ladies. Their stories of faithless suitors and unforgiving families made her prize all the more the freedom she was fortunate enough to possess. To be sure, society did not allow her the latitude it 97
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
granted to her brother Charlie, He could go anywhere and do anything without thinking twice while she was confined to a few respectable occupations such as shopping, riding in the park, or attending ton functions and always in the company of a maid at the very least.
In fact, if it had not been for Charlie, Harriet would have been nearly suffocated by the boredom of her daily routine which was now devoid of the stimulation formerly offered by the lessons at the Temple of Venus. Charlie, however, knowing full well how his younger sister chafed at life in the ton, and thoroughly aware of her propensity for falling into a scrape when life became too dull, was careful to take her riding in the park as often as his guard duties permitted. A captain in the First Guards, Charlie was accustomed to a life of hardship and adventure in the Peninsula, and had also been part of the drama that was Waterloo. Now suffering the tedium of mounting guard at Saint James's, he could sympathize wholeheartedly with his sister's frustration at the flatness of her existence.
Knowing Harriet's dislike for the tame pace maintained by those who rode in the park at the fashionable hour, he took Harriet with him for his early morning rides when the only occupants of the park were military men like himself bent on exercising themselves and their mounts.
It was during one such ride, on a remarkably fine morning, that the eyes of both brother and sister were caught by one rider in particular. Both man and horse were equally magnificent specimens. The gentleman, a man of soldierly bearing, was well over six feet, with broad shoulders and a 98
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
slim waist, while his horse, a magnificent gray, was nearly seventeen hands and as powerfully built as his master.
"What a superb animal!" Harriet exclaimed and then caught her breath as the rider glanced in their direction. She should have known who it was the instant she laid eyes on the pair but she had been so taken with the horse at first that she paid little attention to the rider. Now that she looked more closely, however, she realized that there was no mistaking the blond hair and dashing manner of her erstwhile tormentor and rescuer from the Temple of Venus. Hastily changing the subject she continued, "But no horse could be more splendid than my own dear Brutus. Do you not think his manners improved? Why now he hardly takes any exception to those nasty cart horses or the press of traffic in the streets."
But Charlie, who had also been regarding horse and rider with admiration, was not to be so easily distracted. "Yes, by Jove, they are a remarkable looking pair. Now where have I seen them before?" He reined to a halt and considered for a moment while his sister, in acute discomfort, pulled her hat down on her head and tried to look as unnoticeable as possible.
"Ah, now I have it!" he exclaimed with some pleasure. "He is one of Wellington's aides-de-camp. I knew I had seen him with the duke somewhere. It was at Waterloo and by the time Wellington came to inspect our square just before the charge, this man was practically the only one of Wellington's aides left alive and unhurt. And now that I remember, I also recall before that at the battle of the Pyrenees the gentleman's 99
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
colonel declared a retreat. He refused to listen, jumped off his horse, grabbed his regiment's colors, and scaled the wall to get the infantry to follow him. His conduct must have impressed Wellington enough that he made him one of his aides. I must speak to him and tell him that I saw his splendid performance in the Peninsula." And much to his sister's dismay, Charlie headed his mount in the direction of the solitary
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
granted to her brother Charlie, He could go anywhere and do anything without thinking twice while she was confined to a few respectable occupations such as shopping, riding in the park, or attending ton functions and always in the company of a maid at the very least.
In fact, if it had not been for Charlie, Harriet would have been nearly suffocated by the boredom of her daily routine which was now devoid of the stimulation formerly offered by the lessons at the Temple of Venus. Charlie, however, knowing full well how his younger sister chafed at life in the ton, and thoroughly aware of her propensity for falling into a scrape when life became too dull, was careful to take her riding in the park as often as his guard duties permitted. A captain in the First Guards, Charlie was accustomed to a life of hardship and adventure in the Peninsula, and had also been part of the drama that was Waterloo. Now suffering the tedium of mounting guard at Saint James's, he could sympathize wholeheartedly with his sister's frustration at the flatness of her existence.
Knowing Harriet's dislike for the tame pace maintained by those who rode in the park at the fashionable hour, he took Harriet with him for his early morning rides when the only occupants of the park were military men like himself bent on exercising themselves and their mounts.
It was during one such ride, on a remarkably fine morning, that the eyes of both brother and sister were caught by one rider in particular. Both man and horse were equally magnificent specimens. The gentleman, a man of soldierly bearing, was well over six feet, with broad shoulders and a 98
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
slim waist, while his horse, a magnificent gray, was nearly seventeen hands and as powerfully built as his master.
"What a superb animal!" Harriet exclaimed and then caught her breath as the rider glanced in their direction. She should have known who it was the instant she laid eyes on the pair but she had been so taken with the horse at first that she paid little attention to the rider. Now that she looked more closely, however, she realized that there was no mistaking the blond hair and dashing manner of her erstwhile tormentor and rescuer from the Temple of Venus. Hastily changing the subject she continued, "But no horse could be more splendid than my own dear Brutus. Do you not think his manners improved? Why now he hardly takes any exception to those nasty cart horses or the press of traffic in the streets."
But Charlie, who had also been regarding horse and rider with admiration, was not to be so easily distracted. "Yes, by Jove, they are a remarkable looking pair. Now where have I seen them before?" He reined to a halt and considered for a moment while his sister, in acute discomfort, pulled her hat down on her head and tried to look as unnoticeable as possible.
"Ah, now I have it!" he exclaimed with some pleasure. "He is one of Wellington's aides-de-camp. I knew I had seen him with the duke somewhere. It was at Waterloo and by the time Wellington came to inspect our square just before the charge, this man was practically the only one of Wellington's aides left alive and unhurt. And now that I remember, I also recall before that at the battle of the Pyrenees the gentleman's 99
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
colonel declared a retreat. He refused to listen, jumped off his horse, grabbed his regiment's colors, and scaled the wall to get the infantry to follow him. His conduct must have impressed Wellington enough that he made him one of his aides. I must speak to him and tell him that I saw his splendid performance in the Peninsula." And much to his sister's dismay, Charlie headed his mount in the direction of the solitary
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