Chapter Ten
When Arthur rode his black stallion to the manor house, he noted the gray being held by a groom.
Dismounting, he handed the reins over to another boy and turned to the house.
The door opened just as he was about to knock.
The butler greeted him and let him pass.
Inside he found Daphne in the drawing room with her parents.
He greeted the trio and then turned to Daphne. “Are you ready? I saw the gray waiting.”
“Yes, I am.” She was dressed in a navy riding ensemble with black boots. She wore no hat, which wasn’t common for ladies, but then Daphne did her all not to be like others. Her pale hair was swept up in a chignon.
The viscountess was about to say something, but as she turned to her husband, she hesitated. He noticed a look passed between them. Figuring her mother was worried about having enough time to prepare for the evening’s final ball, he tried to pacify the viscountess.
“Excellent. Let’s get going.” He turned to her parents. “I’ll have her back with plenty of time to prepare for this evening’s festivities.”
He followed her through the house, down the stairs, and to the waiting mounts.
The groom had placed the gray in front of a mounting block to make it easy for Daphne to mount.
He watched for a moment as she checked everything and made sure her saddle was to her liking.
Arthur wasn’t surprised she didn’t ride with a side saddle and turned to mount his black without her seeing the grin on his face.
Bringing her mount next to his, she began to walk away from the house. “Where would you like to go?” she asked, turning to him.
She was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on and he had to sometimes pinch himself that she wasn’t just a dream. She seemed to be warming to him as there hadn’t been much in the way of her arrogance. Instead, she seemed to be making an effort to get to know him.
“I had thought we could ride to a lake on my property.”
“We can do the same here. In fact, I bet your lake doesn’t have a private summer cottage.”
“There’s a summer cottage?”
“Yes, evidently my grandfather, the previous viscount, had it built for my grandmother. She would spend a good portion of her summer there painting and sketching.”
“Lead the way,” he said. The stallion was wanting to run, and Arthur was finding it hard to hold him at a walk much longer.
Clucking to her mount, Daphne broke into a gallop, heading to a meadow.
He watched, letting her have a substantial lead before letting the black gallop.
It wouldn’t take but a few strides to catch up to her.
When he did pull up to her side, she laughed heartily, leading the gray to a stone wall to jump.
The pair flew over it effortlessly. He followed, pulling up at her side where she was standing.
“You’re quite the rider,” he said.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Arthur,” he corrected.
She gave him a saucy grin. “Very well. Thank you, Arthur.”
“Next time I’ll have to remember to bring Roddy. He loves a good romp.”
“Is that the Irish Setter I see with you?”
He nodded and urged the black to walk. “I’m afraid he’s about to go back to the kennel so he can learn how to retrieve.”
“Don’t you think that’ll break his spirit? He has been with you since he was a babe. No need to confuse him.”
“Every dog must have a job, or so says my kennel master.”
She arched a brow. “You’re the duke. If you don’t want him trained to retrieve birds and waterfowl, don’t.”
He nodded. “You have a valid point. I’m rather attached to Roddy.”
“Bring him along next time we ride,” she said. “We won’t have many more days to leisurely ride.”
“I will. How far are we from the lake?”
“Not far at all,” she said, breaking her horse into a gallop once again.
He followed at a breakneck speed as she didn’t let up for what seemed like forever. Arthur thought she was being a little careless galloping as hard as she was. It could prove to be dangerous, but he hoped since this was familiar ground to her, she would keep her senses about her.
Quickly, he caught up with her and pulled ahead.
Once he had enough space between him, he slowed the black to a walk.
The horse needed time to recuperate from such a speed.
He was quite fit, but even so, Arthur kept an eye on his mount.
He had seen too many a good horse ruined by the carelessness of their rider.
She pulled her horse next to his. “Why are you slowing down? We’re almost there.”
“I don’t believe in pushing my horse, no matter how fit he may be. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to walk and get to know each other better.”
“When will you return to London?” she asked, looking over at him.
“Soon, I imagine. I’ll return for the holidays.”
“You’ll be in session with Parliament soon, and that’ll take up your time.”
He nodded. “True, but they break for the holidays. I have other matters needing my attention in London.”
