Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) (30 page)

“Once I’m up, lift your arms to me, Sophia.”

Michael trotted up, intending to stop her, afraid his niece would get injured.

“Nonsense, I’ve done this for years with my own sister, and Lucky too,” she said. “Watch her, Michael. Her face will light up when she believes she’s the one in control of the horse. Believe me, she’ll enjoy herself so much, we’ll have a hard time getting her off the horse. Even better, her sisters will be envious.”

“If she falls, Christina will....”

“My arms will be around her, and I will be in control of the horse the entire time,” she reassured. “Now, please do your part and keep the other two away from us for a few minutes.”

She felt his eyes bore into her as she swung onto the gelding’s back, then easily lifted his niece, setting the child in front of her. She spoke to Sophia and as she did, she walked the horse around in small circles. Once the girl was comfortable, Elise handed the reins over to Sophia and allowed her to ‘steer’ the horse.

What Sophia didn’t know and couldn’t have known, was that Elise was in control the entire time, effectively using her body to guide the horse in the directions Sophia wanted to go. After twenty or so minutes, she even had Sophia drop the reins and hold her arms out to her side.

The child giggled as she learned to keep her balance without Elise holding onto her. The little one was a wonderful pupil, she thought. One day, she and Michael would have children and she’d teach them the same way she taught Sarah, Lucky, the other children at Haldenwood, and now Sophia.

They went to the far end of the field where Michael rode with Sophia’s sisters. Elise met his gaze and returned his smile. His look sent a warm shiver coursing through her. She thought of the night before and decided she couldn’t wait for the day she could ride like this with their sons and daughters.

“Look at me, Uncle! No hands!” The child held her arms out and so did Elise, mimicking the actions of the little one in front of her.

Michael knew that at any moment the animal could spook and they might both be hurt, which was the root of his worry. Horses at best were controlled energy on four feet, at worst uncontrollable and dangerous killers. They were livestock one used to get from one place to another, sometimes in a fashionable manner.

During the past few hours, he’d learned what an excellent horsewoman she was, and his respect for her was growing, still he worried for her safety. Now that he realized he cared for her deeply, he didn’t want to think of the possibility of losing her.

He hated this helpless feeling as he realized he was falling in love with her.

And it was love, without a doubt. The foundation was there. He was attracted to her as he’d never been attracted to a woman before. His respect for her grew by the hour. Not just as an equestrienne because it was obvious she was talented just from witnessing what he had this morning. But he respected her as a woman, one who was strong enough to stand up to him and to her brother. She was a woman accustomed to doing the conventional in an unconventional way, to traveling her own path to happiness, never deviating from what she loved most, and did so uncaring of what others thought of her.

She was untouched by the pretensions of society and hadn’t learned how to feign the look of interested boredom so often seen in the women of his crowd. Her genuine mien, always honest and straightforward, never left you to guess where you stood with her. And he loved that about her. He didn’t want her tainted by the artificial games played by those considered his peers.

Mother.
His mother would arrive soon. He didn’t know when, for Christina hadn’t said. But mother, along with Sabrina and her girls would soon descend on Woodhenge and he hoped to have Elise prepared for them.

He watched her come toward them, her arms now wrapped around Sophia. His niece held her arms out to her sides, showing off in front of her older sisters. But he didn’t concern himself with what the children were thinking. He watched Elise, the graceful way she sat this horse, and the one from this morning, as though each mount were an extension of her.

“Hello.” Elise stopped the horse and dismounted, leaving Sophia sitting atop its back.

He motioned to the stable lads to come forward as he dismounted his horse. “Hello yourself, minx,” he said as he handed his horse off to one of the boys, and another began to lead Sophia around the field.

“You looked far away. Might I hope I was in those thoughts?”

“You were, my lady.” They watched the girls ride in the small corner of the field, keeping an especially close eye on Sophia, though they were never out of reach of the girls should they need help. “You handled the children very well and my respect and admiration for your skill has increased ten-fold.”

Her cheeks pinked, and she lowered her gaze. “Don’t be the blushing miss now! You’ve proved to me how wrong I was this morning. I acknowledge your incredible skill.”

She scraped a booted toe in the dirt. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” After a moment’s silence, he said, “Elise, we are soon to be joined by my family and yours. Some of these people we love will have a hard time understanding what has occurred between us.”

“Like my brother.”

“No. Worse. My mother.” He hoped his mother accepted Elise as his choice for a bride. She was the person he most feared not accepting Elise into the family.

“I see.” She glanced his way then turned back to the children. “What does she know about me? About what I’ve done in the past?”

“I’ve never told her about your antics, but somehow she always found out. She was friends with your mother, and she’s stayed in contact with your godmothers all these years. Perhaps in their letters they informed my mother of your continued affections.”

“Wonderful,” she muttered. “She’s never, ever liked me you know. Ever since....” Elise leaned back against the stone fence, and closed her eyes, wondering if he knew what had happened. “Ever since I fell out of the tree and landed on her.”

“What?”

Shifting uncomfortably, Elise couldn’t face him so she stared at her foot as the toe of her boot scraped dirt. “You should probably know that I was the one who knocked your mother down, ruining her dress at Papa and Amelia’s wedding. Of course I ruined my own as it snagged a limb and ripped. If your mother hadn’t broken my fall I could have been seriously injured. I was pretty high up.”

“She never said it was you,” Michael whispered as she nodded. “And I always assumed the child of a servant bumped into her and ran off in fear.”

“I told her who I was. She was very cross with me Michael, and rightfully so. Though I apologized profusely, she still told Papa, who swatted my bottom then punished me for a month afterward. I was not allowed to leave the nursery at all. I could not ride, could not fish....”

