“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 shestood 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.”