“Are you speaking about the trial for the man who murdered your parents?”
For a moment he was shocked at her question. He had no idea she even knew about the matter. “I didn’t realize you knew about that.”
“Yes, I heard about it.”
“I haven’t decided if I want to attend. As far as I’m concerned, it’s behind me, though my family and legal counsel are urging me to at least attend the opening day. And no, I haven’t decided.”
“I see. I imagine it would bring up things you would rather keep in the past,” she said solemnly.
“Yes. There has to come a time when it’s put in the past. I’m not vindictive, but I do want justice for my parents.”
“I would too.”
He had to change the subject and move on to something more cheerful. “Did you teach Sam how to talk so naughty?”
“No, he picked it up on his own. I’m sure when he was brought from where he came from that the sailors’ salty language did influence him.”
Arthur chuckled at the thought. “I’m sure that’s where he picked up the majority.”
“You would allow me to bring Sam should we decide to wed, wouldn’t you?”
He quickly turned in the saddle toward her. “Of course you can bring him.”
“Thank you. A lot of people find it hard to warm to him because they’ve never seen a parrot up close, let alone a foul mouthed one.”
“I’d never thought of it like that before, but I think you’re right. I think he’ll be a delightful addition.”
She granted him a smile and pointed ahead. “The lake is just over that rise.”
“You’d never know it’s there unless you rode over the hill,” he observed. “I assume the lake is man-made.”
“This one is. My grandfather designed the entire area for my grandmother.”
He shifted in his saddle as he watched Daphne describe what lay in front of them. “It’s quite unique.”
She smiled. “It is. Would you like to see the cottage he built?”
“Yes, I would.”
The pair rode down a path until they were in front of the small lake. In spite of autumn nipping at summer’s heels, there was still some lush grass surrounding the body of water. To the left was a wooded area. If one didn’t know what they were looking for, the cottage would remain hidden.
“Come, I’ll show you the cottage,” she said, turning her horse towards where the structure sat.
Arthur walked next to her as she led the way. He watched his surroundings as he’d been taught to do. It was all tranquil, a perfect place if one wanted to be alone.
As they entered the path where the cottage was located, he was amazed at the care that had been given to keep the area as it’d always been.
They didn’t have to go far when the cottage appeared.
The front was hidden by a thin row of laurel and other trees, giving whoever was at the cottage a view of the lake.
Otherwise no one would know a house stood there.
Turning to a sound in front of him, he just managed to see Daphne sliding off her gray. He met up with her and dismounted. He took the reins of both his mount and hers and tied them off to a nearby tree.
“Are you ready to see the inside?” she asked, lifting her skirts to avoid a drying puddle.
Seeing her ankles gave him thoughts he shouldn’t be having. Not now. “Yes.”
Daphne led the way, opening the oak door and finding her way to a parlor which was connected to a conservatory overlooking the lake. Arthur imagined her grandmother sitting in there for hours.
“This is amazing. A lot of thought was put into this,” Arthur said.
“It is.”
“Does your family use it?”
“No. My mother thinks it’s beneath her to come here when she has such magnificent gardens by the house. Father pretends to not know it exists, but has the grounds maintained knowing I like to come here.”
“What about your brother?”
“I don’t believe he knows a thing about it.”
“Well, I for one wouldn’t let anyone know it exists.”
She walked to him, laying both hands on his chest. He stared down at her, wondering what she was planning. “I don’t plan to. It will be our little secret hideaway.”
“Daphne, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” It was taking every fiber in his being not to kiss her silly.
“What isn’t? I thought we needed a place where we could be alone. We are courting and need to get to know each other better before the wedding.”
“You’ve got it all thought out, don’t you?”
She arched a brow. Her hands hadn’t moved. “What do I have planned out?”
“Our courtship, our future.”
“I’ve given it some thought.”
“I see.”
“Arthur, if we’re to be married, I don’t wish to be a virgin on our wedding night. I want us to enjoy the night without that coming between us.”
She had a valid point. Consummating the marriage was what brought fear to brides. Their mothers tell them tall tales of what to expect. If the act was done before, it would lead to a more pleasurable night.
He felt her hands move to his shoulders. “Make love to me, Arthur.”