Chapter 10: Reconciliation
Rachel woke up groggily to her maids' calls. She had hardly had a wink of sleep all night until dawn and now she was late to breakfast – where George would be. She jumped out of bed and hurriedly got ready, brushing away any attempts to put her hair into some kind of fancy updo to rush downstairs. As she entered the dining room she looked straight at George.
"Morning Rachel, sleep in today?" he joked, eyeing her hair with amusement. Rachel scrunched her nose, feeling hugely relieved that there was no awkwardness.
"Perhaps, or perhaps I felt like wearing my hair au natural." She replied pertly. George laughed.
"I would strongly recommend reconsidering that notion in future!" he exclaimed. Rachel mock glared before turning primly to her Aunt.
"And you Aunt? Did you sleep well." Aunt Mary, still smiling at their exchange replied politely.
"Very well thank you Rachel. After such an evening of socialising I slept like a log. These constant events are not for the faint hearted. I have begun to fall behind in my work!"
"Oh heavens no – not your radical writings!" Rachel exclaimed.
"To some they are quite moderate Rachel. Perhaps you should read them." Rachel scrunched up her nose again. "Ah but when it is such lovely weather, I can hardly allow myself to stay inside… George! Shall we go for a ride?"
George threw a glance at his Aunt who shrugged – it was useless to try to get Rachel to do something she didn't want to. He sighed "Very well then. To the eastern forest?"
"Ohh yes. Lovely!" exclaimed Rachel, before tucking into her breakfast with verve.
The sun had crept high into the sky by the time they made it out to the stables. Rachel chose her favourite mare and cursed the necessity of a side saddle. Although she wasn't supposed to, she had tried using a man's saddle before. And found it a great deal easier! But George wasn't aware of her solo journeys, so she was forced to look the part now. A groom helped her mount and she trotted out to meet George, who looked very impressive on a strong brown horse. She couldn't help eyeing his figure as she came upon him, but glanced away as he looked at her.
"Well?" he said "I believe we are here to ride?" he raised an eyebrow. Rachel grinned at the challenge in his voice.
"We certainly are" she laughed as she kicked her mare into a canter, leaving George to follow – which he quickly did. They raced for the first few kilometres, gasping with laughter as they overtook one another. As the wood thickened they finally slowed, allowing their horses to breathe. They trotted through the leafy landscape chatting easily, speaking of their family and what the next semester of College would bring for George. It was just as if Lissa had never existed, thought Rachel joyously.
As they finally reached their cropped lookout Rachel sighed with pleasure, gazing over the beautiful rolling hills. George dismounted and moved around to help her down. She had never been more aware of him and repressed a shiver as his hand gripped hers. Was it just her or had he held her hand a little longer than necessary? She glanced up through her eyelashes but he had already looked away and was moving to sit on the bluff, setting down the mince pies they had packed next to him.
Rachel moved to sit by him, grabbing a pie to munch on, and they watched the sheep grazing in companiable silence.
"My father used to love it up here." Rachel said quietly. "He would call it is 'big thinking' place. Insisted he got all his best ideas here." George put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed, giving Rachel a thrill of excitement.
"He really was the most generous man. To make me part of his family." Rachel nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat. She wondered if the bittersweet pain of his memory would ever disappear. If she'd ever be able to look back at the wonderful times they had shared with a smile. The two of them sat in silence a while longer, lost in their own thoughts until every pie was gone. Their eyes met and George grinned.
"No more pies… must be time for luncheon." Rachel couldn't help emitting a giggle and stood up to leave. She steeled herself as George handed her up onto her horse. Surely, she wasn't alone in feeling the frission between them now? He quirked a smile at her as he mounted and led the way back down the hill. No, she thought as she followed, she was sure – there was something here.