Page 25 of Snapdragons
And he thought her worth defending. Not everyone did. Her own family didn’t always.
But Niles Greenberry did. Something in that realization made her want to cry.
Chapter Ten
Penelope was embarrassingly nervous.
There’d been no objection when she’d asked to join Niles and the Gents during their game of ground billiards. He’d not seemed annoyed that she’d spoken more with him than the others during their excursion to Hamblestead. He wouldn’t be unkind, even if he was disinclined to accept her intended invitation.
Yet she was anxious as she approached the Pledwick Manor stables. Gentlemen asked ladies to accompany them on drives all the time. Were those hopeful gentlemen as nervous as she?
She’d seen Niles leave the house for his morning ride, and he was now standing outside the stables. This was her opportunity, if she kept her nerve. She was not ever this chickenhearted, but so much depended on the success of this courtship.
“Good morning, Mr. Greenberry,” she said as she stopped at his side. Nervous she might be, but she wasn’t a coward.
He was clearly surprised to see her but, to her relief, didn’t seem displeased. “Good morning, Miss Seymour.”
Courage.“May I join you on your ride this morning?” she asked.
He hesitated a little, and her nervousness increased.
“I can keep pace with you,” she said in case that was a source of Niles’s uncertainty. “I’ve had a chance to meet all of Mr. Layton’s horses as well as a few of the Gents’. None of them gave me the impression of being too spirited for me.”
“Even Morwenna?” Niles asked.
“Your mare appears to have ample fire. When I’ve watched her, she’s also shown herself to be very intelligent. I would wager she regularly provides you with a challenge.”
A subtle smile twinkled in his eyes. “I prefer to not be bored onhorseback.”
“So do I.”
The more she learned of Niles Greenberry, the more convinced she became that they would make a not-miserable match if only she could convince him to consider it.
“Have you met the little filly?” She motioned to the tiny silver-gray horse standing at the far end of her small pen.
“I am the one who suggested Digby purchase her.”
“Truly?” Penelope hadn’t heard about Niles’s involvement in the decision. “What was your reasoning?”
“She has a beautiful trot. With training, her already elegant high step would see her sold at a significant profit. Digby would have been foolish not to purchase her.”
“That was precisely my assessment.” They both had an eye for assessing horses and an understanding of the business considerations of raising and training them.
“She hasn’t warmed to anyone yet.” Niles watched the filly. “That will have to be overcome first.”
Nervous horses weren’t easy to train, and untrained horses were very difficult to sell. Did Mr. Layton have stablehands capable of easing the filly out of her skittishness?
One of the groomsmen crossed over to them.
“Will you saddle a mount for Miss Seymour?” Niles requested.
The young man nodded. “Which horse?”
Niles motioned to Penelope. “Whichever one she wishes.”
The deference he so easily offered was somehow both unexpected and entirely in keeping with what she knew of him. “Saddle Midnight, please.”
The groomsman made his way toward the stall where the Arabian mare was kept.
