Page 48 of A Single Thread of Moonlight

We made our way further into the park, twining through clusters of trees until suddenly the view opened up as it had this morning. We were closer to the river now, which shimmered off to the side of us, like a trail of iridescent-blue ribbon stitched into the landscape.

I found myself alone, taking it all in, tipping back my head to gaze at the cloudless sky stretching over me. It had been a long time since I had left the city. There did not seem to be this much sky there.

“What do you say, Miss Fox?” Stefan appeared at my side. “Will you give me a run for my money as you had it? Down to the big oak tree by the river?”

The truth was, I was itching to let go and run, to feel the wind on my face. I required no encouragement from Stefan, indeed I felt like a firecracker already lit.

“You’re on!” I exclaimed, but the words were already being carried back to him on the breeze, as I streamed forward, coaxing Biscuit into a reluctant gallop.

I could hear Stefan laughing behind me, and I leaned closer to Biscuit’s neck, whispering in her twitching ears, urging her forward.

It was no surprise to me when her pace picked up. I knew all of Biscuit’s tricks, knew exactly what she was capable of.

After all, I was the one who named her. Who else but a five-year-old girl would have come up with the name Biscuit?

“Because she’s so sweet, Papa!” I had said, stroking her nose.

“Just like you, my little cub!” Father had laughed.

It was like flying.

It was better than flying. My body relaxed into the smooth gait, until I could hardly tell where the horse ended and I began. The landscape rushed away beside me – broad watercolour strokes of green and gold.

Stefan drew up beside me, his grin a blur of white, a streak in the sky as he passed.

I didn’t care. He reached the oak tree only just ahead, and he let out a loud whoop as I pulled up.

“That was wonderful!” I exclaimed.

He brought his horse up beside me and looked across, his cheeks pink, his eyes sparkling.

“You were wonderful,” he said, leaning over and brushing a strand of hair away from my face, his fingers gentle against my skin.

Our eyes held for a long moment.

“We’d better get back to the others,” I said, turning away and fussing with Biscuit’s reins.

“Of course,” Stefan replied.

We trotted towards the group, who were noisy in their appreciation.

“I thought you might have had him beat for a moment, Miss Fox!” Percy exclaimed excitedly. “And on that horse as well! I never saw anything like it!”

“Shush!” I scolded, patting Biscuit’s neck. “She can hear you, you know.”

“She’s a darling, isn’t she?” Sophia too was animated. “Ran her heart out for you just because you asked.”

“I’d love to see what you could do on a real goer,” Jack said. “Miss Weston, you’ll have to tell the groom to choose a more suitable mount for Miss Fox.”

“Indeed,” Agatha said frigidly. “If only Miss Fox had made us aware of her skill beforehand I’m sure something could have been arranged.”

Jack gave me the faintest wink then, and I thought that he saw a lot more than he let people know.

Stefan swept in, giving them a point-by-point account of the race. Agatha tried to look enchanted by his skill but was obviously seething.

Nicholas caught my eye and I dropped back with him.

We rode without speaking for a while.