Page 15 of The Major's Mistake
She looked rather dubious but released her hold on Thistle’s bridle.
“Good bye, Mama!” called Justin.
Miranda waved until he could no longer see her, then she turned and fled towards the house.
This was not so difficult,thought Julian as he listened to the boy’s eager chatter. He nearly chuckled out loud. Why, the lad needed little encouragement to keep up a running commentary on the choicest berry bushes, the tallest oak trees and the best places to look for toads.
“Oh, shall we stop here?” exclaimed Justin. “Then I could show you the robin’s nest. It has three blue eggs. But you have to promise to be very, very careful, so you don’t scare away the mother.”
“You have my word on it.” Julian dismounted, but before he could move towards Justin’s horse, the boy slid down to the ground with a thump. “See?” he called. “I can get down all by myself!”
The marquess looked suitably impressed. “You are quite a bruising rider, lad.”
Justin’s face beamed with pleasure. “Well, I still need help up,” he admitted. “But soon I’ll be tall enough.”
Julian regarded the stirrup iron that hung about level with the little boy’s forehead and repressed a chuckle. “Yes, I can see that.”
Justin’s attention then turned to a copse of mulberry bushes. “Come this way,” he said in a low voice and motioned towards the far end. “It’s over there.” He began to pick his way through the briars and fallen twigs, careful to make as little noise as possible.
The marquess set his teeth, determined not to show to disadvantage. After a slight hesitation, he followed with slow, deliberate steps, taking great pains to move as quietly as he could.
They gained the spot that Justin had indicated without mishap, and the boy slowly parted several of the large branches. “See?” he whispered. “Near the top.”
Indeed, there was a nest of woven twigs and grass, with three pale blue eggs nestled in the middle.
“Very handsome,” murmured Julian.
“I thought you would like them.” Justin continued to regard them for a moment with a proprietary fondness, then let the branches fall back. “We better go now.”
As soon as they were well away from the bushes, his boyish exuberance reasserted itself and he began to scamper off towards where the horses were browsing in the long grass. Just as suddenly he stopped and turned back towards the marquess.
“What happened to your leg?” he asked.
Julian took a sharp breath. Would being a cripple sink him irreparably in his son’s esteem? Well, there was nothing to do for it, he thought bitterly. His limp was never going to disappear, so perhaps it was best to have done with it.
“It was injured during the war,” he replied.
Justin stared at him very solemnly for a moment. “Does it hurt?” he asked in a small voice.
“Sometimes.” A rueful smile came to the Marquess’s lips. “I just can’t move as fast as I used to.”
The little boy waited for him to catch up. “I don’t mind waiting.” Then his eyes dropped to the ground. “Mama says it is unkind to comment aloud if people are challenged by an injury or infirmity because it might make them feel bad.” He kicked at a stray stone. “I forgot—I didn’t make you feel bad, did I, Major?”
Julian swallowed a lump in his throat. “No, lad, you needn’t worry about that.”
Justin let out a sigh of relief.
The marquess ruffled the boy’s hair. “Come, let’s find Zeus. He is carrying something that may be of interest to you.”
When they reached the big stallion, Julian untied the package and carried it over to a rock outcropping that was large enough to afford him and the boy a seat. He undid the oilskin covering and Justin’s eyes lit up at the sight of the sweets.
“Oh, shortbread is my very favorite thing!”
The marquess passed him a large wedge and was amazed at the speed with which it disappeared.
“May I have another?”
Julian couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself for hitting upon such a good idea. Really, this matter of how to deal with a little boy wasn’t half so difficult as he imagined. “Why, have as many as you like,” he replied heartily.
