Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Author:Lisa Kleypas
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: American Light Romantic Fiction, Man-woman relationships, Fiction - Romance, Historical fiction, London (England), Romance - Historical, Fiction, Romance, Romance: Historical, Historical, Soldiers, Sisters, American Historical Fiction, General, Love stories
ISBN: 9780312605391
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2010-07-15T09:46:45.258000+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Beatrix, see who’s here!” Rye came to the paddock with Albert padding beside him.

Beatrix was working with a newly acquired horse, which had been badly trained as a colt and sold by its disgruntled owner. The horse had a potentially fatal habit of rearing, and had once nearly crushed a rider who had been trying to discipline him. The horse started uneasily at the appearance of the boy and dog, but Beatrix soothed him and had him begin a slow circle around the paddock.

She glanced at Rye, who had climbed onto the fence and sat on the top rail. Albert sat and rested his chin on the lowest rail, watching her with alert eyes.

“Did Albert come alone?” Beatrix asked, perplexed.

“Yes. And he wasn’t wearing a leash. I think he must have run away from home.”

Before Beatrix could reply, the horse stopped and began to rear irritably. Immediately she loosened the reins and leaned forward, sliding her right arm around the horse’s neck. As soon as the horse began to come down, Beatrix urged him forward. She doubled the horse in tight half circles, first to the right, then to the left, and began him forward again.

“Why do you double him like that?” Rye asked.

“It’s something your father taught me, actually. It’s to impress on him that he and I must work together.” She patted the horse’s neck and kept him at a sedate walk. “One must never pull on the reins when a horse is rearing—it could cause him to fall backward. When I feel him getting light in the front, I urge him forward a little faster. He can’t rear as long as he’s moving.”

“How will you know when he’s straightened out?”

“There’s never an exact moment when one knows,” Beatrix said. “I’ll just keep working with him, and he’ll improve little by little.”

She dismounted and led the horse to the railing, and Rye stroked his satiny neck. “Albert,” Beatrix said conversationally, bending to pet the dog. “What are you doing here? Have you run off from your master?”

He wagged his tail enthusiastically.

“I gave him some water,” Rye said. “Can we keep him for the afternoon?”

“I’m afraid not. Captain Phelan may be worrying after him. I’m going to take him back now.”

The boy heaved a sigh. “I would ask to go with you,” he said, “but I have to finish my lessons. I so look forward to the day I know everything. Then I won’t have to read any more books or do any more counting.”

Beatrix smiled. “I don’t wish to be discouraging, Rye, but it’s not possible to know everything.”

“Mama does.” Rye paused reflectively. “At least, Papa says we must pretend she does, because it makes her happy.”

“Your father,” Beatrix informed him with a laugh, “is one of the wisest men I’ve ever known.”

It was only when Beatrix had ridden halfway to Phelan House, with Albert trotting alongside, that she recalled she was still dressed in boots and breeches. No doubt the outlandish attire would annoy Christopher.

There had been no word from him in the week after the ball at Stony Cross Manor.

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