governess she hated the most. Unbuttoning the collar of her habit she stretched her neck trying to catch the morning breeze on her perspiring throat.
"What a wonderful morning," Cara sighed aloud.
At the unladylike snort of annoyance from her companion, Cara kneed the mare into a gentle trot as she breathed in the fresh air, her mind busy with her own thoughts.
It had been over a week since she had had her angry confrontation with Julian in the stableyard. It still amazed her that he hadn't dismissed her out of hand for her ill-advised verbal attack. Since then Cara had tried to maintain exemplary decorum but she was aware of his disapproving eyes following her whenever they chanced to meet. Thankfully he had not summoned the children for a further audience.
Gentian blew, the muscles under her skin jumping to indicate her readiness for a more vigorous workout. With a start, Cara brought her mind back to the business at hand. She settled herself more securely in the sidesaddle then nudged the mare into a blur of movement. Tearing across the fields and up into the flatter meadows Cara reveled in the wind against her face. The blood pulsed in her veins as she blended with the movement of the horse, giving Gentian her head although directing the horse to the area where the jumps were located.
Julian usually did not ride at such an early hour. However since his houseguests had all abandoned him to rusticate in the country he had been rising at dawn. He did not miss them; he had to admit that their continued company had begun to pall on him. Since he had been at Weathersfield he was becoming more interested in the property. Perhaps he ought to spend more time on the estate despite the lures cast out by the departing Valencia.
"Darling, you can't possibly stay here," the blond girl drawled, peeping at him through a flutter of eyelashes. "The Regent and simply everyone will be in Brighton. Couldn't you come with us?"
"Really, Valencia. You needn't carry on so. I'm sure you will have gallants aplenty to hover around you," he countered.
"But, Julian, I'll miss you."
Julian was surprised to discover that he was quite impervious to the pleading tones of the golden girl framed in the carriage window. She had always preened and pouted to force him to do her bidding. He knew that there were others who had sampled the delights of the winsome girl posed as a picture of wounded innocence. Her kittenish ways had amused him in the past but now he wished an end to her guises and false emotions. He shrugged off a vision of angry blue-green eyes as he kissed the wrist of Valencia's extended hand.
"Truly, my dear, I must be about my estate. I have been neglectful of my household and my tenants," Julian explained.
It was true Julian thought, as he sat his horse on the edge of the clearing. Since his houseguests had left he had delved more than usual into the business of the estate. He had always been conscientious about his holdings but had left a great portion of the details to his agents. Lately he had become aware that he ought to spend more time on his estates. Perhaps he had become bored with the social set in London. He had felt a building ennui which dissipated as he became more immersed in the day-to-day events on his property.
If only Edward Tallworth had left with the others, Julian's peace of mind would be complete. He was aware that the man was bored by Julian's sudden enjoyment of estate business but still lounged around, unwilling to accept the hints thrown out to take himself off. Though Tallworth grumbled and complained about the country hours and lack of entertainment, he had made no move to find more kindred spirits.
Julian's quiet reverie was shattered as a horse bolted through a thin band of trees to his right.
The sudden appearance of the horse and rider had an almost magical quality. Under cover of the trees Julian watched as the rider set the gray to the first set of jumps. At first he believed that the rider was a child but on closer scrutiny he realized it was a young girl. Her figure, almost at one with the horse, appeared to be slender but the swell of bosom indicated more mature characteristics. Sun-burnished curls blew behind her like a shaft of fire. Although at this distance Julian could not make out