“I… you are right,” she conceded and bowed her head. “It was foolish of me to not consider such things. Selfish, also.”
“It is quite fine,” he sighed. “Maybe I overreacted.”
“No.” She took a step toward him, her eyes flicking to his hand as if she meant to take it. “You reacted exactly as I hoped you would.”
Silence greeted them both.
Alone out here as they were, standing so close, the implication of the moment dawned on Marcus like the rising sun. For all his efforts to avoid his wife, to act as if she did not matter, he had well and truly ruined such fancies.
What was more, from the way she looked at him, she clearly knew it.
“Shall we return home then?” she said finally.
“Yes,” he agreed. “I think we should.”
Marcus was glad for the distraction, able to focus on mounting his horse and leading the way ahead. As dark as it was, he took charge, carving a path for them that was safe.
“If you move any slower, we might start walking backwards,” Lucy joked from just behind him.
He did not turn around. “It is too dark to see properly, Lucy. This is safe.”
“Safe.” She blew through her lips. “I do not want safe. I want fun. Freedom. Is that not the entire point?”
The side of his lip twitched. “The point is to see you home in one piece.”
“But not before I am an old maid, which will be the case if we keep moving this slowly. James will be a man, fully grown, and the entire point of this marriage will be for nothing!”
Marcus refused to bite. “If that is the way it must be, so be it.”
She sighed loudly and moved her horse so it was riding right beside him. Then, carefully, she edged it forward so that she outpaced him. As she did, she glanced at him and he saw wickedness in her eyes.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Me?” She asked innocently. “Nothing.”
“Lucy…” he growled. “Slow down. Now is not the time.”
“Tell me true, Marcus, when was the last time you enjoyed yourself? Had fun?”
“I am not trying to have fun.”
“Not with that attitude, you will not.” She grinned at him. “Shall we race home? I will even give you a head start.”
He scoffed. “Certainly not. Slow and steady does it.”
“So, I will have the head start then. But when I beat you, do not complain.”
“Lucy…” He growled again and glared at her. “Do not dare.”
“Remind me, did you not say that I would have my freedom in this marriage? That I could do as I wished?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “But that does not mean – wait!” he cried after her, but it was too late.
Her laughter was high pitched and filled with joy. It cut through the night, sang above the treetops, and seemed to light the way as she kicked her heels into Beauty and took off down the road.
“Lucy! Argh!” Marcus roared and then pushed his mount after her. “Slow down!”
“You’ll have to catch me!” her laugher trailed behind her. “Quick, now! Hurry!”
