Dating Mr. Darcy: A romantic comedy (Love Manor Romantic Comedy Book 1) by Kate O'Keeffe

Author:Kate O'Keeffe [O'Keeffe, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Lime Books
Published: 2020-08-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Far too quickly, Russell hands me a helmet to wear and places a set of steps in place for me to climb up onto Marilyn’s back. Which might be a less daunting experience if I were wearing some sensible Timothy leggings and a pair of shoes designed in this century. In my full-length gown and ballet slippers it is utterly terrifying.

I secure the helmet under my chin and eye Marilyn. Her liquid brown eyes seem unfazed, and she lets out a huff as if to tell me to get on with it.

It’s now or never.

“Come stand on these here steps, Miss,” Russell instructs.

Tentatively, I climb the steps until I’m in position. I give myself a little pep talk, trying to think of all the women I’ve seen riding side saddle. I land on one. A fictitious one at that. Lady Mary from Downton Abbey. Well, if she can do it, then so can I.

And there’s no way I’m going to “entertain” the viewers by embarrassing myself once more.

I glance back at Sebastian. He throws me an encouraging smile.

Russell pets the side of the horse. “Put your left foot in the stirrup, push yourself up onto her, and hook your leg around the pommel. That’s the part that sticks out, in case y’all were wondering.”

“Pommel. Got it.” I take a breath. “Here goes nothing.” I slip my foot into the stirrup and swing myself up onto the horse. My butt in place, I hook my right leg around the pommel and settle into the saddle. My instinct—or maybe simply too much time watching Lady Mary ride her horse—tells me to lean down and collect the reins in my hands.

“You’re a natural,” Russell declares, and I think I detect a note of admiration in his voice. But then again, all I did was climb some steps and sit on a horse in a fancy dress, so I might be reading too much into it.

High atop my horse, I survey the stables and the rolling fields beyond. “This isn’t so bad.”

“It suits you,” Sebastian says.

I look down at him and reply in my best English accent, “Am I a lady of the manor now?”

“Absolutely.” His features soften as he smiles up at me, and I swear my heart skips a beat. “But I suggest you work on the accent.”

I feign offense. “Hey! I thought I sounded exactly like Lady Mary.”

He laughs, and somehow the sound reaches inside and makes my belly do a flip. “You did, if this Lady Mary were an American on a horse for the first time.”

I give him my best glare, but can’t help but smile. I distract myself by watching as Reggie climbs carefully onto her horse beside me. “Looking good, Reggie,” I call out.

“Whoa!” she exclaims as the horse moves back a step. “Can you make it stay still? It’s movin’ and freakin’ me out.”

“I’m holding her reins, Miss,” Russell replies pointedly.

He’s clearly a little touchy about his horses.

Reggie has another try, and this time manages to get herself onto her side saddle.

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