‘An exorbitant amount. Too high to admit.’
For a second she debated not teasing him, but the temptation was too high. ‘Tobias Dashworth, are you a romantic?’
He scowled, although there was no heat in it. ‘No, I am highly practical. One of my assets was not performing to its best and so I made a purchase to ensure that it did.’
‘You could have sold him on to someone else or returned him to the seller, who may have sold them off separately again. Instead, you reunited the parted lovers.’ He made no comment, although the slight tilt of his lips suggested he was amused. ‘Who would have believed it? The stern and stoic duke, who stalks the edges of ballrooms not dancing and only frowning at those who dare to get in his way, is really soft and sentimental.’
Tobias let out a long, beleaguered sigh. ‘How about you believe that I am romantic and I believe that I am practical and we both keep this secret?’
‘Do you know, I still have not received any of the fruit cake I was promised for keeping the other secrets. You are in considerable debt.’ It was better when they were like this, the gentle teasing. It meant she didn’t have to think about what she needed to tell him.
‘It is good to know that you are keeping track of all the things you are blackmailing me about.’ Straightening, he moved to open the door. ‘Shall we take Daisy out for a walk?’
‘Will Montagu mind?’
‘They can bear to be separated for short periods.’ The hinges creaked as he pulled the door open. ‘Do not be alarmed that she is already saddled. I thought it best to be prepared in the event that youconquered your fear, but there is no need for you to get on her if you would rather not.’
Without having to be prompted, Daisy moved out of her stall and stood waiting for them to lead her wherever they wanted. Next to her, Daisy didn’t seem at all frightening to Grace. She was not big for a horse, not even towering over Grace, who was used to being shorter than everyone around her. Montagu snorted and kicked at his door as his beloved walked past, but Tobias didn’t stop.
Outside, dawn was over and the sun was climbing higher in the sky, the heat rising alongside it. Tobias led her and Daisy over to a training yard and let them all into the enclosure. Grace hadn’t been to this part of the grounds before, but she suspected it was normally busier than this and that Tobias had sent the staff away, yet another thing which would add to the rumours about them. Tobias might not care now, but he probably would later.
‘Here,’ said Tobias, handing her the reins. ‘You can lead her around in a circle. She is used to doing this and will happily follow you.’
‘This does not count as riding,’ Grace said as they started the slow walk, Tobias next to her, their shoulders occasionally bumping into one another.
‘You are getting used to one another. It is important that you are not afraid when you eventually sit on her. Animals can sense fear in others and it can impact their own behaviour.’
They completed one lap and Grace decided that Daisy was not so bad after all. The way she placidly followed her was rather soothing.
‘Was there a reason you did not learn to ride as a child?’ asked Tobias as they began their second lap.
‘There was no specific reason but… everything my parents did for my sister and me as children was to improve our chances of an excellent marriage. Riding was not considered to be as important as proper deportment and excelling at needlework. Purchasing horses for us to learn and use would have been seen as a waste of resources.’
Tobias’ dark hair fell across his forehead; he pushed it away absent-mindedly. ‘How about when you were married? Did your husband not provide you with a horse of your own?’
Grace tried to imagine Ichabod considering her needs above his own, and failed. In the long years of her marriage, before Clare had married Sebastian and things had become easier, she had not often left the gilded cage of her husband’s home. ‘It suited my husband that I could not ride. I suppose he realised that not having my own means of transportation meant that I could not easily escape from him.’
Daisy tossed her head, agitated, and Grace stumbled back a few steps.
‘Loosen your grip a little,’ said Tobias softly.
Grace unclenched her fist, unaware that she had been curling it tightly. The reins became loose in her fingers and Daisy settled once more.
‘Did you often want to escape?’ Tobias asked, as they began yet another lap.
‘Yes. Often. Daily, really, or perhaps even as far as hourly. Ichabod was a controlling man who agreed with my parents on almost everything. At least until the end.’
‘The end?’
Grace paused. She realised that Tobias had slowly been leading her to this point, where she told him her deepest, darkest secret. There was no sense in pulling back now.
‘Ichabod was the oldest son of a very well-connected family. He’d been brought up to believe he did not have to work hard and that people should give him what he wanted, as soon as he requested it.’The irony was not lost on Grace that Tobias was also an oldest son and by far and away more well-connected than Ichabod could ever have dreamed of. Of the two men, Tobias should be the one with the sense of entitlement, and yet he was the opposite of Ichabod in every way.
‘He sounds like a prize coxcomb.’
‘Hearing you call him that would have enraged him. He thought himself a swell of the first stare. The first few months of my marriage were fine, but it gradually deteriorated. I will not go into all the details, but by the time Clare met Sebastian, I was little more than a caged animal. He had control over what I wore, saw and did. Then Clare met Sebastian and I knew what it was to hope. I think I mentioned to you before that my parents, and Ichabod, initially wanted to keep him on their side. Both Ichabod and my parents respected his decree that I should visit with Clare often. I believe they thought his wealth was finally their ticket to the life they wanted.’
Tobias grunted, but whether he was angered by what he heard, it was impossible to say. He may equally have been bored. The soft floor of the training yard scuffed under their feet and a heavy weight settled in Grace’s stomach because she was nearing the end of her tale and things only got worse from here.
