Page 53 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
“Was she one of yours? I mean, was she from your home in Sussex?”
“Yes. It is easy enough for a girl to succumb to a pretty face and a smooth manner.” She spread jam on her toast, the knife shaking. “But not this girl, I think, and not in these circumstances.”
Not Jenny then. The saucy, pretty girl looked to have a bit of the flirt in her. She and Mabel had quite liked her. “What will happen to her?” She’d been rescued from Agruen twice. Perhaps she could hire the girl away from the whispers and the condemnation likely to follow.
Not that she needed another maid. She could barely afford to keep Mabel.
Lady Hackwell patted her hand. “Do not worry. We do not rescue them to throw them away again after one mishap.” The door latch creaked. “I’d be pleased if you would keep this private,” she whispered.
“Of course,” Paulette said.
“Do you ride, my dear?”
“Well, I have a horse and I used to have a cart that I drove by myself, but riding, well, not often.” Only a few times in fact, when she’d straddled Horace bareback. The one time Mabel caught her, the maid had come close to an apoplexy. She set down her fork. “Actually, to be honest, one couldn’t say that I ride at all.”
Lady Hackwell laughed. “It’s time you started. Leave everything to me. If you do not mind a riding habit that’s a bit made over, well, I know just the horse for you. We’ll have you on Moonglow, the gentlest boy in our stables.”
“I believe the gentlest boy in your stables at present must be my Horace, whom Mr. Gibson rescued for me.” Paulette smiled. “Though he has never had a saddle strapped to him, so perhaps you are right.” Her cheeks heated. “Horace, I mean. In any case, it is ever so nice of you to offer, but I’m not sure I’ll be with you for very much longer.”
Lady Hackwell studied her without blinking, and her smile grew warmer. “My dear, I’m talking about this afternoon. My husband wants to take you round. Thomas will go with you—you were ever so kind to him last night, I’m afraid he’s ready to have you stay forever. And of course, we’ll send a groom along. I’d go myself except that this one—” she patted her stomach, “has started to make his or her presence known. But I have no doubt you’ll do well.”
It was Johnny, Mabel’s beau, who boosted her onto a yellow gelding and coached her on how to keep her seat and manage the horse. The heavy skirt of the sapphire blue riding garb was a devil to work with, but once arranged, it anchored her to the saddle.
Three maids had swarmed her after her breakfast, carrying the dress, tucking and pinning. They’d come back an hour later with the altered gown, and Lady Hackwell had insisted she keep it.
None of the maids had been Jenny, which seemed a bit odd. The girl had been so helpful the night before, yet…she’d not brought the soiled gown back from the laundry. She would need to have Mabel check on it.
Johnny released her and she circled the yard and brought the horse to a halt.
“That’s right, miss,” Johnny said. “You have the hang of it. Sure and you never rode before?”
She laughed and patted the horse’s neck. “Never with a saddle. And never aside. But don’t tell anyone that, Johnny.”
He pounded his heart and promised. She liked Mabel’s conquest.
“Are you coming with us today?” she asked.
“Not as I know, miss.”
Riding had her nerves jumping, and riding with Hackwell—well, he seemed a kind enough man, and certainly his wife thought so, but Mrs. Everly’s whining voice started up in her head.Unless he’s your husband, never be alone with a titled gentleman. And didn’t her experience with Agruen prove that?
Her face warmed. And then, there was the untitled gentleman who’d kissed her last night.
“Master Thomas will be along to help you, needs be,” Johnny said, smiling.
Ach, Mabel’s new man beamed a quite handsome smile. She wished she could keep him, for Mabel’s sake. “Well, then, I’ll count on Thomas hanging back to help me while his lordship rides ahead.”
Male voices drew her attention. Lord Hackwell and Mr. Gibson strode toward the stables, both in riding attire. Her heart lifted, and then a memory of the previous night’s kiss swept through her, and a furious heat overtook her.