“Oh, but you did. You even hid my horse from me the morning a group of us were going into the village to shop.”

Elise turned a bright shade of pink and looked away. “They could never keep me in if I didn’t want to stay punished. Please understand Michael, this was after I’d heard you tell Ren what you wanted in an ideal wife.” Elise covered her face with her hands. “Even then I felt you were describing me.”

Michael watched the children riding, and the groom leading an indignant Sophia, who insisted she could ride by herself now. He smiled, wanting several just like her one day. “After the trellis incident, Mother suggested that I stay away from Haldenwood for a while, to give you time to grow out of your girlish infatuation.” Elise groaned. “She means well.” He turned to face her, hoping to make her understand his mother’s position. “While she wants me to be happy, the specter of an old scandal and what it did to my uncle is not lost on her. My uncle loved an unfaithful woman. She cuckolded him while he was on the continent. He never got over it, nor spoke of it the rest of his days. I’m afraid she might see our relationship as a mirror of that one.”

“I am not her, Michael,” Elise insisted, “and you are not your uncle.”

“If mother were to see you as I did this morning, her opinion would not change. In face, it would only worsen.” He spoke frankly, adding, “I don’t want her to think I’m taking an impulsive, over-indulged hoyden to bride. Elise, you are so much more than that. I know this. Please, let mother see the compassionate, intelligent woman you’ve become, not the child you were. It will go a long way toward making our future a peaceful one.”

She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek, and Michael could have sworn his heart stopped a few beats. Elise backed away and looked up at him from a safe distance, in case the children were watching them. “I will do as you ask because I love you, Michael. I have always loved you, and always will.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“I am surprised anyone who knew me could imagine that I would be unfaithful to you. Much as I’ve tried to keep it a secret, everyone in my family knows that you have been my heart’s
only
desire my entire life.” He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her, but couldn’t because of the children and stable staff within sight. “I just wish it hadn’t taken you so long to feel the same way.”

“Elise, if I’d done anything any sooner, I’d be one of the worst sort of lechers.” He relaxed, feeling more optimistic about their arrangement. Leaning back against a stone post, he pulled a long blade of grass from next to his booted foot and put it in his mouth. “I still feel...
odd
about this. Though I’m sure in time I will get over it.”

Elise heaved a sigh and started walking toward the gate. As her breech-clad bottom swayed, she looked over her shoulder at him and said, “Nothing about last night felt odd to me, Michael. In fact, it felt very right and beautiful. So I suggest you get over this reservation your having. And soon.”

He groaned as he felt his cock stir. Michael strode after her, catching up to her as she called for the children to come in. “Believe me, I am doing my best to get over it as quickly as possible.” They waited at the gate for the children to come through on their ponies. Michael met her gaze. “Your brother will be here soon. He’ll want to talk to you.”

Elise nodded, not looking at him, fearful it might call attention to their conversation. She spoke in hushed tones when she said, “I’m sure he does. You don’t have to fear that I will claim you seduced me, because I feel I’m the one having to do all the seducing Michael. I wish...” She lowered her voice as the children grew closer and resumed walking toward the barn. “Sometimes I wish you wanted me as much as I want you.”

He sighed, then muttered something under his breath. The chatter of the children caught up with them, leaving him unable to respond. They walked the children on their ponies back to the stables and handed over the animals to the grooms. Elise stepped into the skirt of her two-piece riding habit, buttoning the side. As she’d told him that very morning, having done this for so many years, she gave in to necessity and had specially constructed habits made which allowed for ease of attachment and removal of the skirt. Her brother had only one request when he’d discovered she rode astride. She was never to appear outside Haldenwood in such a manner. It would cause gossip and scandal. And heaven knew, Ren dreaded gossip and scandal more than anything.

Elise and Michael walked to the house with the three girls. They both noticed Sophia walking like the pony was still under her. Smiling, Elise called out to her, “Don’t worry Sophie, you’ll only be sore for a day or two.”

The older two begged for similar instruction and Elise promised to do so at some point during the week.

Michael groaned and ask that she please get approval from Christina first.

E
lise had Bridget order a bath prepared for her while she napped. As she changed out of her riding clothes, her maid said, “Was he so totally scandalized by the sight of ye ridin’ around like a lad that he’s changed his mind?”

“No, Bridget,” she replied, “he hasn’t changed his mind. In fact, he said his esteem for me and my skill grew when he saw I knew what was I was doing.” She slipped her chemise on and lay on the bed. “I’m glad, too. For, although I would hate to live without him, I would if he ordered me not to continue my riding, training and breeding.”

“Get yer rest, m’lady. I’ve a feelin’ ye’ve got a long evenin’ ahead.”

When Elise woke from a short nap, she learned her brother and sister-in-law had already arrived and Ren waited downstairs for a meeting with her. She bathed and dressed quickly, leaving the room with her short hair still damp. Finding him alone in the study, she entered and returned his warm smile.

“So, I take it you are in agreement,” he asked.

“Of course,” she said through her smile. “I cannot wait until he is out of mourning, so we can make our announcement.”

“Good,” her brother replied, seeming a bit uncomfortable with what he wanted to say. “He is a fine man, Elise. He will make you a good husband or I would never have approved.

“He is also my friend,” Ren added, “and I ask that you not play games with him. Do not marry him if you do not think you can care for him—” He cleared his throat before finishing. “—in... that way.”

“I assure you, Your Grace, I care for him,
in that way
.”

Her brother visibly relaxed. “Good. Good.” He nodded. “Then you got your love match after all.”

“I did,” she said through her smile. “Thank you.”