“No, this is the first of its kind.” The wheels and top were a shiny, lacquered black, but he’d had the body done in a particular shade of green—somewhat darker than apple, but lighter than emerald—a shade that he fancied would particularly flatter his wife’s lovely coloring.
Especially her hazel eyes.
It was the very equipage for a lady who had no experience driving, wished very much to learn, and would prefer to drive a lively mare, or in time, a matched pair rather than a pony.
“I can hardly believe it. Indeed, Jasper, I don’t know what to say.” She turned to him with glistening eyes. “I’ve always wanted to learn to drive, but I never imagined I’d ever have the chance, much less in a carriage as lovely as this.”
“It wasn’t meant to make you cry, Prue.” He gathered her into his arms and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s meant to make you happy.”
“Iamhappy.” She pressed her face against his chest and mumbled something he couldn’t make out.
“What did you say, sweetheart?” He caught her chin in gentle fingers and tipped her face up to his. “Don’t hide.”
She gave him a shy smile, a blush staining her cheeks. “I said,youmake me happy. So happy, Jasper.”
“My love,” he whispered, touching his forehead to hers. They stood thus for a few moments, a silent communication passing between, one that grew stronger with every day they spent together, a silence that said more than words ever could.
As it happened, Basingstoke had been right all along. Lovedidmake all the difference.
He pressed a brief kiss to her lips, then drew back, grinning down at her. “Now, I suppose you want to drive it, don’t you?”
“Yes, please!” She clapped her hands.
“Whit, will you be so kind as to hitch Dolly to the phaeton?”
“Dolly?” Prue’s brows lowered. “But Athena is much faster than Dolly, and—”
“And that’s precisely why we’re taking Dolly. She’s a sweet, gentle thing, and not liable to startle. She’s just what we want for your first drive. Don’t you think so, Whit?”
“Indeed, Your Grace. Dolly’s a good girl and will do very well.”
“Very well. Where shall we go? I daresay the main drive will do for us.”
“I believe we’ll save the main drive until your second week of lessons. There’s a private road just past the stable with a turnabout at the top. We’ll start there.”
“But surely, the main drive isn’t dangerous? Why, it’s as wide as the Thames!”
“It’s dangerous enough if you send us into that ditch.” He pointed toward the shallow channel that ran along the eastern edge of the drive. “If we hit that at the wrong angle, we could break a wheel, or worse, a horse’s leg.”
“That’s not a ditch. It’s barely a furrow, and I would never risk a horse’s wellbeing with reckless driving. It’s dry, and that’s a nice, smooth bit of road.”
“That nice, smooth bit of road will still be there when you’re ready for it. I’ll not trifle with your safety, Prue.”
Her face softened. “Of course, you’re right. I don’t deny going around in circles in a turnabout doesn’t sound like nearly as much fun as trotting up and down the drive, but perhaps it’s best to start slowly.”
They waited while Whit harnessed Dolly and hooked her to the traces of the phaeton, then Jasper drove them around to a small circular bit of road behind the stables, well shaded by the spreading branches of a copse of elm trees.
He remained in the driver’s seat for their first half dozen turns, showing Prue how to hold the reins properly, guide the horse to the right and left, and bring her to a stop. “Now, if you’ll promise to take it slowly, and do as I say, you can take the reins.”
“Yes indeed. I promise it.”
“Very well, then.” He brought Dolly to a stop with a twitch of the reins, and handed them over to her.
She kept her promise and kept Dolly at a slow, steady walk. Dolly, sensing a confident horsewoman at the other end of the ribbons, responded well to her commands and promenaded cheerfully enough, her ears flicking lazily at the insects buzzing about her.
“My father never let me drive. Did I ever tell you that, Jasper? He claimed it was because a lady’s hands were too small, and their fingers too short and slender to skillfully manipulate the ribbons, but I always suspected he thought it wasn’t proper ladylike behavior.”
Jasper snorted. “Yourfather, who thought it was perfectly fine for his daughter to wear breeches and learn how to box, thoughtdrivingwasn’t proper ladylike behavior?”
