“I am sorry, Val,” she said. “I did not mean to steal your horse’s affections.”
Val patted his wife’s back.
“No,” he said. “Sunshine needs a mistress, too. I knew the two of you would get on well. That is exactly what I was hoping, in fact.”
Cecily rested her face against Sunshine’s muzzle in a way that she could face him.
“Why?” she asked.
Val grinned, unable to keep his idea a secret from his wife any longer.
“Because she is the tamest and calmest horse here,” he said. “I have never met a horse with such a sweet temperament and disposition in all my thirty years. I know that she would be just perfect for you, should you ever choose to go horseback riding.”
Cecily kissed the mare once more. Then, it seemed as though she truly took in his words, as she looked at him with wide eyes. He could see the confusion etched on her face. He grimaced, wondering if he had offended her with the idea. She had, after all, just told him about how she could no longer ride. But if he was successful, he could show her that was false. Now that he knew how much riding meant to her, he wanted desperately to try.
When Cecily turned her face away, Val started to retract his offer. He felt guilty for even suggesting it, as he was sure he had caused his beautiful wife more pain. But when she turned back to face him directly, she was smiling. Bigger than he had ever seen up to that point. Her smile was infectious, and he found himself smiling in return.
“Val,” she said, her voice trembling. “You have no idea how much your offer means to me. I never thought I would hear someone say those words to me ever again. But will it be troublesome for you to help guide me? I can keep myself on the horse, I am sure. But I do not know if I will ever be able to lead one on my own.”
Val’s heart swelled with awe for his wife. Even with her difficulties with her blindness, she was still concerned about his happiness and comfort.
“It will be no trouble at all, Cecily,” he said, gently touching her arm.
She glanced toward Sunshine and then looked back at him.
“Oh, this is so exciting,” she said, clasping her hands together beneath her chin. “I cannot wait to go horseback riding again.”
Val nodded, but he was all but unaware of the gesture. The expression on Cecily’s face was priceless, and he found himself hooked on her beautiful, sparkling eyes.
“Well, then,” he said. “Tom! Prepare Sunshine for a ride.”
“Right away, your Grace.” the stable boy said.
Chapter Twenty-four
Cecily felt like a girl again as she waited as patiently as she could manage for Val and the stable hand to ready Sunshine. She was giddy beyond belief. Just the day before, she had been sure that her marriage to Val had been a terrible mistake.
Now, she felt as though she was on top of the world. She couldn’t believe that he was being so kind to her. On top of that, he was offering her the chance to do something that she believed she would never do again.
When Val took her hand and gently led her to the other side of the stables, her heart pounded wildly with excitement. When they stopped, he turned her to face him and put gentle hands on her shoulders.
“Are you ready, Cecily?” he asked.
She nodded, barely able to contain her excitement.
“I am,” she said.
A moment later, Val’s hands went from her shoulders to her waist. In another minute, he was lifting her gently into the air. For the second time that day, she felt tingles through her entire body at his touch. Combined with that was the thrill of knowing that she would soon be riding again, after so long of being denied the pleasure. She might have swooned, had Val not already been holding onto her.
As Val helped her into the side-saddle, Cecily could not help grinning broadly. She was happier than she could remember being since before learning that her illness would claim her sight completely. She could feel her cheeks flushing with excitement, and with the shivers racing up and down her spine as Val’s hands lingered on her waist another moment, until she was secured in the saddle.
“Fine?” he asked.
Cecily nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “I think I am ready.”
She expected Val to release her then. He did not, however. Instead, she could feel him move just a little closer to her.
