Chapter 10

The coming days brought with them much of the same. Aurelia would come to Wimbourne Hall each day armed with a new lesson. They practiced everything from dining to playing cards, from formal conversations to dancing, and as Dawson learned more of the intricacies of English society, he found himself longing ever more for the simple life of home …

"Now, today – greetings in the street," Aurelia said.

They were sitting in the drawing room, and Aurelia had brought her sister with her, telling Dawson they would practice encounters in less formal settings, where a chance meeting on the street or in the doorway of a shop had to be managed properly …

"You mean bumping into someone by accident? Why does that need a rule book?" Dawson said, and Letitia sniggered.

Dawson still did not know what to make of Letitia. She could be rude at times, but he had come to see it as a front, disguising her own insecurities in her youth. She was at a difficult age, and it was hardly surprising she should sometimes act out …

"You can't just bump into anyone," Letitia said, and Aurelia nodded.

"Letitia's right. Some people – most people – will greet you deferentially. You're the Earl of Wimbourne – they should do. But there're times when you might find yourself greeting a lady in the street, perhaps a duchess," Aurelia said.

Dawson smiled. He could not imagine himself ever greeting a duchess in the street, but he was willing to play along. Despite his reticence at the thought of becoming an "English gentleman," he was enjoying the time he was spending with Aurelia. She was a delight – quick-witted, intelligent, charming …

"Very well, what should I do?" Dawson asked.

"Letitia, you be the duchess," Aurelia said, and her sister now made her way to the far end of the drawing room, drawing herself up and adopting a haughty expression.

"I'll be the Duchess of … Wiltonshire," Letitia said, and Aurelia laughed.

"You can be the duchess of wherever you wish. Now, walk towards Dawson with your head held high, and he'll greet you with deference," Aurelia said, and Letitia now walked towards them, her nose stuck up in the air.

Dawson did not know what to do – he had never met a duchess before, and certainly not by chance in the street.

"How do I know she's a duchess?" he asked.

"You'll know," Aurelia said as Letitia walked towards them.

"Oh, my Lord Wimbourne, good day to you," she said in a high-pitched voice.

Dawson laughed.

"Good day, My Lady," he said, and Letitia tutted.

"A duchess isn't "My Lady." She's "Your Grace." You need to get it right," Letitia said, and Aurelia nodded.

"That's very true," she said.

Dawson felt confused.

"But I thought a duke was Your Grace." Is a duchess the same?" he asked, and Aurelia nodded.

"That's right. You should greet her with the term "Your Grace." Show her deference. She's shown you respect, and now you should do the same," she said.

The lesson continued in this way for the rest of the morning, and by the time the clock on the mantelpiece chimed noon, they had practiced greeting every class of aristocracy, as well as archbishops, bishops, and deans.

"It's unlikely you'll meet royalty on the street. But one never knows. If in doubt, bow low," Aurelia said as the lesson ended.

Dawson smiled. Back in Kentucky, a greeting was just that – a simple "how do you do," and a nod to a lady. But in England, as with so much else, things were different.

"I'll bear that in mind," he replied.

Letitia was eager to get going, and she went out to their waiting carriage first, leaving Aurelia and Dawson alone.

"I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to arrange for you to dine with us, but … have you spoken to my father about Silas yet?" Aurelia asked.

The baron had come to speak to Dawson about an unconnected matter the evening before, but Dawson had not broached the subject of Silas, fearing that doing so might sour relations between them. He would have preferred not to involve himself, though knew Aurelia was counting on him to do so.

"I … No, not yet," he admitted.

A look of disappointment came over her face, and she nodded.

"I see," she said, as Dawson tried to save face.

"But I will, I promise. It's just … we had a lot of business to discuss. I want to help, I really do," he said, and Aurelia nodded.

"Thank you … I … well … that's enough for today. I should be going – Letitia's waiting for me," Aurelia said, and nodding to him, she left the drawing room.

Dawson sighed. He had not meant to upset her, but the more he thought about it, the less inclined he was to do as she asked. He did not think Silas was right for her, even though he knew he had no right to make such a judgement.

"She'd say the same about you," he told himself, knowing he was hardly a suitable match – not as an English gentleman, at least.

But the more he thought about it, the more convinced he was of Silas' unsuitability, and the more time he spent with Aurelia, the more he wished himself to be the object of her affections. His own feelings towards her were growing.

He liked her, and though they got on well, he feared she would never share his feelings for her – not as long as she remained fixated on Silas. It was a difficult situation, one Dawson tried to put to one side, reminding himself he had not wanted to come to England in the first place, let alone fall in love there.

"You're just being foolish," he told himself, but try as he might, the feelings remained, and they only grew stronger.

***

"For today's lesson, I thought we'd go outside – to the stables. We're going to learn to ride," Aurelia said.

Dawson looked at her and laughed, even as she glared at him. Riding was in his blood. He had learned to ride before he could walk. It was as natural to him as breathing, and now he shook his head, wondering what she could possibly teach him.

