He really liked me.
I smiled smugly to myself.
“I see you’re coming to understand where I’m at,” he noted.
I looked at him to see him watching me.
“The Duke and The Novelist is a shit title, but I bet some publisher would publish it,” I replied.
He shook his head but did it with his lips curled up.
“How’s this?” I started. “I’ll talk to Prue, and I know she’ll be okay with it, then I’ll talk to Chassie about taking her with us to visit Ravenna. If that goes well, I’ll find some way to remind Tempie that I’ll be around for a while, I can keep my finger on the pulse, and if she wanted, I don’t know…I have to find a better word for it, but for now I’ll say…a break, she can take it.”
“Darling, you’re brilliant. That might work.”
I tried not to preen. “I have my uses.”
“You’re also no longer clutching the pommel.”
I glanced down.
“Holy hell!” I cried. “Look at me!”
“Care to try a canter?”
I wasn’t sure.
“Do you think I’m ready? I mean, I’ve only been on this girl for half an hour.”
“You know how to stop, so do that if you’re feeling uneasy.”
I could do that.
“Let’s go for it,” I decided.
“Loose reins, give her your heels, guide her behind me. She’ll follow.”
I nodded.
“Ready?”
Another nod.
He studied me a moment to be sure I was all good (he was so sweet).
Then he took off.
I did as told, and Noelle and I took off after him.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t uneasy. The first few minutes were a little hair-raising.
I could say I didn’t give up, and I kinda got the hang of it.
In the end, though, even if it was a little scary, it was still awesome.
CHAPTER 19
THE ABSENCE
