The three young people rose.
“Thank you for the tea and bread, Auntie,” said Gwyneth.
“Yes, thank you,” added Percy, shaking the hand of Gwyneth’s aunt. He walked across the room and again took Mr. Muir’s limp hand. “Good-bye, Mr. Muir,” he said.
“Are you the one from the manor?” asked the old man faintly. He glanced up but could not quite focus on Percy where he stood before him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did the viscount send you?”
“No, sir. I came to visit your son and wife.”
“I have a son?”
“Yes, sir. Stevie.”
He mumbled a few unintelligible words, and then his eyes glazed over again.
The three young people left the cottage.
“I will run ahead,” said Stevie. “It’s only about a mile.” He turned and broke into a gentle loping stride away from the cottage.
Percy and Gwyneth remounted Grey Tide and set off at a leisurely pace after him. They arrived at the meadow ten minutes later.
For the next hour, both Stevie and Gwyneth coached Percy as he galloped back and forth over the grassy terrain. He was eventually comfortable enough to try jumping a tiny stream and did so several times without incident. Whenever he glanced over at Gwyneth, she reminded him, by extending her elbows and gently rocking them up and down, to feel the motion of the horse beneath him and to move in oneness with it.
When they were through, Gwyneth pronounced him ready, though Percy was still not altogether convinced.
FORTY-ONE
Picnic in the Hills
Rhawn Lorimer had not been pleased with Percy’s rebuff on market day. She had been stewing and scheming ever since how she might try her wiles on him again. That Courtenay’s sister was so obviously uninterested left the field wide open for her to pursue him.
There remained the mystery of the strange floral bouquets to get to the bottom of. She still had not made the connection in her mind between Percy’s bouquet in the shop and the village witch-child. But whoever the secret girl was for whom Percy had bought the ribbon, Rhawn had no doubt that he could be enticed to forget her. But she had to get him alone.
And she couldn’t help it—she was jealous of Florilyn. After what he had done in the village, what a goose not to see that he was crazy about her. Percy’s words still annoyed her that he wouldn’t risk a fight for her. It made Rhawn all the more determined to win him over.
She did not lose much sleep speculating on what would be the result to Percy from Courtenay if she was successful, Boys had to be able to take care of themselves about summed up her thoughts on the matter. Alongside Courtenay’s view that girls ought to come to him, the two were ideally matched for one another in conceit.
Thus Rhawn Lorimer’s machinations continued. Every time she went near the manor, however, ostensibly to see Florilyn but keeping an eagle eye out for her cousin, there was no sign of him. And Courtenay always insisted on hanging around.
One day late in July, with high summer abroad throughout North Wales, Rhawn Lorimer decided that she would lure the rivals out for a ride. She would use Florilyn as the pawn for her stratagems. From certain comments from her friend, she gathered that the animosity between she and Percy had begun to wane. That fact concerned her more than a little. She had to act before it went too far and Florilyn took it into her head to return Percy’s attentions.
Rhawn appeared at Westbrooke Manor midway through the morning. “Florilyn,” she said excitedly, “it is a gorgeous warm day. I’m going to ask Courtenay to go for a ride toward the mountains. I haven’t been into the hills for longer than I can remember. Do you want to go? Let’s take a picnic lunch!”
“Why would I want to go with you and Courtenay?” replied Florilyn. “I don’t want to tag along with the two of you. Haven’t you heard about three’s a crowd? Courtenay would hate me.”
“It would be more fun with you along.”
“Maybe for you!”
“Well … perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea,” sulked Rhawn.
“Why don’t you just go without me?”
“I don’t know,” rejoined Rhawn hesitantly. “Courtenay’s been, I don’t know … a little funny lately. I don’t know if he would be such good company by himself.”
They were silent a moment. Rhawn was clearly disappointed.
“I’ve got an idea,” said Florilyn. “I could see if Percy wants to go … that is, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh … okay—that sounds all right. Then we would each have someone to ride with. Do you think he would?”
