Page 27 of The Viscount Needs a Wife (All for Love #2)

A ppearing downstairs as the newly minted viscountess made Annis feel odd.

“Good morning, my lady, my lord.” The footman held the door for her as she entered the breakfast parlor. The duchess greeted her with a kiss and the duke a smile.

As she was seated at the breakfast table beside Emrys, she was reminded of her birthday breakfast when they all made a fuss over her.

But this time was different. Her status was elevated permanently now.

She was no longer in that debatable zone between family and servant.

She was in the family camp. It made her eyes sting.

She blinked them hard and accepted the cup of coffee poured for her by Emrys.

He glanced at her and snuck his hand under the table to give hers a reassuring squeeze.

He knows! He knows I am feeling odd and overwhelmed! Her heart felt like it would burst with how much she loved him. If he can only learn to love me back a little...

The duchess had very kindly lent her two day dresses and a dress suitable for dinner to tide her over until they returned to London, which was planned for the end of August. Which meant she no longer had to wear her governess dresses.

She was still adjusting to the lower décolletage for even the day dresses, with the narrow bodices and shorter hems. It all felt indecent to her, but she could see by his expression that Emrys approved.

“So, what do you two have planned for the day?” asked Sarah, helping herself to toast. Before either of them could reply, Ava swept into the room, resplendent in jonquil muslin trimmed with forget-me-nots and blue ribbons. She immediately swooped on Annis and hugged her.

“Good morning my dearest Annis! Or should I address you as your ladyship now?” she asked with a cheeky smile and a curtsy.

Annis blushed and hugged the girl back. “No, no, Annis please, Ava.”

“I plan to teach Annis how to ride,” said Emrys, surprising her. “If you would like to learn?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

“Um, yes, I suppose,” she said uncertainly. Horses made her a little nervous.

“Splendid idea,” said the duke. “Ava, will you lend Annis old Sandy to practice on?”

“Yes, of course. You will recall my old mare, Annis. She is by far too lazy to throw you off, but you will be flat out getting her to move unless you offer her an enticement. She is very sweet, however, so you needn’t worry she will nip you or kick.”

Annis nodded. “Yes, I remember her.”

“You can borrow one of my riding habits, too,” said the duchess.

“You’re so kind—”

“I know exactly how you feel,” said Sarah with a gentle smile. “I felt that way, too, to begin with. A change in status is always a challenge, but you will get used to it remarkably quickly, and you’re among friends here, so you have no need to be nervous or uncomfortable.”

“See?” murmured Emrys in her ear.

And it turned out that old Sandy was indeed very placid and sweet tempered. She was dun colored, hence the name, and she stood quietly while Emrys boosted Annis into the saddle and she arranged herself with her leg over the pommel.

“I’ll teach you to ride astride next. If you can master this, riding astride will be easy,” he said. “But you’ll need to ride sidesaddle in London, or you’ll shock everyone.”

She leaned forward to pat her mount who flicked her ears in acknowledgment.

“Yes, I know. When you brought me home from Swinford, that was the first time I’d ever been on a horse.

But I think I was too tired to be nervous, and with your arms around me I felt safe.

Inigo is a fine horse,” she said, eyeing the chocolate-colored gelding.

“He’s a lovely boy.” Emrys stroked the horse’s nose affectionately. “Right. Are you comfortable?”

She nodded, “As comfortable as I can be perched up here on something that moves!”

He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. I’m going to lead you for a bit, all right?

” He tugged Sandy’s rein gently, but the horse refused to budge, and with a sigh he dug into his pocket and drew out a bit of carrot, which he offered on his palm.

The mare lipped it up and then let him lead her.

The movement of her gentle steps still made Annis sway in the saddle, but she corrected for the movement after a bit as they took a walk around the yard.

Inigo followed placidly beside, led by his master’s hand on his rein.

When they had done three full circuits, Emrys asked, “Ready to try going for a walk across the fields?”

“Yes?”

Emrys grinned. “Don’t overdo the enthusiasm.”

He mounted Inigo, and setting a gentle walking pace, he led Sandy beside him out of the yard and into the fields behind the stables. “All right, we’re going to walk to that stand of trees over there.”

Annis shifted slightly to relieve the pressure on her leg, and they set out.

The ground being a little less even than in the yard, there was more movement to accommodate for, but she found herself moving with it after a bit and relaxing.

They reached the trees and Emrys held out the reins to her.

“Now we will go back. If you need Sandy to move faster, kick her gently in the ribs with your heels.” He demonstrated with Inigo, and the horse leaped forward.

He brought him back around. “If you need her to stop, tug on the reins. If you need her to go to one side or the other, tug on the side you want her to go.” He demonstrated all of that for her.

“And don’t worry. I’m right here. If she spooks, I’ll catch her and pull her in for you, all right?”

Annis swallowed and nodded. Her heart was pounding faster than it should really. Everybody rides. It can’t be that difficult.

They set off across the field, Sandy happy enough to plod along next to Inigo. Annis’s hands held the reins tightly and her whole body tensed up at first.

“Relax,” he said with an encouraging smile. “Sandy isn’t going to bolt on you. She’s more likely to stop and have a snack.”

Annis laughed and forced herself to relax. By the time they had gone back and forth to the trees three times she was feeling more confident, and Emrys praised her.

“Good, I think that’s enough for one day. I don’t want you getting too sore. At least not from riding a horse!” he said with a growly leer.

Annis laughed, blushing faintly, and let him lift her down from her placid mount.

Set gently on her feet, she looked up at her husband, and the kind light in his eyes made her heart melt.

Ignoring the stable hands who were collecting the horses, she slid her arms round his neck and kissed him.

“Thank you. You’re very patient. And so is Inigo.

Don’t you need to take him for a proper run? ”

His hands tightened on her waist. “I do, but I’ll do it later. Come on.” He tugged her away, and they set off across the field once more to that stand of trees.

“Where are we going?” she puffed to catch up with his lengthened strides.

He shortened his stride a bit and said gruffly, “I want to kiss you properly and not with an audience.”

“Oh. Well, you did warn me. But there are no curtains out here,” she said, trying to make light of it. Her body was twitching at the notion of more of his attention. Really this was ridiculous. Surely, I had enough this morning?

“No, we’ll have to make do with trees instead.” Trees? Good heavens, anyone could see us. But the idea was wickedly arousing.

“Emrys, wasn’t this morning enough?” she teased.

“Apparently not.”

She smiled at the ground, pleased she wasn’t alone in her wanton desire.

They reached the trees, and he pulled her into the shelter of one, pressing her up against the trunk and kissing her.

“You don’t need to thank me, you know, for a riding lesson or for anything else,” he said, husky voiced. “This ledger is by no means unbalanced. In fact, if anything, I feel it is tipped the other way. You’re giving me so much, Annis.”

“I am?” She stroked his cheek, pushing a stray hank of hair out of the way. Love billowed up in her heart. She just adored him.

“You are. Apart from being an irresistible delight between the sheets, there is the way you are with the small fry, and you’re putting up with me. I’m a wreck you know.”

“Emrys, there is nothing to put up with,” she protested.

She felt so tempted to blurt out how she really felt, but his still-evident attachment to Caroline stayed her tongue.

He needed time to sort out his own feelings, and having hers dumped on him at this point would likely be a burden.

She feared she would drive him away, if he knew how deeply and hopelessly she had fallen in love with him.

“Let me make you feel good,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck and reaching for her skirts.