Thank you, my wonderful readers, for your enthusiasm and support!

Some people wondered why Edward didn't go all the way with Bella in the previous chapter. Well, Edward wishes to please Bella, to make her aware of the pleasure she can have as a woman before they reach that stage. And he is not going to let James run their married life either!

Heartfelt thanks to LovePotionsBrewer, my beta and friend, for taking time out of her busy life and making this story much, much better.

Chapter-7

( Past )

It had been four days since the wedding. The household had settled back into its daily routine. Anthony had formally introduced me to the forty or so staff members, and given me some suggestions on keeping the household records. The details I was to sort out with Mrs. Stanley.

My first meeting with her left me feeling rather unsettled. The housekeeper was polite, of course, but I could not shake off the feeling that she did not approve of me. What could be the reason? Did the staff members in these great houses believe in blue blood marrying blue blood like their masters? Except that Anthony very clearly did not believe in any such nonsense. He had already complimented me on my beauty, my speech, my deportment…In his eyes, I was pretty much perfect.

My mother had involved me in the running of our household since I was fourteen, so I wasn't a stranger to all that went into it. However, everything in my married life was bigger or more, so naturally I had some doubts.

The estate was huge, and so was the manor house. I would probably never see all the rooms located in the three wings. I was not even supposed to. Managing the house was Mrs. Stanley's domain, as was the army of maids required to run everything smoothly.

At my parents' house, I had actually seen the scullery maid and exchanged a few words with her on occasion. Here I doubted I would ever come face-to-face with half of the women who cleaned, washed and cooked on a daily basis.

One would think that a handful of servants would be enough to serve a young couple with simple tastes, wouldn't one? But when I wondered aloud in front of Anthony, he patiently explained that very little of it was for our benefit. Of course we required clean linen and hot meals, but most of the tasks came into being because of his, or rather, our status in the society.

"We have to be prepared, always," he said in his soft, musical voice as we sat in the sun room after the first meal of the day. "You already know that we host a Christmas Ball and a pageant on All Saints Day, but we have guests during summer too, to enjoy the country air. Then there are those who come as a party in the hunting season, for pheasants, foxes and other animals and birds. We maintain a full stable of well-bred horses and a pack of hunting dogs, mainly hounds and pointers. Renting and selling them earns us good revenue and gives employment to many people around here. For these reasons we must have sufficient staff at the house, to maintain the guest rooms and to feed however many people may be staying here. Even if we did not care for the income, all this is expected of us because of our position."

I must have looked rather dazed, for he smiled and patted my hand in a comforting manner. "Don't worry too much. The outdoor activities are managed by me and Jenks, the steward. Mister Stanley takes care of the guests' needs in the house. And you will find Mrs. Stanley to be very efficient where managing the maids and cooks is concerned. Your job as the lady of the house," he gave me another smile here, "is to make the guests feel welcome, keep the ladies entertained when the gentlemen are outdoors, and to maintain the household records. Give yourself a little time; I am sure you will have it pat very soon."

I wanted to do him proud, so I took his advice seriously. I met Mrs. Stanley almost daily and discussed the running of the household with her. I respected her suggestions and did not make any changes immediately, though I noted some down for the future. I studied the expenses thoroughly so I would not make a single mistake. I spoke with Anthony at mealtimes on his family's history, asking him to familiarise me with the important members in every generation. Finally, I sought information on the people who were regular guests at the mansion. I did not wish to seem an ignoramus country bumpkin in front of them.

After a few days had passed, Anthony proposed that I should learn riding.

"It is a good exercise, Isabella. I see you are immersing yourself in your duties and learning everything there is to learn about the household and the family, but that means you spend your whole day inside. It is equally important that you take care of yourself too, isn't it?"

"I am a little scared of horses," I admitted hesitantly. "They are so big and strong, and…I once saw a horse kick his groom. He almost flew through the air and landed so badly…he died. Even now the memory makes me shudder."

He nodded sympathetically. "Yes, accidents happen sometimes. But I promise you, horses are mostly very intelligent, loyal creatures. They just need to be trained well, and that is Edward's specialty."

