Tabitha knew exactly what she wanted. Whether Andrew granted her wish was another matter. However, she’d wait to tell him until after the hunt.
Goodness, she was riding in a hunt. She’d never done so before because before the accident, she’d been too young. As a little girl, she couldn’t wait until she was old enough. Another dream put aside because of her fall.
At the barking of the beagles as they were brought out, Tabitha’s excitement mounted, as well as a bit of anxiety. This was her first test and no matter what, she’d hold her seat and control Snowflake.
“Let’s follow,” Andrew suggested. “Until you get used to the others.”
“You don’t need to stay with me.” Andrew rode a superior horse and shouldn’t be forced to the back with her.
“As much as I enjoy riding, fox hunting isn’t a favorite sport of mine.”
She blinked. “Why not?”
“Dogs, horses, men and women chasing a helpless fox doesn’t seem truly fair, does it?”
“Except those foxes manage to get to the chickens and do other damage,” she reminded him. At least, that is how it had been explained to her.
“You are correct,” he said with a nod and Tabitha got the feeling he was condescending to her.
“What would you do?”
“What I’ve done at home. Set traps.”
“They only return,” Tabitha pointed out.
“They are more intelligent than we give them credit.”
Now Andrew was looking uncomfortable. “Would you rather not join in the hunt at all?”
“What I would like is to ride by your side. That is what I will enjoy.”
A thrill shot through Tabitha at his words.
Once the lead riders reached the fields, the dogs were set loose and in an instant they were off, the horses and riders close behind. It was all a bit overwhelming and Tabitha found herself falling back, not certain she wanted to be part of the pack.
“Do you know the land well enough to know where they will ride?”
“I have ridden the castle grounds since I was a girl but I don’t know how much has changed…” she trailed off as they turned into the woods. Perhaps she wasn’t ready for this.
“We’ll take it slow, unless you want to catch the fox.”
The more she thought about it, the less Tabitha wanted to participate. “What happens if a fox is caught?”
He looked over and lifted an eyebrow. “Do you really wish to know?”
“The dogs?” Her stomach churned.
He simply nodded.
“I believe I would prefer to remain behind.” Why hadn’t she really considered what a hunt involved? As a child, it all looked so exciting…but the idea of hunting down a fox, outnumbered and outsized, wasn’t very sporting after all.
“There is no reason why we need to remain with them at all.”
“My great-uncle expects it of me.” Otherwise he wouldn’t have sent her the riding habit.
“Very well, we’ll ride, but not truly participate.”
The two of them fell back, but kept the other riders in sight. Many were paused as the dogs had their noses to the ground.
“Have you enjoyed your visit to Danby Castle?” she asked, wanting to make conversation so she didn’t have to think of the poor helpless fox.
“It has turned out to be more enjoyable than I anticipated.” Andrew smiled at her.
“I apologize if Danby’s demands have kept you from your family.”
“Demands?” he frowned.
“You mentioned that you had businesses dealings with His Grace and was ordered to attend him. Otherwise you’d be spending Christmas with your family.”
“He made an offer that I could not ignore,” he finally answered.
Did she ask what it was? Gentlemen did not speak of business with ladies, but Tabitha was dying to know what was so important that couldn’t wait until after Twelfth Night, unless it was because Danby had hired him to get her to ride.
“I can see the curiosity in your eyes.”
“Am I so obvious?” Tabitha felt her cheeks grow warm.
“It isn’t anything so secretive.” Then he went on to tell her about an estate Danby owned that neighbored his ancestral estate in Ireland and how Andrew’s family had been trying to purchase it for years, but Danby had refused until a few weeks ago.
“And did you purchase the land?” she asked.
“He hasn’t granted me an audience as of it.”
Tabitha frowned. “Well, that is very rude of him.”
Andrew studied her for a moment, his blue eyes darkening. “I’ll be honest. At first I was irritated when he refused to schedule time for me, but it has turned out to be a rather merry Christmas indeed.”
At that, Tabitha’s cheeks grew even warmer. “A very merry Christmas it has been.” And one she’d remember all of her days, long after Andrew rode away from Danby Castle and returned to his life. It was just a shame that Danby hadn’t brought him here as a match for her.
“We’ve fallen quite behind,” he said with a grin and nodded in the direction of where the other hunters had gone.
Not only could Tabitha not see them, but she no longer heard the dogs either. “Shall we try to catch up?”
“That depends. Are you going to tell me what I must do to get back into your good graces?”
What Tabitha had wanted to demand were more kisses, but now that she had the opportunity, she wasn’t so brave. “You already have,” she admitted. “Without you, I’d not be on Snowflake right now. You’ve returned to me something I had lost, a part of my soul.”
