Winchester Abbey

Chapter Six

The only thing that Mary Catherine could wonder, after they got every last juicy detail from Char, was why the trip was so important to Matthew in the first place. Or James, for that matter. It was, after all, JUST a trip. 

James evaporated somewhere into the gardens, and Charlotte went to her room with the excuse that she wanted to take a nap. Hannah and Madi decided that they would try their hand at needlepoint in the parlor (much to Madi's chagrin) until tea time that afternoon. MCat grabbed a notebook and pen from her trunk and opted for a breath of fresh air. 

The west side of the estate was cloaked in rolling green hills, and bordered by forest. She found a convenient clump of trees and spread out the quilt that one of the servants had given her, splaying her skirts as she sat down and pressed open the notebook. What to write? 

She had laid down a good one thousand words about a half hour later before she decided to take a rest, closing her eyes. 

She wasn't sure how much longer it was when she heard a thud not far from her, but it startled her awake so quickly that she accidentally tossed the notebook from her chest to a few feet away. The pounding of hooves echoed across the clearing as she sat up, accompanied by a vibrant whinny. 

"What on earth do you think you're doing?" 

"ME? You're the one who almost ran me over!" She sat up, brushing out her skirts and glancing around for her writing utensils. 

James dismounted, trying to settle the horse, and picked up the notebook, brushing off the dirt that now graced it. 

"You're - a writer?" He said, catching his breath. MCat grabbed the book from him. 

"Yes - I mean, we all are. Mostly Charlotte and I... but yes, I write." 

"About what?" 

"Fiction. All sorts." 

"Mm." 

He adjusted the top hat that he was wearing (that was actually quite becoming) and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry my horse almost trampled you. We weren't expecting to come across Sleeping Beauty." 

MCat gave a characteristic eyeroll. "It's fine." 

She folded the quilt over one arm. 

"I write too, you know." he continued. 

"That why you're always obnoxiously taking notes instead of conversing?" MCat said rudely. 

"Um, I suppose so." he half-grinned. "Hey, would you like to come riding with me?" 

MCat's raised an eyebrow. "Ride. With you." He had suddenly lost about seventy-five percent of the appeal that she had once seen in him. But part of her wanted to go. She glanced back at the house. 

"I suppose." 

His expression lightened. 

"But as long as we're back in time for tea." 

"Deal." 

He reached out an arm to help her mount but she ignored it and straddled the horse with expert skill. His mouth dropped open. 

"What, aren't you coming?" she cocked her head and he mounted behind her. 

"Ready?" he grabbed the reins. 

They rode out of the clearing and onto a path that made its way through the woods, trotting lightly. "So. What's up with you and your brother?" she finally said. "You know, next time we should really take two horses." 

At that, he slowed the steed and dismounted. MCat squinted at him. "Oh, I didn't mean -" 

"Never mind that." he said, taking the reins and leading the horse alongside the stream that they had just reached. "My brother is just stubborn. The youngest, you see." 

"Of course." She looked down at him as he took off his hat. 

"He doesn't follow rules as well as the average individual." 

"Ah." 

And that was all he said about it. They went along in silence for a moment. 

"Do you think it's almost time for tea?" she said suddenly, noticing the sun's position. James pulled a pocket watch out and glanced at it. "Most definitely time. Mrs. Binley is going to kill us." 

He hurriedly mounted once more, turned the horse sharply, and galloped towards the house and out of the woods. 

"I swear if you drop me..." MCat yelled. 

"As if I would." he murmured, breath on her cheek. She snickered at the foolery but quite enjoyed it as well. They reached the parlor in a hurried, sweaty manner, giggling and smelling of dirt.