Page 48 of A Dangerous Engagement

“Believe me, I shall try.” But what would she do if they refused to accept her excuses? If they pressed her to marry him or even threatened her? She refrained from asking those questions of Mr.Merrick. After all, she was not his responsibility. Besides that, she didn’t want to sound ... desperate? Afraid? Timid?

No, she would not prove them right about her.

Mr.Merrick had already seen her faint and had seen her cry. He might think her even more weak and incapable than Mr.Ratley and Lady Blackstone thought her. And yet ... Mr.Merrick had told her she was brave.

“I should let you saddle your horse.” She took a step back, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.

“Miss Mayson,” he said, but then someone entered through the door of the stable, and he took a step back and turned.

Mr.Ratley stopped just inside. Staring at them.

“It looks as though I am interrupting ...”

“Mr.Ratley,” Mr.Merrick said, not seeming the least bit alarmed, though Felicity’s heart was beating at double its normal pace.

Without bothering to explain, Mr.Merrick stepped toward a saddle on the wall nearby.

“I came into the stable,” Felicity said, “to look at the horses. I thought I might also go for a ride, but the groom informed me that I need Lady Blackstone’s permission. And then Mr.Merrick came in, and I was asking him about the good riding trails nearby, thinking after Lady Blackstone gives her permission, you and I might go for a ride.”

She bit her lip, wishing she had not suggested that. Her fiancé’s kisses were hard enough to fend off in the house. How much worse would it be if they took a ride together unaccompanied? Not to mention the fact that it was all a lie. She was becoming skilled at thinking up a good lie.

Mr.Ratley’s expression changed as a smile spread over his face. “I don’t think we need ask Lady Blackstone’s permission if you go with me. But I thought you didn’t like horses.”

“I like them well enough. I feel the need for some fresh air.”

Mr.Ratley went to get a groom to saddle their horses while Mr.Merrick was nearly finished saddling his. Felicity watched as a bit of sun broke through the clouds and warmed Mr.Merrick’s hair while he tightened the horse’s cinch strap. He then patted the gelding’s neck and spoke softly to him.

Mr.Ratley came back with two stable workers who began saddling their horses. Meanwhile, Mr.Merrick mounted his horse and rode away.

If Mr.Ratley did not like her objections to his kisses, Felicity could use the excuse that Lady Blackstone and Mr.Merrick were also out riding. They wouldn’t be entirely alone.

She asked a groom for his assistance getting onto her horse while Mr.Ratley was distracted. He seemed disappointed when he looked around and saw her already in the saddle.

“Let us go, then.” He mounted, and they started off onto a trail that led away from the garden.

Her horse, a mare that Mr.Ratley promised was gentle, balked and pulled to the right. She pulled on the reins gently, but the mare shook her head and kept going right.

Felicity’s brother had told her once,You don’t like horses because you’re too timid to show them you are the master. You have to take a firm hand with them. Then they’ll respect you.

Fear rose in her throat, but she clenched her teeth and pulled harder on the reins, just as Mr.Ratley called over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”

The mare finally obeyed her and pointed her nose toward the trail, following behind Mr.Ratley’s gelding.

Philip pushed Felicity Mayson from his thoughts yet again and tried to concentrate. The other men had told him a stash of guns was nearby, in an underground grotto between Doverton Hall and the sea. They said it was a strange cave Lady Blackstone had showed them. The walls were all covered in colorful shells that had been deliberately placed to form flowers and sunbursts and other decorative patterns.

Not only did Philip need to know the location of the weapons, but he was curious to see the place.

He made his way through the trees and the scrubby bushes, leaving the riding trail behind. He came upon some grazing pastureland and, giving his horse a running start, had him leap the fence.

He dismounted and looked all around the field. It was well grazed, and he had to watch his step to avoid the sheep dung. Finally, he spotted a broad, flat board lying on the ground with a footpath leading up to it before ending abruptly. Could this be the entrance to the cave?

He heard voices, one female and one male, coming from the riding trail he had just left.

He took his horse’s reins and hurried back toward the trees.

Felicity had to pull harder on the reins than she wanted to, more than once, as she followed Mr.Ratley along the trail. Why had she suggested going for a ride? She could barely get the horse to do what she wanted. Still, she tried to sound confident and comfortable as she engaged her fiancé in a conversation that might serve some purpose.

“So, Oliver, when will our revolution begin?” She was proud of herself for thinking to call it “our” revolution.