“I do hope we have timed this right.” His friend yawned, and John noticed St Albans had shaved. He hoped Lady Eleanor didn’t mind his shabbier state of dress. “I could have used another hour or two of sleep.”

“As could I.” They made their way toward the Park. Not far from the gate, he saw the ladies riding abreast on the mostly empty street.

“Let’s catch up to them.” St. Albans brought his horse to a trot and John followed suit.

“I’m going to ask Lady Alice to stand up with me at Almack’s on Wednesday,” St. Albans said.

“That is an excellent idea.” John would ask Lady Eleanor. He didn’t know much about the place other than that it was famous, and his sister had attended the assemblies and hated them. How did St. Albans know the ladies would be there? John shrugged. He would ask if Lady Eleanor would be attending.

“Good morning,” he called, hoping Lady Eleanor would be happy to see him.

“Good morning,” the three ladies said at the same time.

They were in the same order as they had been before, allowing him to ride to Lady Eleanor’s side. “As you see, I am able to rise earlier.”

She smiled politely. “When you are not working too late.”

He thought she was teasing him, but the expression on her face told him nothing. “Yes.” He glanced up at the sky, as if he’d not noticed it before. “It promises to be a lovely day.”

“It does.” They walked the horses through the gate. “The later spring flowers and shrubs are beginning to make an appearance.”

John hadn’t particularly noticed. He should have, if he was going to talk about flowers and the weather. “Are they?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “The lilac in our garden is starting to bloom. It is almost the end of April.”

“Eleanor,” Lady Madeline said. “I am for a good run. What about you?”

Lady Eleanor glanced at him. “We come early so that we can gallop. You may join us if you wish.”

As she spoke, the mares were already increasing their speed. He had not even answered when the horses began to canter. Damn, she had an excellent seat. He urged Aramus faster. “Come on, boy. You don’t want to be beaten by a mare.”

“Blast it, they’re fast,” St. Albans said.

John’s gelding broke into a gallop. He’d almost caught up to them when the ladies reined in next to a giant chestnut tree, all of them smiling broadly. He wanted to be the one to make Lady Eleanor smile that way. He thought about telling her she rode well, but that might sound even more stupid than he wanted her to think he was. She had to know she was an excellent rider. “That was exhilarating.”