In the Shadow of Arabella by Lois Menzel Page B

him, and I was too much of a coward to jump off. Over the wall we sailed and over the tombstones in full view of half the congregation flowing out of the church onto the lawn outside. Jeremy never slackened his pace. He galloped through the cemetery, over the wall again, and home through the woods to the stables.
    “The scene when my parents arrived home was as unpleasant as you can imagine. I was forbidden to see or ride Jeremy for a month, and I had to apologize to the minister.’’
    As she finished her story, Rudley laughed aloud, and she continued, “You may well laugh, my lord, but my favorite ride ceased on that day. When I was permitted to ride again, I had to promise to go nowhere near the cemetery and, in fact, never went there again. At least not until my father . . . until the funeral.”
    His laughter dissipated as he asked gently, “How did he die?”
    “It was the influenza. Mama had a miscarriage, and she was not strong. She caught it first, then Papa took it while he was nursing her. The servants would not let me go near them . . . Mama slowly recovered, but I never saw my father alive again. I was angry . . .”
    Katherine had been unconsciously gathering the reins and now Karma tossed her head in protest. The mare bumped the earl’s stallion with her hindquarters as Katherine brought her under control again. She quickly apologized. “I am sorry, my lord, I should pay more attention when I am on a strange horse.’’
    “You are doing well with her. I’m sorry about your father. I did not mean to distress you.”
    “You did not. It is only that I seldom speak of my parents.” She turned to look at him then, wondering why she was talking to him about them. He was almost a stranger.
    The conversation stalled. In an effort to turn it away from herself, Katherine said, “Lady Brent mentioned that you have a daughter, my lord. How old is she?”
    “Pamela turned ten last December.”
    “Does she ride?”
    “She has a pony.”
    “Does she enjoy horses?”
    “I really could not say. I have never discussed it with her.”
    “I see.”
    Her tone indicated most clearly that she did not see at all and he felt obliged to add, “I do not see my daughter often, Miss Stillwell. She lives at my country seat in Hampshire.” As an uneasy silence fell between them, Rudley realized that although he had been intrigued by Miss Stillwell’s disclosures about her personal life, he felt acute discomfort when led to share his.
    Katherine remembered Lady Brent saying that Lord Rudley did not seem a fond parent—it appeared her ladyship was correct. Katherine was momentarily at a loss for words. Hoping to return to a safe subject, she admired the earl’s horse. “That is a handsome fellow you have there, my lord, and well-mannered, too. He did not even object when Karma jostled him.”
    “This is Navigator. He is one of my favorite mounts in town. I make an effort to ride him every day.”
    Having reestablished an easy topic between them, they continued the ride enjoyably. Katherine rode part of the time beside Charity, but when they were nearly home, Oliver brought his black up beside them. “Have you enjoyed the ride, Miss Harrington?”
    “Yes, very much,” Charity replied. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold air and Katherine thought she looked more beautiful than ever.
    “Will you come out with us again?” he asked. “You must agree Lord Brent has supplied a wonderfully quiet horse for you.”
    “He is everything my uncle promised, and yes, I should like to ride again.”
    “And you, Miss Stillwell, can I convince you to come?”
    Charity laughed. “That will take little effort, sir, for Katy is never happier, I think, than when she is on a horse.’’
    “I shall be delighted, Mr. Seaton,” Katherine confirmed.
    “It is settled, then. Shall we say Thursday at the same time?”
    “We do not wish to monopolize your time, sir,” Charity offered.
    “Rudley and I ride often,” he