Page 23 of The Society Catch
Joanna watched as he ran his hands down her legs, checked her teeth, lifted a hoof, which the animal allowed without fuss, and asked the groom to remove the saddle. Then he vaulted neatly onto her back and gathered up the reins.
He was far too big a man for the mare, but she walked on obediently, stopping when commanded and standing like a rock even when Giles dropped the reins onto her neck and clapped his hands loudly. One dark grey ear swivelled back, but that was all.
He swung down and led her back to Joanna who was leaningon the fence. ‘She seems steady enough, if you would care to try her. The question is, will she prove too steady? I’m not looking for an armchair ride. I want to breed a line with spirit.’
Joanna smiled as the mare pushed her soft muzzle into her hands looking for caresses and titbits. ‘Oh no, you must earn your apples, madam. What is her name, Mr Pike?’
‘Moonstone, ma’am,’ he replied, looking embarrassed. ‘That’s what my youngest daughter called her when she was foaled. Seems a bit fancy-like.’
‘It suits her. No, stop it, there is nothing for you in my pockets.’ She gathered up the reins and glanced round. ‘Please will you give me a leg up, Mr Pike?’
He cupped his hand for her booted foot and tossed her up into the saddle. Joanna concentrated on adjusting her skirts and the reins, not looking at Giles. She wanted, very badly, to impress him with her riding and it was making her nervous.
Moonstone responded promptly to the pressure of her heel and Joanna circled the paddock once at a walk, then at the trot and finally shortened the reins and urged the mare into a canter. She was willing and Joanna soon forgot she had an audience. The paddock was dull riding though, but at one end the fence bordered a larger meadow and as she cantered past Joanna could see no sign of a ditch or other obstacle. When they reached the far side she wheeled the horse and set her direct across the field towards the fence.
The mare’s ears pricked forward and she lengthened her stride, anticipating the jump. There was a shout behind them which Joanna ignored and then the mare was bunching the muscles of her hindquarters and leaping smoothly over the rails, Joanna balanced lightly on her back. They landed safely and Joanna let her have her head.
The exhilaration of galloping was wonderful. At the end of the meadow she turned the mare, took her back at the samepace, only collecting her up before the jump, and returned to the waiting onlookers with face flushed and veil all awry.
‘She is a beautiful ride, Mr Pike.’ Joanna pushed back her veil and saw that although Mrs Gedding was looking pleased at her performance, Giles’s expression was positively thunderous. He stalked into the paddock to her side and she leaned down and whispered, ‘I am so sorry. Was I sounding too enthusiastic? I should not have done so before you had agreed a price, but she is a lovely ride, such even paces and so willing.’
‘It is not that at all,’ he ground out. ‘Are you completely careless of your safety? There might have been a ditch, a fallen tree, goodness knows what on the other side of that fence and to jump a good five foot before even trying her at a smaller obstacle is utter folly.’
Chapter Eleven
‘I looked first,’ Joanna said. It was wonderful to realise that he was so anxious for her. ‘And I think I ride well enough to manage such a jump, don’t you think?’
Giles looked up at her, the anger fading out of his face. ‘You ride extremely well,’ he conceded. ‘But I was having visions of explaining to your mama just how you had come to break your neck while in my care.’
Mr Pike walked out to take Moonstone’s head while Giles lifted her down. His hands fastened firmly on her waist but the moment her feet touched the ground he let go and she was left wishing his hold had lingered.
The two men strolled away, the mare following behind. Joanna went to join Mrs Gedding. ‘What a good seat you have, my dear. I was never in the slightest fear for you, although you should have heard the Colonel’s language when you took that jump.’ She chuckled. ‘On second thoughts, perhaps it was best that you did not. I believe he had no notion he was swearing until I laughed.’ She regarded Joanna who was carefully gathering up her skirts to keep them out of the long grass. ‘Would you care to keep that habit? It is an excellent fit and my Jennie will never get into it again, not after two babies. I am sure you have far finer at home, but perhaps the Colonel will let you ride while you are here.’
‘Why, thank you, Mrs Gedding. I would be very grateful, if you are sure your daughter would not mind. Oh look, they appear to have reached agreement.’ The men were shaking hands and Mr Pike ducked back under the fence to remount his hack.
‘Good day, Mrs Gedding. My compliments to the Squire.’
‘Good day. You and Mrs Pike must dine with us soon.’
Giles re-joined them looking pleased. ‘A good morning’swork, I believe. Would you like to take her out onto the roads for a while, Joanna? I’ll have the gelding the Squire has loaned me saddled up and we can explore a little.’
‘Off you go and get some fresh air, it will do you good,’ Mrs Gedding said when Joanna looked to her for permission.
Joanna had never seen Giles on horseback and could not help watching as he rode out of the yard on the Squire’s raking bay. For a big man he rode lightly, his hands relaxed on the reins, but Joanna could tell that the gelding knew exactly who was in command and that at the slightest sign of trouble those long, well-muscled legs would close and quell it.
The enclosures of recent years had left wide grass verges bordering the quiet roads and they found plenty of opportunities to canter and many ditches to hop over. Giles made no comment about her riding but Joanna was aware that he was watching her. When a pheasant erupted from under Moonstone’s nose, sending her skittering across the road, he made no effort to catch her rein, merely steadying the gelding until she had soothed the mare and brought her back alongside him.
‘What will you do when you get home?’ he asked after they had reined in from a long canter and were walking the horses up a slight incline.
‘I doubt I will have much say in it,’ Joanna responded ruefully. ‘Go to Bath as Mama says, I suppose. I would prefer that we all went to Brighton, which was what was planned, but if Papa’s gout is bad, I have no idea what will be decided. In any case, that might be regarded as too much of a treat after what I have done.’
‘Could you go to Hebe?’
‘Of course, under normal circumstances. But the baby is due, and Alex will be cross with me for worrying Hebe, and I expect I would find myself looking after little Hugh the whole time. And,’ she added gloomily, ‘No doubt there will be all kinds of gossipabout why I’m not in Brighton with the family.
‘Where will you go?’ Joanna thought it was a reasonable question in response to his and one unlikely to make him suspicious of her motives for asking.
‘Unless there is a message saying that the prodigal is forgiven and I’m to hasten home, then my campaign of dissipation will best be advanced in Brighton, I imagine.’ He reined in and pulled his pocket watch out. ‘I thought so, we had better turn and make our way back or we will be late for luncheon and I promised the Squire some more help at the Thoroughgood house this afternoon.’
