Page 22 of Dangerous Illusions (Dangerous #1)
T HE FOLLOWING MORNING DAWNED bright and sunny, but Charley’s plan to ride on the moor nearly failed at the outset.
Knowing that at least one of the little girls would want to get an early start, Daintry went downstairs nearly an hour before her usual time, expecting to have the breakfast room to herself.
But to her annoyance, she found Sir Geoffrey there before her, halfway through the large plate of food in front of him.
Daintry smiled at the footman Pedrek, hovering helpfully nearby, replied to his usual query that she would take tea and some hot buttered toast, then turned to the sideboard where enticing odors escaped from a number of covered dishes.
Sir Geoffrey, speaking around a mouthful of food, said, “Good morning. Got your habit on, I see. Good color for you. Matches your eyes, and makes you look almost like a proper lady.”
Reining in her volatile temper with difficulty, she replied over her shoulder, “Thank you, Geoffrey. I believe you meant that as a compliment. I generally do not eat a full breakfast until I return from my ride, but this ham smells delicious.”
“As tasty as if it had come from Yorkshire,” he said, wiping his lips with his napkin and eyeing her speculatively. “Still go dashing all over the countryside on your own, I suppose. I own, I hope you haven’t taught such independent ways to my daughter while she’s been staying here with you.”
Well aware that her response might determine whether Melissa would be allowed to ride with her or be forced to remain at home, Daintry swallowed the retort that sprang to her lips and said as she set her plate on the table and took her seat, “Melissa is an excellent rider, sir. You ought to be proud of her ability. I take both girls riding frequently and have been in the habit of giving them a lesson each morning if the weather permits. There is nothing in that, I hope, to warrant disapproval.”
“Certainly not,” he agreed, smiling at her. “In fact, I’ll give myself the pleasure of attending your lesson this morning, for I’m curious to know how one female goes about teaching another to ride. You won’t object, I hope.”
Fearing that her expression had already made her misgiving plain, Daintry greeted the entry of the footman with her tea and toast with relief, thanking him before she said mendaciously that Sir Geoffrey was certainly welcome to join them.
Fifteen minutes later, when the two little girls came running to find her, she saw her concern reflected in their expressions when they discovered she was not alone.
Catching Charley’s gaze and holding it with what she hoped was a warning look, she said cheerfully, “Here is a treat for you, girls. Sir Geoffrey has decided to watch your riding lesson this morning. He will be surprised to discover how well you both ride now.”
With a sinking feeling, she saw that Melissa was unable to conceal her dismay, but before Sir Geoffrey had taken note of it, Charley stepped in front of her cousin and said lightly, “I daresay you will be very surprised indeed, Uncle Geoffrey. Melissa is hardly ever afraid anymore.”
He laughed, reaching out to pinch her cheek. “I do not concede that to be necessarily an improvement, Charlotte, for you must know that I do not consider intrepidity an asset to a female on horseback. Good, healthy fear will keep her much safer.”
“Oh, no,” Charley said, “for she is certain to communicate her fear to the horse, you know, and—”
“Charley, for goodness’ sake,” Daintry interjected, “your uncle does not require a lecture on horsemanship. If you are ready, we will go to the stables now.”
“But you have not finished eating,” Sir Geoffrey protested.
“I told you, I rarely take much food before I ride. Come along, girls,” she added, hoping she would have a few moments alone with them before he followed, to warn them to say nothing about their erstwhile plan to ride on the moor.
She was not given the chance, however, for Sir Geoffrey followed at once, shouting to Pedrek to fetch his hat and coat, and clearly expecting them to wait until these articles had been brought to him.
The last thing Daintry wanted was for him to order a horse saddled for himself when they reached the stables, and although he was not wearing riding breeches, she suspected he might do so if it appeared that they meant to leave the yard.
Therefore, when Clemons brought out the three horses, she said, “You forgot to bring their lead reins. Please, go and get them at once.”
The wiry groom did not so much as blink but handed over the reins he held to a nearby stableboy and turned on his heel. Daintry held her breath, hoping neither of the two girls would be so foolish as to mention that they had not suffered the indignity of a lead rein in weeks.
They remained obediently silent until Clemons had attached the leads, but when he bent to lift Charley onto her saddle, Daintry saw the spark of mutiny flare in the child’s dark eyes, and said, “Wait, Clemons. Miss Charlotte would prefer to show her uncle that she can mount unaided.”
