Mary nodded her assent.
“Are you certain, Lady Julianna?” Rhys replied. “You do realize I won’t be able to hear your barbs from so far away?”
Mary glanced back at Julianna with a decidedly questioning frown on her face. Julianna shrugged. Poor Mary. No doubt her sister wondered why the deuce two people who had reportedly kissed only two days ago were trading digs with one another today.
“It’s fine, Mr. Worthy,” Julianna called back in a singsong voice. “I’ll be certain to save the best barbs for your return.”
Julianna waited in the hot barn for the better part of a half hour while Rhys and Mary took turns tying and untying Whisper from the fence.
By the time they returned to the stables, Mary leading Whisper, Julianna was feeling depleted and anything but ready to trade more barbs with Rhys.
“Did you see me, Anna? Did I do it correctly?” Mary asked, excitement evident in her voice.
“You did it perfectly, dear,” Julianna replied, giving her sister a wide smile. “But it’s getting late and we must get back to the house to dress for the picnic.”
“You’ve made an excellent start this morning, my lady,” Rhys said, taking the reins from Mary’s hands.
“Thank you for your help today, Mr. Worthy,” Mary replied. “I may not be able to ride yet, but I do feel ever so much more comfortable…at least around Whisper here.” She reached out and stroked the horse’s muzzle.
“That’s how it works,” Rhys replied. “One step at a time. I do hope you’ll return. Next time, I’ll show you how to saddle and mount.”
“I’d like that,” Mary replied with a sweet smile.
“You may even bring your sister back with you,” he said, a grin still plastered on his face.
“Indeed.” Julianna gave him a tight smile. “Next time I might teachyoua thing or two, Mr. Worthy.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning, Rhys met his friends in the storage room of the servants’ hall in the basement of the manor house. They’d begun meeting in the room ever since they’d been found talking in the library one day by one of the guests. As usual, Rhys was the last to arrive.
“Still in the game?” Bell asked the moment Rhys strode through the door.
“Yes, you?” he shot back, giving his friend a wide grin.
“Indeed,” Bell replied. “Kendall is, too.”
Rhys glanced at the earl. Kendall didn’t say a word. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Don’t ask,” Clayton said, waving his hand. “The poor chap was caught kissing Miss Wharton in the library earlier this morning.”
“The devil, you say! Who found you?” Rhys asked, slapping his friend on the shoulder and laughing.
“We werenotcaught kissing,” Kendall retorted, pulling his shoulder away. “We werealmostcaught kissing by Miss Wharton’s lady’s maid, Albina, and that is quite different.”
“Oh, the lady’s maid? You’re fine then,” Rhys replied with another laugh.
“I’m glad you think so,” Kendall shot back, rolling his eyes.
“It’s themotheryou have to worry about,” Rhys said with a wink.
“Agreed,” Clayton replied with a nod.
“So, what’s the news, chaps?” Rhys asked, rubbing his hands together. Ever since informing his friends that Lady Julianna had discovered him in the stables the first day of the house party, he’d yet to tell them he suspected she was trying to make him quit. He intended to mention Lady Julianna to them as little as possible.
“Well,” Clayton replied, “in addition to Baron Wharton and the Prince Regent joining our little group on Monday, apparently the Marquess of Murdock will be arriving as well.”
“Murdock?” Rhys’s head snapped up. “What’shedoing joining the party? I didn’t know you were friendly with him, Clayton.”
