Gart had to settle his charger down as the horse reared up, having been abruptly prevented from stomping on Romney. Kevin was beside Gart astride his silver charger, having brought up the rear.
“Gart!” Romney was jumping up and down, his focus completely on the pony. “Can I ride him? Can I please?”
Gart was dressed casually in a heavy tunic, breeches, big boots and a mail coat. On his hands were enormous leather gloves. He grinned down at the excited child.
“Lord de Lohr said you could ride him while you are at Bellham,” he handed the pony over to Kevin as he dismounted his charger. “What do you think of him?”
Romney was beside himself with excitement. “He is strong and fine,” the child gleefully ran up to the pony and began stroking his face. “What is his name?”
Gart looked over at Emberley, winking at her smiling face. “His name is George,” he replied, moving to the boy and lifting him up into the saddle. He put the boy’s feet into the stirrups and took the reins from Kevin, handing them over to Romney. “Do you think you can ride him?”
Romney nodded eagerly, kicking the pony in the sides to get him going. As the adults watched, Romney directed the pony straight through the flower garden, knocking over a tall stalk of hollyhocks. Emberley winced.
“Rom!” she called. “Take the pony out of the garden!”
Romney steered the pony out of the garden but not before tramping over several other bushes. Emberley sighed heavily, looking apologetically to Emilie.
“I am sorry,” she said. “He has not ridden by himself very much. I will make sure he stays out of the garden.”
Emilie waved her off. “No need,” she assured her. “He is welcome anywhere, even in the garden.”
Emberley chuckled softly, turning to Gart as the man stood there, watching Romney trot around on the pony. She greeted Kevin amiably as she made her way over to Gart.
“That was sweet of you to bring him a pony,” she said. “He has been pacing the floors endlessly all morning. This will give him something to do.”
Gart smiled at her, wrapping an enormous arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his torso.
“I could see this morning that he needed something to occupy his time,” he replied. “Without Orin and Brendt, there is no one for him to play with.”
Emberley nodded, watching Romney bounce around in the saddle as the pony trotted. “Have you sent your men for the other children yet?”
Gart nodded. “They left about an hour ago,” he told her. “They have strict instructions to ride hard to Trelystan, collect the children, and return as quickly as they can without causing the children undue stress.”
Emberley sighed. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “I miss my babies. It will be so good to have them in my arms again.”
“It will be good to have all five of you back in mine.”
They grinned at each other and Gart kissed her forehead. As they turned back to watch Romney, the boy kicked the pony a little too hard and the little beast bucked, sending Romney flying off onto his arse.
As Emberley flinched, Gart let her go and made his way over to the boy, who was picking himself off the dirt and rubbing his bum. Kevin spurred his charger after the runaway pony, corralling the animal near the main gates of Bellham and leading him back over to the little boy with the bruised pride.
“Are you well?” Gart looked Romney over, brushing the dirt off the boy’s back. “No broken bones?”
Romney shook his head, looking rather sheepish. “I… I was not holding on tightly,” he told him. Any excuse was better than the truth that the horse had managed to throw him because he was inexperienced. “I will hold on tighter next time.”
Gart simply nodded, unwilling to damage the boy’s pride further, as Kevin brought the pony back around again. As Gart instructed Romney how to mount the pony from a standing position, they began to hear dogs barking upon the wall. Bellham Place had several dogs, in fact, some roaming around the grounds in packs while others were used by the sentries. Three or four dogs stood at the closed front gates, barking through the iron grate.
Gart didn’t give any thought to the dogs as he helped Romney mount the pony again. Even Kevin wasn’t paying any attention. Emberley strolled upon her son, watching him adjust himself in the saddle and commenting on his proud stance on horseback. She suspected his pride needed some mending after the fall so she made a good attempt.
Romney made a second attempt to ride the pony, reining it in the direction of the open lawn area to the east of the garden. Gart took Emberley’s hand, pulling her out of the way as Romney tried to direct the stubborn little pony.
Emilie eventually joined them. As the four adults watched Romney take another try at riding horseback, a sentry from the gates came jogging over to their group. Gart heard the mail grating and turned just as the soldier was upon them.
“My lord,” he saluted Gart. “A party approaches the gates.”
“Who?” Gart asked.
“Papal standards, my lord,” the guard replied. “Blue, red and yellow.”
