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my side, it will likely be more comfortable.”
    Rhys dismounted, helping the groom switch saddles for me, then helped me mount before returning to his own horse.
    I nodded to Rhys when I was ready, and though he appeared to barely nudge the stallion, he took off at a trot. My mare and I set out after them at a more sedate pace. The stallion pranced and sidestepped as Rhys pulled him under control.
    “Old Joe isn’t used to you yet,” I commented.
    “Joe is not going to be his name,” he proclaimed as our mounts settled into a walk alongside one another.
    “Well, you’d better name him soon, because though it is vastly inappropriate, Joe is the only name I have for him.” Rhys just shook his head with a smile on his face. “And what is the little lady’s name?”
    “Sapphire,” he answered with a wistful smile.
    “Your mother named her?” It was more a statement than a question, and Rhys simply nodded. “Is it difficult seeing her clothes worn, her horse being ridden?”
    He breathed deeply. “I won’t pretend I don’t feel it. But it doesn’t hurt.” He paused. “I thought it would.”
    “Good. The last thing I want is to cause you pain on top of the inconvenience.”
    He shook his head. “It’s no inconvenience.”
    I smiled at his assurance. “You mean you would be riding out to check the water level of the pond even if I weren’t here?”
    “You may have altered my routine, but that’s very different from being an inconvenience.”
    I was comforted by his reassurance. He had never acted as though he minded my presence, but I certainly worried about the oddity and disruption of my being here, unknown and unannounced. I readjusted my seating. The sidesaddle felt much better on my injuries, but it was far from comfortable.
    I caught him studying me for a moment before he asked, “And how is the invalid faring?”
    “It depends.”
    “On?”
    “How much farther is the pond?”  
    He laughed and chose not to respond as he led his mount off the soggy roadway and over a rise. From the top, I saw the pond stretching out, surrounded by tall grass and reeds. It was a lovely sight, all green and lush. I forgot for a moment our purpose in coming here and simply enjoyed the scene. That is, until I heard Rhys sigh.
    I looked over at him. “Well?”
    “It does not look promising, Miss Lily.”  
    My shoulders sagged, even as I tried to hide my disappointment.  
    “Stay here. I’m going to see how much of the surrounding ground is saturated.” He nudged his horse into action before I could say anything, walking the horse carefully closer to the pond. The stallion’s hooves made a sucking noise as they pulled from the mud.
    I couldn’t stay on my horse any longer. I leaned back, carefully pulling my front leg over the pommel before sliding down with a grunt of discomfort. The grass I landed on was spongy but seemed solid enough. For a moment I just stood, reveling in the feeling of having my legs straight, then I took a few steps away from my horse, and that’s all it took.
    My foot sunk into mud up to my ankle. I gave a very unladylike groan of annoyance and tried to pull it out. It wouldn’t move.
    “Lord Fallon!” I called out, but he was too far away to hear my pitiful cry. “Rhys!” I yelled louder and he turned toward me. “I need help!”  
    He turned his horse and urged it toward me, then stopped, assessing the situation.  
    “I’m stuck,” I lamented, desperately trying to keep my skirts out of the mud as I teetered.  
    He continued toward me, trying not to laugh and failing dismally.  
    “Just help me get out.” I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to laugh or cry. “It’s not funny,” I insisted as his chuckling turned into broad laughter. “I am very tempted to pick up a handful of this mud and throw it at you. Now stop laughing and help me.”
    He ended his laughter on a sigh. “Oh, Miss Lily. The only thing that would accomplish would be to get your hand dirty.”