The Perfect Mistress

Ch. 3 The Riding Lady

The Duke of Clarendon woke up at dawn with a sour mood.

He was only there to escort his aunt to visit her godson, the Earl of Winston. But eversince he stepped on the castle, he never had time to himself without a flock of giggling and simpering debutantes.

He never cared for house parties, especially ones that included debutantes. Being single,  handsome, rich and having a high-ranking title made him the catch of the season.

He shuddered remembering the way society mamas pratically throw their shy daughters at him, how the more aggresive girls bat their eye lashes, or positioned themselves so he might accidentally touch their bosom.

Hauling himself off the bed, he splashed his face with cold water on the handstand. He thought he might ask the head groom to lend him a mount. He had a sudden need to be free, away from a suffocating crowd, even for a little while.

Just as he expected, the stable hands are quite happy to provide him with a superb stallion.

"Name's Samson, Your Grace," said the stable hand, indicating the stallion. "An 'e already restless this morn'n, 'ope Your Grace wont have trouble with 'im."

"I'm sure I can handle him, lad," said the Duke smiling. A restless horse is exactly the challenge he needed.

After asking direction, he took Samson on a slow trot. After a while he spurred the stallion into a gallop towards the hill.

The sun shone shyly but warmly as he reached the hill. He dismounted to give Samson a rest, while he sat enjoying the view and clearing his mind.

Suddenly he spotted something in a distance. It looked liked a woman on horseback was having a trouble with her horse. The poor mare seemed spooked and fidgeting uncontrollable.

The Duke swung into Samson's back and rushed towards the woman. But as he reached her, she seemed to have been able to calm the mare.

"Are you allright there, miss?" asked the Duke. "I believe her horse just spooked."

Hannah turned her head and recognised the Duke.

"Your Grace...I did not realise anyone from the castle would be riding at this hour.."

"Well, I need the exercise," said the Duke. "And I have never seen that in my life."

Hannah was confused. "Never seen what, Your Grace, pray tell? A woman on horseback, or a woman who can control a spooking horse?"

"No..not that. I've never seen a lady ride in that fashion. Riding astride, I mean.." said the Duke, used.

Hannah blushed. She knew respectable ladies always rode side-saddled. It was considered inappropriate for a woman to ride astride. But Hannah found riding astride enable her to fully control an animal. That was why when riding alone in the very early morning, she always chose to ride astride.

"Please do not tell my brother that you saw me riding astride? Please, Your Grace, he would be most dissapointed in me. He always insists on discretion," begged Hannah.

The Duke watched the young woman intently. She was plain, but not ugly. Her only feature that attracted his eyes was her curly brown hair, her slim waist and her big bossom, which rose and fell as she tried to control her panting.

She wore a thin silk blouse, without a jacket or scarf. The tight blouse softly hugging her curves while shyly moulding two erect nipples.

The Duke felt sudden tightness inside his riding pants. He thought, was this woman aroused at the sight of him, or was it just her natural anatomy? He himself was definitely aroused to a glimpse of a pair of hard nipples.

The Duke tightened his grip on the rein to keep him from reaching out to have a feel of her breast and nipples.

"Pardon me, miss. You seem to know who I am, but I do not recall you," asked the Duke.

"Oh, we were introduced yesterday at tea. Although I expect you don't remember me," replied Hannah. "I am Hannah, Earl of Winston's sister."

The Duke smiled shamefully, "my apologies milady, it is not like me to forget an acquaintance."

"It is alright, Your Grace. I do not appear often in the fashionable society. So not many people know me," Hannah smiled back.

"Shall we continue our ride? Or would you prefer to head home?" asked the Duke.

"I have to go home now. I am needed to supervise the staff for the picnic this afternoon. Please enjoy you ride, Your Grace."

"No, no, I want to escort you home. Just in case the mare spooked again. Please, I insist," said the Duke.

"I thank you for your concern, Your Grace," replied Hannah softly.