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Ten minutes later, I’ve changed, filled Chloe in on our conversation, and I rush to meet Alex outside the palace kitchens.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I thought you might like to go and meet Guinevere.”
My eyebrows spring up. “Guinevere?”
“You’re going to love her. She’s very important to me.”
Well, this has taken a turn for the concerning. He wants me to meet someone called Guinevere who’s very important to him?
We reach the stables, where Alex speaks with a man before leading me through.
“This, my Texan Princess, is Guinevere,” he says at one of the stalls, and the stunning chestnut horse Alex rode during the polo match pokes her head out to say hello.
“Oh, this Guinevere. The horse,” I say in a breathy rush of relief.
Alex pets the horse and fishes some slices of apple from his pocket to feed her. “Hello, Guinie,” he coos softly, and seeing him treat her with such love warms my heart. “I've got someone special for you to meet. This is Maddie. Say hello.”
“Hi, Guinie,” I say as I pet her nose. Her coat is warm and silky under my touch, and I can feel her jaw working as she chews on the apple slices. “What a beautiful girl.”
“True,” Alex says, his eyes on me, and I wonder whether he means me rather than his horse. “I thought we might take Guinevere out for a ride. Tim has prepared another horse for you.”
I blink at him. “You want to go riding?”
A smile teases the edges of his mouth. “I told you I wanted to show you something, and the best way to get there is on horseback.”
“Sure. I mean I haven't ridden for ages, but I'll give it a shot.” My bright tone belies my nerves at the thought of climbing on one of these huge beasts, handing over all control.
“But you have ridden before? I thought you said you had.”
“Oh, sure. I'll just be a little rusty, that's all.”
Truth be told, although I grew up in Texas, I didn’t exactly spend my time riding horses on ranches. Houston is very much urban, and I spent considerably more time riding in my car, and even the downtown train, than being on the back of a horse.
Tim appears in the stables, leading a majestic horse with a strikingly contrasting blond mane by its reins.
“Your Royal Highness,” Tim says with a bow. “This flaxen chestnut is called Cappuccino. I chose one of our older mares for you. She has an even temperament. I think you'll find her very comfortable to ride.”
“She's absolutely gorgeous.” I pet her nose, and she eyes me with her big brown eyes. “We're going to get along just fine, you and me. Just fine.”
A few minutes later, Tim helps me up onto Cappuccino, and I watch as Alex, skilled horseman that he is, easily slides onto Guinevere.
“Shall we go?” he asks.
“Is now a good time to admit I haven't ridden a horse in a super long time?”
Alex chuckles. “Do you need Tim to lead you for a while to get used to it?”
“Good plan.”
Tim takes Cappuccino’s reins and we wander around the yard by the stable until I begin to feel more comfortable.
“How about we start out walking and see how we get on?” Alex suggests.
“Walking, I can do.”
Side by side, we meander down one of the long paths on the palace grounds, lined with trees. It's a gorgeous day with the sun overhead, a few wispy clouds scattered across the sky, birds chirping overhead, a light summer breeze cooling us. After a while, we reach an open expanse of grass and Alex suggests we try going a little faster.
