Chapter 182

A morning ride.

The suggestion was ordinary enough. He rode his horse out every morning, and Cassandra had shown an interest in spending time outdoors with him. There was no need to examine why the prospect of her accepting pleased him so much.

He crossed over to her side, knocked on her bedroom door and waited for an answer.

Cassandra’s maid opened the door and upon spotting him standing there, she stepped aside to grant him entry, revealing her mistress near the dressing table.

She wore a dressing gown over her nightdress, her hair still loose as another maid ran through the blond strand with a brush.

“Good morning,” Cassandra said, glancing back at him. “What brings you here so unexpectedly?”

He had to look away from her to be able to find the right words. She was just so distracting. “Nothing. I just wondered whether you would care to join me for a ride this morning.”

Her initial surprise soon gave way to delight. She offered him a small smile that wreaked havoc on his system.

“I would like that.” She replied.

The simple answer produced a satisfaction wholly disproportionate to the magnitude of the request. Draven concealed it as best he could, although the effort seemed useless when she was looking at him so pleasantly.

“Excellent. I shall meet you at the stables.”

“I will be there shortly.”

He might have said something more. He could have asked whether she had slept well or whether she had a particular route in mind for their ride. Instead, he merely inclined his head and left her to finish dressing, unwilling to prolong a visit that had already afforded him more pleasure than he cared to admit.

The morning air was cool, carrying the earthy scent of damp soil. Several stable hands were tending to the horses when Draven arrived, and he spent a few minutes inspecting his mount while waiting for Cassandra.

When she finally appeared in a green riding habit, she immediately captured his attention. She looked radiant, and he found himself watching her approach with an anticipation that would have embarrassed him had anyone been perceptive enough to notice.

A stable hand stepped forward to assist her onto her horse, but Draven reached her first.

“Allow me,” he said, practically shooing the groom away.

He offered her his hand and steadied her as she placed her foot in the stirrup. With little effort, he helped her into the saddle, ensuring she was comfortably seated before stepping back.

Cassandra adjusted her reins and glanced down at him with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Draven turned towards his own horse before she could notice how much he had enjoyed the small exchange.

Unfortunately, his pleasant mood did not survive the appearance of his cousin.

Simon emerged from the far side of the stables, leading a horse by the reins. The sight of him was enough to extinguish Draven’s good humour.

He had made his wishes perfectly clear. Simon was to leave, and he had stated in no uncertain terms that he expected his cousin gone by morning. Yet here Simon stood, looking entirely at ease.

Simon glanced towards him before offering Cassandra a courteous nod.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

“Simon.” Draven’s tone was cold. “I assumed you would be gone by now.”

“Yes, as Your Grace commands.” Simon’s sardonic reply was a provocation in itself. “But before you cast me out onto the streets, I thought I might ride Pebble once again. It may well be my last ride with the old girl.”

Draven fixed him with a scathing glare. “Do as you please, provided you do it far away from me.”

Cassandra’s gaze shifted between the two men. She knew enough about strained relationships to recognise the hostility simmering beneath their exchange.

Draven had no intention of discussing his cousin in front of his wife. The stable yard was hardly an appropriate place to air their grievances, but Simon appeared determined to make even the simplest conversation unpleasant.

Before Draven could respond further, Merissa appeared at the entrance to the stables.

Her cheerful greeting stood in stark contrast to the tension hanging over the group. Apparently oblivious to the strained atmosphere, she turned first to Cassandra and greeted her warmly before directing her attention to Simon.

“Oh! I did not realise you would be here this morning,” she said.

“Nor did I know I would have the pleasure of your company,” Simon replied smoothly.

Draven’s displeasure deepened. Whatever grievances existed between him and Simon, it certainly did not alter the fact that Merissa seemed genuinely pleased to see his cousin. How anyone could find Simon’s company agreeable was beyond him.

A stable hand soon led out a mare for Merissa. She approached the animal, accepted the groom’s assistance, and settled into the saddle.

The morning might have passed without further incident had a sudden, sharp, deafening ruckus not erupted nearby.

The unexpected noise rang through the stable yard, startling the horses. One tossed its head and strained against the reins, while another lurched sideways.

Cassandra’s horse shied beneath her. Draven reacted immediately, catching the reins before the animal could swing away from the others.

“Steady,” he said, tightening his grip until the horse began to settle. “Easy now.”

Cassandra managed to maintain her seat, though the sudden movement had clearly startled her. Draven glanced up to make certain she was unharmed before turning his attention to the other agitated horses.

Merissa’s mount reacted more violently, rearing before lurching sharply to one side. She struggled to maintain her seat, but the sudden movement caught her off guard, throwing her backwards.

A scream of panic escaped her as she began to fall.

Simon had yet to mount his horse, leaving him closest to Merissa when she lost her balance. He sprang into action without hesitation, reaching for her as she tumbled from the saddle. He managed to catch her before she struck the ground, but her momentum sent them both crashing down.

Acting on instinct, Simon twisted his body to shield her, taking the full force of the impact. A sharp groan escaped him as his back struck the hard ground.