The Earl's Inconvenient Wife (Regency Collection Book 1) (14 page)

“A-an-another horse?” she squeaked.

“Yes.  I intend to show you around.  Being new here, you need to get acquainted with the place.”

Before she could respond, he hurried out of the stable, careful not to break out into a full laugh until he was out of her hearing distance.

Chapter Fifteen

C
laire fumbled through the process of getting the horses ready.  Fortunately, the stable master helped her.

“I wish I would have known you were due to arrive today,” he
said as he showed her how to strap the saddle in place.  “I knew we were due for a new stableboy but expected him next week.”

“I…I thought it was today,” she mumbled, looking away from him in case he figured out she wasn’t this new stableboy who was due to work here.  She didn’t even know one was expected here, but it wasn’t like she kept track of such things so who was she to question it?

“You have nothing to worry about.  Lord Roderick is as good as they come.  This is a good place to work.”

“Yes, I heard,” she muttered.  Who hadn’t sung her husband’s praises as if he were some kind of saint?  Truly, her husband couldn’t be more annoying.  He was pleasant to everyone but her—and Mister Robinson.

“All right then.” He finished the task and patted the horse’s neck.  “He’s a beauty, isn’t he?”

She shrugged.  A horse was a horse.  There seemed to be little difference between one or the other, except maybe for their color.

“This one over here will be yours for today,” he called out as he headed for a stall to her right.

Curious to see which horse she
’d be riding, she followed him and saw the light brown mare.

He led the mare out of the stall and gestured to the other saddle.  “Go ahead and put it on, just like I showed you over there.”

She glanced at Roderick’s horse and then back at her own.  Despite her apprehension, she went over to the saddle which had been placed on the bench.  She picked it up and nearly fell back.  Good gracious, this thing was heavier than it looked!

“Buck up there, lad.  You can do it,” he encouraged.  “It’ll do you some good to put some muscle on those bones.”

She winced as she steadied herself.  Putting some muscles on her bones wasn’t something she particularly wanted to do.  But she was trapped and had to follow through with this stupid idea.  Who was to know such a clever plan could backfire on her like this?  She actually succeeded in passing off as a stableboy, but she was no closer to getting to London than she had been the day she got here.  Curse her husband for his uncanny timing.  Only he would show up as she was about to finally make her escape.

She reached her horse and managed to throw the saddle over it.  Unfortunately, it slipped right off the mare’s back and onto the ground.

The stable master chuckled.  “Yes, you definitely need to build some strength in those arms.” He picked the saddle up and, without any effort she could see, got the saddle in place on the animal.  “Go on and secure it.”

She took a deep breath and did the best she could, hoping she recalled his instructions right so she wouldn’t further embarrass herself.  She managed through the process with less finesse than she cared to admit, and he had to help a couple of times before everything was done.  After that, he showed her how to put the bridles on the horses.

Just as they were fitting the reins, Roderick entered the stable.  Her stomach twisted up into knots. It was bad enough being around him when she was dressed up as herself, but as a stableboy, it somehow seemed worse.

“Are we ready?” Roderick asked, stopping right in front of her with what seemed to be an amused grin on his face.

Unsure of what to make by his expression, she shrugged and mumbled, “Yes, Lord Roderick.” She nearly gagged on saying his name that way, but it was how a stableboy would refer to him, so what choice did she have?  She reached the side of her horse and put her foot in the stirrup.

He
stood by his horse and cleared his throat.

With a start, she turned her head in his direction.

“I require your assistance, Mister Henry,” Roderick said.

She scanned him up and down.  “With what?”

The stable master grinned, but Roderick spoke up, pulling her attention back to him.  “I need help getting on the horse.”

She frowned.  “Haven’t you ridden a horse before?”

“Of course, I have, but nonetheless, I need your help,” he insisted, motioning to the stirrup.

Resisting the urge to sigh, she went over to him and inspected the stirrup.  What could possibly be wrong with it?  “It looks fine, my lord, unless you mean for me to wipe it clean for you?” Perhaps he needed everything to be perfectly clean before he went riding.

“Not that.  I need you to help me up.”

“What?”

The stable master cleared his throat and headed off to who-knew-where.  Was he laughing because she was inept at this job?

“Well?”

She turned her attention back to Roderick.  “You’re an adult.  Can’t you get yourself on the horse?”

“Are you or are you not acquainted wit
h your duties?” Roderick asked.

It was on the tip of her tongue to argue that it was ridiculous someone of her smaller stature should help him onto a horse, but she was playing a part.  “Very well.  What do you want me to do?”

“Put my foot in the stirrup.”

She stopped herself from rolling her eyes
and leaned forward so she could grab his foot.  After she slipped it into the stirrup, she started walking to her horse when he cleared his throat again.  Spinning around, she asked, “What now?”

“I require further assistance
.”

Her jaw dropped.  He couldn’t be serious!  What would he want next?  For her to carry him into the house?

“Mister Henry, I’d like to show you the property before dinner.”

Grumbling under her breath, she went back to him.

“Good.  Give me the reins.”

She did as instructed and waited to see what else he might demand.

“Place my hands on the saddle,” he said.

“You can’t put your hands up there yourself?” she asked in disbelief.

“Sure, I can, but I’m an earl so I have no need to do this myself.”

She stared at him for a long moment, wondering if he was teasing or being serious.  She thought she saw his lips curl up for a moment on his otherwise stoic face, but she couldn’t be sure.

“Mister Henry?” he pressed.

“All right, all right.” She
took his hands and plopped them on the saddle.  “There.  Are we done yet?”

“No.  Now you need to boost me.”

“Boost you?”

