Page 16 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"Yes. I didn't want to think about him being treated badly just because he has a brown foot. That's why I called him that," Arthur says. "I've been raising him since he was a foal."

"He's very handsome," I say. "And hopefully not unlucky at all?"

Arthur laughs. "Not even slightly," he assures me. "Would you like to say hello?"

I nod and step into the stable. My cape falls back over my shoulder as I reach out and pat the horse on the neck. "Hello, Brownfoot. It's a pleasure to meet you."

He gives a strange kind of rumbly sound in response and nudges his head against my shoulder.

"I think he likes you," Arthur says.

"Good, because I intend to be around for a while to come," I say to the horse, even though I know he probably can't understand me.

"Which means that we should probably find you a horse," Arthur says. "I've got a few suggestions."

I nod. "I'm not taking the horse from anyone, am I?"

"No, this is the royal stables. My sisters' horses are here, as well as Ernest's pony, but there are also horses that are unclaimed for if we have guests or anyone else who is in need of one."

"Ah." That's better than feeling as if I'm taking a horse from someone who it already belongs to.

Arthur pats Brownfoot on the side. "I'll be back, and maybe we'll go for a ride?" He looks at me, and it takes me a moment to realise that he's asking me because the choice is mine.

"I am dressed for it." I wave my hand down myself, only to realise as I do that I'm inviting him to look.

He doesn't linger too long, but it's enough to make me aware of his gaze. "Do you need a side saddle?"

"Yes. That's the only way I know how to ride."

"I can teach you to ride astride, if you want," he offers.

"Is that not considered improper?"

"Maybe in the dress you're currently wearing, but Kathryn prefers to ride astride. When she's in public, she wears a dress over both sides of her horse."

"And that's acceptable for the Crown Princess to do?"

"I assume so. She continues to do it."

"I will think about it," I respond. It might be a little bit too much to go straight to riding astride when it goes against everything that I've been taught, but I do like the idea. Especially if the lessons are coming from Arthur.

He shuts the door of Brownfoot's stall behind us and grabs his jacket from where it's hanging on a hook by the entrance. I can't believe I didn't notice when I came in, though I was a little distracted by Arthur.

"You said that you haven't ridden much, so I thought you'd do best with a calmer horse." He gestures for me to come over to the stall next to Brownfoot's. "This is Chestnut. She's actually Brownfoot's cousin." He grabs some feed from the box by the stall door and holds it out to her. She gobbles it up quickly.

"She's beautiful," I say.

"She is. She's got a very even temperament, and she's very responsive to commands. She's not got much experience with anyone riding side saddle, though."

"Is that a problem?"

"I don't think so, though it might make Charcoal a better choice, he's an excellent learner." He gestures to the next stall along where a jet black horse is waiting. "He's a little younger, so not that calm though."

I step forward and repeat what Arthur did with the previous horse, letting out a small giggle when the horse's tongue tickles the palm of my hand.

The way Arthur looks at me makes my heart soar. The adoration is impossible to ignore, especially when it's clearly aimed at me interacting with the animals he loves.

"And your final option is Snowball, she's a little older, but she has experience with side saddle. Though if you don't think any of the horses are right, we can try some of the others."

---