“I’ll ask him. He went to his room after breakfast. I think he’s still there. He reads a lot,” she added, as if the idea of reading a book was repulsive. Florilyn bounded out of the room and ran down the hall.
Percy’s initial reaction when Florilyn appeared at his door was not promising.
“Courtenay and Rhawn are going for a ride—do you want to go?” Florilyn asked.
He met her words with a blank stare. “Why would I want to go riding with them?” he asked.
“You’ll go with me. I’m going, too.”
Percy shook his head. Rhawn Lorimer was dangerous. He wanted nothing to do with her … especially with Courtenay watching him like a hawk. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but the book I’m in the middle of will be better company than those two.”
“Please, Percy,” said Florilyn. “It will be fun.”
“Look, Florilyn, I don’t want to do anything to irritate your brother. When it comes to Rhawn Lorimer, Courtenay is very edgy. Believe me, he won’t want me around.”
“I won’t let him do anything to you.”
“How will you stop him?” smiled Percy sardonically.
“He’s not going to beat you up again with the two of us there.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Come on … please!”
“All right.” He nodded. “But you’d better keep Courtenay off me!” he added with a laugh.
It was soon arranged. Within half an hour, the four horses were saddled, Mrs. Drynwydd had packed a lunch and they set off.
Rhawn was in high spirits. It was obvious from the beginning that she intended to pay as much attention to Percy as to Courtenay.
Percy regretted his decision before the roof of the manor was out of sight behind them. He did his best to keep as far away from her as possible. He was hampered in this effort in that he was still not as skilled on uneven ground as the other three. But his skills had improved sufficiently that he mostly managed to keep one of his cousins between himself and Rhawn as they made their way eastward into the hills. The girls chatted away. Courtenay remained silent. Percy was content to follow his example.
As they went, he recalled a rumor that had come within his hearing in the village of a strange creature that haunted the lake regions of Snowdonia. It was said to walk on two legs and be the terror even of wolves and bears. He could not deny that he was curious to see what substance there was to the stories. He had no reason to trust what the village urchins said. Yet the fact that the younger of them, from reports pressed with great exaggeration upon the ears of their imaginations by older brothers and sisters, were terrified to venture much beyond the north-south road made him wonder what truth might exist in the tales.
A narrowing forced the girls to ride ahead. Percy found himself side by side with Courtenay.
“Is there any truth to the rumors of a lake monster in the mountains?” he asked his cousin.
Courtenay glanced to his side without much expression. “There is talk of it,” he replied. “I’ve not heard it called a monster. Most of the people who claim to have seen it say that the thing is tiny.”
“People have seen it?”
“People have claimed to see it.”
“What do you think?”
“That it’s nonsense. Colville and I have been riding in these hills since we were so high. We’ve never seen anything. That reminds me … we w
ere supposed to take you hunting.”
“No thanks!” Percy laughed. “I don’t think your friend much cares for me. I’m not sure I want to go out in the mountains with him toting a rifle.”
Courtenay smiled wryly. “I see what you mean,” he said. “Yeah, he’s not too fond of you. But I still think the creature talk is rubbish.”
The girls ahead had been listening.
“Don’t be so sure, Courtenay,” said Florilyn over her shoulder. “What about Gwberr-niog?”
“What’s that?” said Percy.
“A water-kelpie who lives in the mountain lakes,” replied Florilyn. “We all grew up hearing about it.”
“Come on, Florilyn,” insisted Courtenay, “you know as well as I do that it’s all nonsense.”
“Who says? I would never ride out here alone at night.”
“I would,” said Rhawn, making sport of the whole thing. “That is … if I could get someone to come with me.”
Neither of the young men was inclined to take the bait.
“You’d be safe enough around here,” said Courtenay. “Gwberr-niog only lives in the lakes farther north.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in him.”
“I don’t. I’m only saying that’s where he is supposed to live.”
