Once a Mistress

by Rebecca Hagan Lee

Never promise more than you can perform.

  Publius Syrus, 1st Century b.c.

  Despite Drew’s intention to begin immediately, the afternoon chill grew decidedly colder and a light mist began to fall. The miserable conditions weren’t favorable for the beginning pupils or the instructor, so Drew reluctantly agreed to postpone the lessons until early the following morning.

  Wren didn’t mind postponing the lessons until morning. In fact, she would not have minded postponing them forever, but Kit was inconsolable. In a show of unyielding determination that would have made the previous fifteen marquesses of Templeston green with envy, Kit refused to leave the stables until he’d had his first riding lesson.

  Wren attempted to explain why the lessons would have to wait until morning, but Kit didn’t care about explanations. He wanted to ride his pony.

  “It’s the Ramsey in him,” Wren muttered when Miss Allerton tried placating the boy by promising that from now on, they would begin the day with riding lessons and leave his schooling until afternoon.

  Drew suspected that the governess’s last offer was meant more as a reward for her forbearance than it was for Kit’s cooperation. He watched the negotiations between the child and the two women with a mixture of amusement, admiration, and impatience. Kit had worked himself up into a fine temper and showed no sign of cooperating with his mother or governess. There was only one thing left to do.

  “That’s enough!” Drew used the same tone of voice he’d used on his soldiers.

  Kit was stunned into silence. He gave Drew a cautious look, suddenly unsure of what to do or say. No one had ever raised their voice or spoken to him so sharply.

  Drew addressed the little boy. “Am I to understand that you refuse to leave the stables and return to the house with your mother and governess until you’ve had your first lesson in horsemanship?”

  Kit nodded.

  “Speak up,” Drew ordered.

  “Yes,” Kit replied softly.

  “Yes, sir,” Drew corrected.

  “Yes, sir,” Kit repeated.

  “All right, young man.” Drew paused to glance at Riley, then opened the paddock gate and stepped inside. The light mist had turned into rain and the heavy drops glistened on Drew’s hair. “You shall have your first lesson in horsemanship.”

  Kit squealed with glee.

  “Drew!” Kathryn protested. “You mustn’t reward him for misbehaving. You’ll spoil him and encourage his willful streak.”

  “I have no intention of rewarding him for misbehaving,” Drew told her. “But I do intend to instruct him in his first lesson in horsemanship just as Riley’s father instructed me.”

  “Then I must have my first lesson as well,” Kathryn told him.

  Drew looked her over from head to toe. The rain was beginning to saturate her pelisse and Kathryn shivered with cold. “I think it best we postpone your lesson until tomorrow when you’re more suitably dressed.”

  Kathryn shook her head. “No. If Kit gets a lesson so do I.”

  Kathryn might choose to blame Kit’s willfulness on his Ramsey forebears, but Drew knew otherwise. Kit’s mother was every bit as willful as he was—despite the fact that she was literally shaking in her boots at the prospect of riding a horse.

  Drew grinned. One couldn’t help but admire the measure of undiluted courage concealed beneath her palpable trepidation. “Forgive me for stating the obvious, Kathryn, but Kit has shown a great deal more enthusiasm for learning to ride than you have.”

  “Nevertheless, I insist.”

  Miss Allerton studied the battle of wills going on between the three of them—Kit, Mrs. Stafford, and Lord Templeston—and attempted to intervene. “Sir, I must protest. Conducting a lesson in this downpour cannot be safe and you’ll all catch your death of cold.”

  “Not to worry, Miss Allerton,” he said. “I assure you there’s no danger. We’ll be fine. But there’s no reason for you to suffer the weather. Why don’t you return to the house and ready a hot bath and something to eat for Kit, as he’s certain to be tired, hungry, and dirty when we’re done. And please, take Mrs. Stafford’s knapsack inside with you; she won’t need it now. We’ll join you when Kit and Mrs. Stafford complete their first lessons.” He turned to Riley. “Clear everything except Lancelot out of the paddock. I’ll give Kit ten minutes to get acquainted with the pony, then I’ll bring him to you for the remainder of his lesson.”

  Riley motioned for the grooms to do as Drew instructed.

  Moments later Lancelot stood alone in the paddock. Drew leaned across the top rail and lifted Kit over the fence. He taught Kit to introduce himself to the pony, how to stroke his neck, and how to lead him. When he was satisfied that Kit could manage the pony on his own, Drew handed the little boy the lead rope and motioned for him to lead the pony around the paddock.

  Kit was soaking wet and grinning from ear to ear as he brought the pony back to Drew. “Look at me, Mama!”

  “I see you, darling.” Wren leaned against the top rail of the fence and watched as Kit proudly led the pony around the small enclosure several more times.

  “All right,” Drew said. “That’s enough for today. Lancelot is tired and hungry.”

  “No, he’s not.” Kit poked out his lower lip and threatened another tantrum.

  “None of that.” Drew squatted on his haunches until he was eye level with Kit. “The first rule of a good horseman is that his horse’s comfort always comes before his own. You may not be tired or hungry, but Lancelot is. You only walked as far as the house to the barn, but your pony had to walk all the way from the village and put up with strangers along the way. He’s had enough.” Drew stood up and patted Kit on the shoulder. “You’ve done a fine job with the first part of your lesson. I’m proud of you. Now, I’ll walk beside you while you lead Lancelot into his new home.” He turned when Wren started to follow. “No,” he said. “You wait here. I’ll bring Felicity. You can get acquainted with her while Kit completes his lesson in the barn.”

  “Drew, I think I should—”

  “Don’t think,” he said. “I’m the teacher here. Please do as I ask.”

