Dare to Love (7 page)

Her aspiration was much less lofty. She would be happy if she could mount the thing with a modicum of grace, keep it from eating grass, and maybe even coax it into a trot, if necessary. Of course, if she managed to slim down a teeny bit more in the process, so much the better.

She headed toward the lake, where the view of the house would be blocked by trees. The sun was warm on her face, but a cool breeze blew off the water. Buttercup was well behaved, requiring the bare minimum of instruction. Once she made it into the shadowed area, Nivea looked for a stump or log to begin her first lesson. On the left, she spotted a large stone and steered her horse alongside it.

Patting Buttercups’s neck, Nivea whispered, “Now, don’t be afraid. I’m new at this. I promise not to hurt you, but you have to be patient. If you are good, I have an apple in my pocket for you.”

She positioned herself in front of the boulder and took a deep breath. This was the part she hated. How was she to contort her body to get out of the saddle and onto the rock? If she lifted her leg off the pommel, she was sure to drop like a stone. Then she would either fall under the horse’s hooves and be trampled, or smash against the rock and bleed to death. Neither alternative appealed to her.

She shifted in her seat, feeling a trickle of nervous sweat behind her knee. Buttercup snorted her impatience.

“All right, girl. Don’t fuss. I’m going to do this.” Having said it out loud, she found the courage to dislodge her leg from the saddle. Her heart was pounding so loud in her ears, it drowned out all other sounds in the forest. She inched her weight forward keeping a firm hold on the horse. There was a moment of panic when she could feel nothing under her feet but air. But then her feet touched the stone’s surface and she could breath once again. In her excitement, she turned back toward the horse, and nearly fell when her skirt got tangled around her legs. Flailing, her hands braced against Buttercup’s solid flank, and she managed to regain her balance.

“There!” With a triumphant smile, she stood on the rock like a conquering hero. Buttercup turned her head toward Nivea and snorted, making her laugh. “Yes, I know, for most people it’s not much of an achievement, but for me, it’s quite a milestone. Now, you will have to be tolerant old dear, for I am going to try and get back up.”

Nivea gave herself a moment to savor the victory before steeling herself for the real challenge. She leaned her torso over the saddle, kicked her skirt out of the way, and tried to tug herself up.

That didn’t work.

She gave a little hop. That didn’t work either.

Buttercup shifted her weight and turned her head to see what was going on.

Nivea blew a loose piece of hair from her eyes and reached up to pull the horse closer. “I know. I told you to be patient. I’ll get it.” She leaned into the horse and jumped harder. It wasn’t enough to get her all the way up, and she slid back down onto the rock.

“Uuuurg! Why is this so hard?”

She once again reached over and flung herself upward. With an ungainly twist, and a most unladylike grunt, she managed to pull herself up onto the saddle.

Buttercup took two steps forward before Nivea could grab the reins and get herself settled. She took a deep steadying breath and patted the horse’s neck. “Good girl. That wasn’t so bad.”

The horse nickered, but Nivea let it pass. “Enough of that for one day. Now we can take a stroll.” She prodded the horse forward.

Really, this wasn’t so bad. The woods were colored with a multitude of greens, hiding happy birds chirping to one another. Buttercup strolled along, her hooves drumming out a muffled beat on the packed dirt path.

Just as she reached the open field and decided to turn back home, she heard a whoop and turned to see whom it was. Abby and Thomas were galloping across the field; Abby’s dark hair streamed out behind her, no sign of a hat. They waved at Nivea and slowed to approach at a sedate pace.

“Good morning. How are you today?” Abby asked as she drew alongside her. Her face was glowing with excitement and exercise. Thomas looked happy as well, but settled his features into more of a stoic expression. With the scar on his face, he looked almost fierce, but Nivea knew better.

Smiling, she answered. “I’m fine. It was such a nice morning, I thought I’d take a ride.”

Thomas shot her a questioning look. Nivea was sure he realized in all the years he’d known William, he’d never seen her on horseback. Fortunately, he was too polite to comment.

“Did you have a nice race?” Nivea asked.