“He eats humans, you know,” said Rhawn. “And only comes out at night. That’s when his hunger for human flesh is greatest.”
“Rhawn—ugh,” said Florilyn. “Don’t talk so! You’re going to make me afraid. You’ll ruin our picnic.”
“Nothing can hurt us, Florilyn,” said Rhawn, turning to smile over her shoulder at Courtenay. “We have two brave men to take care of us.” As she turned her head slowly around, she allowed her eyes to linger on Percy’s face with an expression whose meaning was impossible to miss.
Percy glanced hurriedly away and did his best to ignore it.
The route before them widened again. The girls eased back. Again the horses continued along four abreast. They came to a long level pasture.
Suddenly Rhawn bolted. “Race you to the far side!” she cried galloping ahead.
Florilyn on Red Rhud was after her like a flash, with Courtenay, who did not like to be bested on the back of a horse by any girl, at her side.
Percy urged Grey Tide into an easy gallop. Even after his time with Gwyneth near the Muir cottage, he did not care about trying to keep up with the others. In seconds they were thirty yards ahead.
It was exactly as Rhawn had planned it. She knew what the other three were likely to do. As quickly as she bolted, she now abruptly reined in. Florilyn and Courtenay sped by, not immediately apprehending her intent. They were too caught up racing one another to look back.
Rhawn slowed, and Percy drew alongside. She cleverly kept Grey Tide at her side, gradually easing back until both horses had slowed to a trot and finally resumed a comfortable walk. Ahead, the other two sped on.
“So here we are,” said Rhawn, “alone at last.”
“I don’t want us to be alone,” said Percy.
“But I do.”
“I thought you were going for a ride with Courtenay.”
“That was only so I could be with you.”
“You don’t care what Courtenay thinks?”
“No. Why should I? Courtenay’s a bore.”
“That may be,” laughed Percy, though without humor in his tone. “But he’s a bore with a temper.”
Percy realized that it was time he put into practice everything Gwyneth had told him a few days earlier. He dug his heels into Grey Tide’s sides, leaned as far forward as he could, and eased into a gallop.
Rhawn laughed merrily and caught him within seconds. Percy saw he was not about to outrun her. But at least he could make a pretense of trying to keep up with his cousins. They rode up side by side two minutes later to where Courtenay and Florilyn sat waiting.
“I guess I’m not ready for that rematch quite yet, eh, Florilyn!” laughed Percy, trying to divert attention from Courtenay’s suspicious glances.
“You kept in the saddle at least,” she said. “That is an improvement!”
“What’s this about a rematch?” asked Rhawn.
“Nothing,” replied Percy. “Just a private little contest between Florilyn and me, isn’t that right, Florilyn?”
“Percy has challenged me to a race,” said Florilyn in fun, never one to keep anything to herself.
“Which I am obviously not yet ready for!” rejoined Percy.
For the rest of the day, as they ate their picnic lunch, and throughout the entire ride back, Percy remained more on his guard than ever. It was now he who watched Rhawn’s every move like a hawk. She knew what he was doing and enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game immensely. As a result of it, Percy was forced to attempt more conversation with Courtenay. He kept to his side like a twin.
“Is it true that you were in trouble with the police?” Courtenay asked as they rode along.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Courtenay.
“What was it for?”
“Nothing serious. Petty theft. I was stupid. I broke into shops and stole things.”
“Why—I thought your parents were well off.”
“They are. Like I said, I was stupid. It was just for the adventure of it. But it was to the point where my father couldn’t protect me any longer. I was close to getting thrown into jail.”
“You were actually … arrested?’“
“Not exactly. Most of the policemen knew my father. They usually brought me home with stern words and warnings. But for my father’s sake, they let me off. You know how it is. I imagine if you got in trouble, Rhawn’s father wouldn’t send you up for a stretch in Dartmoor.”
Another smile creased Courtenay’s lips. “Don’t be too sure,” he said.
Percy laughed. “What do you mean?”