  “I would if you ever bothered to ask,” Wren grumbled.

  Drew raised his eyebrow. “What was that?”

  “All right,” she said. “I’ll stay here.” She watched as Drew opened the paddock gate and showed Kit how to lead the pony through it. She kept watching, straining to hear the steady stream of questions Kit fired at Drew, as man, boy, and pony disappeared inside the massive stone barn.

  Drew emerged from the barn some time later wearing a sealskin cape and with a beautiful bay filly in tow. Wren was immediately impressed by the regal set of Felicity’s head and neck and the sweet, intelligent expression in her dark eyes. Wren also noticed that, unlike Lancelot, Felicity carried a saddle.

  Wren sighed in relief when she realized it was a man’s saddle. “She’s beautiful.”

  “Uh-huh,” Drew grunted in agreement. He led Felicity into the paddock and motioned for Wren to join them.

  Wren hesitated.

  “Come meet her, Kathryn,” he urged. “She won’t hurt you.”

  Wren entered the paddock and took several steps in Drew’s direction. She kept a safe distance from the horse, making no attempt to approach her.

  “Kathryn.” Drew’s voice was gentle, but firm. “You said you liked horses.”

  “I do.”

  “Then step closer.” He reached out a hand to her and Wren grasped it Drew pulled her closer. “I promise Felicity won’t hurt you.”

  Up close, the thoroughbred looked huge and although Felicity had nice eyes, Wren wasn’t completely convinced the horse was as gentle as Drew claimed.

  “You’ve been around carriage horses,” Drew reminded her. “And I’ve seen you pet Samson and drive the pony cart. What’s frightened you about Felicity?” He brought Wren’s hand up and began to stroke Felicity’s neck with it.

  “She’s so much bigger than I expected.”


  “She’s much smaller than a carriage horse.”

  “I know, but I thought she’d be more the size of Lancelot or perhaps the size of Samson.” She shrugged. “Besides, carriage horses wear harnesses that are attached to a carriage or a wagon and Samson is harnessed to the pony cart, while she’s…”

  “Wearing a saddle?” he suggested.

  Wren nodded. “I thought I would have the same lesson Kit had. I thought I’d pet her and lead her around like Kit did.”

  “You will.” He repeated the lesson he’d given Kit, showing Wren how to introduce herself to the filly, how to pet and how to lead her. As soon as Wren relaxed and began to enjoy the experience, Drew handed her the lead rope and told her to walk Felicity around the paddock.

  Wren led the thoroughbred around the paddock until Drew motioned for her to stop. Wren smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with the prospect of more challenges. “Are we going to return to the barn for the rest of my lesson?”

  Drew shook his head. “No.”

  Wren frowned. “But Kit—”

  “Kit’s a little boy whose first lesson was designed to teach him to obey instructions and think of his pony before himself. You know the importance of obeying instructions and thinking of your horse before yourself.” He opened the paddock gate and motioned for Wren to proceed. “Step through the gate. Felicity knows not to crowd you.”

  Wren led the horse through the gate and into the stable yard without incident.

  “You did very well.” Drew followed her into the open yard, where a stable boy appeared almost immediately with a leather bridle. The stable boy gave the bridle to Drew, then reached for Felicity’s rope. Wren relinquished her hold on the filly, stepping back out of the way and watching as Drew replaced the horse’s halter and rope with a bridle and rein. “The most important thing for you to learn is to trust your instructor, your horse, and yourself—and to enjoy the new experience.”

  “How?”

  “By riding.”

  “You didn’t allow Kit to ride.”

  “That’s because I refuse to reward Kit for bad behavior and because I don’t want him on the pony’s back until I’ve seen more of Lancelot’s groundwork. I’ll allow him to ride when I’m certain Lancelot is safe enough for him.” Drew smiled at Wren. “I know Felicity’s safe.”

  “She may not be safe enough for me,” Wren said. “I told you that I’ve never been on a horse.” She eyed the leather saddle. “And I’ve certainly never been astride one.”

  “It’s no different from being astride a man.”

  Wren gasped. “I’ve never…” She let her words trail off.

  “What?” He pretended shock. “Straddled a man?”

  She blushed. “This conversation is quite improper.”

  “So is riding astride,” Drew said. “But we aren’t going to let a little impropriety stop us.” He placed his left foot in the stirrup, swung effortlessly up onto the saddle, and maneuvered Felicity close to the stone mounting block. “Come on, Kathryn,” he said. “Gather your skirt in your right hand and climb onto the mounting block.”

  Wren glanced at the stable boy.

  “He won’t look,” Drew assured her, then he turned to the lad and asked him to close his eyes.

  The stable boy did as Drew asked and Wren gathered her skirt in her hand.

  Drew eyed the delicate yellow rosebuds painted on Kathryn’s black stockings as she climbed onto the mounting block, then shifted his weight, settling as far back on the saddle as possible. “All right,” he continued, “move as close to Felicity as you can and turn around.”

  Wren hesitated.

  “Trust me.”

  Wren turned around. Drew hooked his left arm around her waist and lifted her from the mounting block, across the saddle and onto his lap, cradling her between his arms and against his chest.

  “You follow instructions very nicely,” he whispered. “The yellow rosebuds are very becoming. I thank you for my extraordinary view of your secret artwork, but you can let go of your skirt now.”

  Wren let out an outraged gasp and immediately let go of her skirt. “I thought you were going to have me ride astride,” she said.

  Drew’s face glowed with boyish mischief. “I am,” he promised, “once we finish our horseback ride.”

  Chapter Fifteen