Page 37 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘Someone will be holding Sapphire all the time, so there is no reason to worry about her bolting, but if you are afraid at all, you tell me.’

Lifting his nephew off the ground, Mr Stewart settled the young boy into the saddle, helping him adjust his position until he was comfortable. A wide grin spread across Edward’s face and Jane felt her heart squeeze with affection. She might only have known him for a short time but the little boy had made an impression on her.

‘Shall we go for a walk?’

‘Yes, Zio Tom.’

Jane stayed where she was, watching uncle and nephew walk in a large circle, the little boy relaxing more with each step.

‘You’re a natural, Edward,’ Jane said as they looped back round.

‘This is wonderful.’

After another loop, Edward looked much more confident as Mr Stewart brought him to a stop.

‘What do you think about going for a ride with Miss Ashworth and me?’

‘Will someone be leading Sapphire?’

‘Of course.’

The groom stepped forward and took hold of the leather strap Mr Stewart had been using to lead the little pony.

‘Can I help you mount?’

Jane eyed the side-saddle and swallowed hard. She had ridden before, dozens of times, but only once in a side-saddle. Her parents hadn’t had enough funds to own and house their own horse as Jane and her sisters had grown older, so the opportunities to ride were few and far between. The last time she had ridden side-saddle, she had fallen from the horse, but that didn’t mean it would happen this time.

Mr Stewart stepped close behind her and for a moment all thoughts of being thrown from a galloping horse and breaking her neck disappeared. He boosted her up as if she weighed nothing at all, standing close until he was sure she was settled in the saddle.

He looked at ease as he mounted.

‘Your injury didn’t put you off riding?’

‘No, I got back to riding even before I could walk properly,’ he said with a grin. ‘Nothing could keep me away from Rupert here.’

‘Rupert?’

‘I named him after a friend. Everyone ready?’

They set off at a very sedate pace and soon some of the anxiety Jane had felt when she’d first mounted subsided. The side-saddle was not the most comfortable way of riding, but she didn’t feel as precarious as she had feared she would.

‘We’ll head down to the Serpentine and back. That will probably be enough.’

For a while they rode in silence, both Jane and Edward focusing on their horses, and Mr Stewart seemingly happy in their company.

‘You can relax your grip a little. Your horse is very well behaved,’ he said quietly, leaning over towards her after a few minutes.’

Jane looked down and saw her knuckles were white on the reins where she was clutching them so hard. Making a conscious effort to relax, she loosened her grip and lowered her hands a fraction.

‘Do you get to ride much in Somerset?’

It was the first time Mr Stewart had asked about her life back home and she felt a sudden pang of homesickness. When Lady Mountjoy had given her the opportunity to come to London, she had quickly accepted, but with mixed feelings. She’d wanted the chance to come and find a publisher, to see if this dream of hers was ever going to be achieved, but equally she had dreaded the social events she would be forced to attend.

‘Not much. We don’t own a horse,’ she said, wondering if he would find that strange. Mr Stewart might not be an earl or a viscount, but he was from a very wealthy and influential family who would likely have had a stable full of horses.

‘Shame. I bet there are some beautiful places to ride.’

She nodded, thinking of the rolling hills behind their house, the gentle countryside always so lush and green. A lump formed in her throat and she was surprised to feel the sting of tears in her eyes.