His legs were small, and he could not walk as far as she could without becoming tired. Perhaps she should make a greater effort to explore with him.
He should know these lands.
“It would be hard to see the entirety of it without riding.” Alaric gestured to his own clothes.
At his words, Catherine caught sight of Oliver straightening. Clearly, Alaric had as well, because he asked, “Would you like to learn how to ride?”
Oliver looked from Catherine to Alaric, his lip trembling as he shifted from one foot to the other. Then he nodded. Alaric stroked his chin thoughtfully, green eyes studying the boy as if weighing him.
“It might be a little difficult for you, Oliver. We will have to find someone to teach you, and horses are rather large.” Catherine’s stomach dropped as Oliver’s face fell.
“It should be easy enough for the stablemaster to find him a pony,” Alaric interjected. “And I can teach him until we find a suitable replacement.”
Catherine arched an eyebrow at Alaric. “You would teach him?”
Alaric frowned. “You sound skeptical.”
“I am.” Catherine moved closer to Alaric, aware that Oliver was watching them, as she lowered her voice. “Does this mean you accept that he is your son?”
“No,” Alaric answered just as quietly. “Teaching Oliver myself makes the most sense. I am a competent rider, and the grooms will be busy. I am told that riding is something gentlemen are expected to do well, and therefore Oliver should be taught by someone who excels at it.”
“One is also expected to be humble,” Catherine pointed out, though she could not quite keep the smile from her face as Alaric’s frown deepened.
“Is it humility to deny one’s prowess?” Alaric asked. “That seems closer to lying to me, and I am told that is not acceptable either.”
“It generally is not,” Catherine agreed. “Except in some circumstances.”
“Such as?”
“When it would be rude not to.” Catherine cast around for an example. “For instance, if you are commenting on someone’s home and you think the décor tawdry, you would not tell them that.”
“Or I could simply say nothing at all,” Alaric pointed out, perched on the arm of the sofa and folding his arms over his chest, and exchanging a look with Oliver, who was watching him keenly. “That seems the best option to me.”
For a fleeting moment, Catherine thought Alaric was going to wink at the boy, but instead he gave him a small smile that Oliver returned sincerely, as if they were co-conspirators.
“Not all of us can play the dark, brooding duke, Alaric.” Catherine gestured to herself. “And such white lies are a vital skill to learn if you are to navigate the vipers’ nest that is theton.”
“The more I re-learn about propriety and society, the less sense it makes.” Alaric shook his head and winced.
Catherine took a step toward him and caught herself, hastily balling her hands into the fabric of her dress. “It is the price we pay for civilization.”
“So you say,” Alaric grumbled, massaging his forehead.
Before Catherine could say another word, she felt a tug at her sleeve. She looked down to see Oliver holding up his slate, with a freshly drawn picture on it.
It was of a man, a boy, a woman, and a horse. Catherine frowned at the picture, trying to make sense of it. To her surprise, Alaric spoke before she could even puzzle it out. “You want to ride with the Duchess and me?”
Oliver smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
Alaric canted his head toward her, his green eyes reminding her of a summer’s day. “Do you know how to ride?”
“I do. Though I am not sure that you will have the proper tack at the castle. I had to order things specially for the London house.” She saw Alaric’s brow furrow. “A woman needs a different saddle from a man. It is considered quite improper for a woman to ride astride. We ride side-saddle.”
“That sounds rather precarious.” Alaric folded his arms over his chest.
Catherine made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “What is a little danger in the name of propriety? Besides, women are not generally expected or encouraged to ride as vigorously as men.”
A look flitted through Alaric’s eyes too quickly for Catherine to recognize. “I see. Then I take it you will join us for a ride, so long as you have the correct equipment?”
