I studied the curve of her smile, and the glint of sunlight on her skin. If I was not careful, I would have something to envy of that horse after all.
I shook myself of my admiration. If I didn’t keep a clear head, I would forget all that had transpired at the ball. Miss Kellaway only wanted my fortune—I couldn’t ignore that.
“Shall we all switch partners now?”
The demure voice of Miss Lyons came from my left. She and Edmund approached our makeshift finish line on their horses, with Miss Lyons leading the way. “I daresay the Steine will soon be positively overrun with the morning promenade,” she said. “But we may have time for another turn or two before it becomes overcrowded.”
Miss Kellaway agreed with a curt nod, but I caught a glimpse of sharpness behind her gaze as she observed her friend.
The tension between the two women created an involuntary tightness in my chest.
Miss Kellaway kept her eyes fixed on her friend. “You and I might ride together now, Charlotte.”
Miss Lyons laughed. “We ride together all the time, dearest. I should like to test my skill against Mr. Croft. I am quite competitive, you know.”
“I know.” Miss Kellaway flashed a smile, but it seemed false.
Miss Lyons didn’t seem to notice, her gaze sliding toward me. She led her horse up beside mine, and I had little choice but to set off at a slow pace, leading the way across the grass. Thankfully, Miss Kellaway and her brother followed behind us. It didn’t seem likely that I would be left alone with Miss Lyons, which was a relief.
I maintained our slow pace, giving curt replies to Miss Lyons’s questions. She seemed fixated on the subject of horses and competition, and every blink of her eye felt like some sort of trap. After a few minutes, she drew out her handkerchief,dabbing softly at the corners of her forehead. She held it loosely between her gloved fingers, letting it flutter in the breeze. “Despite how my riding skills have improved, I could never hope to compare to Alice. She is a remarkable rider, is she not?”
The compliment was surprising, especially since I had sensed such a great deal of animosity between the two women. “I suppose.” I couldn’t praise Miss Kellaway freely after she had compared me to an ungainly old horse. I cast a look over my shoulder in her direction, relieved to see that she was suppressing a smile. Had she heard every word of our conversation?
Suddenly, the white scrap of fabric slipped free from Miss Lyons’s fingers and danced into the air behind her. She gasped.
Miss Kellaway’s horse let out a sudden snort, and I turned in time to see the gelding jerk sideways violently. She grabbed at the reins, fighting to steady him before he reared his head and bolted down the grass. Miss Kellaway’s balance faltered, and she barely caught herself from tipping off the side saddle.
Her brother took off toward her. My heart raced, and I turned my horse in her direction, but Miss Lyons cut me off. “Good heavens!” She pressed a hand to her chest, scouring the grass below. Her handkerchief rested a few feet behind us. “Was it that little thing that spooked the creature?”
I craned my neck to catch sight of Miss Kellaway. Her brother had reached her, but she had already steadied the horse.
Miss Lyons’s brows turned downward, her eyes flooding with moisture. “I didn’t know horses could be so easily unsettled.” She blinked fast, wiping at the corner of her eye.
Edmund stood beside his sister, speaking in hushed tones to the anxious horse. There was nothing I could do to help, so I dismounted and collected Miss Lyons’s handkerchief from the grass. I wouldn’t dare assume that she had spooked the horseintentionally, but fortune-hunting women had been known to do even worse.
My jaw was tight as I handed the scrap of lace-edged fabric to Miss Lyons. Her tears were real. They glistened on the edges of her lashes, one even escaping down the side of her cheek. “My poor Alice. I hope she is all right. How careless of me! I am forever dropping things.” Her voice lowered to a soft mumble. “I hope I have not ruined her plan.”
I tore my gaze away from Miss Kellaway and her brother for long enough to glance at Miss Lyons again. “Her plan?”
Her eyes rounded. “Please forget you heard that.”
I scowled, resting one hand on the neck of my horse. “No, please tell me. What was this plan?”
“I cannot begin to explain it, especially not at the expense of my friend.” A light laugh escaped her as she brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “It was a very detailed stratagem, indeed. Today was only the beginning.”
My breath froze in my lungs. I cleared my throat as dread crept through my heart. Miss Lyons was not a reputable source for any information, I reminded myself. Yet the unsettled feeling refused to leave my stomach as Edmund mounted his horse and started in our direction, his sister riding shakily behind him.
A deep glare darkened Miss Kellaway’s features as she approached Miss Lyons. “You could have made me lose my seat.” Her face reddened. “You put me in danger, Charlotte! And you meant to do it, didn’t you?”
“Alice—” Edmund turned toward his sister with a subtle shake of his head. She clamped her mouth shut, but her eyes were still fiery.
“No! It was an accident!” Miss Lyons sniffed, wiping at her eye again.
Miss Kellaway scoffed, shaking her head. Her hands shook as she held onto the reins.
Miss Lyons’s pale brows drew together. “I know you wished to demonstrate your skill to Mr. Croft this morning. I’m sorry my handkerchief ruined your display. Even so, I think you have still somewhat succeeded.” She turned toward me with a questioning look. “Would you agree, Mr. Croft?”
My entire body tensed.
