The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,48
it a yellow caste. Checking her hair to be certain that it was securely pinned at the nape of her neck, she covered it with an equally unbecoming tweed headdress. She pulled on her riding boots and raced down the stairs to the stables.
Richard was waiting in the stableyard, swatting his crop against a bush. Although he would never admit it, Cara sensed his agitation. Hoping to give the boy confidence she put on her most timorous expression as she approached.
"Are you ready?" Cara asked in feigned quavering tones.
"Don't worry, Miss Farraday," Richard spoke heartily. "I asked Glum to find the gentlest horse in the stables."
"I don't know. Do you suppose if I breathe deeply it will help to get rid of the butterflies in my stomach?"
"A jolly good idea," Richard exclaimed immediately trying it. "It works, Miss Farraday. Give it a go."
Cara watched as Glum came out into the yard. He was walking the docile hunter they had picked out for Richard. An older horse, Grady was placid to the point of somnolence, a nerveless animal that promised to give Richard an uneventful ride. One of the boys walked behind Glum leading Rose, an unprepossessing mare for Cara. While she dithered needlessly, Richard was mounted with no hesitation on his part. The boy was far too busy shouting instructions to his hapless, and apparently inept, governess to be concerned about his own fear. Cara was just reaching for the saddle when a voice behind her caused her to falter in consternation.
"Good afternoon, Richard. Are you on your way out?"
"Yes, Uncle Julian," the boy replied, grinning at Cara's disconcerted expression. "Miss Farraday is going to have her first ride in ever so long a time. I'm going to go with her to give her encouragement."
Cara was sure that the alarm on Glum’s face was reflected on her own. If ever there was a time that she would have wished Julian elsewhere it was now. Would he recognize her as the girl he had seen in the woods? It took all of Cara's willpower to stand still beside the gentle mare and not bolt for the Hall.
"I've already been out but perhaps she would feel braver if I went along," Julian offered misinterpreting the fear evident on the girl's face.
Beside her, Glum groaned and Cara closed her eyes to prevent herself from screaming in frustration. Momentarily she debated abandoning the entire plan. She could plead illness or insanity. Anything to get out of the yard and back to the safety of the Hall. Then her eyes flicked to Richard's ecstatic expression and she sighed in resignation.
"Oh, topping, Uncle Julian. Right, Miss Farraday?" Richard chirped, unaware of his governess' discomfort in the presence of his guardian.
"Topping indeed, Richard," Cara echoed drily.
Catching Julian's look of cool amusement, angry color flushed her cheeks. She had an uncontrollable urge to throw something at her husband as he sat grinning astride the restive Tyrr. Knowing she was only prolonging the inevitable she got ready to mount, of necessity prepared to act the part of a totally inexperienced rider.
Gritting her teeth, she approached the horse from the wrong side. When the mare shied away, Cara righted herself and hauling on the reins she moved to the mounting block. As ungracefully as possible she flung herself on the saddle, bunching the riding skirt around her legs and tangling it in the stirrup. Glum, his wizened face red and perspiring, refused to meet her eyes as she fussed with her skirt, knotted the reins and dropped her riding crop. Both Julian and Richard waited stoically through all the confusion. They exchanged sympathetic glances acknowledging the incompetence of women. When Cara announced she was ready the two males sighed in accord.
Despite her own discomfort Cara's heart sang at Richard's behavior. Urging his governess forward, the boy praised her lavishly, if unfoundedly. He was too busy shouting instructions to her to be at all concerned about himself. Richard sat his horse as though he had never felt any trepidation about riding. Caught up in the glorious excitement of the moment he soon forgot that his prime objective was to give Miss Farraday encouragement. Followed by Julian, Richard set a brisk pace along the track. Cara was left to her own devices and trailed miserably after them.
Riding hunched over to look as awkward as possible, Cara cursed again at the picture she made. From the pained contemplation under scowling black brows Julian was apparently convinced of her performance as an inadequate horsewoman.