Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(38)

“I’m sorry it took me so long.” She rushed down the stairs. “Now we’re running late, aren’t we?”

“They’ll wait for us.”

Lily took his offered arm and they walked to the stables. Rose stood in the distance with Lord Evan. She held a small black puppy, and several others panted at her feet.

“Lily!” Rose cried, “look at what we found!”

Lily broke from Daniel’s arm and started running toward Rose. A tiny brown puppy ran to Lily, whimpering to be held. She knelt down and picked up the dog, cuddling it to her face. “Rose, where did they come from?”

“They were here when we got here. I wonder where their mother is?”

Daniel reached them, relishing the joy on Lily’s face. “She’s behind the stables,” he said. “This particular bitch likes to nest there when she’s breeding. She won’t stay at the kennels. The pups are nearly weaned, so they come and go as they please.”

Lily continued to hug the puppy, looking down at the others. “They’re all black and yellow, but this one is brown. She’s the color of milky chocolate. No, brandy. She’s the exact color of that brandy Papa favors, Rose.”

“She’s the runt of the litter, Lily,” Daniel said, “and the only brown one.”

“What kind of dogs are they?”

“St. John’s dogs, from Newfoundland. My father started breeding them years ago. Her siblings will be excellent hunting dogs, but I’m afraid this one is just too small.”

“Nonsense, she’s perfect.” Lily laughed as the puppy licked her nose. She set the puppy down and gave her bottom a shove back toward her brothers and sisters. The pup turned back around to Lily, reaching her small paws up and whimpering. Lily picked her up again. “My goodness, you certainly like attention, don’t you?” She giggled. “I just can’t put you down. You’re too precious!” She kissed the puppy’s head.

“Lybrook,” Lord Evan said amiably, as Rose picked up one of the yellow pups, “I think we’ve been jilted. These two seem to prefer the company of tiny drooling four-legged creatures over us.”

“Can we interest you in large four-legged creatures at least?” Daniel said. “I can’t promise you that they’ll drool, though they might snort a bit.”

Lily and Rose laughed. “Yes, I suppose we came here to go riding didn’t we, Lily?” Rose said. “Lord Evan picked out a mare for me from the horses he brought. She’s absolutely beautiful. Which one are you going to ride?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea, but His Grace did promise that I didn’t have to ride sidesaddle.” She smiled at Daniel.

“I have a sister who doesn’t like to ride sidesaddle either, my lady,” Evan said. “She says it’s extremely uncomfortable.”

“It is for me also, my lord, but wait until you see Rose ride,” Lily said. “She’s a natural.”

“Are you?” He turned to Rose. “Then I’m looking forward to this ride all the more. Shall we see if Lionheart and Beatrice are saddled?” He held his arm to Rose.

“Certainly, my lord. We’ll see you in a minute, Lily, Your Grace.”

Lily turned to Daniel. “I’m not the rider Rose is. Pick a gentle one for me, will you?”

He smiled. “How would you like to ride Midnight?”

“Your stallion? Have you completely lost your mind?”

“You can ride with me. My parents had a saddle for two made because my mother, like you, wasn’t a natural rider, but she enjoyed animals so she rode with my father. We can use that.”

“Is it sidesaddle or astride?”

“Astride for me, of course, side for you, I’m afraid. But my mother found it comfortable because she didn’t have to worry about controlling the horse. My father took care of that.”

“Do you think it’s appropriate for us to ride that way? Given the…circumstances?”

“What circumstances would those be? We’re chaperoned. There’s no harm.”

“It’s already clear that Lord Evan thinks you’re courting me, Daniel.”

“It is, is it?” He smiled at her. She was so adorable when she was pretending to care what others thought. He knew the truth.

“Well, of course it is.”

“Is he courting your sister?”

“Of course not. This is just a simple friendly outing. She would have told me if he… He probably hasn’t spoken to our father…”

Daniel lifted the large leather saddle. “What is the difference between what they’re doing this afternoon and what we’re doing?”

“Well, they’re riding separate horses.”

“Because Rose loves to ride. You may certainly ride your own horse, Lily, but you seem uncomfortable with the idea.”

“I’m not uncomfortable exactly. It’s just that I don’t really want to ride astride with others. I’ve always done it alone, and my dress will ride up my legs, and—”

“In that case, maybe you should have your own horse. I wouldn’t mind looking at your legs all afternoon.”

“Daniel…”

“Come now, this isn’t the decision of the century. I love to ride, and I want to share it with you. It seems the easiest way for me to do that is for you to ride Midnight with me.”