“It has been a great pleasure.” Then he looked around. “As we are no longer joining the hunt, do you wish to run to see how Snowflake does?”
Her grin grew wider. “A race?”
“I’ll win,” he warned.
“For some reason, that doesn’t matter to me,” Tabitha said as she led Snowflake out of the woods. As soon as she reached the open field, she tapped Snowflake into a run, taking off over the fields, the wind stinging her cheeks as the hooves beat against the snow-covered ground. Tabitha had never felt so alive in her life.
Andrew didn’t let her win, nor did he lose. Instead, he kept Epona nose to nose with Snowflake, enjoying the sight of Tabitha finally letting go of her fear and thoroughly embracing the joy of riding. When they returned to the stables, after dismounting, they led the horses to their stalls, which happened to be right next to each other, and set to brushing them down. Andrew told her more of his ancestral home and that which Danby owned. She described her home and her family and they got to know each other in a way that they hadn’t so far. Even though Andrew would leave Danby Castle with the coveted property, he’d almost leave it behind if he could take Tabitha with him instead.
He’d fallen in love, not that he’d tell her, as nothing could come of his feelings and he wouldn’t burden her with the knowledge. However, as they both closed the stable doors and met on the other side, Andrew couldn’t help himself and drew Tabitha into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, no longer caring that a stable hand or Kemp might see them. Andrew knew he risked angering Danby, but Andrew didn’t care. He loved her, wanted her, and these moments were too precious to waste when only days remained, if that, before he was required to leave.
At first he heard the dogs in the distance, and then riders, and broke away from Tabitha.
“The hunt is over sooner than I anticipated.”
She frowned. “I thought they’d be longer.”
“As did I.” He sighed and pulled away, then offed his arm. “Shall we retire inside?”
“If we must.” At least she sounded as disappointed as he.
As they exited the stable, Danby was dismounting.
“Straffan, Tabitha, attend me in the study,” he barked, then turned and marched away.
It was not possible he already knew about the kiss, but perhaps he’d noticed that they did not remain with the hunting party and that was why he was upset.
Andrew swallowed against the sudden tightness in his throat and followed Danby into the castle, Tabitha by his side.
His Grace didn’t even bother to look behind to see if they followed but marched right ahead, up the stairs, down a corridor and into his study. Andrew and Tabitha came to a stop in front of the desk where Danby took a seat.
“I’m proud of you Tabitha,” His Grace finally said. “And, just as I promised when you were twelve, now that you’ve learn to ride properly, Snowflake is now yours.”
She gasped. It was certainly a generous gift given Andrew knew the cost of the fine horse.
Then Danby turned to him. “Now, we can discuss the estate.”
He’d prefer to discuss the matter when they were alone. “I don’t believe it is necessary for Lady Tabitha to be part of our negotiations, Your Grace.”
“She has every right to be here as she is involved.”
Involved? Andrew’s gut tightened.
“I don’t understand what that has to do with me.” She looked to Andrew as if he could clear up her confusion.
“When Straffan was fourteen, I made an offer to his grandfather and father. They rejected me and questioned my good judgment.”
What offer could Danby have made that brought about such animosity that has lasted well over a decade?
“They’ve been trying to purchase the property and all that goes with it since and I have refused on principle.”
“Lord Straffan has told me, though I don’t understand what it has to do with me.” She glanced up at Andrew, the question in her eyes, as if he knew what this was about.
Danby narrowed his eyes on Andrew. “Did your father nor grandfather never tell you what the offer and ensuing argument was about?”
Andrew shook his head.
“Good God. I thought you had at least that information and the reason you were spending time with Tabitha. I assumed you already saw what I’ve always known.” Danby got up from the desk and strode to the sideboard and poured himself a generous amount of whiskey, then poured a glass for Andrew and passed it over.
What the blazes was Danby talking about? Tabitha and the land in Ireland were not related in the least.
“It’s simple. I had proposed a betrothal between yourself and Tabitha. I knew you were a good match, both being horse mad and your temperaments were well suited for each other. Further, you are the grandson of my closest friend and she was my great-niece, the property would be yours eventually and my estate would remain in the family.”
All Andrew could do was gawk at Danby. He wanted to arrange a marriage between him and Tabitha?
Then he remembered when the argument had occurred. “Your Grace, I was only fourteen, which meant Lady Tabitha would have been…” He looked at her because he had no idea how old she was.
“She was five. Her father had died and I already knew what was best for her.”
Lady Tabitha gasped.
“Your grandfather and father wanted you to make the choice for yourself. Choose your own bride.” Danby snorted then took a drink. “I knew then what I know now.” He looked from Andrew to Tabitha and back to Andrew. “The land, estate, house, horses, everything is yours. All you need to do is marry Tabitha.”