Brilliance sighed. “I am not the least interested in him. I am sorry if he sees some unintended encouragement on my part.”
“Men need little actual encouragement in my opinion. They want what they want, or whom they want.” She sighed. “Buttread carefully with Lord Hewitt. He has deep, still waters if you ask me.”
With those words, her friend kissed her cheek and entered her room.
Puzzled by Martine’s remarks about Lord Hewitt’s water, Brilliance heard a door click closed as she passed. When she reached her own room, she undressed by herself, having dismissed Belinda for the evening after her maid helped her change for supper. Exhaustion quickly took her to the Land of Nod.
When Brilliance awakened, finding Belinda already opening her window curtains, she recalled what they would be doing as a group after breakfast.Riding. While she admired horses, as for being atop one, she hadn’t much practice. When younger, she’d been timid about the distance from the saddle to the ground, and while eventually overcoming her aversion, Brilliance hadn’t pressed herself to become a skilled horsewoman.
Regardless, there was one thing about riding she could look forward to — her new tawny-colored riding outfit, with its sable-brown piping. Belinda was laying it out across the bed for after breakfast. If Brilliance had to ride horseback in order to wear it, then that was the price she would willingly pay.
Hopefully, Lord Hewitt would find her fetching.
Breakfast was a hurried affair that morning, as most were eager to get underway. And their hostess had instructed her staff to put out a meager fare compared to the previous morning’s generous offering.
Eating toast and jam with Martine, Brilliance kept her gaze trained upon the door but saw neither hide nor hair of Lord Hewitt. However, while discussing the meaning of deep waters with her friend, she noticed Lady Georgiana enter. Still trying to make amends, Brilliance waved her over.
“Good morning,” Brilliance addressed her. “The chocolate is delicious this morning, won’t you have some?” And she made to pour the lady a cup from the pot on their table.
Lady Georgiana sniffed. “I prefer tea,” and she kept on walking, taking a seat at a neighboring table with Miss Newton.
Brilliance sighed. “I only wanted to offer her my sincere apology.”
“Let her eat her breakfast in peace,” Martine advised. “There will be plenty of time today to say you are sorry. It was dreadfully rude of you, by the way.”
Brilliance felt tears prick her eyes. “I must learn to think before I speak,” she agreed. “But I will make it up to her.” After another slice of buttered toast and a dish of strawberries with cream, they rose to leave, with Brilliance giving one more look toward Lady Georgiana.
“Leave her for now, Bri,” Martine advised. And they went upstairs to change before meeting the other guests in the stable yard.
Finally, Lady Twitchard disclosed their destination to be Roman ruins. “Let us hope none of us lose our way, for I think you will all find them interesting.”
“Like a treasure hunt,” Brilliance said to Martine, “but without any treasure.”
“Without any treasure,” her friend repeated, “but the treasure is the main part of the hunt.” Her tone was light and teasing. Martine was clever in a way Brilliance knew she herself was not, but her friend seemed never to mind her lapses in intellect.
However, Lady Georgiana, in a navy-blue riding habit that set off her blonde curls to perfection, overheard. “And thusnotlike a treasure hunt at all,” she said, shaking her head as if Brilliance were the stupidest creature alive.
Lord Hewitt, who had just arrived at the stable, took Brilliance’s thoughts away from the mean-spirited lady. Helooked fine indeed in his riding clothes. Before she could greet him, the Colonel gave a loud whistle to secure the guests’ attention.
“Everyone, find a partner, male or female,” he said. “Let us ride before the sun gets too high in the sky.”
Bold as brass, Lady Georgiana strolled toward Lord Hewitt. “I love riding,” she declared. “Will you partner with me, my lord?”
“I shall, my lady,” he responded.
Drat!Brilliance had let two opportunities escape her, both to apologize to Lady Georgiana and to partner with Lord Hewitt.
“You are stuck with me,” Martine said, following Brilliance’s gaze toward the couple who preceded them to the mounting block. One by one, they were given a suitable horse, deemed so by the head groom after he asked each guest a few questions as to his or her ability.
“I certainly insulted the wrong person,” Brilliance said after she and Martine were assisted in mounting their horses — gentle mares, for Martine wasn’t much of an eager rider either.
“I know you didn’t mean to be hoggish,” her friend said, “but unquestionably, you put her back up.”
“And yet I cannot believe she didn’t know how terrible she was,” Brilliance said, trying not to fall off the horse nor choke the poor animal by drawing back on the reins. “Lady Georgiana has heard someone singing well before, hasn’t she? I knew what an awful pianist I was.”
“Not everyone is as self-aware as you are,” Martine said.
“I suppose you’re right. Look, there is your Lord Patterson.” The blond gentleman was riding beside Miss Newton.
