched. She glanced behind, but saw no sign of Inching.There, see. Gone.
As expected, the open expanse of Hyde Park contained a number of gentlemen riders, some going at speed. Ariana watched them enviously, but also assessing.
A tall man required a tall horse, and a well-to-do one should have a fine horse, unless he was a poor judge of horseflesh. She saw a few riders who could qualify on both points, but discovered no way to meet them.
Run in their way and risk being knocked down? Hardly. It could risk death.
Eventually Ethel said, “If you keep walking, you’ll leave London entirely.”
Ariana halted and laughed. “Wouldn’t that be lovely?But yes, we have gone too far. Time to return to Brook Street.”
As they walked back, she continued her survey of the riders, wondering if there was some way to attract attention. She was admiring a particularly fine bay, when it turned in her direction. She realized that the rider was Norris—and in company with Kynaston.
Norris reined up, bright with morning exercise. “What do you think, Sis? Need a replacement for Torrent, so I’m trying this one out.”
Ariana stroked the horse’s nose and looked it over, trying to ignore the other rider, but unavoidably aware of him all the same. “Seems excellent. Have you had a chance to try it at speed?”
“Not properly yet, but I think it’ll do.”
Ariana really couldn’t ignore Kynaston any longer, so she looked up at him, assessing his state. Quite healthy, all in all. “Are you, too, trying out a purchase, my lord?”
“Merely borrowing. I don’t have my horses in Town at the moment. Do you not ride, Lady Ariana?”
“Ride?” asked Norris. “She’s a regular Nimrod!”
“You hunt?” Kynaston asked with surprise.