“Yes.  Push me up by my rear end
.”

“Your what?”

He turned away from her and jutted his rear end out.  “Place your hands on my behind and push me up.”

She stood still, not able to move.  She couldn’t imagine touching him—or anyone—in such a private area.  Was this really something stableboys did for their employers?

“This position is rather awkward,” Roderick said.  “Please hurry up.”

Face flushed, she stepped away from him and shook her head.  “I cannot.”

“Why not?  It is your job.”

“But…but…” She shook her head and hurried back to her horse.  “I’m sorry, my lord, but I can’t do anything that makes me uncomfortable.”

He let out a disappointed sigh.  “I’ll let this instance pass, but I suggest you get used to doing your job, regardless of the details involved in it.”

She watched as he got into the saddle with surprising ease.  Why would he want help into the saddle when it was obvious he could do it himself?  Were earls really that lazy?

“Can you get on the horse?” Roderick called out.

“Sure, I can.  I’m a stableboy,” she replied, hoping she sounded appropriately offended that he’d even have to ask.

“Or so you would make it seem.”

She eyed him suspiciously.  Did he suspect the truth?

“Come on, lad.  Get on your horse.”

In the past, she’d always had help on a horse, and she’d always had a sidesaddle.  She didn’t think it possible, but this was going to be far more awkward than
almost having to touch Roderick’s read end.  She grabbed the saddle, put a foot in the stirrup, and made an attempt to get in the saddle.  Unfortunately, she failed and stumbled to find the ground with her free foot.

Ignoring
Roderick as he laughed, she tried again.  This time she made it on the saddle, though she had to wiggle her way into a good position.  The horse snorted, as if mocking her efforts.  She sighed.  Granted, she looked ridiculous.  She sure felt ridiculous!  But she didn’t exactly appreciate the reminder.

“Good,” Roderick said, looking pleased.  “Now we can be on our way.”

He nudged the horse in the sides with his feet and the animal headed out of the stable.  She imitated his actions and was rewarded as her mare lurched after Roderick.  She gripped the reins in her hands.  Goodness but riding a horse with her legs indecently spread apart was proving to be a challenge!  She adjusted her hips to balance her swaying body the best she could.  Up ahead, Roderick stopped and waited for her.  It took her longer to catch up to him than she preferred, but she didn’t dare go faster in case she slipped off the saddle.

“G
ood heavens, lad,” Roderick called out.  “You’re in no hurry to do anything, are you?”

“I’m going as fast as I can,” she replied through gritted teeth.

“Mind your disposition.”

“I’m trying to keep my balance on this thing.  I’m not snapping at you.”

“You’re trying to keep your balance?  Aren’t you proficient on a horse?”

“I haven’t ridden one in a while.”

And that wasn’t too far from the truth.  She hadn’t ridden one in a year, and even then she’d been sitting side saddle and going at a leisurely pace.  Roderick, it seemed, wanted to go into a full trot.  When she caught up to him, she fully expected him to speed up, but to her surprise, he slowed his pace so he could stay beside her.  They rode for a good ten minutes up a slight incline before he spoke to her.

“So,” Roderick began with a glance in her direction, “what brings you to Weston?”

“Employment.” Why else would a stableboy be in a stable?

“But why Weston?  Why not Camden or Valentine?”

She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  It just seemed like the right place to be.”

“So you picked this place at random?  On a whim?”

“Yes.  It seemed like a good idea,” she ventured, hoping he’d let the matter drop.

He pulled the reins on the horse to a stop, and she followed suit.  “This is the best view of Weston you’ll find from anywhere on this property.”

Up to now, she hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings.  She’d been focused on keeping her balance on the horse.  Now, however, she took the time to look around her and noted the lush green landscape dotted with trees.  A pond was to her right and the manor was to her left, and there were flowers spread throughout the area.  Her eyes went to the gazebo and path she walked almost every day.  It was the one place where she felt at peace.  From a distance, it was a lovely view.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful,” she admitted.

“Unfortunately, my wife doesn’t like it.”

Her eyes wide, she looked at him, wondering why he’d be telling a stableboy something so personal.  “My lord, I don’t think it’s my place to know what Lady Roderick thinks.”

He shrugged.  “If I can’t tell you, then who can I tell?”

“Do you make it a point to tell all of the servants about your wife?”

“
No.  Just you.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

She inwardly groaned.  It was irritating that he answered her question with another question.

“My wife wishes to return to London,” Roderick continued.  “Up to this point, I’ve been telling her no, but I’m wondering if I should agree.  I’m starting to think I’ve been too quick to judge her.  I’ve ignored her ever since we got married.  Well, there were a couple of times when we talked, but we spent that time arguing.  It’s not the best way to start a marriage.”

Her cheeks grew warm.  Why was he telling a stableboy all of this?  “My lord, I must insist that you refrain from telling me anything else.  What happens between you and your wife is none of my concern.”

“I think it concerns you very much.”

“No, it doesn’t.  I’m just a stableboy.”

He shot her a pointed look.  “You detest me so much that you’ll disguise yourself as a stableboy and risk endangering your life to travel to London alone?”

Her shoulders dropped.  He knew.  “
I didn’t see any other way to go to London.  I’m tired of being here all by myself without anyone to keep me company, and before you say it, though I love Marion dearly, it’s not the same thing as having my family around.  Despite what you think, I’m not a cold-hearted lady whose sole pleasure in life is money.  I want companionship.  Companionship from someone who is my equal.”

His expression softening, he said, “I’m sorry, Claire.  I should’ve been more attentive to you.  I should have brought you out here sooner and showed you the estate and helped you adjust to being its mistress.  I was just…”