“Makes sense as she is aristocracy and her family has money. More importantly, she’s our friend.”
Mr. Howland held out a thick wad of cash. “Here. Take this.”
“You’re giving me money?” Nadine sounded disgusted.
“I want you to pay that horseman to give you riding lessons.”
“Absolutely not!” Nadine said. “I don’t like horses and I despise that man. He laughs at us. He thinks we’re all absurd.”
“You are,” Mr. Howland growled. “None of you know what work is. But ladies ride horses so you need to learn.”
“So I can marry Nicky,” Nadine said tiredly.
Mr. Howland’s voice softened. “What’s wrong with being a lady?”
“I—” Nadine broke off because she saw Puck inside the armoire. She turned her back to the cabinet. “All right! I’ll ride the damned horses. Maybe I can find one with a 4 x 4 transmission.”
“Now that’s my girl. Go put on something expensive and work your charms on the earl and his lily-white son. I have to go.” He looked around. “I can’t stand this place. That guy downstairs is playing the piano again.”
“It’s his own composition. Someday Byon will be—”
“I’ve heard it before. He’s going to be famous. When you run this place, you can have him over for fish and chips. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hurried out of the room.
Puck held her breath. She didn’t know how Nadine would react to having someone eavesdrop on her private conversation.
Nadine threw the armoire door open, then walked away.
Puck grabbed the pile of shawls and stepped out. “I—”
Nadine threw up her hand. “Don’t explain why you were hiding in there. I’m sure it has to do with Nicky and Byon. You’re their own little elf running their errands. But I’m glad to have a witness to what I have to put up with. Here.” She thrust money at Puck. “Give this to the man in the stables. Tell him he’s to teach me how to ride a horse—like a lady does. Maybe I should be glad my father isn’t insisting that I ride sidesaddle.”
Puck shoved the fifty-pound notes deep into her pocket. It was more money than she’d ever seen before. “Sean is a good teacher.”
“What?” Nadine turned on her.
“Sean Thorpe. The groomsman. He’s nice. He takes care of people.”
Nadine was twenty-one years old and extraordinarily pretty. Her dark hair was always perfect and she wore clothes like in a magazine. She looked at Puck in speculation. “I’ve seen him enough to know that he thinks he’s God’s gift. He hasn’t tried anything with you, has he?”
At first Puck had no idea what she meant. Then she thought, Like the boys at school? She couldn’t help a tiny smile. “No, he hasn’t.”
Nadine caught Puck’s meaning and she smiled back. “Go on, give him the money and set something up for tomorrow. Make it a gentle horse. I don’t want to land on my backside in the dirt.”
“I’m sure Sean will be gentle with you.”
When Nadine laughed, Puck wasn’t sure why. She ran down the stairs.
Nicky was sitting on the bottom step, waiting for her. The sound of Byon’s playing filled the hallway.
“Take this,” Nicky said softly and handed her a six-page legal document. “Find Diana and give it to her.”
She took one end of the papers but he held on.
“Diana needs to go over this, but no one must see her do it.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t want my father to know that Diana reads about estate business. And Clive’s not to know. Especially not him. Understand?”
“I do,” Puck said, and Nicky released the papers. She stuck them in the waistband of her pants and pulled her shirt down. No one would see that she was carrying anything.
Nicky stood up. “Thanks, kid. You’re the only person around here I can truly trust. I wish I could repay you. I’d wave a magic wand and give you three wishes.”