Oh, Cherry Ripe

“Is she not? Well … perhaps I’ll just go and have a look for m’self,” young Freddy announced with keen interest and curiosity in his light eyes.

* * *

Prancer was a dark bay with a white blaze and two white stockings. He was a fine-looking piece of horseflesh, and he was true to his name. Cherry, however, was up to his high-stepping friskiness and soon fell in love with him. He was spirited and sleek, and she enjoyed his gait. The children had warned her when she first said she would ride him, but she ignored their dire predications and had nimbly mounted him. Very soon her strong seat and gentle hands won him over.

The children watched her handle him, eyes wide open as he at first pranced about. They advised her that their sister Mary had never liked him and that he had not been ridden in a year.

Cherry laughed. “Then we shall not go far until I’m sure he is fit enough.”

The twins mounted their ponies, and Felix said to Cherry, in spite of the fact that he had just told his sister they had to get rid of this governess before she took over everything, “You are a ’right one, Miss Parker … I’ll give you that.”

They had a wonderful ride together, chatting about the grounds, their lessons, or neglect thereof, and their oldest brother. Apparently, they viewed him as a god that had too many other duties and responsibilities to visit often, and that made Cherry frown and form an immediate, poor opinion.

As they returned to the stables, Cherry teased Felix and asked, “Well then, what do you think of Prancer now?”

“He needs refinement, but …” He grinned widely. “That is what Freddy says.”

“And Freddy is …?” Cherry eyed him. She knew, but she wanted to keep him talking and learn the family dynamics.

“My brother and Lord of Bromley—don’t you know anything?”

“No …” Cherry sighed. “That is why you must teach me.”

Felix laughed and added, “Freddy likes Prancer—rode him when he was here, but m’brother rides all hell bent … at least that’s what he says …” He blushed suddenly and looked away.

“You have an eye for horses … I can see that.” Cherry smiled at him.

He puffed up proudly, and his sister stuck in, “Oh yes … he does. I think he will help Freddy run Bromley beautifully when he is of age.”

“And you have an older sister too, don’t you—Mary?” Cherry asked, keeping the dialogue going.

“She is at boarding school. She is fourteen and very pretty, though I must say nothing next to you …” stuck in Felix, who then blushed to the roots of his fair hair.

Cherry laughed, but this was short lived as Felix shrugged, turned to his sister, and said, “This isn’t going to work … she’s too pretty. We’ll just start to like her, and she’ll run off to get married, and we’ll be alone again.”

“Stop it, Felix,” Francine grumbled at him.

“Well, I don’t want her here …”

“Ah, then I probably won’t last. I don’t like to stay where I am not wanted. It is a dreadful feeling,” Cherry said softly.

Francine objected. “We want you …” She turned to her brother. “Don’t we, Felix?”

Felix glanced at Cherry and said gruffly, “No matter what we want. When my brother Sky has a look at you … out you’ll go.”

Francine sighed heavily over this. “Felix has a point there, you know. Our brother is older than you and will not think you are old enough to take care of us. We know because he is always getting in these old women to nanny us. He will say—” She cut herself off as something caught her eye in the distance. “Felix … look there—’tis Freddy!” She then shrieked like a hoyden, “Freddy! Freddy!” and stood in her stirrups to wave in the air before putting her pony into a run.

The sudden movement spooked Prancer so that he hopped a rear and attempted to take off as well. Cherry worked her reins, cursed her sidesaddle, and sat him well enough to catch hold of him. The effort took her breath away and accentuated her youthful vitality so that Freddy’s first vision of Cheryl sent him reeling into infatuation.

“Freddy,” Francine repeated as she jumped off her pony and flung herself into her brother’s ready arms.

“Hallo, brat.” He gave her a squeeze and looked up to find Felix standing before him. “And you, little man!”

Felix seemed to take this as an invitation, and it was with great affection that he held out his hand in greeting. “Freddy … so good … so good to have you home …” With that he dropped his attempt at maturity and dove at his brother to hug him around his waist.

Cherry dismounted and led Prancer by his reins towards the happy reunion while Freddy tickled his siblings and demanded an introduction.

Francine beamed and said, “Miss Sarah Parker, our new governess, Freddy,” She clasped his hand tightly and smiled up at him. “Miss Parker … our brother, Lord Frederick of Bromley.”