“It’s not a problem,” he said so smoothly, his words washed over her as if they were a goose feather trickling against her skin. “I’ll return to the stable and get a proper carriage for you.”
“No, no.” Brina shook her head, walked over to the smaller horse, and rubbed down the long brown nose. She was practical. The horses were already here. Besides, she rather liked the idea. “I don’t want you to do that. I haven’t ridden in a long time and I’m not properly attired, but I’ll manage.”
“Only if you’re sure,” he said with conviction.
The mare nudged her hand gingerly so Brina patted her firm neck. She seemed to like that and proddedBrina again. The animal was friendly, and Brina warmed to her immediately. Blacknight had made a wise choice.
She looked over at him and gave him an expression of approval. “I am.”
How could she stay upset with a man who brought her a horse to ride? A man who continually surprised her? It was frustrating that he was so stimulating. She had a feeling he wasn’t nearly as oblivious to the rules of gentlemanly behavior as he claimed and others liked to think.
The groom placed the two-step stool down by her, and the earl reached for her hand. His grip was firm and reassuring. Within the bounds of propriety, he helped position her perfectly in the side saddle with her booted feet properly settled in the stirrups.
He held onto the reins as he gazed into her eyes, “You look very capable sitting up there, but would you like for me to lead your horse?”
“Absolutely not.” She tried to feel annoyed at him, but there was no way she could. She was delighted to be in the saddle again. Riding was an enjoyable pastime and the thought of doing it made her feel good and excited to get started. “I’ll be fine,” she answered, holding out her palm. “It may have been a few years since I’ve ridden, but I don’t think I’ve forgotten how to guide a horse.”
He placed the ribbons in her hands. “And you’re right. You don’t need a cape. I brought a blanket for us to sit on and have refreshments when we get to the park.” He walked over to the groom’s horse and pulled a gray wool blanket from behind a basket. He laid it over her lap and said, “Hold on to this end to keep it from falling off.”
“Thank you,” she said, tucking the heavy fabric around her waist and under her hips. Giving her the blanket was not only mannerly of him but thoughtful of her comfort as well.
“If at any time you feel you can’t control the horse, let me know.”
Brina knew he was playfully teasing her as the mare hadn’t so much as snorted. She gave the earl enough of a smile to let him know she understood exactly what he was doing.
“I fear the only thing I can’t control is you.” Or the way she felt when he was near.
He chuckled and climbed atop his horse with the ease of a man who was well-seasoned to a saddle and knew how to handle the animal beneath him. Brina gave a gentle kick to the horse’s flank with her heel, and they started down the quiet street.
After passing only a few houses she felt exhilarated. She was enjoying the ride immensely and wondering why she hadn’t done it for so long. The mare had a smooth gait and ambled along at the right pace, giving her time to get used to being in the saddle after a long absence. From atop the horse she could see more of her surroundings. Her perspective of the houses and trees was different than when sitting inside a carriage or taking a stroll.
When more than a few moments of silence had passed, she offered, “You do know that even if we were going to ride horses, we should have arrived at the park in a carriage and had the groom waiting there for us?”
“If I’d done that, you would have missed some of the thrill of the afternoon.”
She scoffed with confidence. “You can’t fool me. What you mean is that you would have missed the amusement of seeing how startled I was at what you had done.”
“That too,” he admitted without qualms.
Even with the dreary cold day, he still had a twinkle in his eyes. How could she ignore that? When he wasn’t being a rake, he was so charming. And that was what she had to be careful of.
“How are you doing?” he asked. “Warm enough?”
She was actually doing wonderful as she was sure he expected. A cape would have kept the chill of the wind from blowing down her neck, but she was fine with the heat of the horse beneath her legs and the warmth of the blanket he’d politely placed on her lap.
“You brought the horses on purpose, didn’t you?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I thought you might be getting a little tired of doing the same thing each day and ready for something different.”
A prickle of something she couldn’t describe skittered over her. It was alarming how well he seemed to know her. She’d wondered how he’d known she wanted to flee down the stone corridors and tunnel beneath the Paris chateau with him. Now, how had he known she needed to do something she hadn’t done in years but used to enjoy? Something as simple, peaceful, and pleasurable as riding a horse.
Brina had shied away from any closeness to men for years. Now, this one, with his bold wager and her demands, had found a way to insert himself into her very private life. For now, there was nothing to do about it but cope.
Their pact was sealed.
“You must have known I could ride or you wouldn’t have chanced bringing the horses.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
