Chapter 9

After

breakfast t he next day,

Edward and his father excused themselves, saying they had to go and

attend to some business in a nearby town, taking with them

Alessandra's father. The men's absence left Alessandra with her

mother and Edward's mother.

"I have asked Cook to

prepare a picnic lunch for us," Edward's mother said. "I thought we

could enjoy it out in the garden since it is such a lovely day.

Soon it will be too cold to enjoy time outside."

Later they settled

outside on the grass, relaxing with good food and conversation.

During that time, Alessandra said little, happy to listen to the

two mothers comparing stories as they talked about her and Edward

as children. When their conversation turned to their initial

experiences with each of their husbands, Alessandra listened

intently. She enjoyed the stories they had to tell about their

individual levels of determination to make their marriages happy

with the men they did not even know.

In the late afternoon,

they entered the house to find the men back from their journey.

When the women saw them, it was clear the men had embarked on

something enjoyable, judging by the smiles on their

faces.

"What mischief have you

two been up to?" Edward's mother pressed them in a teasing tone

until they gave in.

"Edward has chosen a gift for

Alessandra," Edward's father said, smiling at his son.

Alessandra blushed and looked

down, making Edward smile now that he understood her blushing was a

positive thing, not a negative one.

"Alessandra," Edward said

softly to her. "I wished to get you a gift to show you how much I

look forward to being your husband. Please come with me."

He stood up, as did his

parents, all welcoming Alessandra and her parents to follow. Edward

led them all out toward the stables. When they got outside, he

looked exceptionally happy and proud as he signalled to a groom to

walk out a beautiful white pony that he, as a horseman, knew was

well suited to Alessandra's petite size. While he expected

Alessandra to look surprised, the look on her face wasn't quite one

of horror, but it was something indefinable and

unexpected.

"This is Misty," he said,

uncertain he had done the right thing in buying it for her.

Edward saw Alessandra look

desperately at her parents, who equally had indefinable looks on

their faces.

"Do you not like her?" Edward

finally asked her, confused.

Alessandra stepped

forward until she was right in front of him. Looking into his eyes,

she reached out and took his free hand in one of hers.

"Edward, you

are very kind, and she is a

wonderful gift, but…" she started to say.

Edward waited

patiently for her to continue, fearing that she was going to reject

the gift because she wanted to reject him . After a long

while, he saw her smile sadly at him as she spoke again.

"I can only

accept her if you promise to be patient with me as you teach me how

to ride her," Alessandra continued.

Finally, Edward comprehended

what she was saying, and why she had looked uncomfortable.

"You have never ridden a

horse?" he asked with a tone of disbelief. He had grown up on

horses. He'd ridden since he was a toddler. It hadn't occurred to

him that she hadn't done the same.

He saw her smiling with a look

of amusement that relaxed him.

"No,

never ," Alessandra said. "But

I am happy to learn, if you are happy to teach me."

After the initial shock

had passed, Edward smiled brilliantly at her.

"I will gladly teach you to

ride," he said happily.

Everyone clapped, reminding the

two of them that they were not alone and had an audience.

Alessandra heard Edward's

mother call to her and summon her over to her.

"Alessandra,

if you do not ride, then I suspect you will not own a riding

habit?" she asked and saw Alessandra shake her head. "Tomorrow, you

and your mother will come with me to my dressmaker, and we will get

one made up for you. After that , Edward can

teach you to ride."

~~~~~

Later that evening, in their

usual spot, Edward apologised to her.

"I am sorry,

Alessandra ," he said. "I did

not even think to ask if you liked horses…"

"Think nothing of it,

Edward," Alessandra said, laughing softly. "I am looking forward to

learning something new. There is no need for you to apologise. I

can see you have grown up with horses, so of course you would

expect everyone else has also done so. Truly, Edward, I look

forward to the lessons you are going to give me."

As Edward watched the

animation of Alessandra's expressions, he noticed that his

appraisal of her had changed. Before, he had considered her quite

plain. With her increased frequency of smiling, he enjoyed looking

at her more and more.

"But you must promise to

be patient. To me, horses are very large, and quite scary," she

continued, looking directly at him now that she had begun to force

herself to.

In his mind, Edward couldn't

imagine being afraid of a horse, but took her at her word and

nodded.

"I

promise ," he said. "It is not

essential for you to know how to ride, however. If you do not care

for it, you need not persist in trying to learn."

Alessandra smiled at him

softly, enjoying that finally she was finding some confidence to be

around him. Although she still blushed often, she was relieved that

she no longer let it affect her quite so much.