“I’m sorry I missed that,” Trask said. “I’ve heard the story of course. Mr. Sheffield managed to stay on the pony and wasn’t scared for a moment.”
Laughing, Harry said, “That’s not exactly true. I recall being frightened for a split second.”
Selina shook her head, grinning. “You do not.”
He gave her a sly glance filled with humor. “No, I don’t. I’d watched my father ride enough that I knew exactly what to do to make the pony run and I did it.”
“He always was too smart for his own good, as long as I’ve known him,” Trask noted, chuckling.
Yet Selina had been able to deceive him and continued to do so. A wave of shame crashed over her, and she nearly blurted the truth to him right there.
But she couldn’t. Not with all that was at stake for her future—and for Beatrix’s.
She grew angry. Couldn’t she just enjoy herself for one morning without thinking of how to survive?
Yes, she could, and she meant to do just that.
“Well, don’t tell me how to make Hyacinth canter, thank you.”
“Not until you’re ready,” Harry said. “You’re doing very well. See, I told you Hyacinth was gentle as a newborn fawn.”
“I don’t recall you saying that,” Selina said with a laugh. “But yes, she’s quite lovely.” Selina patted the horse’s neck. “Aren’t you, girl?”
Hyacinth twitched her mane in response, and Selina closed her eyes for a brief moment as she felt the animal move beneath her. She could get used to this…
Suddenly, Hyacinth whinnied and began to move faster. Selina’s eyes flew open in panic. “What’s going on?”
“Damn rabbit,” Trask swore. He pulled on the lead and talked to Hyacinth, urging her to walk again. Thankfully, she did.
Selina had leaned forward to throw her arms around Hyacinth’s neck. She breathed hard as she worked to calm herself now that she knew she was safe.
“Sit back and center yourself,” Harry said softly. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I was just surprised. I’d closed my eyes for just a moment.”
“I saw that,” he said. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
“I am.” Her eyes met his, and she saw the same sentiment reflected back at her—happiness. Joy. This was perhaps the best moment she’d ever experienced.
They completed their walk, and Harry helped her dismount. Selina’s legs felt a bit shaky as she patted Hyacinth’s neck and thanked her for the ride.
“Thank you, Trask,” Harry said. “I’ll let you know when we’ll do this again. Mayhap after Lady Gresham procures a riding habit.”
“That would be advisable.” Trask bowed to Selina. “My lady, it’s been a pleasure.”
“The pleasure was entirely mine,” she said warmly. “Thank you.”
Selina’s chest tightened. How she wished she could do this again.
Harry escorted her back to the gig, and Jakes went to help Trask. Once Selina was situated in her seat, Harry climbed in beside her.
“What did you really think?” he asked. “I know you were spooked for a moment.”
“It was wonderful. Thank you.” She wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to show him how much she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
“There’s no one here, save the grooms who are behind us and occupied with their task,” he said huskily, his body pitching toward hers. “Do you mind if I kiss you?”
“Please do.” She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned into him as his mouth claimed hers. The kiss was sweet and electric. It further suffused her with that foreign sensation of happiness and joy—of rightness.
Reluctantly, he pulled back. “I suppose I must drive you home.”
“I suppose you must.”
He picked up the reins and shifted in his seat. She couldn’t help but look over to see if he was aroused as she was. “It’s too bad you can’t come upstairs when you take me home.”
His nostrils flared. “You’re a vixen to tempt me. Unfortunately, I need to work. But perhaps I may stop by later this evening.”
She leaned toward him as he started to drive. “Come to the rear of the house, and toss a pebble at the window of the sitting room—I’ll be waiting.”
Selina meant to hold on to this happiness as long as she could.
For the first time in, well, ever, Harry was eager to get through the weekly dinner at his parents’ house because he had somewhere else to go. More importantly, he had someone to see.
After visiting Selina last night, they’d arranged for him to come again tonight. He wanted to see her every day, and damn if that wasn’t terrifying. What was happening to him?
He took special care to cloak his buoyancy. His family would pounce on it—on him—like starving wolves.
“Good evening, Mr. Sheffield,” Tallent said, taking Harry’s hat and gloves. “Your father has asked that you join him in his study again.”
Harry had expected that. “Is Jeremy by chance here?” Harry had sent him a note pleading with him to come tonight. When they were here together, it was easier to keep the wolves at bay.
Tallent gave him an apologetic look. “I’m afraid not.”
Harry exhaled in disappointment. “Thank you, Tallent.”
Making his way to his father’s study, Harry reviewed in his mind what he intended to say. And braced himself for his father’s anger.
“Harry, pour yourself a glass of brandy and join me,” Father said from his chair by the hearth. The day had been cool, so there was a low fire burning.
Harry fetched his brandy and took the open chair situated across from his father. “I was hoping Jeremy might be here.”
Father grunted in response before sipping his brandy. He looked over at Harry, one eye narrowing. “Your mother is going to that Home for Wayward Children tomorrow with the charlatan. I thought you were working to prove the woman is a fraud.”
“I told you the charity looks to be real. As for the rest, as I said before, is it really so terrible if Mother visits the woman?” Harry thought of his last visit to Madame Sybila. Her reading of his cards had been unsettling—because there’d been a note of truth. But not anymore. No one could call him lonely or a hermit now. Had the fortune-teller somehow pushed Harry to start a liaison with Selina? And if so, should he thank her? The notion stalled his mind for a moment.
“Harry? What say you?”
Harry blinked, realizing he’d missed whatever his father had said first. “Sorry, I was lost in thought. What did you say?”
“I said it is terrible. The woman fills your mother’s head with ridiculous notions about the family increasing, you and Jeremy marrying, and a pile of other nonsense.”
“Does any of it cause harm?” Harry asked.
“It does to me, because I have to listen to it.” He sounded incredibly disgruntled over something that didn’t matter. “And it’s a waste of money! Why can’t she do as other women and buy fripperies?”
Harry was fairly certain his mother did that too. But it wasn’t as if his father couldn’t afford any of this. “If the fortune-teller isn’t stealing money from her, there’s nothing to be done. It’s not a crime for her to sell the services she advertises.”