“Only because he has good reflexes,” she said with a smirk.
“What did you do?”
Reese explained about the fan. “He’s such a perv.”
“But that’s not a cut.”
“I did that with the fan to get his attention.” She grinned again. “Then I told him we hadn’t been introduced and walked away.”
“I’m glad you did it then,” Jem said. “He cutmeearlier, and I just had to take it.”
“Did he?” Reese asked, her voice low. “What did he do?”
“Completely ignored me when Ellen introduced us, except for one ofthoselooks. If I ever get to play a villain, I’ll know exactly the expression to use.”
“Now I wish Ihadsmacked him with the fan.”
“It wouldn’t have been fair,” Jem said. “Men aren’t supposed to hit ladies.”
“In public,” Reese said. “You ready to go back? My bum is getting tired.”
They turned the horses around and headed back. She was feeling more confident in the sidesaddle. If her muscles hadn’t already been screaming, she’d have been tempted to see how she did at a gallop. Jem was always good for a race.
When they got back to the house, she had a ravenous appetite. Since Kaitlyn and the others had gone out, Reese and Jem ate lunch together after they’d changed clothes.
“Do you want to do something this afternoon?” He set his napkin on his empty plate.
Reese yawned, feigning more fatigue than she felt. “I think I may do some reading.” Had that been disappointment that flashed across his face? If it was, it was gone. She’d probably imagined it.
“It’s not a bad idea.” He held her chair for her and walked her to the top of the stairs, where he bowed to her.
Playing along, she curtsied before heading toward her room. She stopped and looked back over her shoulder to watch him stride down the hallway. They had already spent more time together in the last couple of days than they had in the past two years. It was easier—and harder—to be around him. Sometimes it was like they were kids again.
Now if she could just get her heart to not thump so hard whenever he entered a room.
Chapter 7
THAT DAY ESTABLISHED THE ROUTINE they followed over the next few days. Kaitlyn and Cyrus would go off on their own with Aunt Nellie’s other guest, Sir Jack Hughes, and sometimes other random people who seemed to drop in at Twickenham.
Since Reese found some of Nellie’s lady guests insipid and the men chauvinistic, Reese found other things to do at Twickenham, rather than risk causing problems. It seemed off that Jem also chose to stay at home rather than go out with Kaitlyn and Cyrus. Like his sister, he’d always been social, seeking company in whatever he was doing. Reese was sure that had been the motivation behind the many times he’d invited her to come along for some of his childhood escapades.
On the third day, Lulu had arrived before breakfast with the split riding habit.
“This is quite imaginative, miss,” the maid had said as she buttoned up the back. “I can hardly tell ‘tis not a gown.”
“Hopefully I won’t challenge anyone’s sensibilities,” Reese had said. “In the future, women will wear breeches as commonly as men do.”
“I have heard that, but I find it hard to believe.”
“Well, a world war changes a lot of things,” Reese had said.
The maid’s mouth had formed an “O,” but she’d said nothing, and Reese had left for the stables.
When she had mounted Honey again, her bum had been a little sore, but she’d adjusted quickly. The shift in position by riding astride had helped, and by the fourth day, she had barely noticed any discomfort. Jem had commented on how much better he felt every time they rode. Each day, their journeys had taken them farther abroad.
On Thursday, they came across Lady Ellen, who was also out for a ride.
“I am so happy to see you both again,” her ladyship said, her bright smile lighting up her face. “The days have been so flat since Aunt Nellie’s ball.”
