Page 29 of A Gentleman's Wife

Chapter Fourteen

Marianne took a deep breath, hoping to still her racing heart, but it did nothing to help. She stood by the stables with Thomas beside her, waiting for the horses to be brought out, and she was shivering down to her boots, completely terrified. The sun thankfully remained, and though the autumn winds had grown relentless, her shudders had nothing to do with the cold. She wanted to appear brave, but more than that, she missed riding. It had been a love of hers during her childhood, and she wanted to experience it again. Never mind the memories of falling off the horse and into a darkness of suffering, only to wake with blood on her face and fear in her heart. But Marianne shook her head. That event had been close to ten years prior, and she’d not had an episode for over a year. Without the restraints of her parents, she wanted to do this, despite her fears. If she could plan a ball, she could ride a horse. It was as simple as that.

Thomas must have sensed her anxieties, for he looked down at her and offered an encouraging smile. “Are you certain this is what you want? We can always wait for another day. Or would you like Mr. Sanders to accompany us?”

She shook her head. “No thank you. He seems to enjoy Eliza’s company, so she will entertain him while we’re out. This is something I’d like to accomplish on my own.”

“Very well. So you shall.” The stable doors opened wider, and Thomas reached out his hand. “Come with me.”

Taking his hand, Marianne let him lead her toward the animals, and she told herself to keep breathing naturally.

The stablemaster greeted them with a bow. “Good day, sir, madam. It appears to be an excellent day for riding.”

“Indeed, thank you,” Thomas said.

“Mr. Ramsbury, I have your steed saddled and ready.” He motioned to a large brown horse with refined trimmings that matched Thomas in her mind.

“This horse is Mandeville. He’s been with me for many years,” Thomas explained. “Though I believe yours is one newly acquired.”

The stablemaster nodded, holding the reins of a pretty dusty gray horse with similar trappings. “This is Lavender, and a perfect seat for a lady, madam. She’s gentle as a lamb but can be quick as lightning if you wish.”

Marianne smiled nervously. “I think we’ll stay at the lamb level.”

Thomas chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder, and she inhaled sharply. She knew he did it to encourage her and help her relax, but he couldn’t know it had the opposite effect. That any time he grew near, whether pretending to dance in the music room or offering support before riding a horse for the first time in years, she had to resist the urge to throw herself in his arms and completely lose herself in his embrace. She appreciated his goodness, but deep in her heart, she wanted more than that. She wanted him, his love. And he’d already taken on so much of her and her situation, she wasn’t quite ready to burden him with that knowledge, that his arranged wife had developed a tendre for him. No, she would keep that little secret to herself.

The stablemaster approached with a step, and Thomas offered his hand to steady her. Once she was seated on the side saddle, it was easy enough to arrange her skirts and take the reins with her left hand. It was perfectly comfortable, despite the nervous pounding of her heart.

“And your whip, madam.” The stablemaster stood to her right, holding out the riding crop.

Marianne’s mouth went bone dry. She’d forgotten about this part. Only when her right hand fingers were loose enough had she been able to ride in her younger days.

“Allow me,” Thomas said quickly, taking it from the man and moving to stand beside her. “Will you be able to use this?” he asked, his voice lowered and soft.

“I believe so. Can you place it here?”

She held out her right hand, and with great tenderness, he secured the crop between her stiff fingers. She didn’t have the smoothest of arm motions, which would be required to guide the horse on the right side, but she was determined to try.

Only when she gave a nod to Thomas did he leave her side to mount his own horse.

“We’ll take this slow, won’t we, Lavender?” Marianne whispered, refusing to let an ounce of fear into her tone.

“Thank you, lads,” Thomas said, clicking his mouth to urge Mandeville into motion. “Are you ready, my dear?”

Heart skipping a beat, Marianne nodded. “Just a walk for now.”

“Of course. We’ll ride out into the open and follow the tree line, which will lead to a view of the hills. You can decide where we go after that.”

Ever considerate, her husband. Trying not to sigh, she said, “Lead on, sir.”

He smiled and lightly kicked his heels, his horse taking steps first before Lavender followed suit. The uneven wobble of the horse’s gait made Marianne tense and rushed her with memories of her fall, but she reminded herself the saddle was secure, Thomas was close by, and the doctor was still at the house. She had no reason to fear.

Once they were a distance from the stables, Thomas slowed his horse for Marianne to ride beside him. “How are you feeling?”

“A little unsteady,” Marianne managed to say. “But I think I’ll get more comfortable as we go.”

After a moment, he went on. “You look lovely, you know.”

Marianne smirked at him under her bonnet. “Don’t you know it’s ungentlemanly to lie to a lady?”

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