Abby smiled and the look of love she exchanged with Thomas was almost embarrassing. “Yes. These horses are wonderful. I could not wait to stretch their legs. They are magnificent creatures. Thomas, you are going to have to talk to William about selling this one to me. She’s perfect.”

His eyes crinkled in amusement. “I thought Arabelle was perfect. And Mystic. How may perfect horses do you need?”

Abby shrugged and patted the horse’s shoulder.

“So, Thomas, the other men are all off hunting. Didn’t you wish to go with them?” Nivea asked.

His eyes grew dark and shuttered. “I do not enjoy the sport. I have seen enough killing, thank you.”

Recalling that his scar was a result of a battle wound, her face warmed. “Oh—yes—I see—well—” she stuttered.

Taking note of her embarrassment, Abby reached over and patted her husband’s leg. “Let’s go, luv, I’ll race you to the stable.”

He smiled and whipped his horse to a gallop, but Abby had already sprung ahead.

If she were a betting woman, Nivea would put her money on the lady.

By the time she reached the stable, grooms were already rubbing down the pair’s horses. One of them stopped to help Nivea dismount. She almost felt graceful as she slid onto the mounting block.

Guests were starting to stroll around the yard. Hoping they wouldn’t notice her riding habit, she darted up to her room. Changing into a delicate pink morning dress, she headed outside where the women and children were talking and playing games. Her sister-in-law, Betsy, was holding little Anthony under a giant parasol, querying Nicholas’s sisters about teething.

Caroline was playing leapfrog with five rambunctious boys who were soon to be her nephews. Nivea joined her sister, helping the littlest ones climb onto the backs of their much larger brothers so they could spring off with glee. Over and over, they would push off the giggling lumps, before curling up at the front of the line to await their turn.

Little Daphne, one of Briar’s twin girls, came up to Nivea and tugged on her skirt. “Aunt Nivvy, I’m tired. Will you pick me up?”

“Certainly, poppet. I’m a little tired too. Would you like me to carry you over to the shade and tell you a story?”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Oh yes! I love stories. Can you tell Eloise, too?” The little girl’s face was full of hope, eager to share the moment with her twin.

Nivea’s smile widened. “Of course. Let’s gather up all your friends.”

Nivea invited the youngest children and their wilting mothers to join her on a bench in the garden under the cooling shade of a crabapple tree. “Why don’t you stretch out on the grass, while I tell you a story?”

“What kind of story, Aunt Nivvy?”

“Would you like to hear a poem I wrote about my cat, Samuel?”

“Yes, yes!” they all cheered. “Tell us about Smanuall.”

Nivea smiled at their enthusiasm. Drawing Caroline’s youngest nephew, little Colin, onto her lap, she began.

Tabby Cat, fat and lazy

lying in the sun.

Eyes blink,

you stretch and yawn

and make to get up

before falling back down,

content to pass another hour

In slumber.

They clapped, their faces alight with joy.

“Another! Tell one about horses! We love horses.” Of course it was Abby’s little ones who shared their mother’s obsession for riding.

Nivea had attempted to write some, long ago, as it was the central theme in her upbringing, but had always found the subject challenging. After giving it some thought, she remembered one.

“How about this? I call it ‘Another Day at the Races.’”

Horses flash past,

all brown and frothy,

thunderous hooves and slaps of whips

kicking up clods of dirt.

Cheering crowds surround me

as the winner is announced.

No surprise,

as it is once again

a Horsham mount.

She was delighted when the women laughed.

“Too true! I didn’t know you had such talent, Nivea,” Abby said.

Before she could respond, Caroline said, “I used to love when our governess assigned writing projects. My attempts were always dreadful, but your poems, Niv, were always so imaginative. It has been so long since I’d heard them. Have you written anything lately?”

Nivea shook her head. While relating silly poems from her youth was fine, she didn’t wish to express her deeper thoughts with this crowd. Especially since most of them referred to her desperate yearnings for a certain black-haired rake.

“Nothing of importance. We’ll save my ramblings for another time.”

Seeing the children were beginning to drift off, she used them as an excuse to change the subject. “It appears Colin is not as fascinated with my poems as all of you. He’s fast asleep. Would you like me to carry him in for a nap?”

