He nodded, then reached for a satchel and pulled out a folio to look over the document inside. Ariadne took that to mean the conversation was over until he handed her the folio.
“This is the last set of records my steward set over about the orphanage I patronize. You won’t have time for it now, but look over the numbers when we return,” he said.
She flicked the cover over, and her eyes coasted over an array of accounts frameworks she was familiar with. Closing it, she nodded, “I will. Since you sent me that note, I must ask, is Lord Stromwell a patron of the orphanage as well? He did create this outing, after all.”
“He is,” Cedric nodded as he looked out the window. “We’re arriving.”
When the carriage stopped, and she looked out for a moment, she did not expect to see such a grandiose building. Through the great wrought-iron gates and into the courtyard of the estate, the two long buildings rose in stately symmetry, their brick walls softened by ivy, the roofs pitched high with dark and solemn slats.
She had seen stables before, but those were small and had a thatched roof, with a single entrance. Cedric’s establishment was so much more. Two large stagecoach carriages were parked on the drive, and she assumed those had carried the children in.
Chin up, shoulders square. You are a duchess now.
An hour later, Ariadne watched as the grooms led three ponies around the paddock with children on them. The other children were measuring feed for foals, and two girls were braiding a mare’s mane.
One of the grooms was speaking with a sixteen-year-old boy about working in the stables after he left home.
Cedric had disappeared into the stable’s office to speak with the manager while Silas accompanied her at the side of the paddock.
“Do you know how to ride, Your Grace?” Silas asked.
“No,” she said, “I never learned because my mother thought it was an unladylike activity.” She paused to laugh. “That idea is incongruous now as my youngest sister throws on a pair of breeches and goes riding astride whenever she wants.”
Snorting, Silas said, “That is how it goes for the firstborn, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose it is,” she said.
“You know, you can learn to ride here and now, if you’d like?” Silas offered.
Looking at the children bravely getting on the back of ponies still taller than them, she nodded, “I think I will. Thank you.”
“One moment,” Silas bowed and took off with a trot to the stables.
She watched as he came back, leading a golden mare already saddled and with a lead. He stopped near her while the horse shook her head and pawed at the ground.
“Your Grace,” he said. “This is Eliza, the oldest mare we have. She’s been used with adults who want to learn how to ride. Get to know her for a few moments.”
She gently stroked her neck and lightly rubbed her velvety nose as she cooed to the gentle mare. “She is lovely.”
“She is,” Silas replied. “She is the antithesis of Medusa, a hellhound of a yield mare who has a penchant for biting and threw a young woman before bolting off.”
Snickering, Ariadne asked, “You named a horse Medusa?”
“Yes, Medusa. She was originally named Sweet Pea, but she turned out to be a gorgon when the groom began training her. I am sure you will be an excellent horsewoman.”
Is he being nice or flirting with me?
“Shall I try now, or…” she fingered the fine leather saddle.
“I can help you up,” he offered while maneuvering the horse to her. “First, place your foot in the saddle and grab a hold of the pommel.”
As carefully as possible, she lifted the hem of her long skirts to cock the head of her boot in the saddle, while she felt his hands brace her waist. “Now, jump and?—”
“What the devil do you think you are doing?” Cedric’s dark growl pierced through her like a spear.
Stepping out of the office, Cedric was ready to fully introduce Ariadne to the head groom when he saw a flash of dainty, white stocking-covered ankles and up the sweet curves of her calves—and saw red.
He strode over and eyed Silas, “Explain to me what is going on here?”
