Summer Charade by Melinda Hammond

Author:Melinda Hammond [Hammond, Melinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melinda Hammond
Published: 2016-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Miss Harpollet's most pressing concern, when she opened her eyes the next morning, was that bad weather would force the cancellation of her ride. She scrambled out of bed and ran to the window, where she heaved an audible sigh of relief. The sky was an unbroken expanse of blue. The promised riding dress had already arrived, and Christina supposed that her maid, a young girl chosen by Medon and newly promoted to the position of Lady's maid, had brought it in while she was asleep. She lifted it from its box and went to the glass, holding the dress up before her. It was a simply cut garment of brown wool, more serviceable than elegant, but Christina was too thankful for the chance to ride to quibble about such a thing. She summoned her maid to help her dress, then went in search of her hostess.

She found Lady Malshangar at breakfast, and no sooner had she finished her simple repast than that lady swept her away to her own apartments to find her a suitable hat. She emerged sometime later to see Mr Malshangar coming up the stairs two at a time. At the sight of her he checked, and beckoned her towards him.

'I've been searching all over for you,' he said severely. 'If you don't hurry along we shall be late. Come out to the stables and we'll find you a suitable mount. You can ride, can't you?' he added, as the thought struck him.

'Yes, of course,' replied Christina, adding with simple pride. 'I believe I am considered quite a good rider.'

'Well, thank Heaven for that. Come on, then. We'll have Champagne saddled up for you. He's a sweet-tempered mount, but fast, so he will give you a good ride.'

While they waited for their horses to be brought out, Giles took Christina into the stables to show her the horses.

'You seem very much at home here,' he commented, agreeably surprised.

'We have not always lived in London. When we were at home in Shropshire I used to spend a great deal of time looking after Papa's hunters. In fact, it is the one subject upon which we ever agreed.'

A stable lad approached, tugging at his forelock, to inform them that their mounts were ready, and they went out again into the sunlight. Christina put up a hand to re-set a pin in her hat.

'Your mama is so kind to me. She has even loaned me one of her hats, I feel very much like a charity babe, to be borrowing so much.'

Giles caught at one of her curls and tugged it affectionately. 'Poor Kit. It comes hard to you to accept such hospitality, does it not?'

Christina flushed and busied herself with pulling on her gloves.

'It shall be repaid, I promise you,' she replied gruffly.

Mr Malshangar threw her up into the saddle and mounted his own long-tailed grey. He watched approvingly as she controlled Champagne, who was dancing and side-stepping playfully, eager to be away.

'Once we get into the park we will give them their heads,' he told her as they moved out of the yard.

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