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After letting it out, Anna enlisted Mrs. Hudson’s help in measuring how much to increase the hem. That done, the maid declared the project a success and retired for the night.
Anna knelt beside her bed and offered up an urgent plea that somehow the Lord would deliver her from tomorrow’s trial. Not only must she face a large, fearsome beast the likes of which she had rarely come near, but she must also face Major Grenville, who should not be riding yet and who clearly did not wish to teach her.
She fell asleep trying very hard to play “What’s the worst thing?” to cheer herself. But the game only generated dreams of being thrown to the ground while her four-legged adversary whinnied its triumph above her.
* * *
“Really, Mother.” Edmond scowled at his parent while ignoring Greystone’s smirk. “I hardly feel ready to ride, much less ready to teach someone else how to do it.” He despised sounding weak in front of his brothers, but better that than to announce his true reason for disliking this assignment. As much as he would enjoy the young lady’s company, it would not be proper for them to venture out alone and still keep her reputation intact.
“And may I add—” Richard’s slender face wore an uncharacteristic frown “—it would hardly be proper for the young lady, spinster or not, to be out with Edmond without a chaperone.”
Edmond exhaled a sigh of relief. His brother the cleric would be an ally in this matter.
“Nonsense.” Mother rose from the settee. Everyone else stood as well. “They will have the groom with them.” She moved toward the door, then turned back to face Edmond. “As we walked back from the village today, you leaned upon your man less and less. All you require for complete recovery is additional exercise and a return to your riding. Furthermore, you need something to do. This will be good for you.” She sniffed, as she often did when displeased. “And why must I repeat myself? If this gel is to be my companion, she must ride.” She strode out of the room, head held high like a general marching away victorious from a battlefield.
“I say, Edmond.” Greystone stretched and yawned. “I should think you would enjoy the company of a young woman after all your military duties.”
Edmond laughed without mirth, hating what he was about to say. “Preferably someone of our class, not a servant.” As he said the words, a sick feeling churned in his belly. Miss Newfield was the gentlest, kindest Christian lady he had ever met. He had no right to claim superiority over her.
“Well,” Richard said, “strictly speaking, a companion is not a servant.” As if looking for agreement he gazed down at Mary, who sat tucked under his arm now that Mother was not in the room.
Mary returned a beatific smile. “If you say so, my darling.”
Edmond felt his heart lighten just observing their mutual devotion. How grand it would be to have a wife of his own to cherish. “No, I suppose not. But you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.” His eldest brother continued to smirk.
“Stubble it, Greystone. If Mother thinks I admire the poor girl, she’ll boot her out.” He walked toward the door.
Greystone followed a few feet behind him. “And of course you do not admire her.” His teasing tone held a world of good humor.
Edmond stopped and turned so quickly his brother almost collided with him. “Listen to me. This woman’s brother died in my place. I have a duty to make certain she is not misused or abandoned. That is all.”
“Of course.” Greystone’s lopsided grin contradicted his assertion. “Why do you insist upon thinking I am suggesting anything else?”
Too tired to argue, Edmond limped from the room and headed toward the staircase. With each step, he was forced to admit Mother was right. Today’s exercise had helped work out some of his discomfort from having been laid up for so long. But he could not envision getting back on a horse tomorrow morning. Nor
Anna knelt beside her bed and offered up an urgent plea that somehow the Lord would deliver her from tomorrow’s trial. Not only must she face a large, fearsome beast the likes of which she had rarely come near, but she must also face Major Grenville, who should not be riding yet and who clearly did not wish to teach her.
She fell asleep trying very hard to play “What’s the worst thing?” to cheer herself. But the game only generated dreams of being thrown to the ground while her four-legged adversary whinnied its triumph above her.
* * *
“Really, Mother.” Edmond scowled at his parent while ignoring Greystone’s smirk. “I hardly feel ready to ride, much less ready to teach someone else how to do it.” He despised sounding weak in front of his brothers, but better that than to announce his true reason for disliking this assignment. As much as he would enjoy the young lady’s company, it would not be proper for them to venture out alone and still keep her reputation intact.
“And may I add—” Richard’s slender face wore an uncharacteristic frown “—it would hardly be proper for the young lady, spinster or not, to be out with Edmond without a chaperone.”
Edmond exhaled a sigh of relief. His brother the cleric would be an ally in this matter.
“Nonsense.” Mother rose from the settee. Everyone else stood as well. “They will have the groom with them.” She moved toward the door, then turned back to face Edmond. “As we walked back from the village today, you leaned upon your man less and less. All you require for complete recovery is additional exercise and a return to your riding. Furthermore, you need something to do. This will be good for you.” She sniffed, as she often did when displeased. “And why must I repeat myself? If this gel is to be my companion, she must ride.” She strode out of the room, head held high like a general marching away victorious from a battlefield.
“I say, Edmond.” Greystone stretched and yawned. “I should think you would enjoy the company of a young woman after all your military duties.”
Edmond laughed without mirth, hating what he was about to say. “Preferably someone of our class, not a servant.” As he said the words, a sick feeling churned in his belly. Miss Newfield was the gentlest, kindest Christian lady he had ever met. He had no right to claim superiority over her.
“Well,” Richard said, “strictly speaking, a companion is not a servant.” As if looking for agreement he gazed down at Mary, who sat tucked under his arm now that Mother was not in the room.
Mary returned a beatific smile. “If you say so, my darling.”
Edmond felt his heart lighten just observing their mutual devotion. How grand it would be to have a wife of his own to cherish. “No, I suppose not. But you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.” His eldest brother continued to smirk.
“Stubble it, Greystone. If Mother thinks I admire the poor girl, she’ll boot her out.” He walked toward the door.
Greystone followed a few feet behind him. “And of course you do not admire her.” His teasing tone held a world of good humor.
Edmond stopped and turned so quickly his brother almost collided with him. “Listen to me. This woman’s brother died in my place. I have a duty to make certain she is not misused or abandoned. That is all.”
“Of course.” Greystone’s lopsided grin contradicted his assertion. “Why do you insist upon thinking I am suggesting anything else?”
Too tired to argue, Edmond limped from the room and headed toward the staircase. With each step, he was forced to admit Mother was right. Today’s exercise had helped work out some of his discomfort from having been laid up for so long. But he could not envision getting back on a horse tomorrow morning. Nor
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