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She had been foolish to call on him; she had been foolish to choose to do so riding a horse. She had been utterly, mortifyingly foolish.
She understood now how people could do foolish things when they were in love.
“I want you in my life—and I don’t.”
She kept reminding herself she needed to remain poised only until they reached Alderwood, and then he would leave and she would be free of his presence next to her in the phaeton . . . his leg inadvertently touching hers when they occasionally hit a dip in the road . . . his hands at the ribbons both strong and gentle in appearance as he guided the horses.
She tried not to think about the sweet time when he’d opened up to her after she’d promised to play the pianoforte or how awkward and utterly lovable he’d looked with Mary and little Annabel.
Thank goodness Alderwood wasn’t far.
When they arrived at the private lane that led to Alderwood, Ben pulled the phaeton to a stop, and MacKay caught up to them.
“Go on ahead, MacKay, if you will,” Ben said. “Miss Jennings assures me that her crutches are in the stable. Please collect them and meet us in the courtyard. We shall follow presently.”
MacKay nodded and nudged Rebecca’s horse on down the lane until he disappeared around a bend.
“Rebecca,” Ben said. “If you feel it necessary that I attend your sister’s wedding celebration, I will certainly be there. But I do not wish it to create discomfort for you. I pray you will take the time between now and then to examine your feelings in this regard. The cost to your own personal enjoyment at this important family celebration may outweigh any benefits my presence may give the village. I am new in town; if I am not there, I daresay it will matter little. There will be plenty of time for the village to become acquainted with me and recognize the mutual regard between your family and mine.”
What he’d said was undoubtedly true. Had she not been in such an emotional state, she might have recognized that fact and simply waited for him to receive a written invitation and reply whether he would attend or not.
She’d managed only to stir up trouble by calling upon him today.
“I understand,” she said, wretched fool that she was. “I hope you will forgive me for my rash behavior this afternoon. I shall consider your words.”
“That is all I ask,” he said. He flicked the ribbons, and the horses began taking them to Alderwood. “Speaking of rash behavior,” Ben said in a casual manner, appearing to concentrate on the horses rather than on her. “I’m curious to know if your attire this afternoon is similar to that which you wore when your brothers were teaching you to ride astride.”
“They did share a pair of old trousers with me in order for me to maintain modesty. And once Lavinia, the famed breeches-wearing Darling of Drury Lane, married Lucas, I decided it would be hypocritical for my family to complain. Hence, the pair stashed with my tack.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t lecture you about it today,” Ben said.
“I realize that,” Rebecca said.
Ben only nodded, satisfied, apparently, that she was acknowledging that her actions had been rash.
MacKay stood, holding her crutches, at the entrance of the house with—oh goodness—Lucas and Thomas. She was going to be the beneficiary of a booming lecture after all, she thought as the phaeton rolled to a stop, unless she thought of some way to mitigate the situation.
“Before you say anything—” she began.
Thomas held up his hand to silence her.
“Please forgive your sister,” Ben said before either Thomas or Lucas could speak—or yell—at her. “I believe being housebound for three weeks has made her long for fresh air and freedom, which I’m sure you can understand. That, accompanied by her concern for neighborly harmony during your sister Susan’s celebrations, prompted her to call upon me this afternoon. I was humbled by her visit, and I couldn’t in good conscience allow her to return home alone on her horse.”
“Thank you, Winton,” Thomas finally said.
“But it was not I who taught her to ride astride,” Ben added.
Lucas’s face turned fiery red as he strode over to assist her from the phaeton. MacKay handed her the crutches—the crutches Ben had brought to them for her use when her injury had occurred. He had helped her then, and he was helping her now.
“I’m sure you would like to invite us in for refreshments,” Ben continued, “but I’m afraid MacKay and I would be forced to decline. Good day to you all.”
MacKay climbed into the phaeton, Ben gave a nod in farewell, and they were off.
When the phaeton was well down the lane, Thomas turned to Rebecca. “Icannot beginto understand your actions this afternoon,” he said. “You called upon himwithouta chaperone,withoutan invitation,astride—”
“Before you say anything more,” Rebecca said, interrupting his tirade, “please note that I have already received one blistering lecture for my actions, and I am fully aware of my foolishness, however well-intentioned I may have thought I was. I pray you will save your breath and allow me to go to my room to rest.”
“If he did what you claim he did, then my regard for him has increased,” Thomas snapped.