"I know how to ride," he said, and Aurelia rolled her eyes.

"I know you do. But do you know how to ride properly?" she replied.

They had been standing in the hallway, and Aurelia now led the way outside. Dawson did not know what she could possibly teach him he did not already know. As far as Dawson was concerned, riding was the act of making a horse go where you wanted it to go – preferably at speed – and beyond that, he did not think Aurelia had anything to teach him.

"Is there some special English way of riding?" Dawson asked as they approached the stables.

"Well, a lady always rides side-saddle," Aurelia replied, and again, Dawson laughed.

Back in Kentucky, a side-saddle riding woman would be laughed at, and he could not imagine Roxanna ever riding in such a sedate manner.

"Nonsense – you can only go at a trot then," he said, shaking his head.

Aurelia looked at him in horror as though the very idea of riding anything other than side saddle was anathema – it probably was.

"A lady doesn't gallop," she replied, and Dawson laughed.

"Oh, I'm sorry – what does a lady do?" he asked.

He knew her well enough to tease her now, and while she might once have taken offence, he did so only enough to make her smile.

"A lady goes at a sedate pace – she doesn't need to rush," Aurelia replied.

The horses were now brought out to them, and Aurelia demonstrated how to mount the horse – like a lady. Dawson watched, smiling as he imagined a woman in Kentucky doing the same.

"Let me show you how a man rides a horse," Dawson said, and taking his horse's reins, he leapt into the saddle, geeing off the horse at such a pace that Aurelia let out a cry for him to slow down.

"I'll never catch you up if you ride like that," she called out, but Dawson was away.

He loved to feel the wind rushing against his face, hear the sounds of the horse's hooves charging across the ground below, and know the freedom of being in the saddle.

The horizon was far smaller than back home, but for a few moments, at least, Dawson could be reminded of what life had once been like. As he rode off across the parkland, he glanced back, catching sight of Aurelia riding side-saddle behind. The maid who had accompanied her was but a vague dot against the tree-line, and Dawson knew Aurelia would never catch him up – not riding as he was.

"I'll race you to Canford House," Dawson called out, grinning at Aurelia, who was now struggling with the reins of her horse.

"That's not fair; you've got a head start," she called out.

"Then ride properly," Dawson called back.

He would use his cutlery properly if he had to, and he would greet duchesses with deference if it meant fitting into his new role as the Earl of Wimbourne, but when it came to the saddle, Dawson was not going to play by anyone's rules but his own.

He charged on, glancing back to find Aurelia struggling to keep up. For a moment, he thought he should stop and wait – that would be the gentlemanly thing to do. But out on the trail, there had never been any waiting, not for anyone …

"I won't do it," Aurelia called out as Dawson paused, reining in his horse as she rode up to him.

"Then lose the race," he called back, and just as she caught him up, he charged off, galloping across the parkland towards Canford House.

He could hear the sound of horse's hooves behind, and now he wondered if Aurelia was riding dangerously to prove a point – galloping side saddle was hardly a good idea. But as he turned, he was greeted with an astonishing sight. Aurelia was gaining on him and no longer riding like a lady …

"You see, I can ride just as well as any man – or rancher," Aurelia called out, and now she charged past him, urging the horse to ever greater speeds.

Dawson grinned, and now he geed on his own horse, the two of them riding neck and neck as they approached Canford House. But as they clattered over the cobbles, the front door was flung open, and the baron and baroness appeared, staring at them in horror.

"Aurelia, what are you doing?" the baroness exclaimed as Aurelia's horse reared up on its hind legs, almost throwing her off – just as had happened by the river.

Dawson felt suddenly embarrassed. He had encouraged Aurelia to ride as she was doing, and now it was clear her parents did not approve.

"We were just galloping, Mother. There's no harm done," Aurelia replied, glancing back at Dawson and smiling.

"Forgive me – it was my idea. Back in Kentucky, we're used to riding hard and fast," Dawson said, and the baron and baroness now exchanged glances.

"Ah well, My Lord – there's no harm done, is there? Aurelia should've known better, though. She's supposed to be teaching you the ways of the English gentry, though she's hardly behaving like an English lady, is she?" the baroness said, looking pointedly at Aurelia, who shrugged.

"It's just a little fun, Mother – that's all," Aurelia replied as she slipped from the saddle.

Dawson did the same. It had been fun. He had enjoyed the sense of freedom the ride had brought him, and sharing it with Aurelia had reminded him how life had been back in Kentucky. There were no rules as to how a woman should ride or conduct herself – none of it mattered. A horse meant freedom, and freedom was what mattered.

"Well … I'm sure you'd both like some tea, wouldn't you?" the baroness said, and though Dawson would have preferred coffee, he agreed, nodding, as he held out his hand for Aurelia to lead the way.

She glanced back at him and smiled, a mischievous look coming over her face as she did so.

"I hope we can do that again," she whispered as they entered the house – and Dawson hoped the same …