Page 59 of Leap of Faith
Faith could not deny the appeal in that. She had noticed how very conspicuous they had become in their short time in London—made even more so by their handsome protectors.
However silly and unnecessary she had thought this protection before, after events at the theatre last night, she was grateful for it. In fact, she had been rather shaken by the public declaration Sir Julian had made and the spectacle he had tried to create. Without Lord Westwood’s calm guidance, who knows what she might have done?
It was slow going through the city’s bustle of carts and pedestrians, but when they reached the Dover Road and passed the toll gate, they were able to pick up speed.
The air was fresh, the rolling hills and meadows green, and Faith felt the constraints of Town blow away with the wind in her face.
Once they had put a few miles between them and Town and the horses had enjoyed a good gallop, Westwood slowed their pace to a canter before directing them on to a country lane.
“Where are we going?” Joy asked.
“To Taywards,” Westwood answered. “Not much further now.”
They followed, and turned into a set of open cast-iron gates with lions on them. This must be one of his properties, Faith mused. It was similar in size to Halbury Hall—a sprawling Jacobean mansion with a pleasing mixture of red brick and symmetrical windows surrounded by a large park. Instead of stopping at the house, Westwood led them around to the stables. Perhaps he only kept a small household there.
However, she realized she was mistaken when they reached the stables. Halbury Hall had a large stable, but this was on a different plane altogether. These stables were at least thrice the size, with a large paddock and a circular ride where at least four dozen horses appeared to be grazing or actively training.
For a moment, the sisters looked around as if surprised.
Westwood dismounted, handing his gelding to one of the numerous grooms who had rushed to help. He smiled up at her and held out a hand to assist her. “This seems a much more appropriate place for Joy to try her tricks, does it not?”
“Is this your property?” she asked appreciatively.
“The estate is. This,” he waved his hand towards the stables and training grounds, “is a joint venture. Carew breeds the horses and brings them here when they are ready for sale. It is a location convenient to London and boasts a nearby pier where the boats may bring them from Ireland.”
“Is this your country seat?”
“I daresay you might call it that. I also have a lovely residence in Cumberland. This is home to my grandmother and two of my aunts. You’re to meet them for breakfast in due course. They consider anything before noon an abomination.”
“Is this not grand, Faith?” Joy asked, eyes brimming with excitement.
Hope, Patience, and Grace all looked to be in equally high spirits.
Before them was a course created for jumping and training. “Dare I ask if all of you can clear obstacles while hunting?”
“As well as we can walk, my lord,” Faith replied with an answering grin.
“Very well. I will put you on some of our more seasoned horses to give yours a rest.”
The next two hours were some of the most pleasurable Faith could remember. They leaped obstacles to their hearts’ content, and put some excellent horseflesh through its paces across several acres of pasture. It was exactly what they had been missing without knowing it, and precisely the thing to keep Joy out of mischief.
They were heartily exhausted and famished by the time they gained the house, where they were provided chambers in which to wash their hands and faces before being presented to Lord Westwood’s grandmother and aunts.
They were first shown into an elegant drawing room, where three elder ladies sat. One appeared to be in a wheeled chair. Faith was drawn to her immediately.
She was very handsome, with elegant silver hair and knowing blue eyes that looked as though they had seen many years of humour.
“Grandmama, may I present to you Miss Whitford?” Lord Westwood said. “Miss Whitford, this is my father’s mother.”
“This is the young lady I have heard so much about.”
Faith could not imagine what she may have heard, but she smiled and took the hand offered to her.
“You may leave us, Dominic.”
He bowed with an ironic smile, and then began to introduce his friends and her sisters to his aunts.
“You may wonder what I have heard, and I will confess to reading the Society pages. Dreadful, is it not? But when one is confined to the house, one must rely on correspondence and newspapers. My grandson is an excellent letter writer.”
