She would arrange for a picnic to be taken to a spot where they could enjoy the magnificent views.
And so that night, following the evening meal when the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room, they began to make plans. Rollo, aware that Diana had not ridden out with the others during her stay, gently inquired, “Are you happy to ride horseback, Miss Wells? Sparton Top is a difficult place to reach otherwise, but I can arrange for you to travel by cart if you would prefer.”
Caroline immediately jumped in. “Diana is the most accomplished rider of my acquaintance.” She turned to her cousin. “Please say you will ride with us, Diana. It will be great fun.”
“Of course,” replied Diana, not wanting to spoil the enjoyment of others. “I would love to be in the party. I cannot remember when I last went on a picnic, and the weather has been so beautiful.”
That settled, Rollo got down to making the arrangements. “Well, then, we need to find you a suitable horse. The other ladies have all found mounts. Oliver, would you take Miss Wells to the stables tomorrow and help her select a fitting horse?”
Diana panicked. She did not want to spend time with Oliver. Alone. “My lord, I am sure that any horse will suffice. Please don’t put Oliver to any trouble.”
Rollo was surprised by this reaction, until his brother leaned over and very quietly explained that Miss Wells seemed not to be comfortable with him and avoided his company when at all possible. Looking at Diana’s now pale face and seeing that she was wringing her hands in agitation, Rollo concluded that his brother was right. Surprised and somewhat unnerved by his growing attraction to the diminutive shapely lady, he had decided that he would try to avoid her company as much as possible. But this couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t force Oliver’s company on her.
“Oliver has just mentioned to me that he has business to attend to in the morning, so would you permit me to accompany you instead?” he suggested. “I would rather you had the opportunity to get used to the animal before Friday, as it is quite a long and hard ride to Spartan Top.”
“If you are sure that you can spare the time, then I thank you,” Diana replied, her relief evident in her voice and in the stilling of her hands
* * *
The following morning, after breakfast, Diana changed into her dark blue riding habit. She left her hair down in order to accommodate a new riding hat, which sat at a jaunty angle on her head.
Rollo met her in the lobby at eleven o’clock as arranged. Diana’s pulse gave a jolt at the sight of him. He looked breathtakingly handsome and, she thought, slightly dangerous, dressed in black from head to toe. His face was expressionless as always; he was every inch the Earl of Ice this morning. Diana was looking forward to selecting a mount for the picnic tomorrow and so was determined not to be intimidated by him. She gave him a sunny smile in response to his curt nod of greeting.
Rollo, annoyed that Diana’s radiant smile and appearance had sent an unfamiliar pang through him, set off at a brisk walk to the stables. Diana scurried quickly after him, almost having to break into a run to keep up with his long strides. By the time they reached the first stable block, she was quite out of breath. Rollo, who had by then calmed his nerves, noticed her panting and her pink cheeks, and mentally chided himself for being so thoughtless. Just because her presence had an unsettling effect on him was no excuse to run the poor girl ragged!
As they entered the stable block, Rollo explained to her that these horses were mounts for the family. The other blocks housed his racehorses and his stud. As they walked down the central aisle, he told her the horses’ names and pointed out the ones favoured by the other guests. “You may take you pick from any of the others.”
Diana stopped to admire a beautiful gelding standing about seventeen hands high, with a pale,
And so that night, following the evening meal when the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room, they began to make plans. Rollo, aware that Diana had not ridden out with the others during her stay, gently inquired, “Are you happy to ride horseback, Miss Wells? Sparton Top is a difficult place to reach otherwise, but I can arrange for you to travel by cart if you would prefer.”
Caroline immediately jumped in. “Diana is the most accomplished rider of my acquaintance.” She turned to her cousin. “Please say you will ride with us, Diana. It will be great fun.”
“Of course,” replied Diana, not wanting to spoil the enjoyment of others. “I would love to be in the party. I cannot remember when I last went on a picnic, and the weather has been so beautiful.”
That settled, Rollo got down to making the arrangements. “Well, then, we need to find you a suitable horse. The other ladies have all found mounts. Oliver, would you take Miss Wells to the stables tomorrow and help her select a fitting horse?”
Diana panicked. She did not want to spend time with Oliver. Alone. “My lord, I am sure that any horse will suffice. Please don’t put Oliver to any trouble.”
Rollo was surprised by this reaction, until his brother leaned over and very quietly explained that Miss Wells seemed not to be comfortable with him and avoided his company when at all possible. Looking at Diana’s now pale face and seeing that she was wringing her hands in agitation, Rollo concluded that his brother was right. Surprised and somewhat unnerved by his growing attraction to the diminutive shapely lady, he had decided that he would try to avoid her company as much as possible. But this couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t force Oliver’s company on her.
“Oliver has just mentioned to me that he has business to attend to in the morning, so would you permit me to accompany you instead?” he suggested. “I would rather you had the opportunity to get used to the animal before Friday, as it is quite a long and hard ride to Spartan Top.”
“If you are sure that you can spare the time, then I thank you,” Diana replied, her relief evident in her voice and in the stilling of her hands
* * *
The following morning, after breakfast, Diana changed into her dark blue riding habit. She left her hair down in order to accommodate a new riding hat, which sat at a jaunty angle on her head.
Rollo met her in the lobby at eleven o’clock as arranged. Diana’s pulse gave a jolt at the sight of him. He looked breathtakingly handsome and, she thought, slightly dangerous, dressed in black from head to toe. His face was expressionless as always; he was every inch the Earl of Ice this morning. Diana was looking forward to selecting a mount for the picnic tomorrow and so was determined not to be intimidated by him. She gave him a sunny smile in response to his curt nod of greeting.
Rollo, annoyed that Diana’s radiant smile and appearance had sent an unfamiliar pang through him, set off at a brisk walk to the stables. Diana scurried quickly after him, almost having to break into a run to keep up with his long strides. By the time they reached the first stable block, she was quite out of breath. Rollo, who had by then calmed his nerves, noticed her panting and her pink cheeks, and mentally chided himself for being so thoughtless. Just because her presence had an unsettling effect on him was no excuse to run the poor girl ragged!
As they entered the stable block, Rollo explained to her that these horses were mounts for the family. The other blocks housed his racehorses and his stud. As they walked down the central aisle, he told her the horses’ names and pointed out the ones favoured by the other guests. “You may take you pick from any of the others.”
Diana stopped to admire a beautiful gelding standing about seventeen hands high, with a pale,
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