Page 17 of The Runner
Caroline couldn’t say why exactly, but she always worried he was amused by her awkwardness around him, and as usual, when he was near, she grew flustered. Fortunately, her face was warm and her cheeks already a rosy pink from the exertion of riding, as she sat side saddle recovering her breath, feeling like a rabbit snagged in a trap with no way out.
‘Did you see the race, dear brother? We’ve been having a splendid time now that Caroline has discovered she’s a much more accomplished rider than she realised. I still won, though!’ declared Olivia.
‘Yes, I spotted you riding like the wind, although it was close. I must say, it’s thoroughly ungracious of you, dear Livvy, to be quite so smug about your victory.’ George punched his sister playfully on the arm. ‘My little sister always did like winning,’ he said, turning to Caroline. ‘I’m afraid you have your hands full with this one.’
‘I shall have to practice more,’ said Caroline, wanting to say something witty, but not knowing what would be considered an appropriate response. She hoped he didn’t think her too presumptuous, riding his horses at her leisure.
Caroline wished she were more used to witty society like Olivia—she was so gauche around him it was crippling.
George held Caroline’s eyes for longer than necessary and then he snapped his gaze away as though it were an effort.
‘I’m off to meet with John Thornton,’ he said, patting his horse’s head. ‘He’s our estate manager,’ he clarified for Caroline as an afterthought. ‘I recall that you two promised we would ride together. You’re clearly an accomplished rider, so I wonder whether you may consider accompanying me today? I think the weather will remain dry and we should make the most of it.’
‘Oh yes, please!’ Olivia exclaimed before Caroline had a chance to think of a reasonable excuse to decline his alluring offer.
Caroline coughed and cleared her throat. ‘Where does your estate manager live?’ She knew John and knew which was his cottage, but the question would buy her some time to think about what to do.
‘In the village,’ interrupted Olivia, who glowed at the prospect of a trip to Willow Wick and jogged about in anticipation on her saddle.
Caroline diverted her with rides around the vast estate, so they had avoided making another trip together. One Sunday, Caroline had nipped into the village alone, taking a shortcut to her home and entering around the back so she wouldn’t risk being spotted near the busy green. She spent a lovely hour with her father and then flitted out of the village undercover of dusk.
Her pledge to Ralph that she would go and see him played on her mind daily, but she was so content at Willow Manor, she couldn’t face another showdown with him. She would not allow him to take this newfound joy away from her. Each time his face loomed in her mind, she heard his voice like an ominous whisper, and something deep inside her warned her not to seek him out. Not yet, anyway. And so, she postponed the visit. She told herself she would go and see Ralph soon, when the time was right.
There was no dampening Olivia’s enthusiasm, and she snapped Caroline, who was panicking and trying not to show it, back to the present.
What if Ralph saw her riding with the lord of the manor and his sister? He would be livid. He despised the nobility and had made his revulsion about her working for them clear; never mind what he would make of her riding to the village with them purely for fun.
‘Oh, please say we may go, and we’ll visit Talbot’s on the square. I have been simply dying to buy new ribbons for weeks now, dear Caroline.’
The enticing thought of browsing for ribbons in the local store was too much for Olivia to resist.
Caroline found it difficult to ignore Olivia’s pleading face. She didn’t want to disappoint the sweet girl.
No. She mustn’t let herself live like a prisoner just because she was fearful of Ralph’s reaction to her new life. It wouldn’t do. Not for her or for her charge. She decided she would just have to hope Ralph wasn’t around. Perhaps he would be occupied on his farm and wouldn’t even know she’d been anywhere near the village. The thoughts jostled around her mind, as she persuaded herself it would be all right.
After several minutes of casual chatter between the siblings, George turned to Caroline and said, ‘Well, I must be on my way. Will you ladies join me?’
He studied Caroline’s face, and she squirmed beneath his gaze. He could see she was in the grip of some inner turmoil and was intrigued why a ride into the village required such deep consideration. As he found her most agreeable to the eye, he continued to study her.
Caroline nodded. ‘Thank you. Let us not disappoint Mistress Olivia. We would love to accompany you.’
She hoped he didn’t know just how flustered he made her and thought she was rosy cheeked from the race.
As the words left her lips, Caroline knew she was in trouble. She had grown extremely fond of Olivia in such a short time, but the leap of joy in her heart was for George, and there was nothing she could do about it.
‘Very good.’ He manoeuvred his horse expertly about, so he faced the same way as the girls. As he did, his hard thigh brushed against Caroline’s leg beneath her riding skirt and her senses crackled at his touch.
He looked across at her, calm and steady. ‘Shall we race to the footpath?’
And off they shot, George leading, Olivia close behind, and Caroline trying to catch her breath and wondering what the devil she was getting herself into.
CHAPTER8
Willow Manor, York - Present day
The curtains wereopen when Cara, George, and Eddie reached the library. The room exuded its usual calming, serene air, and sparks of sunlight bounced off the surfaces of the wooden furniture, giving the room an enchanting aura.
‘Ah, lovely. I can see Mrs Lightfoot has already been in this morning and waved her magic wand around in here. I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to keep the entire house looking tiptop.’
