With a sigh of defeat, Fredrick raised his hands up in surrender. “I suppose I can make time for a ride through Hyde Park.”
Anette smiled broadly. “You made the right choice,” she said. “I saw to our horses and they are out front.”
Roswell approached his wife and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, Wife,” he greeted her with affection. “You were up rather early this morning.”
“I was, partly because I have been seeing to the planning of Miss Sutherland’s ball,” Anette revealed. “It should be spectacular.”
“I have no doubt about that,” Roswell responded, extending his arm.
Fredrick followed them out of the townhouse and accepted the reins of his horse from the footman.
His heart ached momentarily as he thought about the stallion he had been forced to leave behind on the Continent. Wellingtonhad assured him that his stallion would be on the next ship back to England, and he hoped that he would be reunited with his beloved horse soon enough.
Until then, he was forced to ride one of the other horses in the stables. They were all fine horses, but he preferred his stallion. He always had.
After Fredrick mounted his horse, they set off towards Hyde Park. They grew closer to the south entrance and he saw Emilia, sitting atop her horse. She seemed a bit rigid and unsteady, her riding hat obscuring her expression. Two grooms sat astride on their horses as they were set back from Emilia.
Emilia mustered a smile when she acknowledged them, although it appeared somewhat forced. “Good morning,” she said.
Anette put her hand up in greeting. “Good morning,” she responded. “How are you faring?”
Emilia winced. “Not well,” she admitted. “I fear that this horse has a mind of its own.”
With a gentle laugh, Anette said, “You will get the hang of it soon enough.” She held her hand up. “Shall we proceed on our ride?”
“I suppose so,” Emilia muttered.
Fredrick moved to position his horse so he was riding alongside Emilia. “I take it that you did not ride horses much in the countryside.”
“Not very often,” Emilia admitted. “And when I did, I rode astride.”
“You rode astride?” Fredrick asked, a hint of surprise in his voice, finding it hard to imagine Emilia engaging in such a scandalous activity.
Emilia adjusted the reins in her hand. “Very few people I knew owned side saddles. They were more for the wealthy.”
“Would you care for some advice then?” Fredrick asked.
“Yes, please,” Emilia rushed out.
Fredrick gave her a pointed look before saying, “Sit up straight and tall, relax your back, hold the reins gently and hold your balance to keep control of your horse.”
Emilia sat taller in her saddle and loosened her hold on the reins. “Is that better?”
“Yes, but try not to look so petrified,” Fredrick teased.
“I feel rather unbalanced being on this horse,” Emilia said. “What if the horse rears up and upends me?”
“That is unlikely to happen.” Fredrick glanced over his shoulder, noting that Anette and Roswell were engaged in their own conversation a short distance away. Not that he minded. He preferred to speak to Emilia privately.
Fredrick decided Emilia was overthinking things and was just in need of a distraction. What could he ask her that would get her talking? He rather enjoyed listening to her speak passionately about various topics. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement. It was just one of the many things that he noticed about her.
“What were you like as a child?” Fredrick asked.
Enthusiasm lit up Emilia’s eyes and he knew that he had asked the right question. “I was an inquisitive child, much to my mother’s chagrin,” she shared. “I would ask lots of questions, sometimes not even bothering to wait for the answer. That is why I enjoy reading so much. Many of my questions are answered in the pages.”
“What books do you enjoy reading?”
“Anything I can get my hands on,” Emilia replied. “I know young women are supposed to avoid certain books, but that piques my curiosity even more. Not that I would share my opinions with anyone.”