Sophie rose, chose a slip of her own, and roleplayed the part of Lady Macbeth. Nicholas guessed what she was up to before anyone else did, but he was enjoying her terrible acting skills so much that he didn’t have the heart to call out the answer and end her performance.
An hour later, when they’d all grown tired of charades,Nicholas was fetching himself a glass of brandy when Sophie appeared beside him, her brows furrowed.
She glanced around, perhaps checking if anyone was close enough to overhear them, and then asked, “Are you well? You don’t seem yourself.”
His gut flipped over as he sipped his brandy. Had he been that transparent in his malaise?
“I’m fine.” He tried to smile. “I miss riding, is all. I haven’t gotten out today.”
Hopefully she wouldn’t recognize the lie for what it was. It was true that he hadn’t ridden today, but after riding great distances over several days, he certainly hadn’t missed it. His bottom was grateful for the rest.
Her frown deepened. “Perhaps we could ride together tomorrow?”
A pulse of electricity ran through him. He tried to tell himself it was from the brandy.
It wasn’t.
Nicholas rose earlierthan usual to meet with Sophie at the stables. He didn’t bother getting breakfast first because skipping it meant an extra half hour of sleep.
A sacrifice well worth it.
He donned his riding clothes and headed around the back of the manor, through the gardens, and toward the stables.
Flowers rioted around him—pink, white, and yellow. There were a few he hadn’t seen before, and he wondered if they were species that Trevor had specifically cultivated. He seemed the sort of person to surround himself with the unusual.
Birds chirped from the trees framing the garden, and a few smaller ones pecked at the grass, searching for bugs. It was a temperate morning, but clouds overhead preventedthe sun from being too strong—a fact for which he was grateful.
He enjoyed a break from the usual bleak English weather as much as anyone, but there was only so much heat he could handle.
The stables were modest for an estate of this size, presumably because the family weren’t particularly interested in horses except as a mode of transportation. Fortunately, they employed capable staff. Nicholas had ensured the stablehands knew what they were doing before he left his horses in their care.
This morning, Sophie stood out the front with her blonde maid and a pair of stablehands, who were in the process of saddling two bay mares.
Nicholas arched an eyebrow as he approached. “No sidesaddle?”
Sophie spun to face him, a smile lighting up her face. “Nicholas! Good morning! No, I prefer to ride astride today, and since I doubt anyone will be around to see us, these helpful men have obliged me.”
He held up his hands, palms out. “Far be it for me to get in the way of that. I look forward to finding out how fast you can go when not as constrained.”
One side of her mouth hitched up lopsidedly. “I’d be faster if I had Dandelion with me, but we left her behind in London.”
Nicholas examined the mares. Both had gleaming coats and appeared to be in excellent condition. “I’m sure these beauties will be plenty fast.”
“They’re very steady,” a stablehand said. “Quick but not prone to taking off.”
“Excellent.” Nicholas rubbed his palms together. “I’ll need my horse prepared to ride as well.”
The stablehand who’d already spoken nodded. “Lady Sophie said as much. John is getting him now.”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
Sure enough, only a few seconds later, Nicholas’s mount was brought from the stables, already saddled. He nickered, and Nicholas strode over and slipped him a peppermint stick. The horse snuffled it from his palm and then nosed his pocket, searching for more.
“That’s all for now,” he said, rubbing the horse’s forehead. “Maybe I’ll bring you something else later.” He only had so many treats and needed to ration them enough to make them last until the return trip to London.
The mares were both ready, so Nicholas left his gelding, Pepper, in the care of the stablehand who’d brought him out and offered Sophie his hand as she stepped onto the box to mount her mare. Her hand was delicate in his, but her grip was surprisingly strong. He found it difficult to let go once she was settled in place, but he forced himself to do so and waited to help the maid onto her steed too.
He vaulted onto Pepper’s back, and together they urged the horses away from the stables and around the edge of the garden. He’d been warned not to allow horses to trample through the flowerbeds. Considering Trevor’s love of botany, it seemed sensible to do everything possible to avoid harming the flowers.
