Page 33 of Suddenly a Bride
“But I don’t know how to ride. I thought I might ride with you.”
He shrugged and looked about him until he spotted one of the grooms, a boy close to manhood who flinched when Edmund looked at him.
“Boy, where do you keep the pillions?”
“A pillion?” she echoed, aghast. “You mean that little seat that perches on a horse’s rump, with no support, no—”
“Then what do you wish?” he interrupted with exasperation.
“Could I not ride—withyou?” A blush shot through her as she imagined saying, “in your lap” or “in your arms.” She simply couldn’t say the words.
There wasn’t even the ghost of a smile on his face now. “Very well,” he said softly, as he led his black horse out into the sunlight.
Gwyneth followed him, still grappling with the basket. Geoffrey appeared at her side, and she smiled up at him when he took it from her and set it on the ground.
“First I’ll hand you up, my lady,” he said as Edmund mounted.
Gwyneth leaned back to look up at her husband, and the little tremors of panic in her stomach were rapidly expanding. He was as high above her as a mountain overshadowing a meadow. How would she even get up there?
“What—what is his name?” she asked in a choked voice.
Edmund looked down at her. “The General.”
“Because he’s in charge?” That made sense with a horse this size.
Geoffrey smiled, but her husband didn’t, even as he gave an abrupt shake of his head.
“I shall tell you why, my lady.” Geoffrey placed a stool by her side and took her hand, urging her to step up. “Because it makes Edmund feel that he’s leading the army generals around by the bit.”
She managed a smile as she balanced on the stool.
“Ignore him,” Edmund said.
He reached for her, and she took his hand.
“Put your foot on top of mine, and then I’ll lift you up across my lap.”
“Do you want me to ride astride?” she asked.
Edmund only blinked at her, and she heard Geoffrey give a muffled cough. She looked from one to the other, frowning, but then Edmund was pulling on her, and after a step up, she found herself turned about and sitting sideways across his lap. The pommel pressed with little discomfort into her right hip.
She looked into his face, just above hers, felt his hard thighs supporting her and his arm about her back, although she did her best to sit up straight and not be a bother. He took the reins in both hands. And then she foolishly looked down.
The ground seemed to waver at an impossible distance below her. Her muscles stiffened, and she clutched his arm where it rested across her thighs.
“Easy, Gwyneth,” he murmured, lowering his face until it brushed her hair. “I shan’t drop you.”
His breath across her ear distracted her, and she unclamped her fingers from his arm. “I hope I didn’t tear your garments.”
“I can handle it.”
Was that humor in his voice? She wanted to look up again but couldn’t tear her gaze from the horse’s massive head as it arched its neck and shook its mane.
“Edmund,” Geoffrey said.
They both saw the basket he was holding.
Edmund’s frown deepened. “Can we not put the contents into saddle packs?”