Sir Geoffrey laughed. “Daintry, don’t encourage such folly. No child can mount a full-grown horse without assistance.”
“Charley can. Watch.”
Charley, grinning now, moved up beside the bay gelding and patted its muzzle.
“Now, Victor, my lovely fellow, show Uncle Geoffrey how clever you are.” She touched his shoulder, spoke softly to him, and to Sir Geoffrey’s visible astonishment, the gelding folded his front legs beneath him, kneeling so that the little girl could put her left foot in the stirrup.
Accepting her reins from the stableboy and holding firmly to pommel and hind bow, Charley made no attempt to seat herself until the gelding had obeyed her command to rise, but then she settled herself with dispatch, grinning triumphantly.
Melissa said, “Is Charley not amazingly clever, Papa?”
“Amazingly,” he agreed, “but I hope you never attempt such an indelicate method, my dear. It is not at all the proper way for a young lady of quality to mount a horse.”
“Oh, I could never teach a horse to do such clever things,” Melissa said naively, “but Charley and Aunt Daintry have taught all sorts of tricks to Grandpapa’s horses.”
Daintry said, “That is quite true, Geoffrey. Charley has a real gift for training animals to do the most amazing things, but I promise you, she has taught Tender Lady nothing alarming. Put Miss Melissa up, Clemons, and then lead them both to the end of the stable yard, if you please. You may assist me, Geoffrey.”
He was still watching Charley, but he turned obediently and formed a cup with his hands so that she might put her left foot in it.
Holding reins and whip in her right hand and resting it on the pommel, she put her left hand on his shoulder and sprang lightly into the saddle, putting her right knee over the pommel to secure her seat.
Then, arranging her skirt, she shifted her reins to her left hand and turned her attention to her charges.
Clemons held the long lead reins, and the two girls had already begun to ride circles around him.
Daintry saw that Charley, having knotted her reins and left them hanging on Victor’s neck, had her hands folded demurely in her lap.
“Don’t panic, Geoffrey,” she said when she saw him frown.
“I believe that too much dependence on the reins is one of the most common faults in riding, so I have taught both girls to ride without them, depending on their balance to keep them in the saddle. They will come to no harm, Clemons is very careful.” She saw no reason to mention that Clemons generally had no lead rein and could thus do no more than chase after the girls when they rode in this fashion, which Charley at least had been known to do on occasions when it was less than sensible.
“Bring them to a trot, girls, and show me that you can rise without benefit of your stirrup. I daresay it has not occurred to you, Geoffrey,” she added, seeing him frown again, “but on a sidesaddle, an amateur has a tendency to push up from the stirrup instead of employing the muscles of her right leg. That will not do for any girl who learns from me, I can tell you.”
He turned toward her when she said his name the second time, but she doubted he had heard what she said, for his attention was fixed upon a point behind her. Turning, she saw her brother striding toward them with Lady Catherine Chauncey at his side. Lady Catherine was dressed for riding.
Charles, waving, shouted, “There you are, Seacourt. I have been searching the house for you. Good morning, Daintry. Lady Catherine here tells me it is her habit to ride each morning, and I said you’d be delighted to take her out and about, so I hope you don’t mean to spend the whole morning giving the girls riding lessons.
They ought to be in the schoolroom, oughtn’t they? ”
“Nothing will be gained by forcing them to remain locked up with Cousin Ethelinda, Charles, particularly when she feels guilty if she has to abandon Mama to look after them. Melissa has only a few more days before she must go home, and Charley’s new governess will be here soon enough.
In the meantime it will do neither of them harm to get some extra fresh air and exercise.
If Lady Catherine wishes to ride,” she added before he could debate any portion of her statement, “I will be happy to take her over some of the nearby countryside. I had promised the girls an outing after their lesson, in any event, and by the time a horse can be saddled and bridled for her, they will be ready. Are you an expert or a mere hacker, Lady Catherine?”
“Why, I have frequently been told that I am a born rider, Lady Daintry, with a natural seat on any horse.” She fluttered her long eyelashes at both men, adding with a pout, “but surely, my dear, you do not ride without a proper male escort.”
Sir Geoffrey said instantly, “Tarrant and I will be happy to accompany you, won’t we, Charles?”