"Edward?" I repeated, distracted. I had thought of him a few times, but since I had already accepted Anthony as my husband I just pushed those thoughts away. What was the use?

And what did I know about Edward? The attraction I had felt towards him must have been due to his good looks and his charming manners. It had to be completely superficial.

"Yes," answered Anthony, oblivious to my scattered thoughts. "Edward is in charge of all the horses of our stable. He has always had an affinity with them and been able to train a horse with any kind of temperament. Didn't he promise you to teach you riding when you met him the first time?"

"He did, but at that time I believed him to be you…"

Anthony shrugged and raised an eyebrow. "Does that really matter now? He may have promised you, but it is my wish that you learn to ride." He frowned. "Are you still miffed with him? Is that why you don't want him to teach you?"

I looked at him uncertainly. Was I still annoyed with Edward? I had forgiven Anthony, so why could I not forgive him?

Anthony sighed and steepled his hands under his chin. "Isabella, Edward is like a brother to me. He lied, yes, but he did it for my sake. Please forgive him? For me?"

I did not want Anthony to plead. He was an earl, for goodness sake!

"Of course I forgive him," I assured him with a smile. His expression lightened at once.

"Good," he said, rubbing his hands, and then bowed to me and swept his right arm in a half circle. "Let's not waste this beautiful, sunny day then. Shall we?"

I laughed, but followed him outside. He was right; it was a glorious day. The sky was a clear azure, the breeze a mere whisper; cool but not cold. I was blessed to be living in this beautiful countryside and not in some congested, smoky town.

The gardeners were busy weeding and trimming the grass, pruning the hedges and watering the many flowering shrubs in the front gardens. The head gardener came up to have a word with Anthony, who informed him that I was very much interested in the plants that we had. I was given carte blanche to examine them and add new ones if I so wished.

We took a narrow path to the left that led to the stables. The building was large, with wide, arched windows with glass panes, to let in plenty of light but keep out the chilly air during the cold days. As we approached the door, a mixed smell of horses and hay welcomed us.

The interior was as spacious as it appeared from outside. The stalls had plenty of room for their occupants. The hay was being changed in some stalls that were vacant of horses, whereas in others there were grooms rubbing down their charges with great care. We found Edward in one of those, chatting with a beautiful black stallion and feeding him a carrot.

"Ready for some exercise, Emmett? I bet you want to see Rosalie too, don't you? Today she will be the ride of the countess of Masen Estate, do you hear? You must have a word with her and ask her not to be temperamental, all right?"

I raised an eyebrow as Anthony smothered a laugh. "Uh, Edward, can you come out when your conversation is finished? Isabella is here."

Edward spun around so quickly that he almost lost his footing, grabbing the horse to keep himself upright. "B—Anthony, Lady Isabella, you are here!"

I bit my lip whereas Anthony let out a full, rich laugh. "I said I would bring Isabella so that you can teach her riding, didn't I? Although she might not be willing now, having seen you talking with a horse!"

I must confess I had imagined our meeting to be awkward, even though I had forgiven Edward for his lie. But seeing him so flustered and so unlike his suave self put me at ease. Or perhaps he wasn't all that suave; perhaps I had only perceived him as such because of the title I had associated with his name. Now that I knew he was only a cousin, I could look at him without the glamour my mind had bestowed upon him that day.

Edward rubbed the back of his neck, the tips of his ears turning red. "It is just a habit I have got into, much like you talk with your favourite hound before going on a hunt. That doesn't mean you have lost your mind, does it?"

His tone turned teasing towards the end. I could see they were comfortable in their friendship.

"Yes, I give him orders," replied Anthony without missing a beat. "I do not hold a conversation with Brutus, informing him who my companions for the day might be and requesting him to speak with his team on my behalf."

Both of them laughed. Anthony put an arm around him and turned towards me.

