Her Eyes Opened: Chapter 11
Margaret's excited yelps made her want to laugh, but she was far too busy for that: busy for staying upright and on top of the horse! Marianne concentrated on the horse as well as she could, but it was not easy. Not with the Colonel there right next to her, holding the horse steady, giving her encouraging comments and advice on her posture and all. Margaret was doing much the same with one of Brandon's stable hands while Elinor and Mother were watching it all from the side.
They were on a field covered in thick grass, dotted with flowers. The Colonel had selected the location not far from the Delaford stables, as the surface was softer than in the enclosures at the stables themselves. Mrs Dashwood and Elinor were enjoying a cake or two with tea whilst the younger sisters took their first proper riding lesson. The riding was something that had been discussed fervently in the Dashwood household in the past few weeks. Was it really proper, to be instructed by young men (well one quite young and one not quite so young), and what if the girls hurt themselves. Elinor had done all she could to persuade her mother that learning to ride was perfectly acceptable and proper. Watching Margaret and Marianne enjoy themselves so warmed Mrs Dashwood's heart no end. It was good for these young ladies to laugh and feel free with all that they gone through in the past couple of years.
Both girls quickly got the hang of staying upright on their horses and they were walked around the enclosure for a while until they felt more confident. After some time it was time to call it a day for this lesson. Brandon explained to both girls how to dismount. Margaret was clearly a born rider and had no trouble getting down fro her side saddle at all, but as Marianne made her move she managed to get her foot slightly caught somewhere and was about to come down head first. For her good fortune Brandon was right there and with seemingly no effort at all caught the young woman mid-air. There was no reason really to keep holding her, except both of them being a little flustered and shaken by the near-accident.
No reason at all – except Brandon found he was most reluctant to let go of Marianne. He had held her almost exactly the same way before, but then she had been barely conscious and he had been extremely distressed with fear. This time, Marianne had instinctively managed to wrap her arms around his neck for support while he held her one arm under her waist and the other behind her knees. Realizing that they were behind her horse and not in the line of sight of Mrs Dashwood and Mrs Ferrars also made it easier for Brandon not to let go of his angel.
"Thank you, Colonel, you are forming quite a habit rescuing me," Marianne said in a voice that was barely more than a whisper. She found the nearness of this man brought up feelings and sensations in her that she had never even imagined before, and after every time he was close enough to her to touch – even ever so little – she found she wanted more. She wanted to be close to him. Close enough to catch his scent, close enough to exchange small touches. Close enough to see little details in his eyes, his hands or his hair. See things others probably wouldn't because most people would never stand so close to him. And now she was in his arms and she could feel the blood rise to her cheeks. She could feel his warm body against hers and could not help herself but allowed her fingers to mix with his hair at the back of his neck, touch his neck just above his collar.
"It would break my heart to see anything happen to you, Miss Marianne" he replied softly, also barely more than whispering. Her face was so close to his kissing her would be the easiest thing to do. But he would not chance it. Opportunities to take her out on her own were scarce enough as they were, thanks to the escapades with that Willoughby, and Brandon knew he and Marianne were now paying the price the carelessness of youth.
"I hope I will not burden you like this too often."
"I held you like this before, but you were not quite with us at the time. I have you now before any harm was done and that makes me infinitely happy. I will be forever happy to hold you like this if it keeps you safe," he confessed. Marianne smiled.
"I feel very safe. And to be held like this by you also makes me happy."
The pair lost themselves in each other's eyes for a moment longer, but eventually Margaret's excited voice recounting her riding experience to her mother and sister brought them back to reality and Brandon hand to let go of Marianne. When he walked her to the picnic blanket Elinor could tell by the private smiles the two were sharing that something had happened, but Elinor was pleased to see that while very discreet about it, her friend and her sister had taken another step on their path to becoming a full couple.
