“Well, I’m going to ride, but my mother is not a rider, so she’ll not be joining us.”
By this time, the older woman had caught up to her daughter. She curtsied to Tristan. “My lord, it makes my heart happy to see you.”
“As does mine.” He bowed. “Your daughter tells me you are not going riding?”
“No. I have never liked the sport, I fear, and I would only slow the riding party down if I went.”
“Then you must allow me to watch over your daughter in your absence. I’ll make certain no harm comes to her.”
Diana’s face brightened, but she didn’t say anything. Her gaze switched from Tristan to her mother as if she eagerly awaited her parent’s answer.
“Oh, but of course, Lord Tristan. It would be an honor to have you do this for me.”
“It’s my privilege, Baroness.”
The snort of a horse pulled Tristan away from the women as the stable boy brought over the duchess’s mare. Tristan took the reins from the servant then turned back to Diana. “I hope you don’t mind, but I would like you to ride this one.”
Diana’s eyes widened as she gazed over the animal. Slowly, she walked to the mare and ran her hand down the mane. “Oh, Lord Tristan. I couldn’t possibly… This is a fine animal, indeed, but I fear the owner would not allow me on her.”
He chuckled. “The owner is my mother, and I assure you, my mother will let you ride her.” He put forth his hand. “May I assist you?”
Her cheeks darkened with color as she slipped her black-gloved hand into his. He pulled her around to the side of the animal before releasing her hand to grasp her waist. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and as he lifted her, she kept her sparkling eyes locked with his.
Heavens she was lovely!
Once she was settled on the animal, he moved back to his own horse. Her gaze had stayed on him the whole time. Once he mounted, he gave Diana a wink. “Are you ready?”
She gripped the reins. “Any time you are.”
Without asking the other guests if they were ready, he urged his horse forward with Diana beside him. After a few minutes, he realized the group had followed. He just prayed that they wouldn’t depend on him for conversation since he would be too busy trying to get to know Miss Baldwin a little better.
His mother’s country estate covered many miles of God’s beautiful land, but Tristan couldn’t keep his eyes off the beauty next to him long enough to enjoy the scenery. They’d been galloping for a little while, so he slowed his horse to a trot, as did Diana.
“So, Miss Baldwin,” he said, breaking the silence between them. “Where are you from?”
She smiled. “I’m from the Bristol area.”
“Is that where you were born and raised?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have an older brother—Cole. But I have no sisters.”
“Tell me, have you been to many of these weekend parties? Or any other of society’s functions?”
She nodded. “I have attended a few, my lord. Why do you ask?”
“I’m just surprised I haven’t seen you before now. I have been back from visiting relatives in Scotland for three months now, but I don’t believe I have seen you before.”
“I know I haven’t laid eyes on you before last night, either.”
“I suppose our paths were not destined to cross until at my mother’s party.”
More color highlighted her cheeks. “You are probably right.”
“Probably?” He laughed. “There is noprobablyabout it, Miss Baldwin. I don’t know if you realized this last night, but the stars were aligned perfectly, which is why we met. Why else did God send an angel to me?”