"Isabella, once again I would like you to meet my cousin and dearest friend, Edward. And Edward, no need for the formality. I am sure Isabella will prefer it if you call her by her given name, no title. Isabella, you don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not," I answered. Did I mind? Using the title would have been useful, perhaps, in keeping a little distance between us. But was it necessary? After all, I was devoted to my husband. Surely Edward's angelic face would not affect me anymore?

My face must not have betrayed my inner musings, for Anthony rubbed his hands and smiled cheerfully.

"Excellent, excellent," he commented. "I will take my leave then. Edward, take good care of her. Isabella, I will see you in the evening. I have some business at Forkton to be conducted."

Forkton was a charming little town a few miles away. Anthony had mentioned it before, saying that the people there made some fine wool. He was interested in establishing a small factory where the wool could be spun into yarn and then sent to London. It would give a nice boost to the economy of the town.

"You are not travelling alone, are you?" I asked. There had not been any reports of bandits recently, but they were still a danger. Only two years ago, a wealthy merchant from another town had been kidnapped on his way to London. His family had to pay a hefty ransom to get him back unharmed.

Anthony's eyes softened, as if he knew exactly what was going on in my mind. "Don't worry, I am taking Jasper with me. He is a very good shot. Also, travelling during the day is fairly safe. We will be back by eight at the latest. You enjoy your lesson, all right?"

He patted my shoulder, which was the most affection he could show outside our bedroom, I supposed. Then he left to pick up his satchel from the office.

When I looked back at Edward, I caught a strange expression on his face. Wistful, perhaps? But it was gone before I could decide exactly what it was.

"Why don't you step outside, and I will bring Rosalie and introduce you two?" he said with a smile. I nodded, feeling relieved. Horses may be magnificent animals, but the stable smelled.

It was much better outside. In a few minutes Edward joined me with two horses, and I had to admit they were beautiful. The black stallion was Emmett, of course, and the pure white mare must be Rosalie, I thought. She had such a dainty look about her that I could almost imagine her toss her head and say, "What? You will ride me? How dare you think of such a thing?"

I shook my head. I had spent five minutes with Edward, and already I was imagining my horse to be able to talk.

I was properly introduced to the pair. Emmett was almost six years old whereas Rosalie was five. Edward had been taking care of them since their birth, and had begun training them quite early. However, he had been adamant that nobody would ride them before they turned five years of age.

"People don't understand that just because a horse looks big means it can be ridden," he commented, stroking Emmett's shiny coat. "Emmett is mine, so it wasn't a problem, but I had to explain so many times to the fine ladies who visit the estate that Rosalie was not ready. If it was up to them, they would have made her gallop at two!"

As if I knew anything about horses!

"I am assuming that would have been a bad thing?" I hedged a guess. He nodded vehemently.

"Oh yes," he agreed, his tone belying the passion behind his calm expression. "The bone structure of horses is not fully developed until they are four, sometimes five years of age. I know that race horses begin very early, but they retire early too, most of them with injuries and joint problems. Why should we spoil our horses just because some of our guests take a fancy to them? Waiting for a couple of years can be so beneficial in the long run!"

His eyes were sparkling when he finished. I was impressed by how much he cared for his charges, even though the guests would have paid well to ride them. Suddenly his talking with a mute beast did not seem so odd.

He encouraged me to stroke Rosalie's neck lightly. Tentatively, I did.

"Rosalie," he crooned, "you are ready now, aren't you? Lady Isabella is as new at this as you are; you can learn together, all right?"

Rosalie whinnied softly.

"Well, since I have already saddled her…" He bowed slightly and gestured to me to mount her, positioning his hand at the correct height.

I had seen women mounting a horse, and always wondered how confidently they managed to step into the man's hand. What if he failed to hold her weight?

"Are you sure—" I cleared my throat nervously as Edward looked expectantly at me. "Are you sure I am not too heavy…I mean, maybe I can use a stool instead? And don't I need a proper riding habit, and—"

He shook his head and smiled. "You are far from heavy, Isabella. I have been doing this for years, so trust me that I won't let you fall. As for a riding habit, it is not that different from your skirt. I am sure you can get some made if you like, but this is just the beginning. Mostly you will learn to sit in the saddle properly and communicate with your horse. The galloping will come much later."

