Page 28 of The Bookworm and the Pegasus Tamer

“As always, your instincts are perfect, Aunt,” Danton assured her, and Aurelia busied herself digging up the last of the chosen seedlings.

She was grateful she wouldn’t have to ride in front of Danton again. Clearly she couldn’t trust herself.

When they had the seedlings firmly secured, each in a protected clump of dirt, they all mounted, Aurelia riding alone. But when they set off, bound for the estate, Bramble continued to amble along beside them.

“Do you mean to accompany us all the way back to Windward?” Aurelia asked, amused. “Won’t your herd be looking for you?”

They know where I’ve gone. She turned her head to look at a rustling bush.

“And they don’t mind?” Aurelia asked, bemused.

Bramble turned back to her. They know that when a pegasus chooses a human, that human becomes their new herd. She sounded cheerful. They’re probably grateful to be rid of me.

“But…” Aurelia stared at her. “You’ve bonded with someone? Who?”

Bramble turned, her laugh sounding in Aurelia’s mind. With you, of course. Who else?

Twelve

“With me?” exclaimed Aurelia, shock making her loud. “You’ve bonded with me?”

It took some time for the hubbub to die down, although Bramble seemed utterly bemused by all the fuss. They finally resumed their journey toward the estate, Aurelia riding in a happy haze. She knew there were details she should be thinking about, but she was too delighted to be weighed down by practicalities.

She had dreamed of one day having an intelligent companion, but something small, like a vendrillon, had seemed the best she could hope for. The possibility of a pegasus had never even occurred to her.

Bramble chattered happily most of the way, often darting off the path to investigate something of interest beside the way. It was starting to become obvious how she had landed herself in the crevice to begin with. The pegasus had far too much curiosity and an unfortunate lack of caution.

The black stallion had woken them all so early that, despite the dramatic happenings of the day, it was still mid-morning when they started back toward the estate. Danton drove them hard enough that they reached their first campsite by evening, although Aurelia wasn’t looking forward to another night on a mat now that she was covered in scrapes and bruises.

But as they neared the spot, she heard Danton’s voice as he talked to his aunt. “With any luck, someone will have seen Echo flying over the estate, and Aunt Calliope will have sent the carriages back for us.”

“Of course she will have done so,” Lady Ophelia said with complete confidence, and she was proved right.

She was less cheerful about her nephew’s insistence that they continue traveling into the night rather than set up another camp. But Danton cast one look at Aurelia and insisted they continue on. She was too relieved to protest, and he soon had them well organized.

Lady Calliope had sent four closed carriages this time, apparently making use of some of those brought by the Earl’s guests. But Aurelia was glad everyone would get to ride inside, given they were traveling after dark.

She climbed gratefully into the first carriage and leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes. She didn’t open them until someone else climbed in and the carriage began to move.

As soon as she saw Danton instead of Phoebe, she froze, her face going white. The two of them weren’t supposed to be alone in a carriage. The darkness and solitude made the situation even more dangerous to her emotions than the back of the horse had been.

Danton was smiling, however, oblivious to her panic. “Do you have any idea how impressive you are, Aurelia?” he asked almost conversationally.

She stared at him. Of all the things he might have said, she hadn’t expected that.

“You met your first pegasus only days ago, and yet one has already chosen you.”

Despite everything, Aurelia laughed. “I don’t think Bramble is a normal sort of pegasus.”

Danton shook his head, leaning forward, his eyes alight. “She’s beautifully proportioned. She’s just young.”

“See, you’re the expert on pegasi, not me,” Aurelia said.

“That’s just it.” His voice held a tinge of wonder. “I learned everything I know through observing them as a boy and studying every book I could find about them as I grew older. You, on the other hand, seem to understand them instinctively.”

“I thought you didn’t approve of books,” she murmured, forgetting herself.

He looked bemused. “What do you mean? I’ve always put great value in books.”