Page 26 of A Provincial Peer

She bobbed a curtsy, but before she spoke, Meg crossed the distance between them and grabbed his hand.

“Come and see, Lord Benting,” she cried. “I found the biggest horse.”

Caroline sighed. “Really, Meg. We went over this.”

“Oh!” Meg offered him an apologetic look, and without releasing his hand, she bent her short legs and managed a crooked curtsy. “Good day, Lord Benting.”

Knowing it was important to Caroline, Benedict acknowledged Meg’s greeting with a formal inclination of his head. “Good day, Meg. I am very happy to see you. Have you enjoyed your visit to the Farwell stables?”

“Yes.” She tugged him forward. “Do you want to see the biggest horse in the world?”

Caroline’s gloved hand moved to her face. “Oh heavens. You have my apologies, my lord.”

“Nonsense. I am quite sure Saxon would benefit greatly if John and I treated him with Meg’s level of awe and enthusiasm.”

Meg had reached the stall gate and pointed at the stallion. “See?”

Benedict ran his free hand down Saxon’s nose. The horse nickered appreciatively. “You are absolutely right, Meg. This horse is taller than most.” He looked down at her. “Have you seen our small pony yet?”

Meg’s eyes widened. “Is it a baby horse?”

“No, but I believe you might think her just the right size.”

“Will you show me?”

“Of course.” Benedict turned to his groom. “Would you bring Ginger out on a lead rope, John?”

“Yes, m’lord.” John hurried down the aisle and disappeared into the last stall on the right.

“I imagine you and your mother have been within the stables for some time,” Benedict said. “Shall we go outside? John can bring Ginger out to us in the yard. I’m sure she’d enjoy the fresh air too.”

With a little hop of excitement, Meg released his hand and ran to her mother’s side. “The pony is coming outside with us, Mama.”

Belatedly realizing that he should have suggested the change of location to Caroline first, Benedict hurried to offer her an alternative. “John can take Ginger out later if you would rather not bother with it now.”

“Going outside would be lovely,” Caroline said.

Relief filled him. Perhaps he had not misstepped after all.

Chapter 9

Caroline sat on the wooden stool Lord Benning had retrieved from the stables and watched her daughter circle the yard on Ginger’s back. The groom, John, stood in the center of the yard, holding on to the lead rope. Lord Benning walked beside the pony. He was close enough to offer assistance, but Meg had shown no signs of needing it. She appeared completely at ease in the saddle, her face alight with the thrill of her very first pony ride.

Lord Benning said something to Meg, and the little girl giggled. Caroline’s heart warmed at the sight. Despite Meg’s childish social blunders, Lord Benning had been unfailingly patient with her. More than that, he seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with her. How an unmarried gentleman of means had come to be so comfortable around children, Caroline could not fathom, but she was immensely grateful for his kindness.

“One more time around, Meg,” she called. “We must allow Lord Benning to return to his other responsibilities.”

From partway across the yard, Caroline saw her daughter’s face fall. Lord Benning leaned closer. He must have spoken to her, because Meg nodded vehemently, and when she and the pony looped back around toward Caroline, her smile was restored. Lord Benning reached for the pony’s bridle, and the animal came to a halt. Caroline stood, watching as the gentleman lifted Meg off the saddle.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she ran to Caroline. “Mama, Lord Benting said that if you are willing, I may come back and ride Ginger again another day.” She hopped. “May I, Mama? May I?”

Lord Benning joined them. “Lest you are contemplating declining, let me say that it truly is no trouble. John exercises the horses every day. It would be good for Ginger to have a rider occasionally. Henry and his family visit Farwell so infrequently, the poor pony is rarely ridden.”

Caroline met her daughter’s pleading look. How could she refuse, especially when she had experienced the same love for this farm and its animals as a child? “Thank you, my lord. For Meg’s sake, I will accept your kind offer; for your sake and the sake of your employees, I will ensure that we do not impose on you often.”

“It is no imposition. Indeed, anytime Meg goes out with Ginger, she will be doing us a service.”

Caroline was quite sure that equating Meg’s riding Ginger with doing the stableboys a service was rather too generous, but it was not her place to argue.