"Rosalie is mine?" When Anthony had said a mare had been chosen for me, I hadn't thought she would belong to me.

"Of course she is," he assured me. "As soon as your parents approved of the marriage, Anthony decided that Rosalie would be exclusively yours, just as Emmett is mine and Alistair is Anthony's. Now will you give me your foot?"

I bit my lip and stepped into his hand, sending up a silent prayer that I would maintain my balance. "Hold the pommel; that's the upturned part of the saddle," he instructed as his other hand snaked around my waist and hoisted me up. "Easy there. Now hook your right knee like this."

Again he helped me, his touch as light as possible, as I settled in the side-saddle. He tucked my left foot in the stirrup.

"Feel better?"

I did, but then I made the mistake of looking down at him.

"It's a long way down." My voice sounded squeaky even to my own ears.

He chuckled.

"I had forgotten the first time on a horse can be somewhat…intimidating," he observed. "Don't worry, she won't move until you want her to."

"I wish women could ride sitting astride," I muttered, arranging my skirt so that it would cover my ankles. "And wear trousers instead of skirts."

Edward listened patiently, his lips twitching. When he was sure that I had a good seat, he handed the reins to me and helped me to loop them correctly around my fingers.

"Just hold them slightly loose. You don't want to hurt Rosalie, do you?"

"I wouldn't dare," I said cheekily. He shook his head and laughed. Then he mounted Emmett with a graceful jump and asked me to pull the reins just a little. When I did, Rosalie began to walk. Edward kept Emmett at the same steady pace.

"You will soon get the feel of it. Then you will know how much you need to pull or let go."

He taught me how to indicate to Rosalie to turn left and right, and to stop and start walking again. A few times he placed his hands over mine and guided me. His touch remained light, but it still affected me. When we reached a large paddock, he said he needed to let Emmett go for a bit, otherwise he wouldn't get enough exercise.

"Will you be all right?"

"Of course," I said, trying to sound confident.

In a moment they were off, galloping, while I stared open-mouthed. Edward riding Emmett was a thing of beauty, both of them looking so free and in perfect harmony with each other. It was like Emmett could read Edward's mind. I knew some people used a whip to make their horses run faster, but Edward didn't even have one with him. Legs tucked in and torso slightly bent forward, he almost hugged his horse as they sprinted in a wide circle. I continued to walk Rosalie, envious of the bond that they shared.

After Emmett had galloped around the grassy paddock to his heart's content, Edward joined me and asked if I wished to progress to a trot.

"I would like to go back, actually," I confessed. "I have had enough for today."

"Perhaps that would be for the best," he agreed. "I will exercise Rosalie afterwards or she will fidget the whole day."

"My back is aching," I said, wishing I could fidget and not fall.

"Oh yes, that happens with beginners. Your posture is excellent, but you have to relax a bit, you know? For your first day, you have done very well."

I could not help smiling at his praise. It was a relief to know that I hadn't made a fool of myself.

"Do you think I will learn to ride well by the time guests begin to arrive on the estate?"

His expression showed that he heard what I had left unsaid. "I am sure you will, my—Isabella. However, there is no need to push yourself for the sake of others. It is best to let things progress at your own pace. Look at riding as something you will enjoy in time; no need to worry what others might think."

Our eyes locked for a brief moment. I had a feeling that he was speaking not just of riding but of being Lady Isabella Masen too. How well he understood me!

We arrived back at the stable. I thanked him for the lesson, and he helped me dismount Rosalie. Again I felt the heat of his hands on my waist.

"You are welcome, Isabella." His breath was warm against my ear.

Why was I so conscious of this beautiful man who was not my husband?

A.N. I hope this chapter has given you a lot of information about Bella's life with Anthony.

You have probably noticed that it was almost twice as long as a normal chapter, but I could not find a suitable break anywhere.

I will be writing my entry for the Age of Edward Contest, so the next chapter might be late. Please have patience. I promise I will try to be as quick as possible!