Page 46 of A Single Thread of Moonlight

“You – you—” I stuttered incoherently. “I am not a piece of meat in a butcher’s window!”

He raised his eyebrows. “I never said you were. In fact, I said you looked spectacular.”

“You most certainly did not,” I snarled.

“Well, anyway.” Nicholas cut me off with a wave of his hand.

Ooooh, I wanted to stomp on his shiny black boots.

“Of all the supercilious, patronizing, arrogant…” I exploded.

“Don’t forget insufferable,” he put in. “I believe you said I was insufferable the first time we met.”

“You are insufferable,” I snapped. “And … and … that green does absolutely nothing for your complexion!”

He held up his arm and eyed the sleeve of his beautiful hunting-green riding jacket. “Really? I thought it was nice, but I suppose you’re the expert.”

I took a deep breath. “Then perhaps you’ll listen to me. I would like for you to stop underestimating me. I—”

“Hallo!” a voice behind us called, and I saw that Percy, Jack, Sophia, and Stefan were approaching.

Stefan’s face clouded briefly at seeing me in Lord Wynter’s company; but then his eyes widened as he took in my figure, elegant in the riding habit. Nicholas had chosen well.

“Lovely day for it,” Percy said cheerfully.

“We’re just waiting for Miss Weston,” Sophia observed.

“And, more importantly, the horses,” Nicholas replied. “Ah, here is Jensen now.”

I saw Nick’s groom, leading Felix out towards us.

“And here’s Miss Weston,” Jack said.

“I’m sorry to have kept you all waiting,” Agatha said, a smile playing on her lips.

She had stage-managed the moment to perfection. She stood in a shaft of soft sunlight that fell across her dark shining hair, illuminating her skin so that it had the look of flawless porcelain. The rich red habit skimmed her curves and brought out the hint of green in her eyes. I had no doubt that once Agatha was seen in London wearing the habit, Madame Solange would be turning away customers desperate to recreate it.

“It is a pleasure to wait for such a vision as you make this afternoon,” Stefan said somewhat breathlessly.

“Oh, Your Highness!” Agatha’s laugh was self-deprecating. She went over and linked arms with Sophia. “I always think a really good riding habit is something every woman should invest in – don’t you, Sophia?”

It may have seemed innocent, but Agatha was her mother’s daughter. Next to Agatha, Sophia looked pale and drab in her ill-fitting habit, and the flush on her cheeks said that she knew it.

“I-I suppose so,” she said, smoothing her own outfit, which was threadbare.

“We are fortunate to be out for the day with so many lovely young women,” Jack said, smiling at Sophia, who rallied somewhat under his kind gaze.

I found myself liking Jack more and more. He seemed easy-going, gentle and kind – and I wondered why on earth he was such good friends with Nicholas. I suppose they do say that opposites attract.

My mind turned again to Lord Wynter’s recent insults, and I surreptitiously flicked my whip through a small, muddy puddle that lay between us.

A spattering of mud pebbled audibly against the side of his shiny boots, and I smiled sweetly. “Oh dear.”

I had to admit that his glower was quite impressive, but seeing the dirt that now marred his perfect boots gave me a sharp snap of satisfaction. I felt my smile grow wider.

We were interrupted then by the stable hands leading out the rest of the tacked-up horses. Like Nick, Jack and Stefan had brought their own horses and grooms, but the rest of us were making use of the Holland Hall stables.

There was no sign of Asteria. Sophia had been brought a pretty bay, and I a dappled grey whom I recognized.