Drawn to the horse’s color, he asked for it to be removed from its stall. Evan ran his hands over the horse’s graceful lines.
“What’s this one’s name?”
“That’s Calypso. She’s a bit hard to handle but an excellent horse for a knowledgeable rider. The trouble is, she’s not large enough for a man. She’d require a lady who had a subtle hand and plenty of experience.”
He asked to mount and ride the mare and found her spirited and agile. The horse reminded him of Rachel in many ways. Beautiful lines. Energetic. Challenging. Evan had no need to purchase this mount—but he wanted it.
For Rachel.
He concluded his business, purchasing saddles for each horse, and arranged for the entire group of horses to be brought to Edgemere. He would personally lead the caravan to the country. As far as a new carriage went, he’d see to it on his next trip to London. The old one hadn’t been used in years and he wanted something more modern which would be safe for travel. When he asked about hiring grooms, he was sent back to the stables and talked with several men. Three were willing to accompany the horses and remain at Edgemere, while a fourth had more experience and would serve as his head groom. He might need more stable hands in the future but these four would suffice for now.
By now, it was very late and Evan found a nearby inn to stay at. The innkeeper’s wife brought him a large bowl of hearty stew and half a loaf of brown bread as he washed it down with a couple of tankards of ale. The owner showed him to his room and Evan stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed. Sleep didn’t come even though he was weary. He thought back to Calypso and wondered if Rachel would accept the gift from him. She would look perfect atop the horse, flying down the road, her braid bouncing merrily.
Of course, Rachel always looked perfect to him, whether in her riding habit or her dressing gown. He thought about the final time he’d spend tutoring her tomorrow night and fell asleep dreaming of her kiss.