“Oh, I don’t think there’s any need formorebooks,” Lydia assured him, feeling a surge of pride at having made him laugh. “Maybe someday, that is, but not now. I feel as if it would take me a lifetime to get through what’s already up there!”
“What sorts of things do you like to read? Romance stories?”
“Well, sometimes,” Lydia replied. “But most often, I like to read…” She hesitated. “I think you may laugh at me.”
“It’s all right if I do. You’ve always been confident enough to withstand someone laughing at you.”
“Yes, but…”
She wasn’t sure why that felt different to her now. Was she worried about the possibility of him laughing at her because the subject of what she was reading felt so personal? Or was there more to it? Maybe she didn’t want him to laugh because it wasEdward. Maybe that was what would make it so much worse—her desire for his respect.
But she had already decided to tell him about her reading.
“The truth is, my favorite books are the ones about herbs,” she explained. “You have a couple of wonderful books on that subject.”
“Do I, really? I’ve never read them.”
“Oh, yes! I’ll have to show them to you. I’m very interested in the properties of herbs, particularly those used to create medicines.”
“I had no idea that was a subject that held interest for you,” he said.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t know it either, until I picked up these books. Now, I can’t put them down. It’s enough to make me wish I could apprentice myself to a physician, though of course such a thing would be impossible for a lady.”
“You’re unlike any lady I’ve ever met, Lydia,” Edward mused. “I’m very glad you’re the one I married. I find you captivating.”
She smiled. “Maybe I’ll bring one of my books to dinner and tell you what I’ve been reading in a bit more detail,” she suggested.
“Please do. I would love to hear about it.”
They rode on, continuing their conversation as they went. Lydia was hardly able to believe her good fortune. She would never have expected the first day out with the stallions to go as well as this one was. She had assumed Edward would find a way to be unhappy or unpleasant, and that he would make them go back home quickly after setting out. Instead, much to her surprise and pleasure, he actually seemed to be enjoying himself. It was a wonderful treat to find that the two of them could have such a good time together.
I was right all along.We really are going to be able to be friends.
And she was just going to have to set aside the fact that she was no longer sure if friendship was enough.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
“Shall we head back?” Lydia asked some time later.
“Are you ready to?”
Edward had been careful not to call a halt to the proceedings too quickly—he didn’t want her to feel as if he wasn’t enjoying himself. Besides, he hadn’t felt the desire to go back yet. Hewasenjoying himself, and he didn’t want the day they were sharing to end.
But Lydia pointed at the sky above them. “It looks as if it might rain,” she observed.
He looked up. She was right, there were some ominous-looking clouds passing overhead.
“Perhaps we should get back,” he agreed. “I think that storm is still a few hours away, but it would be best to make sure the horses are in the stables before it breaks.”
Lydia nodded. “I’ve had a marvelous time, though,” she said. “I feel much more confident on horseback than I did when we started!”
“Well, you’re doing a wonderful job.”
“Can we do it again tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow,” he said. “I have some important meetings with some of my biggest business partners tomorrow. I can’t afford to be away from home.”
Lydia frowned. “Oh.”