“You know fathers—no young man is ever good enough for their little girls.”
“I see,” chuckled Percy. “Well, I suppose it is to your advantage that your fathers are friends.”
“Maybe … Now all I have to do is keep her away from you!” said Courtenay with a significant smile.
“Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.”
“So you say.”
“It’s true!” Percy laughed. “Besides, I’ll be gone in a couple of weeks.”
From high in a tree, the four riders were being watched as they went. Gwyneth had in truth been following for some time, running ahead, circling around, taking shortcuts up the steepest of the hills while they rode around them. She could not keep from curiously wondering what Percy was like when with the three older youths. It felt funny in her stomach to see her friend with them. Was he really the same person with them? As the afternoon progressed, she crept ever closer, hoping to catch sight of his face or hear his voice as they passed.
Suddenly Rhawn Lorimer looked up and let out an ear-piercing shriek. “Look, it’s the witch-girl!” she cried, pointing up in the tree ahead of them. “She’s right there. She’s spying on us!”
Courtenay followed her gaze and saw the little miscreant. Filled with rage and immediately assuming his role as presumptive heir and future viscount, he kicked his horse forward. “Come down from there this instant!” he yelled up into the tree.
Trembling to have been discovered, Gwyneth did not move.
“I demand that you come down.”
Still Gwyneth did not flinch.
He realized that she was calling his bluff. Unless he was prepared to climb up the tree after her, he would come off looking impotent. So Courtenay changed his tactic. “This is my property,” he said. “You are on the Westbrooke Manor estate. You are not allowed here. Perhaps you wandered here by mistake, so I will let it go this time. But if I find you trespassing again, I will not be so lenient. I hope I have made myself understood.”
“Watch yourself, Courtenay,” said Florilyn. “You don’t want to get any more bouquets.”
Rhawn’s ears perked up at the mention
of the mystery of the flowers.
“It’s all right. Let’s go,” said Courtenay, still a little ruffled. “The sooner we get away from here the better.”
The others continued on their way.
Percy rode toward the tree, stopped, and glanced up. “Hello, Gwyneth,” he said. “What are you doing so far from home? You’re not lost?”
The merry laugh that met his ears rang out louder than he had imagined her voice capable of.
“Come down and join us. I’ll give you a ride home.”
Gwyneth scampered down through the branches as if she were a tree lizard. In less than a minute, she was standing beside Percy’s mount.
He reached down with his hand and again pulled her up and behind him on Grey Tide’s rump as if she were weightless.
The other three watched with mixed reactions to see their foursome suddenly turned into a fivesome, and an unwelcome one at that. For the rest of the way back, they kept their distance.
The remainder of the ride was subdued. Had he dared, Courtenay would have given Percy a tongue lashing for interfering. The two girls kept their own counsel as well, but for very different reasons.
Gradually Percy’s horse, with Gwyneth hanging on behind him, moved farther ahead. Their companions could hear Gwyneth and Percy laughing and talking. The very sound of it irritated two of them almost to distraction.
Courtenay’s brief thaw toward Percy had thoroughly frozen over. He was profoundly annoyed to have his rebuke of Gwyneth so completely ignored.
The incident had also seriously tarnished the luster in which Percy stood in Rhawn Lorimer’s eyes. She had done everything but kiss him, and he had as good as laughed at her. Yet now he was falling all over himself to give the little witch a ride home. She was more jealous of Gwyneth than she had ever been of Florilyn.
How could she be jealous of a mere child? The whole thing made her furious. She was more than a little afraid of Gwyneth, too. She knew the rumors as well as everyone else. But there was nothing she could do.
As they rode, however, Florilyn found herself filled with odd and unexpected reactions that were strangely sympathetic toward Percy. She didn’t dare say anything to the other two. But as she listened to Courtenay and Rhawn grumbling angrily, she found herself wondering just what was so despicable about his being nice to one of the village children.
From Across the Ancient Waters Page 22
