It was a nice cottage, much larger and airier than their last house, but just down the road was the immenseness of Standish Court, where lived this aristocratic family to whom she had to be so grateful.
She remembered the first afternoon they were invited to take tea at Standish. Mama had dressed her in her best dress and they had waited for the trap that the countess was sending to pick them up. They were driven to the palace—for that is what it looked like to Diana—and taken through fabulous rooms hung with mirrors and paintings and decorated with classical statues, to a large sitting room where Lady Standish waited for them, with her five-year-old daughter at her side.
Diana had watched as Mama and Lady Standish exchanged hugs and kisses. Then Lady Standish had bent to her. “And this is Diana,” she said. “What a pretty girl you are. I am your mother’s cousin, Amelia. Would you like to give me a kiss?”
Obediently, Diana kissed the soft cheek of her mother’s cousin.
“And this is your cousin, Sally.”
Sally was a blue-eyed, blond-haired cherub. She smiled at Diana. “Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” Diana replied.
Everyone settled down. The tea tray was brought, and lemonade for Sally and Diana.
Lady Standish said apologetically, “Alex was supposed to be here. I can’t imagine what is keeping him.”
On that note, the door opened and a boy dressed in riding clothes came in. He had black hair and sky-blue eyes and he said politely to his mother, “I’m sorry I’m late, Mama. I got delayed in the stable.”
Lady Standish sighed. “You’re always in the stable, Alex. Can’t you find something else to do?”
“Nothing that I like as much,” he said.
Diana was immediately drawn to the boy. “Do you have a lot of horses in your stable?” she asked him.
He looked at her. “Yes,” he said.
How wonderful, she thought.
“If you need any help exercising them, I’d be happy to help,” she said. “I used to exercise the squire’s son’s pony when we lived at home.”
He looked her up and down. “How old are you?”
“I’m almost eight. And I can ride anything.”
The boy’s black eyebrows shot up. “I doubt that.”
“I can!” she shot back. “The squire used to say that I was the best natural rider he’d ever seen!”
“Diana,” her mother chided gently. “Don’t brag, darling. It’s not becoming.”
“It’s not bragging, it’s true,” she insisted. “He did say that, Mama. Truly he did.”
The boy’s blue eyes narrowed. “Well, we’ll see about that,” he said.
“You can ride my pony, Diana,” Sally said. “He is very sweet.”
Diana gave Sally a radiant smile. “Thank you.”
After that the two ladies talked and the children drank their lemonade and ate cake from the tea tray. Then a big man with graying black hair and ordinary blue eyes came into the room.
That must be the earl, Diana thought.
“My lord,” Lady Standish said with pleasure. “I wasn’t sure you would be able to join us.”
He smiled. “Of course I wanted to be here to greet Mrs. Sherwood and her daughter. We are very glad to have you at Standish, ma’am.”
Diana’s mother’s cheeks were flushed. “Thank you, my lord. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your generosity.”
“Not at all,” he said. “The cottage was just lying there empty. Happy to have it used.”
Diana looked at the earl curiously. When it came her turn to be introduced, she curtseyed and smiled at the large man who was suddenly so important in her life. He smiled back and called her a very pretty little girl. People had been calling Diana a very pretty little girl ever since she could remember, so it made little impression on her. She looked from the earl to his son. Alex looked like his father, except for his extraordinary eye color.
Diana was conscious of Alex looking at her and she looked boldly back. She had every intention of pushing him to allow her to ride Sally’s pony.
When the tea was over, and the Sherwoods stood to leave, Diana went over to Alex and asked, “When can I come to ride the pony?”
He stared down at her. “Come tomorrow morning. We’ll go for a ride together so I can see how brilliant you are.” There was a definite sarcastic note in his voice.
The following morning Diana rose early and dressed in her riding habit, which consisted of a brown divided skirt and an old brown jacket. She fastened her hair at the nape of her neck and set off for Standish on foot. It was only a little under two miles and she walked it in good time. When she reached the stable yard Alex was just coming in riding a solid-looking chestnut gelding. Diana’s face fell.
“I thought you said we would go riding together today!” she accused him.
“How did you get here?” he asked.
“I walked.”
He looked at her feet. “In your boots?”
“Yes.”
He looked her up and down, taking in her divided skirt. “Do you ride astride?”
“Yes. The squire’s groom who taught me said it would be safer for me to learn that way.”
“All right,” he said briskly. “We’ll give you a chance.” He turned to one of the grooms. “Danny, bring out Lady Sarah’s pony. And don’t put a sidesaddle on him.”
Diana could feel her heart begin to beat harder. She had to impress this boy so he would allow her to ride his horses. Her heart fell when a very small, thick-bodied pony was led out of the stable. “He’s so little,” she said involuntarily.
“Sally is little,” Alex said.
Diana bit her lip and didn’t say anything else. She didn’t think it was going to be much fun riding Sally’s pony.
“His name is Moses,” Alex said. “Come along over to the riding ring so I can judge your riding style.”
Diana followed him beyond the stable to an enclosed ring with a smooth dirt surface. Alex opened the gate and led the pony in. Diana followed.
“Do you need help getting into the saddle?” he asked.
She cast him a scornful look. “No.” She put her foot in the stirrup and swung up. There wasn’t very far to go. The squire’s pony had been a full hand taller than Moses.
“Just ride him around the rail and let me see how you do,” Alex said. She cast him a disgusted look. How was she supposed to show her riding skills on a pony that was much too small for her?
She put the pony on the rail and closed her legs to send him forward. He ambled off. Diana frowned and pressed her legs harder. He went from an amble into a walk. They went around the enclosure once and Diana said to Alex, “I need a whip.”
He got her one. She squeezed her legs again and applied the whip smartly behind her leg. The pony broke into a trot. She pushed him some more. After two more rounds she had him trotting forward. In another round she had him going before her leg.
“Stop!” Alex called.