A Dragon for Aurelija

Chapter 14 The Carriage Ride

"It's such a beautiful day I thought we could take a carriage ride to the Serpentine," Nick said as Relly took his arm and was led outside. She was wearing a bright yellow day dress with matching shoes, reticule, bonnet and tan kid gloves. She had her hair in a single long braid with a yellow ribbon weaved into the braid and her bonnet was tied but off her head. Her tessen hung from a lanyard fixed to her belt. She smiled when she saw the shinny black carriage.

"That was Papa's hooded spider phaeton," Relly gasped, "Am I going to ride on the little bench seat in the back," she asked coyly. Nick laughed.

"You can sit next to me in the front."

"But Papa always let me sit back there," she said pouting then broke into her impish smile before giggling.

"Jeremy gets the rumble seat this time." Nick dropped the bonnet on the carriage and assisted Relly to climb aboard. Jeremy steaded the horse as Nick climbed up next to Relly and took the reins. Then Jeremy sat on the little cushioned seat at the rear and they were off.

"Is that a new horse?" Relly asked.

"It's a new breed from America," Nick said, "a Morgan and good for the saddle or a carriage."

"She is a beautiful horse, I like the color," Relly said.

"She's a dark chestnut and you can ride her too."

"NOW!"

"No you silly goon," Nick said and chuckled "outside the bustle of the city."

"I would like one just like it."

"I purchased a gelding for you, the same color."

"But Nick cannae I have a stallion?" Relly said smiling and her eyes twinkling then she pouted.

"You have your stallion...me." Relly laughed at him.

"My own personal stallion," she whispered and tucker her arm in his.

"My horse died when I was injured in Spain so I bought this one at Tattersoll's." Relly was thoroughly enjoying herself. Nick handled the horse with ease as they wove around traffic passing slower moving carriages and lorries. They stopped several times to exchange pleasantries with people they had met and several older gentlemen with military bearing on horseback that Nick knew. A few people ignored them refusing to even acknowledge their presence. A few even craned their necks to see them or pointed to Relly and whispered.

"Oh no!" Relly groaned as she fought the urge to cover her face.

"What is it Sweetheart?"

"Lady Willoughby and Countess Lieven's carriage is about to over take us."

"Just smile," Nick said and chuckled. "Good morning Lady Willoughby, Countess Lieven." Relly pasted on a smile and repeated the greeting.

"We heard about that dreadful incident, Lady Aurelija. We are so relieved that you were resourceful in defending yourself," Countess Lieven said.

"I do hope the rest of your generation proves as...determined," Lady Willoughby added. Relly responded with a genuine smile. "I do hope you'll visit the club again you really livened the place up."

"I cannae promise I won't kiss Nick again," Relly said teasingly as she smiled impishly at Nick, "and I waltzed with out permission."

"You did indeed," Lady Willoughby said and chuckled. "Colonel Loughtey are we to expect an announcement in the future?" Nick smiled at Relly.

"This is for your ears only but yes. Lady Aurelija has consented to be my wife. We won't formally announce until Anastasia and Isabella's ball at the end of the month."