As the stable came into view, tears sprang to Tabitha’s eyes. Whether it was from overcoming her fear, the exhilaration of riding, the simple fact that she survived, or Lord Straffan’s presence, Tabitha would never know. The only one certainty was that she’d accomplished something she never thought possible. She’d ridden a horse again.
Two stable boys and Kemp came out as they came to a halt in the stable yard. It was then she noted Peter standing at the entrance, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her approach. When their eyes met, he nodded his approval.
Kemp took the reins and Lord Straffan shifted as he dismounted.
Tabitha glanced down as Straffan held up his hands to lift her from the horse. Except she didn’t lean forward to get off the beast but simply stared down at his handsome face and into his blue eyes. “Thank you.”
His smile softened. “You are very welcome, Lady Tabitha.”
Their eyes held for a moment more before she placed her hands on his shoulders so he could lift her to the ground. For a moment, she was unsteady and stumbled, laughing. “Goodness. I’d forgotten that sometimes your legs need a moment to adjust.”
Lord Straffan chuckled as he steadied Tabitha with a hand at her waist. “In no time, you will be able to dismount without wobbly legs.”
His words sank in along with what she’d just accomplished. She had ridden a horse and would do so again. And soon, very soon, she’d do so on her own. “Yes! Yes, I will,” Tabitha returned with a confidence she hadn’t felt in such a long time. “Will we ride again this afternoon?”
“No,” he answered gently. “You should rest. We will go out again tomorrow morning.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to beg him, but Tabitha didn’t wish to take up any more of his time than necessary. She was certain Lord Straffan had better things to do than instruct her in riding all day. However, she wished one of those activities included kissing her, but he’d not even attempted to brush his lips against her cheek when they were all alone.
“Shall we go into breakfast?” Peter asked.
“Yes, I suppose.” Tabitha linked her arm with her brother’s as they started back to the castle, then Peter turned and lifted an eyebrow at Straffan. “Are you going to join us?”
Straffan looked to Tabitha, a bit of sadness in his blue eyes. “I’ll be in shortly. I’d like to get Epona settled.”
Peter just nodded and drew Tabitha away.
The happiness she’d felt after dismounting dimmed. First, the disappointment that he hadn’t tried to kiss her again, and then with concern over the shift in Straffan’s mood. Had she said or done something wrong?
Andrew had miscalculated. Given Lady Tabitha’s fear, he’d never anticipated that she’d relax enough to cantor. At this pace, she might very well be over her fear before the week was out and then his work would be done.
That was what Andrew wanted of course. He’d come here to negotiate an estate, not court a lady. Except, he was no longer in any hurry to be parted from Lady Tabitha. Once he left, Andrew wouldn’t see her again until the spring. That was, if she walked in Hyde Park in the mornings again.
He shook the thought away. It was best if he took his leave at the earliest possible moment to save himself heartbreak and grief; but regardless of whether it was tomorrow or next week, he’d suffer just the same.
Andrew pushed his fingers through his hair. When the hell did he start falling in love with Lady Tabitha? Had it been last spring when she was a nameless beauty walking in the park, or since he’d arrived when she came to trust him?
Somewhere in the middle?
If he were honest, even after the Season had ended, he’d often found himself thinking of her, wondering who she was and when he might encounter the lovely miss again. From the moment he’d first spied her, Andrew had been intrigued and struck by her beauty.
No good would come from loving Tabitha Storm. She was the great-niece of the Duke of Danby, intended for an English nobleman—not an Irish one. Andrew knew better than to want someone above his reach.
It would be best to avoid Lady Tabitha completely, save when he was helping her ride, and perhaps he might just be able to ride away from Danby Castle with a small piece of his heart still his own. At least, those were his intentions and why he retired to his chamber to read for the day. But the laughter of several people from below caused Andrew to set his book aside, not that he’d been able to concentrate on even a single page, and wander to the window to look out. A group of guests where walking toward a pond in the distance.
Was Lady Tabitha with them?
As the question formed in his mind, she turned and looked back at the castle as if searching for something or…someone. Was she looking for him?
Her cheeks were already rosy from being outdoors, just liked they’d been when she dismounted Epona this morning, and he’d give anything to skate with her along the ice…
No! He argued with himself. She was not for him and Danby would never approve, let alone consent.
But when would Andrew get the opportunity to spend time with her again outside of the stables? Though, he had avoided her at breakfast by waiting to go in, and then he’d intentionally missed luncheon. Could he not remain a full day away from her? Did he really wish to?
Of all the ill-advised decisions, and against his better judgment, Andrew found himself bundling up to head outside to join the others.
As he neared the foyer, His Grace stepped into the corridor.
“Ah, Straffan, join me.”
Andrew was torn between putting the duke off to go after Lady Tabitha and finally meeting with His Grace. Not that there was much of a decision since one did not put off the Duke of Danby. He nodded and turned to follow His Grace into the study.
“How goes it with Lady Tabitha? I understand you got her to ride this morning.”
Andrew bristled. “You could have told me that was the reason you chose Christmas to discuss the purchase of the estate.”
Danby narrowed his eyes with cool calculation. “Would you have agreed?”
“If that is part of the price I need to pay to achieve your Irish holdings, then of course I would.”
“I did not invite you here to get my great-niece on a horse again, it simply turned out to be an unexpected benefit.”
This time Andrew narrowed his eyes. “Then why Christmas instead of any other time of the year?”
“It worked best with my schedule.”
“Yet, you required that I be here on the twenty-first but won’t have time to meet until after Christmas.” However, they were meeting at this very moment, weren’t they? “Why not discuss it now and be done with it.”
Danby slowly smiled. “What you and I need to discuss will take much longer than I have today.” Danby walked toward the door. “However, I hope you continue to work with my great-niece so that she is prepared on the twenty-sixth.”
Boxing Day? “Prepared for what?”
“The hunt, of course.”
Andrew blinked at him. “Lady Tabitha mentioned no hunt.”
“It’s an annual tradition, though I’m certain she doesn’t expect to ride.”
“Yet, you do?” Andrew questioned.
“Of course!” Then Danby raised his cane and pointed it at Andrew’s chest. “And you will see that she does.”
Ordered about again! Andrew would like to tell His Grace to go hang, but as his family had wanted that land for years, Andrew wasn’t about to ruin the possibility now. “Very well.”
“Further, do not mention it to Tabitha. She’ll learn about it that morning.”
Not only was he to get her ready for a hunt, but he had to keep it a secret as well? “Very good, Your Grace,” Andrew ground out as he marched past the Duke of Danby.