Page 19 of The Bookworm and the Pegasus Tamer

But when Aurelia caught her casting a speculative look between the Earl and her daughter, she thought she understood her mother’s ready acquiescence. Her heart sank. Her mother was going to be disappointed when she learned that the Earl had no personal interest in Aurelia. She couldn’t break the news to her yet, though, or she might withdraw her consent.

Even with the rough conditions of the trip, Aurelia had no doubt the younger house guests would all have wished to accompany them if given the choice. So she wasn’t surprised Danton kept the planning quiet. When the remaining guests realized their hosts had disappeared, someone would have to give them an explanation. And Aurelia could only imagine the protests that would then ensue. But thankfully she wouldn’t be around to hear them.

When the travel group gathered in a secluded side garden on the mountain side of the manor, she discovered the solution to the problem of the other house guests. At first, she thought she was seeing double and blinked several times. But no matter how many times she blinked, there remained two Lady Ophelias.

“Our other aunt has arrived just in time,” Phoebe said with a wicked twinkle in her eyes at Aurelia’s confusion.

“I’m not saying my husband was pleased to spare me,” the older lady—identical in appearance to Lady Ophelia—pronounced in stern tones. “But I hope I know my duty to the head of the family.” She nodded at her nephew.

Danton laughed and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m overwhelmed by your affection, Aunt Calliope.”

“That’s as may be.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but Aurelia caught the softening of her expression. She was no more immune to her nephew’s charm than anyone else.

“It could be worse, Calliope,” Lady Ophelia said briskly. “You could be the one hiking up mountains.”

“We’re not intending to go as far as the actual mountains,” Danton protested, but she ignored him.

“That might be, and then it might not,” Lady Calliope said in almost the exact same tone as her sister. “But in my experience, nothing ever goes to plan. Unless I have it in hand personally, of course.”

“Of course,” Danton said gravely, clearly trying to swallow a laugh.

Aurelia no longer wondered how the redoubtable Lady Calliope would manage the guests in their absence. She didn’t think many of them would dare kick up a fuss in the face of the noble woman’s authority.

Before it seemed possible that everything could be arranged, they were filing out of the estate gardens and into a carriage. She, Phoebe, Danton, and Lady Ophelia were to ride together while the servants followed in an open cart.

“We’ll take the carriage as far as we can,” Danton explained, “and then camp. Tomorrow we’ll travel onward on horseback.” He didn’t add the words aloud, but she could hear them anyway. The rest of them would be riding regular horses, but he would be on a mount with wings.

Danton spent the drive telling Aurelia more about pegasi, and Echo in particular. His theory was that the more she knew, the more help she could be. Aurelia herself was still unconvinced she would be any help at all, and she held herself back during the conversation. It didn’t help that Danton had never looked as attractive as when he was alight with passion, talking about a subject he loved.

Occasionally she caught a look that suggested he had noticed her withdrawal, but he didn’t mention it or push her in any way, and she was grateful. Lady Ophelia barely participated, offering only occasional astringent comments, and Aurelia eventually asked in a tentative manner how the older lady would feel if a pegasus herd was established at Windward.

“I’m told they’re intelligent creatures.” Lady Ophelia continued her embroidery without pause, although Aurelia had no idea how she was able to embroider in a bouncing carriage. “It’s the humans that worry me.”

“Which humans?” she asked, fascinated.

“The ones who’ll come to see them. You mark my words.” She jabbed the needle into the cloth with extra force. “Once there’s a flock outside the gates of the royal palace, they’ll be swarming us to see them.”

Danton laughed. “I think you’re exaggerating the situation, Aunt.”

“Am I?” She peered at him, her expression sour. “That’s the optimism of youth, that is. Just wait until you’re my age, and you’ll see the world as it is, instead of as you wish it to be.”

“But where would be the fun in that?” Phoebe asked with perfect innocence, and Aurelia hid a smile.

“We might have some visitors,” Danton acknowledged. “But if they bother you so very much Aunt, I’ll bar the gates and refuse them all entry.”

“Humph. We’ll see about that.” She speared the needle into the cloth again as if wielding a sword against her enemies.

“I’m certain the only reason the king is even considering giving us permission is because our estate is so remote, as well as being right by the mountains.” Danton directed his comment at Aurelia rather than his aunt. “Few will want to travel so far for a mere look at a pegasus.”

“Is that why you sometimes fly a royal pegasus around the capital?” Aurelia asked, sudden understanding hitting her. “So people have the chance to see them.”

He shrugged. “I just think they’re magnificent creatures. I grew up with pegasi on my doorstep, but not everyone is so fortunate.”

The insight lingered with Aurelia as they made camp, the men from the estate doing most of the work. She had thought she needed to guard herself from Danton’s charming smiles, but there was so much more to him beneath them. It only made the job of shoring up her heart even more difficult.

She slept fitfully on the mat provided for her, Phoebe and Fable curled up on the next mat over and appearing to sleep much better than she did. Was she about to meet wild pegasi? She wasn’t entirely sure if the idea scared or thrilled her.

The next morning, she eyed the indistinct mountain paths from horseback, her horse prancing in place as it picked up on her unease.