She stared at the message, her breath catching.A ride? With him?Her fingers curled slightly at the edges of the note.
He was her husband now, yes, but the prospect of a morning ride alone with him sent a strange fluttering through her. Excitement tangled with nerves.
What could he mean by this invitation? Courtesy? Curiosity? Or something else entirely? He did mention that he wanted them to be friends.
“Miss Evans, please prepare my riding habit,” she said, straightening. She hoped her voice did not betray the tremble in her chest.
Within the hour, she descended the stairs to find Theo waiting in the foyer. He was dressed for the ride, the sharp lines of his coat softened by the relaxed cravat and the tousled look of his dark hair. The morning light streamed in through the tall windows, casting him in golden relief.
“Planning to steal me away from my duchess duties, are you?” she teased as she approached.
He raised a brow. “And what might those entail?”
“Redecorating this brooding fortress of yours. You’d be utterly lost without me.”
“I begin to suspect I already am.”
Her brow arched, but she could not quite suppress the smile. “That was almost charming.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself,” he said, but his gaze lingered a little longer than necessary.
They stepped outside and made their way to the stables, the path still glittering faintly with dew. The crisp air nipped gently at her cheeks, and she inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of hay, earth, and high summer.
Their horses were already prepared—Theo’s formidable black stallion and her gentle mare, Belle.
She ran a soothing hand over Belle’s flank before glancing sideways. “You truly ride every morning?”
“Before dawn, when the world is quiet,” he replied. “The stillness helps me think.”
As she approached her mare, he stepped forward. “Allow me.”
April blinked. “I’ve mounted a horse before?”
“Yes, and you shall again, but let me do this one thing, if only to pretend I’m gallant.”
She gave him a mock-curtsy. “By all means. Gallant away.”
He reached for her waist, his hands warm as they circled her. She felt the strength in his grip, and for a moment, her breath caught. She steadied one gloved hand on his chest as he lifted her.
Time slowed.
His gaze caught hers, and then dropped, just briefly, to her lips. She swallowed. Her heart was no longer fluttering—it was tumbling.
She swung her leg over and settled onto the saddle, but his hands did not drop at once. They lingered, just a second too long.
“Do you always rescue ladies from their own stirrups?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light.
“Only the ones who might fall for me,” he replied and stepped back.
Her laughter came a little breathless. “That was very nearly scandalous.”
“Scandal keeps things interesting.”
They rode past the paddocks and out into open fields, side by side.
“Those stables out there,” Theo pointed out, nodding toward the structures near the horizon, “we use for the younger colts, ones not yet fit for the Gloucestershire operation.”
April shaded her eyes with a gloved hand. “You run operations in two counties? Impressive.”
