Because all of my slacks would have been ruined by riding, I’d fallen into wearing jeans with a long-sleeved T-shirt to protect my arms from the sun as well as the branches that could whip out from anywhere. My hair was tugged back in a barrette at the base of my neck.
Across the fields we flew. The pace was a little faster than what Rudolfo and I had been doing. But Diablo’s legs were longer than those of delicate Tesoro. I felt exhilarated and free. But we were falling behind a bit. Glancing back, Marco slowed.
“Sorry, I’m not used to going so fast,” I managed to pant out as we cantered up to them.
“Of course. Thoughtless of me.” Easing up, he fell back until we were riding side by side.
“Are you enjoying it?” he asked, his eyes sliding over my top and jeans as if he’d never seen anything like them. What did women here wear to ride? I pictured a red jacket and black breeches, but maybe that was only for the British.
“Yes. Rudolfo has been very kind.”
“Oh no. I meant, are you enjoying the lessons with Gregorio. This position.”
We’d taken one of the paths into the woods and the cool air was welcome. The smell of damp earth surrounded us and the air was very still, as if every creature in the forest were watching their king.
“Gregorio is an eager student.”
“This I’m glad to hear.”
“Didn’t his other tutors find him to be a good student?” That would surprise me. I’d expected a spoiled young man whose father could afford to hire a tutor from across the sea. Gregorio and his charming humility had been a welcome surprise.
“I’d heard that he didn’t study. The tutor before you, Reginaldo, felt that Gregorio had no attitude for math. I think that was what he said.” Marco was getting huffy about the former tutor.
“Do you mean aptitude?” I asked softly. Did I dare question him?
He shrugged. “Maybe. Aptitude. Attitude. All is the same.”
Ah yes. So he wanted to create his own language.
I leapt to Gregoria’s defense. “I would say that his geometry and trig need a little work but he is catching on quickly.” No way did I want to throw another teacher under the bus, but I had to speak up for my student. “Were you good in math?”
His eyes fell. “I think I was adequate. My tutors usually told my father that I had promise. I think that’s how they phrased it.”
“Well, there you have it. Like father, like son. And you carried that into your college years?”
“No.” He lifted troubled eyes. “Profesora, I did not go to college.”
His words were almost whispered, more a confession than a statement of fact. I must have jerked on the reins because Tesoro reared her head. Stunned, I patted her neck and loosened the reins. She settled while my thoughts churned.
“But why?” As soon as the words were out, I wanted to reel them back. Marco’s academic career was none of my business. But his admission explained so much.
Our pace had slowed and I was glad. I wanted to hear every word.
“My father died when I was seventeen. He had taught me so much by that time. I’d worked in the vineyards since I was a child. Knew the grapes as if they were siblings. But I was not ready, of course, for the responsibilities. For four years, my mother acted as Regent. After that, I ascended to the throne.”
It wasn’t hard to picture Ama directing the castle and the kingdom. Now I understood her authoritarian mannerisms. Had it been hard for her to step back? So Marco hadn’t enjoyed any carefree years as a student prince. Sure, college could be a grind, but it also fostered independence and deep friendships. As I sat there in the sunlight flickering through the trees, I wanted that for Gregorio. And I felt bad that Marco hadn’t had that opportunity.
“Gregorio will go to the university.” The words were a pronouncement, not a wish. “He will have all that I did not have.”
“Of course. I would have been thrilled to have a boy like Gregorio in my class.” At least then he would have had companionship. “Does he have friends?”
“Why, of course.” We’d reached an overhanging branch and I started to duck. Moving ahead, Marco held it back with one sweep of his arm.
“Profesora, please.” With a nod of his head, he motioned for me to pass. Now, if Rudolfo had done that for me when we first ventured out of the paddock, I would have been saved from those scratches that took a few days to heal.
To either side of the path, the land fell away, forested with saplings that jostled for light under the taller trees. “You will meet some of Gregorio’s friends at the party. The ball.” He seemed to be testing the words, trying to find the right words.
“I look forward to that. It’s nice for teenagers to have friends, as long as they don’t get him into any trouble.”
