his mother stimulating his father in any way, and he thought that a sad commentary on two people who had lived under the same roof for nearly forty years.
Perhaps such mismatches were the fault of society, Edward reflected as he eased Titan to a walk. The necessity of marrying well was often more important than marrying for love, and blushing young women were shot out into the social world for a flock of eager young men to look over, with all the objectivity of farmers selecting brood mares. Appearance was everything, followed closely by good bloodlines and careful upbringing. Those ladies fortunate enough to be blessed with all three would be chosen first, and those even more fortunate would make a marriage with a man who loved and respected them. The rest would settle for a pretence of love and make of it what they could.
Edward didn’t like settling and he didn’t like pretence. He didn’t like the idea of choosing a wife based solely on the strength of a few polite and rigidly supervised meetings. After all, what did a man really know about the woman he intended to marry? All ladies appeared poised and polished on first meeting. They all smiled and danced, and sang pretty songs and played the piano, but what did a man really know about the inner workings of such a woman? Was she a lady in public and a shrew in private? Did she evidence a sparkling wit, only to fall victim to vapours when no one was around?
And what about sex? Now there was a subject rife with the potential for disaster. What if his wife turned out to be one of those frigid creatures who did her duty in bed but derived no pleasure from it? How did a man go about pleasing a woman who shuddered at the very thought of intimacy?
Edward was so deep in thought that it was a few moments before he realised that someone was approaching on horseback. He looked up, and to his surprise, saw an elegant lady seated atop a fine dapple-grey mare. She was accompanied by a groom, but because it was so early in the day, Edward felt a mild stirring of interest. Most females of his acquaintance didn’t even leave their beds before noon, yet this one was dressed and riding in the park at barely half past seven. That in itself gave the suggestion of someone out of the ordinary.
His gaze sharpened as he noticed other things about her: the flattering cut of her mulberry-coloured habit, and the quality of the lace trim. Her bonnet was most dashing, but the unusually heavy veil descending from it made it all but impossible to discern her features, though her figure looked to be that of a young woman—and one who was obviously at ease in the saddle. She held the reins firmly between gloved fingers and gave no impression of being nervous or ill at ease, even though the mare had her ears pricked forward and looked to be skittish.
Edward knew she would have ridden by him had it not been for the cat, a scrawny creature only a few months old that chose that very moment to dart out from the foliage at the base of a tree and run right between the mare’s front feet.
Startled, the grey reared.
The lady, not expecting the movement, uttered a soft gasp, and Edward, fearing that she would fall, immediately pushed Titan forward.
The cat, having surely expended one of its nine lives, scampered unharmed into the bushes.
‘Are you all right?” Edward called, wondering if he should make a grab for the mare’s reins.
‘I am…fine, sir, thank you, but it would seem that…Juliet is not so easy of mind.’ The lady’s voice was unusually low and husky, but there was no trace of panic in it. ‘I hope she did not tread on the poor cat.’
‘Rest assured, it escaped with nary a hair flattened. And even had it not, it was more your welfare I was concerned with,’ Edward told her.
‘It is good of you to be concerned, but as you can see I am fine. I suspect the unexpected arrival of both cat and hunter momentarily proved too much for Juliet,’ the lady said, adroitly regaining control of the dancing mare.
‘Thankfully, it did not prove too much for you,’ Edward observed, backing Titan away. ‘Is your mare always so high spirited?’
‘I have no idea.’ The lady patted the grey’s neck with affection. ‘This is my first time riding her, but knowing to whom she belongs, I suspect she was merely in need of exercise. I thought a few times around the park would be a good start.’
Edward couldn’t remember having heard a voice as husky as hers before, but finding it excessively attractive, decided he wanted to hear more. He also wondered if there was a polite way of asking her to lift her veil. He was suddenly very curious to see her face. ‘Do you ride often in the morning? I don’t believe I’ve seen you in the park before.’
‘I am newly arrived in London, but ride when I can, and prefer the morning when there are fewer people about.’
‘My sentiments exactly. There is nothing more tedious than trying to enjoy the air when one is squeezed cheek to jowl with others intent on doing the same. Perhaps we might ride together and thereby help to relieve the congestion?’
It was a casual remark, lightly offered, perhaps even spoken in jest. Nevertheless, it came as something of a surprise to Edward, who wasn’t in the habit of extending invitations to women with whom he was not acquainted. Nor, it seemed, was the lady used to accepting them. ‘Thank you, sir, but I do not think that would be wise.’
‘Of course.’ Edward already regretted having asked. ‘I spoke out of turn. You obviously have a husband or brother at home who would object to such an arrangement.’
‘On the contrary, I have neither husband nor brother, but my stay in town is of short duration and after that I shall be returning to the country.’
It was not the answer Edward had been expecting. ‘Still, that shouldn’t preclude us from riding together while you are here,’ he said, wondering at his need to persist. ‘You did say you intended to ride, and, since we both prefer the morning, why should we not ride together?’
‘Because it would be difficult to plan such outings when I cannot commit to riding at the same time each day. I prefer the mornings, but go out when my aunt or cousin do not require my services.’
Her services? Edward frowned. Was she a companion then? A poor relation dependant upon a rich family member to ease her way?
He glanced at her outfit again and thought it unlikely. A poor relation would not be permitted such elegant clothes, nor be given so fine a horse to ride. ‘Forgive me, but in the absence of someone to perform the niceties, may I ask your name?’
‘You may ask, sir, but at the risk of sounding rude, I think I shall decline.’
‘You would deny me so simple a request?’
‘Yes, because you would not have asked had our circumstances been different.’
‘What circumstances?’
‘Those imposed by an impulsive feline who dashed out and startled my horse, thereby forcing you to offer assistance.’
‘I was not forced to offer it,’ Edward said, stung that she would think him so cavalier. ‘I was happy to do so.’
‘And it was very good of you, and I do hope I have expressed my thanks in a way that leaves you in no doubt as to my sincerity. But given the circumstances, I think it would be best if we were to leave it at that. Good morning.’
And with that, she pressed her heels into the mare’s side and rode on.
Edward watched her