“Yes, please. I think it’s time for everyone to rest,” answered Colin’s mama.

Despite protests from the children, the mothers gathered up their drowsy darlings and escorted them inside.

Dare had left for the hunt in high spirits, happy to enjoy the day with close friends and fine horseflesh. He was disappointed to find the earl had included his future son-in-law, as though he were a true member of the family, not only providing him with a superior mount, but including him in the conversation.

“Nicholas, my boy, I expect you will have a little more luck today. I remember the last time we went out for a hunt, you nearly got yourself killed. Surprising, since I’d always heard you were a steady sort of fellow.”

Nicholas went red around the ears. “Truth be told, sir, I was pretty damn intimidated riding with you. Never thought I’d be able to keep up, not on my little horse. Next to your stallion, he looked like a pony for criminy’s sake!”

“Nonsense. No need to be intimidated. We’re always happy to have new blood joining us. William here could never keep up with me, and Landis, well, he’s a moody sort. Not much for conversation, unless the fairer sex is around. I’m happy to have you with us.”

Dare ignored that comment, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the path. He could never quite accept the earl’s jovial manner around his family, even after all these years. It seemed unnatural, and Dare had maintained a wary distance. If the man saw that as moody, well, there was no help for it.

Nicholas did not display a similar affliction. With a wide smile, he gushed, “I appreciate that. This horse I’m riding is an absolute marvel. It’s almost like he knows where to go before I tell him.”

“So you like him, do you? Good. Consider him a wedding present.”

“What?” Nicholas’s jaw dropped, and he pulled the horse up short. “Oh, no, sir, I could not accept that. Just having your daughter is generous enough.”

“Don’t be silly. Can’t have you traipsing around the countryside on a half-breed. How would that look?”

“Besides,” William added, “it will give us a chance to spread the bloodline out and ensure our dominance in the county.”

“By the time my grandsons can ride, you’ll have your own mini-dynasty,” chortled the earl.

Dare snorted. The best thing about hunting with the Horshams had always been their complete focus on the pleasures at hand…horses and hunting. Now, he was forced into listening to all this inane babble about family.

In the hopes of salvaging the day, Dare decided to issue a challenge. “Now that the young pup has a proper mount, what say we have a contest? William and me against Nicholas and the earl. The first to score three birds wins.”

Confounding him, William announced an alternative. “How about I take Nicholas for a partner, and you and the earl can hunt together.”

In all their years together, Dare had always paired with William. They were the dominant team, always prevailing over the group. He tried to suppress the sting of abandonment as Nicholas, beaming with pride, nudged his horse to join William, but it annoyed him to hear the two men nattering away at each other as they branched off.

Brushing off the insult, Landis tugged on his reins, forcing his horse to rear slightly before prancing back towards the earl. He ignored the sharp look the earl shot him—after all there were few greater sins with the Horshams than mistreating a horse. Attempting to make the best of it, he spit out a brief apology, and they headed into the woods.

Determined to put young Nicholas in his place, Dare forged ahead, doing his utmost to win. Being a good host, the earl made several attempts at conversation that Dare rebuffed. His father had always made it painfully clear that hunting required absolute silence. He’d learned at a young age to follow that ironclad rule to avoid the consequences. He wasn’t going to change now to suit his congenial host.

By providing no more than one word answers, the earl soon learned conversation was unnecessary and, once quiet prevailed, the two men managed to bag a grouse within the first hour. They almost had a duck soon after, but it took flight behind a copse of trees. It was quite a while later that Dare had a quail in his sights when they heard the blast of a horn, startling the bird.

“Blast,” Dare growled. William and Junior had won.

“Huzzah,” crowed the earl. “My sons have bested us. Caroline will be quite pleased with her young man.”

Dare looked over, baffled. The earl seemed genuinely pleased that he had lost. How was that even possible? Wasn’t winning everything?

The only thing?

Anything less was…failure. And Dare could not abide by failure.

It was obvious that the earl was not burdened by the same sentiment. As the group reunited, and the victors displayed their kills, they all rambled on about who shot what and how well the other performed.