Chapter Nine

Relena stepped outside next to Lady Hilde toward the stable. She was clothed in her green velvet riding dress.

"So you agreed to be his partner" Hilde stated as she pulled on her riding gloves.

"Yes I hope you don't mind if I don't accompany you to the lake.

"No I was invited to be Duo's riding partner anyways"

"Since when did you start calling Lord Maxwell by his first name?" Relana asked out of pure curiosity.

"About the same time you became friends with a notorious rake" They laughed and continued their conversation until they reached the stables. Relena entered the stable yard and was immediately drawn to the white and black printed horse near the back of the stables. Hilde moved to greet some of the other woman. Relena moved to pet the large mare and he moved back aggressively snorting loudly as he did so.

"I'd be careful with that one, he's still wild, you know." She smiled as she glanced up at the dark shadow next to her. Lord Milbrook was dressed in his usual expensive attire and looked even more handsome than the night before. His eyes looked like an ocean destined to capture to wandering woman who dare venture to close, though a rare color blue.

"Lord Milbrook, good morning to you. Pleasant morning isn't it" He looked down her clinging dress where his eyes caressed her bosom.

"Yes it is" he said knowing it had a double meaning. She turned back to the horse and asked.

"What's his name?" She asked reached out to pet him. He refused her hand a second time.

"Mighty, I think. Because he puts up a mighty good fight against the tamers." She looked up at him and smiled shyly.

"I pray you slept well last night" he voiced pacing his hand behind his back.

"I did, and you, how did you sleep, m' lord" She said again trying to touch the wild mare. This time making contact. Soon her hands were roaming through the horse's mane. For a moment Heero envied the stallion and wished that just for that moment they could merely switch places. He looked away from the horse in front of him and turned the women standing next to him.

"It looks likes some of the guests are ready to mount. Which horse do you wish to ride?"

Relena's face flushed and she didn't now why. Maybe it was the almost seductive way Heero was staring at her.

"I wish to ride this one" she said make sure to nod toward the horse.

"This one" he said in shock. "But he is not he is not yet fully tamed"

"That's because I have never ridden him before" she voiced. Heero smirked, catching the irony in her words.

"If you really wish so, but I really should protest."

"Oh pish posh, I'll just saddle him and we'll be on our way."

By the time, they had mounted there horses, most of the guest were already a good twenty minutes ahead of them. Heero noticed that she did not ride side saddle like most of the women.

"Why don't you ride side saddle like rest of the woman" she glanced at him holding his gaze.

"That's because I'm not like most women" She said now regretting that she hadn't thought about her words before she just blurted them out. She kicked her self mentally for one of her known flaws.

"I'm beginning to realize that now"

"Heero, why is it only recently that you have found an interest in me?"

"I don't know, I really don't" It was just then that silence slipped between them.

"Well, aside for your scandalous reputation, you're really not so bad, I guess and that's saying a lot" she grinned.

"Thanks… I think"

"Do you wanna' race, we'll catch up to the others faster" she said with amusement in her voice.

"I don't thin..." But before he could even finish his sentence she had nudged the side of her horse and took off running.

"Last one the catch up is a rotten egg" she shouted over her shoulder. Heero laughed and set out behind her.

Relena pulled the horse to a halt near the lake that they were having luncheon .She placed her hand over her chest, while she breathed in rather heavily.

"Well, that was (gasp) the most fun I've (wheeze) had in years"

"I now how you feel. Relena what are you doing" he said as dismounted Mighty. She wasn't even aware that he had just called her by her first name. He did notice it anymore than she did. It just seemed to roll over his tongue.

"Giving Mighty a water break. What does it look like?" Heero shook his head and demounted his mare as well.

They tied the two's horse to a tree close enough to the waters edge that they could drink to their hearts content. Relena plopped down on the grass completely wore out.

"I like you like this" Heero managed as her took a seat next to her.

"Like what"

"Relaxed, more open"

"Yes, well I do so get tired of trying to keep up with society"

"Then why do you"

"Because it's accepted of me the Vicountess of Haverston." He understood where she was coming from.

"Well you should take breaks from 'society' more often"

"Yeah, well for some odd reason you bring out the complete worst in me, Lord Milbrook. Why is that" she leaned back on her elbows.

"Well it would seem that you don't mind being somewhat of rake yourself."

"Me! A rake. HA. That will be the day. But you still seem to bring out the wild child in me"

"I have that effect on people." Once again his eyes wondered her body, from her lips to her slender neck to her slim waist and long legs. The urge to kiss her was growing more and more.

"We should get going or we'll never catch up." He stood and reached out his hand to help her. She accepted and there hands linger together longer than necessary. Her face grew red and she pulled her hand from his. She couldn't remember when the atmosphere had become so relaxed between them, but she did she was going to have to have a nice long conversation with Hilde and Catherine when they returned.