Withdrawing his hand, he replied, “Take it from me, your much older- and wiser- cousin, don’t try to grow up too fast.”
“Says the man who is nearly thirty and still unwed,” Edwina retorted.
“Yes, but that is by choice,” Bennett said with a sly grin.
Before either of them could say more, her uncle shouted, “Edwina is not my daughter! You will not make me feel guilty about this.”
“No, but she is your niece and giving her a Season is the right thing to do,” her aunt pressed, her voice rising. “That is what Richard would have wanted us to do, considering he left her a dowry of fifteen thousand pounds. Besides, Edwina has already delayed her Season once because of her father’s illness. I will not make her wait any longer to debut.”
Bennett rose and extended his hand towards her. “Come, let us go for that ride now,” he urged.
Edwina slipped her hand into his and allowed him to assist her in rising.
As Bennett dropped his hand to his side, he said, “Do not fret. My mother can be very persuasive.”
“Uncle called me a ‘burden,’” she admitted.
Bennett’s jaw clenched. “That was wrong of him to do so,” he said. “You, Cousin, are no burden. I hope you know that.”
Edwina wanted to believe him, yet there were times when she felt like an interloper in her own home. She longed for the days when her father was alive, a time when she was truly happy.
Her cousin regarded her with compassion, perhaps tinged with a hint of pity. “Do not let my father’s words upset you,” he encouraged. “He is just under a lot of pressure since he inherited his title.”
Mustering a smile to her face, Edwina said, “Very well.” She knew there was no point in arguing with her cousin. He was trying to comfort her, but she was not used to people making disparaging remarks about her.
“If we don’t hurry, we shall be late for breakfast,” Bennett remarked.
While they walked towards the stables, Edwina retreated to her own thoughts, a habit that was all too familiar now. Herheart ached, and she doubted that time would soften it. She just felt so alone, despite being surrounded by family.
Bennett arrived at the door of the stables and opened it. “After you,” he encouraged.
Edwina made her way down the central aisle until she reached her horse’s stall. A genuine smile graced her face as she approached, extending her hand to pet the chestnut gelding. Her father had gifted her the horse on her eighth birthday, and they had been inseparable ever since.
“Hello, Sorrel,” she greeted. “How have you been?”
Bennett offered her an amused look. “Sometimes I am not sure if you expect your horse to actually answer you.”
“It would be nice,” Edwina joked.
A familiar groom stepped forward. “Would you like me to saddle your horse, my lady?” Jack asked.
“I can do it,” Edwina responded.
Jack didn’t look pleased by her remark. “Your riding habit is too fine to be mucking around in the stalls,” he said. “Allow me to do it.”
Bennett nodded his head in agreement. “Jack is right. Besides, a lady shouldn’t saddle her own horse.”
Edwina bit her tongue. Why couldn’t she saddle her horse? She had been able to do so when her father was alive. But now, the rules were different. Everything, it seemed, was different.
Stepping back, Edwina watched as Jack led her horse out of the stall and began saddling him.
Bennett came to stand by her. “You are angry.”
“No, not angry, just frustrated,” Edwina admitted.
Turning towards her, Bennett explained, “I know your father allowed you to saddle your own horse, which was progressive of him. However, my father holds a different view, as does Society. You must know that.”
“Why does it matter?” Edwina asked.
