Authors Note: Wow! It has been forever since I've updated, many apologies! I've been having computer trouble, and I've been so busy I have hardly had time to even take a moment to plan out some one-shots. I plan on writing a couple more drafts tonight and hopefully finishing some more for you all for this upcoming week! Enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Marianne had always been fond of horses - even more so than Margaret. She loved the thrill of riding upon their backs, and even just walking through the pastures of Norland used to bring her incredible joy and peace of mind. So, when Colonel Brandon had invited her and her sisters to see his stables at Delaford, she had been the first one to accept his offer eagerly. Margaret, of course, was quick to accept as well, and was out his door before he had time to even open it. Elinor politely declined, and Marianne knew why - Edward had joined them for dinner at Delaford at Colonel Brandon's request, only the second time the men had met after the eldest had offered him the parish. Elinor wanted to soak up and enjoy as much time as they had together, knowing that they would be parted for over two weeks before their wedding. In all honesty, Marianne was glad. In the last few weeks, she had been feeling the most peculiar and confusing emotions, and butterflies seemed to make a home in her belly and fluttered about every time the Colonel was close to her. Even a small smile painted on his lips was enough to make her giddy. Margaret would be excited to ride, as always, and, being the brave and adventurous girl that she is, she would ride ahead of them, exploring the property and not paying her sister and family friend an ounce of attention. This would give her a chance to talk with the Colonel, and think about those butterflies.
Colonel Brandon's stable hand assisted them once they had met up with Margaret, two side saddles slung over each arm. She was surprised to see the Colonel walk into the small room of the stable where the horse tack was stored, and come out bearing his own saddle and bride. He chatted easily with the stable hand for a moment, discussing all sorts of things Marianne wouldn't even attempt to understand, about horses, the stable, and work that needed to be done. He eventually waved him off to his chambers to rest, although it was quite early in the evening for him to retire. Soon, the Colonel was leading his horse out to be prepared for the ride, while two beautiful sorrel mares stood patiently waiting for their riders.
"Oh, Colonel. He's marvelous!" Marianne exclaimed, eyes widening slightly at the sight of his horse. She wasn't very knowledgeable on the big animals, she admitted, but she knew beauty when she saw it. And of course, she had seen him riding the very same black horse many times before, but always at a distance. She had never seen an animal so exquisite.
"Thank you, Miss Marianne." He replied, tossing a saddle upon the horse's back. "He's one of the finest I've ever owned." He finished with him and led him closer before tying his reins loosely to a post and taking a step towards the two sorrels. Margaret bounced impatiently at the side of one, the mare pointing her ears towards the sound of her shoes on the dirt, curious.
"I'm afraid Miss Margaret claimed Lily, the horse on your left, on her first visit to Delaford. You'll be riding Adella. She's the calmest of the two, I'm afraid she lacks spirit, so you may need to give her a firm kick with your heel every so often to keep her moving." Marianne nodded, stroking the white blaze adorning her head. She glanced up to see that Margaret had already mounted her horse, and she laughed. "Margaret! How on earth did you mount by yourself?"
"Practice, dear sister." Her sister turned, a playful smile on her lips, and kicked her horse into motion, riding off ahead of them as she had predicted. Once she was far enough and she was completely focused on her riding, she felt safe to glance at the Colonel, surprised to see he was already looking at her with the most peculiar expression. She saw such...fondness there. She broke their eye contact, and nearly convinced herself that whatever she saw was simply because of Margaret's antics and the amount of sass trapped in her small body. Surely, the love that seemed to make his eyes light up was a brotherly one toward her little sister. They had grown quite close, she knew, and Margaret happily soaked up all the time that he was willing to spend with her. After growing up with a brother like John, having the Colonel around was a breath of fresh air for her. Before she could think on it any longer, he began speaking. "I'll help you onto Adella, if you don't mind. I'm afraid Jackson, my stable hand, recently injured his back and isn't quite up to much lifting, so you'll have to put up with me." Her face reddened at the thought of him being so close. Since when did his presence stir up such a blush?
"Of course." How she managed to speak without stuttering must've been the grace of God!
He came around, wrapping an arm around her waist, and the butterflies took flight in her stomach, feeling much stronger and larger than they'd ever been. He lifted her easily, as if she weighed no more than a feather! Suddenly, he didn't seem quite as old as he seemed when she had first met him. She was soon firmly planted in her saddle, legs in their proper place. With his back now turned away from her as he went to mount his own horse, she felt safe to turn her gaze upon him more openly. He swung his legs over the horse with such ease and strength that she had never seen before.
"Give her a nudge and she should be content to follow me. If not, don't be afraid to be stern with her."
"Alright." She said, slightly under her breath. She had ridden many horses, and she had quite a fine seat. She was sure of herself, confident, on the animals, but he mistook her voice, out of breath and shaky, and assumed that it was due to nerves. Just as they began walking leisurely towards Margaret, he turned the black stallion quickly and faced her again, hat casting shadows upon his eyes. "Miss Marianne, if you would rather not ride-"
"I want to ride, Colonel." She insisted, willing herself to forget the emotions that plagued her for just a moment long enough to convince him. She worried that he would think her nerves were from him, that the thought of spending time with him made her uneasy or unhappy, when she felt anything but. "Truly, I do. It's such a beautiful day and I would quite like to spend it with you." She caught herself, surprised at her own answer. "And Margaret, of course."
Her blunder, although she knew she was far too honest with him, and almost...flirtatious, seemed to save the day. He smiled and for the first time in the day, it seemed to reach his eyes. It was a smile she had seen before, when he had read to her, and told her he would be going away. When she had asked him, once again, too honest and open about her feelings, how long he would be away. He was different than other men, she knew for certain. Despite the fact that most men would be offended by a woman's honesty about her feelings, especially if they were not in an agreement, he seemed to love her even more for it. If anything, he welcomed her honesty.
He nudged his horse forward, smile still on his face, and seemed to take a moment to think about his words before speaking, as always. We compliment each other, she realized. Where she spoke too quickly, too soon, without much thought most of the time, he thought his words through. Every single word, he sifted through and made sure it was something worth saying.
They rode off again without a word, and she only hoped he didn't notice how long her gaze would linger upon his back, and how she purposely stayed behind him so she could watch him without his eyes on her. And with the setting sun illuminating him, his silhouette dark, strong and handsome against the oranges, pinks and reds of the evening sky, she wondered how she hadn't noticed him, or the butterflies in her stomach, much sooner.