This did nothing for Rachel's confidence once she was actually seated in the saddle.
As Santana took the lead and Graves went to check on Sugar, who was now trying to get her pony to gallop, Rachel was gripping the reigns so tightly that her knuckles were white, and Santana was positive that were Alban not so well-behaved he'd have jerked or even bucked at how tightly the girl's knees were gripping into the horse's sides.
She set her free hand on Rachel's thigh, squeezing it gently. "Relax, Rachel. I'll be right here the whole time, I promise."
Rachel loosened her thighs a bit, nodding jerkily.
Smiling softly, the Baroness clicked her tongue twice and began walking forward, Alban following at her side obediently. The moment the body under her jerked forward a slight as it started to move, Rachel squeaked, falling forward and wrapping her arms around Alban's neck, eyes closed tightly.
Continuing to walk the horse slowly, Santana turned, walking backwards herself, and reached up to rub her hand over what she could reach of Rachel's back. Luckily, Alban was a small horse (Rachel sized, she joked to herself), and was only about 15 hands high.
"Rachel, open your eyes and sit up. You're perfectly safe, I swear to you." She'd have her work cut out for her, clearly. And she'd have to get Alban some carrots and apples, because he was being exceptionally patient and obedient.
Nearly any other horse would have surely spooked from Rachel's nerves alone.
Slowly, Rachel sat up, nearly getting off balance, but managing to stay in the saddle. "S-sorry, m'lady," she squeaked, face red from embarrassment. "M-maybe this— Maybe I shouldn't b-bother."
Sighing, Santana stopped walking, Alban halting readily next to her, and swung up behind the smaller girl. The horse huffed a little, but seemed alright with the weight, so she slipped her arms past Rachel's waist and covered the woman's hands with her own. She didn't put her hands in the stirrups, either. "Relax. For once, you're too tense in your seat. Lean back against her a little. You need to sink." Rachel did so, and the Baroness smiled. "Good. Now. I will guide you, but you're the one in charge here. And there's no rush, I promise. If all you want to do is ride at walking pace, then that's what we shall do."
Still blushing hotly, Rachel nodded again, looking down a little. "Th-thank you, m'lady… I.. I am trying. I swear."
She felt a kiss on her cheek. "I know you are, songbird. Just take your time."
For the next hour, they went round and round the enclosure, their pace always somewhere between a crawl and a brisk creep. Still, Santana was happy at the little progress Rachel seemed to be making. The younger woman still wasn't exactly confident in the saddle, but at least she wasn't squeezing the life out of poor Alban anymore.
"Well done," she said, helping Rachel down. She laughed at the look of utter incredulity that Rachel threw at her. "I mean it. You went from petrified to simply uncomfortable. That's good."
"If you say so."
"I do," Santana said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Shall we try to pry your sister away from her steed?"
Rachel looked over to where Sugar was having an infinitely better time than she. "I think she'll be okay for now."
The carriage rumbled through the cobbled streets. A richly dressed young man tried to stare at the shop signs. "Damn this rain," he muttered.
"It shall pass soon, sire," an older, skinny man said. He had markings up his arms, almost like henna tattoos, only they were bright blue. And glowing.
"It always does," the younger man agreed. "And have you heard anything from Finn?"
"His grace, Baron Hudson, arrived safely in Carmel yesterday evening," the wizard said. "Count Chang will be hosting him for the next fortnight—"
"Fortnight? We thought he was on his way here by week's end?"
"No, my Lord Hummel," the wizard informed him patiently. "His grace is staying in order to discuss the new transit routes."
Kurt nodded and looked back out the window as the coach pulled to a stop.
"I don't understand why you frequent this place, sire," the wizard said, looking up at the building with disdain.
For the first time that morning, Kurt smiled. "My dear Pennington…We learned long ago that ruling by intimidation, as our father did, was out of the question. No…We must walk among our people if we wish to lead them. Even people such as this."
The door to the carriage opened, and the president of the Assassin's League bowed low. "Always an honor, sire."
Kurt stepped out, quickly ducking under the umbrella held by a servant. "The honor is ours, Mr. Adams. Shall we talk inside?"
"Indeed, sire."
"Not you, Pennington," Kurt told his wizard. "We need you to send a fire message to Archduchess Lopez. Thank her for not killing our brother, and offer our congratulations on winning the duel."
"As you wish, my lord."
Back at the Lopez manor, Rachel found herself in the parlor of Santana's quarters, pressed up against the wall and being kissed in a way that she was sure the Baroness meant to suck the life right out of her. She whimpered as a tongue pushed her lips, then sighed as strong hands settled heavily on her hips and Santana's thumbs rubber circles against her hip bones through her dress.
She should have expected this, given that they had not been able to be intimate at all since the first time, but somehow the Baroness always managed to catch her off-guard.
It was actually thrilling, in a way.
A thigh was then pushed up between her legs, and Rachel gasped. Santana smirked into the kiss, moving her lips to the smaller woman's neck and covering it with light kisses. "Were I able, I would take you right here, m'lady, against this very door, in this very gown," she husked right into Rachel's ear before she nipped it, causing Rachel to whimper again and dig her nails into the woman's vested back.
"S-San-" she choked out, mind hazy and body on fired.
"Shhh…" soothed Santana, slowly drawing back to nuzzling Rachel's neck, sliding her hands up and down her sides. "Later, after the evening meal."
Rachel let out a shaky sigh, leaning heavily against the door and staring up at the Baroness with wide, darkened eyes and a pout, and Santana smiled apologetically. "Don't be that way, my little songbird. You still have me for the day."
"It's terribly rude to start such a thing and not finish it, Santana," spoke Rachel, still pouting. Chuckling, Santana kissed her again, softer, but just as heated, then pulled away again.
"Then I am terribly rude. But I have not had the pleasure of kissing you properly for days, and I could not hold myself back. Go to the library. I shall meet you there, and we can relax and read together. Does that suit you?" she asked.
Nodding, Rachel pulled Santana down for a tight hug, this time catching Santana off-guard, then pulled away, face reddened. With that she opened the door minutely, just enough to slip out, and was gone.
Just then, the woman's fire roared to life, and Santana snapped her head towards it.
She walked over, and the face of an old, slim man appeared in the flames. "Greetings, Archduchess Lopez. His Lordship, the esteemed and benevolent Duke Hummel, wishes to extend his highest regards and congratulations to your persons regarding you honorable victory in the dual against the gallant Baron Hudson. He is also most pleased to know that the Baron was unharmed in body, and thanks you for your mercy on the field of Dance.
If you wish to return a message, please have the venerable Wizard Ridcully do so upon the sun set, as His Lordship is away from the castle at this time."
Two lion heads then appeared, roaring out, before the fire died down.
Santana shook her head. "Always the show-off, dear Kurt." Chuckling to herself, she made a mental note to speak to Ridcully about sending a fire message, and left to join Rachel in the library.