“Many a gambler has said so,” the housekeeper murmured, moving the kippers closer to Caroline’s end of the table. She bustled around the corner of the table, to where a trolley was laden with hot dishes.
“Georgie, I have an excellent suggestion for what we mightdo today, and I believe you will be most pleased by it,” Caroline announced. “A lovely, vigorous activity to get the blood flowing.”
Georgiana’s mouth formed a small, horrified O, her eyes darting to Mrs Reynolds and back to Caroline.
“You have barely ridden Swift since I have been here,” Caroline continued, biting back a smile, as the housekeeper busied herself setting out the plates of eggs and ham. Clearly, the memory of last night’s kissing was still fresh in her friend’s mind. Perhaps she’d even been thinking of repeating it. Caroline dearly hoped that was the case. “It is such a lovely day after all, and I fear we have been rather indolent of late. I would not like you to grow restless.”
“But you do not like to—” Georgiana began, then closed her mouth with a sharp snap. “Ah yes, I remember you telling me only last night how, um, how much you longed to... ride more.”
“Are you quite well, ma’am?” Mrs Reynolds asked, and Caroline stuffed half a kipper into her mouth to quell the burst of laughter that threatened to erupt. “Has your headache returned?”
Georgiana shot a murderous look at Caroline, which only made her want to laugh more. “I am quite well, I assure you. I am only surprised that Miss Bingley wishes to ride when she has so little experience on... horses.”
Caroline almost choked on her mouthful. Outraged, she glared back across the table, where Georgiana now wore a triumphant expression.
“Indeed,” Mrs Reynolds said, her polite smile managing to convey clearly that she thought them both quite mad. “Shall I ask Mrs Addlecombe to pack you a lunch, ma’am?”
The walkto the stables, though a pretty one which wound past several flowerbeds and hedgerows of uncommon beauty, was not one Caroline had taken often while at Pemberley. Georgiana had been correct; Caroline really did not like to ride much, for she distrusted most horses. The one exception was a short and rather plump white stallion called Edward, which she had ridden several times. He was a reliable horse, never spooked and always steady on his feet. One could probably ride him through a burning building without eliciting any reaction; in a strange way, the beast reminded her of her brother. Edward nosed at Caroline’s shoulder, evidently hoping for a treat. Caroline fed him a carrot from a nearby barrel to placate him, then a second when Miss Darcy wasn’t looking.
Georgiana was over by Swift’s stall, caressing his enormous head. Caroline had often thought that Swift must have a lineage which included giants, for he was a truly enormous stallion to her eyes, standing sixteen hands high. His mane was a dusky roan, his coat a tawny brown which blended perfectly with the way the ground looked at the moment summer turned into autumn, though neither Georgiana nor Swift would probably appreciate the comparison to mere soil.
“I cannot believe you mocked my lack of experience at breakfast,” Caroline said, stepping closer. Now that they were alone, and out of sight of the house, surely, another kiss was imminent.
“Was I wrong, Miss Bingley?” Georgiana gave Swift a final pat and turned to face her.
“No, but I...” Caroline dropped her voice to a husky whisper, though there was no one around to hear them. “That is only because I had not found anyone worth gaining experience with.”
Georgiana swallowed, then picked up a carrot and offered it to her stallion. “I’m sure you shall.”
That was not at all the reaction Caroline had hoped for nor expected. She frowned. She’d assumed after their conversation the night before, that it would be far easier to resume where they had left off, and she was disappointed to find otherwise. “Perhaps I have not made myself clear,” she said, stepping forward until she was within arm’s reach. “You are not going to make me beg for another kiss, are you?”
“What a strange question. I do not recall you begging for either of the others. I only recall you being utterly impossible and frustrating me to the extent that I—”
“Would you like me to?” Caroline asked, inching closer, her hand brushing Georgiana’s arm.
Miss Darcy swallowed. “Would I like you to do what?”
“Beg.”
Georgiana looked down at her, her jaw tight. Up close, her dark eyes were a luminous brown, speckled with amber. “You are straining my self-control again, Caroline.”
“I thought we agreed that you had already given in? You did say last night, did you not, that you tried to resist me and failed. What, then, is the point of reviving your self-control? Consider it dead and buried where I am concerned.”
“A thing, though buried, may still haunt a person from time to time. And mine is so newly entombed.”
Caroline’s fingers itched to touch Georgiana.Why not? Why should I always wait for her to make the first move?“I do not understand why you fight it so,” she whispered, placing a hand gently on Georgiana’s waist and tugging her closer. “Could we not simply give in to each other and enjoy whatever happens?”
Georgiana leaned in, then jerked back reflexively. Swiftwhickered in his stall, watching them with interest, his ears pricked up. “You,” she said breathlessly, “do not know what you ask of me. Such an affair may be easy to begin but difficult to end.”
“Why must there be talk of endings when we have barely begun?”
“Caroline—”
“You will not put me off,” she announced, tiring of all this talk. “I am determined upon this course, if you will join me on it. So I will ask again, Miss Darcy: Would you like me to beg?”
Georgiana’s expression was not one Caroline had seen before and was far too complicated for her to parse. She waited, heartbeat thudding, to hear what her fate would be. “You would do that, Miss Bingley?” Georgiana breathed, leaning down until Caroline could feel warm breath ghosting over her lips. “You would really beg for me? Do you want my kisses so much?”
The answer was obvious and true. “Yes.” Caroline pressed closer, tilting her head up, her fingers tightening on Georgiana’s waist. “Please, Georgie,” she whispered. “I want you so much, I cannot think of anything else. I—”
