Page 77 of Managing the Major

He told me the horses were quite good during our absence, especially Thor, who Peter said was just about the nicest horse he’s ridden. That is high praise indeed! He also had good things to say about Lucifer, who has settled in and learned that he must work for his keep. I’m very pleased with Sigrun and torn whether I should offer her for sale as a lady’s mount, or keep her.

Needless to say, there will be no riding tomorrow, as everything here is too wet, and I don’t want to venture into the park without the horses working beforehand. Hopefully, they will have some time in the pasture tomorrow; especially Lucifer, who looks like he is ready to leap out of the stall.

I miss your company dreadfully, especially after being with you the past few days. Let’s set our sights on riding on Wednesday, although I believe Mama will have left instructions with Peter to ensure his constant company.

As always, your

Octavia

*

Dearest Octavia:

May I please come and bed down stalls with you? It would be well worth it to share your company before Wednesday.

I’m glad you are enjoying J.F. Cooper’s book. Abigail is reading his latest novel, The Water Witch, a sea story, but more of a melodrama with lovers and abductions that would not appeal to me, but I know you, as an admirer of Anne Bonney, will enjoy. I’ll secure a copy for you at Hatchard’s sometime this week if you promise to tell me more of yourself as a young girl and how you came to be interested in horses and pirates and bringing men to their knees.

You were very naughty to provoke me on the coach ride back to the King’s Head yesterday, and as a result, I can think of little else. What is it about you, my Valkyrie, that sets me on fire so easily? You may be innocent in passion, but I am no better; I cannot think of being so moved by a woman before and act like a green boy with his first girl. You must take pity and not tempt me again, or I cannot be responsible for the outcome.

Until Wednesday,

Alastair

*

Tuesday morning, Alastair followed his customary routine. He was in the park by nine o’clock to walk, everything around him fresh and verdant after yesterday’s downpour. Enjoying the aromatic hedges of azaleas and rhododendrons all around him, he took a longer route and encountered a few carriages and riders, but for the most part, enjoyed a solitary promenade.

As usual, his thoughts were on Octavia. Tomorrow, he had an appointment at Rundell and Bridge to choose an engagement ring. Richard Merrick was due back from Seldon on Wednesday, and they were meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss plans for the hospital. That would be the perfect time to put forth the question of marrying Octavia. If all went well, he would invite her to the park on Friday morning and propose.

He had debated telling her about the soldiers’ hospital after the race, but she looked exhausted, and he decided it was better to wait and iron out the details with Richard first. Alastair had been hesitant to reveal his aspirations for fear she might take it for an attempt at solicitation, but now he was eager to have her involved in the project.

After walking, Alastair pushed himself to a new level of difficulty at the gymnasium, lifting a heavier weight with his left arm and working through the pain that was involved. It was still difficult to manipulate the left shoulder, but he was regaining some flexibility in his elbow and in the grip of his hand.

Returning to Ovington Square in the early afternoon, he soaked in the bath longer than usual, then dressed himself simply in comfortable trousers and just a waistcoat over his shirt. He had no plans but a quiet evening at home, since Nerissa and Abigail were attending a card party hosted by the Von Bergers and didn’t require his escort.

In fact, his social calendar was rather quiet until Saturday, as he just had plans to attend Almack’s on Wednesday. Alastair didn’t have an invitation to the dinner party on Thursday night at Countess Lieven’s home, which was irritating, since Octavia planned to be there. Rafe hadn’t received one either, and he was much better acquainted with the lady, so Alastair assumed the guest list favored social connections rather than political ones.

He settled in his study to write some ideas down about the hospital and follow up with letters to some military contacts. At three thirty, the footman disturbed his work, and he was surprised to hear a visitor waited outside. He was even more surprised when the person ushered in proved to be Octavia’s stable manager, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Putting aside his papers, he excused the footman and offered Peter a chair.

“No, thank you, Major Fairfax, and I hate to bother you, sir, but I went to Lord Richard’s first, and he’s gone away to the country. The countess suggested I come and find you, that you could help.”

He must have seen the confusion on Alastair’s face, because he hastened to explain further. “It’s Miss Octavia—well, sir—there’s been a terrible accident…”

Alastair leaped to his feet in alarm. “Good God! Why didn’t you say so immediately, Peter? What has happened…is she injured?”

“Oh, it’s not Miss Octavia, sir—she’s fine. Well, not fine, but not hurt either—”

He wanted to throttle the man. “Please, Peter, just tell me what it is!”

“It’s Lucifer, Major Fairfax. Miss Octavia turned him out at noon today, and he tried to jump the fence out of the paddock and got hung up on the fence; and well, he broke his leg, sir. I had to put the poor beast out of its misery.”

Alastair sank back down in the chair, stunned. “Lucifer? Gone? Octavia must be beside herself.”

“That’s just it, Major; Miss Octavia insisted on watching us bury the stallion and then, well, she’s just been in an awful state. She wouldn’t let me go to her mother—said that Miss Amelia had enough to worry about—but Miss Octavia won’t stop crying, and she takes the blame, and I’m afraid she’s making herself ill. Can you come, sir? I know how much she thinks of you and maybe it will help—”

Alastair was pulling the bell before Peter finished the sentence. “How did you get here?”