‘I don’t object at all. On the contrary, I’m glad to have a new opponent. Clearly, I just need to up my game.’
‘Then would you care for a rematch tonight?’
‘I’d be delighted.’
‘Excellent.’ She smiled and then bit her lip. ‘Although we’ll also need an early night. I want everything to go well tomorrow.’
‘I’m sure it will. And if it doesn’t, it’s only a fair.’
‘But it’s my first fair as the marchioness. I’d like for it to be a success.’ She glanced nervously up at the sky. ‘I just hope the weather stays nice. Those clouds this morning were a little alarming.’
‘Don’t worry. It never rains on fair day.’
She swivelled towards him. ‘Never?’
‘So my father told me. There was some mild alarm in 1784 when a single grey cloud was spotted on the horizon, but other than that, it’s taken place in glorious sunshine for the past eighty-five years.’
‘“A single grey cloud in 1784”?’ She lifted her eyebrows incredulously. ‘Are you making that up?’
‘As strange as it sounds, no.’ He chuckled. ‘So the odds are, it’ll be another beautiful day. And speaking of beautiful…’ he drew rein as they crested a hill ‘…there they are. Red Devons.’
‘Oh, they’re magnificent,’ Florence breathed, sitting back in her saddle as she took in the view of rolling green fields and deep ruby-red cattle. ‘They look like a fine herd.’
‘I’m glad you think so. As I recall, Sewell warned me they might cause ladies to swoon.’
‘To be fair, they are rather large. I suppose they could be a little intimidating for anyone who wasn’t raised around them, although I don’t see why the statement only applies to ladies.’ She drew in a deep breath and then let it out again slowly. ‘It really is beautiful here. The view from the house is so flat, it stilllooks strange to me, but this is much better. It makes me feel less homesick.’
‘You’ve been homesick?’ He moved his horse a little closer, his voice edged with concern.
‘A little. My family are so far away.’ She rubbed a hand quickly across her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. ‘I know it sounds odd, considering what I apparently did in order to come here, but I suppose I didn’t appreciate just how much I’d miss them until it was too late.’
‘I’m sorry.’ He rubbed a hand over his chin. ‘I’m also afraid I can’t do anything about the flat views from the house, but maybe I can offer you something else. You said that your farm was near Brampton, did you not? In the middle of the country?’
‘Yes.’
‘In that case, I think I can show you a view your home doesn’t provide.’
‘It’s not a Roman wall, is it?’ She managed a sidelong smile. ‘Because we have one of those.’
‘It’s not a wall.’ He picked up his reins again. ‘Quite the opposite. Follow me.’
‘It’s spectacular.’ Florence stood on the beach, gazing out at the wide expanse of water before twisting her head to take in the white chalk cliffs behind them. ‘I haven’t been to the seaside for years.’
‘As views go, it’s still quite flat, at the moment anyway.’ Leo couldn’t keep the gloating expression off his face. ‘But it’s not bad.’
‘It’s not bad at all.’ She grinned at him. ‘I can’t believe we have the entire beach to ourselves. Shall we paddle?’
‘Paddle?’
‘Yes. It’s such a hot day, it will cool us down.’ She sat down on a rock and pulled her boots off, tossing both them and her stockings aside.
‘Sadly, my valet won’t be very pleased if I get sand in my Hessians.’ He extended a hand to help her up, clearing his throat at the sight of her bare ankles.
‘Ah. Luckily for me, Jane is in such a good mood now that Mrs Fitch has left, I think she’ll forgive me no matter what state I go home in.’ She ran past him down to the water. ‘Pity for you, though!’
‘Mmm.’ He made a sound of assent, though he was somewhat preoccupied with the view again. Both her calves, as well as her ankles, were clearly visible now as she tugged the hem of her skirt up to keep it out of the water.
‘How is it?’ He wrenched his gaze up with an effort.
