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“I’ll admit it was an indulgence, but I couldn’t resist having one.”
Her eyes remained on the seat.“How on earth am I going to get up there?And more importantly, how do I keep from falling off?”
A quick glance back at the house showed him that Lady Fairbanks was watching them from the drawing room window.
“Come now,” he said.“I never took you for a coward.”He leaned closer and lowered his voice even though there was no chance they’d be overheard.“Your sister is watching us right now.”
As he knew they would, his words caused her to straighten her spine.“I am not afraid, just prudent.But if you can ride in that thing, so can I.”
“That’s the spirit.And never fear, I brought something to help you get in.”
He reached into the passenger side of the vehicle and pulled out the small set of stairs he’d placed there himself.He positioned it next to the phaeton and held out a hand.
Mary smiled at him as she placed her hand in his.She gripped it tightly as she climbed up the four steps, wavering slightly on the top one before taking a deep breath and placing her foot on the little ledge at the side of the carriage.He moved closer and placed a hand at her waist to keep her steady.
She didn’t loosen her grip even after she was seated.
“This was a bad idea,” he said.“We can try again tomorrow with another carriage—”
“And have Edwina think me a coward?Never.But you must promise not to drive too fast.”
“You have my word.”He squeezed her hand in reassurance.
With a deep breath, she released her grip and placed her hands in her lap.
He left the small set of steps next to the town house door since there was nowhere to stow it on the carriage.The butler would probably have a footman bring it around to the side of the house, but he didn’t really care if it went missing.He only needed it for today.It wasn’t as though he was planning to take another woman out for such a public ride.
Although perhaps he’d need it again for Mary.They might have to go to Hyde Park regularly.
He sprang up into the carriage and took the ribbons into his hands.He couldn’t hold back his grin when Mary shook her head at the ease with which he’d completed the task.
At his soft command, the matched pair of grays began to move and he turned the carriage toward Hyde Park.He loved driving his phaeton and normally was content to ride in silence, but today he wanted to get straight to the point.He didn’t want to press the matter though, so instead he commented on the weather.
She let out a sigh.“We both know why we’re here, and it’s not to comment on the fact we can see a sliver of blue through the clouds this afternoon.”Her tone wasn’t promising.
“In my defense, itisa pleasant day.”
The look she gave him was a mixture of exasperation and amusement.It gave him a small amount of hope as to how this conversation would end.
“What you propose would put me in a very awkward position.”
He glanced at her, but her expression was carefully neutral.“How so?”
“Edwina was already displeased with me after the ball last night, and again this morning when your flowers arrived.After our performance this afternoon, she’ll be unbearable.”
His grip tightened on the ribbons, and he had to force his fingers to relax lest he cause the horses to rear back.He had to take a deep breath before asking the next question.“She wouldn’t hurt you, would she?”
The look of horror on Mary’s face did much to ease the tightness in his chest.
“Good heavens, no.But I am dependent on her.She can do much to make my life miserable without causing me physical harm.”
As they reached their destination, the carriage slowed and they joined the line of vehicles making their way into Hyde Park.Ashford had heard the crowds could be suffocating during the fashionable hour, but he’d thought that an exaggeration.It wasn’t.
Their conversation halted for some time as he nodded in greeting to several groups of people who’d gathered near the park’s entrance.No doubt they wanted to take an inventory of everyone there that afternoon.
When Mary smiled and waved at almost everyone they passed, he leaned toward her.“Do you know who all these people are?”
She lifted one shoulder in a small shrug.“I know a few of them.But I’m sure they know who we are.No doubt word of our outing today is already spreading from person to person.”
