The stable man looked up, a light rising in his eyes.
“You can still help me, Your Grace?” he said, the excitement plain.
“I may not be as wealthy as I once was, but I still have my connections and associates. Fear not,” Marcus assured him. “I’m sure I can help you. Let us talk about it today.”
Alaina looked at Caroline, curious as she watched the way her friend was staring at David.
There is something there.
Evidently, Caroline grew aware of Alaina looking at her, for she turned away fast.
Without hesitation, Alaina went to her own horse and pulled herself up into the saddle. Too late, she looked around to see Caroline’s poor, worried face. Caroline usually had someone help her into the saddle. They looked at one another, clearly both realizing how odd it would look to this audience if Alaina got down from her horse and helped Caroline into her saddle.
“Want some help?” David asked, moving to Caroline’s side.
“I …” She faltered, blushing red once again. Before she could say any more, David had held out his hands together, ready for her to step into them. In one easy movement, she stepped into his cupped hands, and he swung her into the saddle.
Alaina had to bite her tongue not to laugh at Caroline’s impressed face. She urged the horse beneath her to trot forward so she could draw level with Marcus. She felt she blushed as badly as Caroline did when she looked at him.
“Do not look at me in that way,” Marcus whispered for her ears only, leaning far out of his saddle so he was just that bit closer to her.
“Why not?”
“Because you make me think of what we did last night.”
“Is that so bad?” she asked with a smile.
“Nothing bad at all.” He chuckled. “Only I’ll have to behave today, as we have an audience.” He nodded back in the direction of the two people behind them.
Alaina glanced back. David had pulled himself into the saddle with great athleticism, and once again, Caroline was staring at him open-mouthed.
I really have to talk to her about this.
“Ready?” Marcus called back to the group.
“Ready, Your Grace,” David answered.
Marcus looked at Alaina and winked. She knew that look. He was preparing to race her once again. She flicked the reins before he could and shot out of the stable, urging the horse to gallop hard. His laughter followed her, though she was confident she could still streak ahead of him.
She didn’t know where they were going but followed his directions when needed. He called to her to take certain paths, and soon enough, they were heading up through a forest, climbing a shallow hill.
At the very top, Alaina turned with triumph as Marcus pulled up behind her. He was laughing, shaking his head.
“I’m beginning to think I could never beat you in a race.” He then looked back. “It seems David is taking it slowly today. He usually beats me, too.”
Alaina looked at the nearby trees. She could see at a distance that Caroline was riding slowly through the trees. David was staying close to her side.
***
Marcus continually glanced at Callie as he laid out one of the blankets on the ground, his thoughts much on her. A short distance away, David did the same with the other blanket. Callie was already reaching into the picnic basket, gathering food together. She seemed to be the one passing to them all, handing food to the maid to eat with David before coming back and sitting beside Marcus, offering him sandwiches and pork pies.
“What do you think?” he asked as Callie sat down beside him. She sat in such a way that her knee brushed the side of his leg. He glanced David and Alaina’s way. Seeing they were both busy passing food between them, laughing as their hands brushed, Marcus took the opportunity to lay his own hand down on Callie’s knee. It was an opportunity to have a stolen touch when not being observed by their chaperones. She smiled at once. “Don’t tempt me,” he whispered under his breath.
She giggled and passed him another pork pie that he readily bit into.
“So, what do you think?” he asked again, nodding at the view.
“It’s beautiful,” she said with a sigh, turning and staring at the scenery.
