Loving a Thief

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

I woke up the next morning earlier than usual. I did not want to miss Arianna before she left with Sir Walter. They were going horseback riding and were bringing a picnic with them. I wanted to say goodbye, I wouldn’t be seeing her for the rest of the day. I wished I could be with Arianna all day.

After I ate breakfast, I went to the stables. I knew they would have to come here to get their horses. I only wanted to see Arianna before she left. I know I sound like I would never be seeing her again, but I love her. A minute without Arianna feels like an eternity. While I waited, I groomed the horses. ‘Horses are such magnificent creatures,’ I thought. The stableboy was not very happy when I started doing his job. I had to do something though, to give me an excuse to be here.

After awhile, Arianna and Sir Walter walked to the stables hand in hand. Arianna with a small look of disgust and Sir Walter looking as happy as ever.

“Henry. What are you doing here in the stables?” asked Sir Walter.

“I thought I could help groom the horses,” I answered.

“We are going horseback riding, and then having a picnic. Would you and the others want to come with us?” asked Arianna. She looked at me with hope and a begging look. I couldn’t help but say yes to those big round eyes.

“That would be lovely. Let me go find them,” I replied. I left them to search for my siblings. They would be thrilled to go horseback riding.

* * *

“Arianna how could you invite him?” yelled Sir Walter.

“Henry and his siblings have been nothing but nice to me. I intend to return their kindness while they are here,” I said calmly but sternly.

“I am here to spend time with you! Alone! That means with nobody else! I came here to be with you not with a bunch of orphaned commoners!” he yelled with disgust.

“Walter, if you do not calm down they might hear you. I do not want their feelings hurt. Please stop yelling and we can talk about this later. There is nothing wrong with having chaperones. And I know the definition of alone. If you do not calm down and at least pretend to be grateful they are coming along, I will personally pack your bags and send you home alone with nobody else!” I exclaimed.

Sir Walter looked at me with surprise. The guards, and stableboy stopped their work and stared at us. ‘Great. He just had to draw attention to us. Sir Walter probably did not know I was capable of having such an argument with someone. Well, if I’m going to argue with someone the rest of my life I better learn their weaknesses in arguing,’ I thought. Sir Walter’s weakness was not being able to think of witty comebacks.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he whispered as Henry and his siblings came.

Everyone picked out a horse. Cooper and Amelia shared a horse. Amelia did not how to ride. Sarah rode with Henry, Jasmine rode by herself, Sir Walter and I rode separate horses. I was grateful he did not want to ride together.

“What is your horse’s name?” asked Jasmine.

“Annabelle,” I replied.

“That’s a beautiful name. What’s my horse’s name?” asked Amelia.

“Scotty,” I answered.

“And my horse’s name?” asked Sarah.

“Clover.”

“My horse’s name?” asked Sir Walter.

“Charming.”

“My horse’s name?” asked Jasmine.