“Have these for a moment.” He passed her the reins, then bent and twisted away from her, looking over the curricle’s side to observe the axle in motion.
Diana stared down at the leather braids in her hands. Then she looked at the trotting horses and the muddy road flying by beneath them.
“Mr. Dawes,” she whispered, hoarse with fear. “Mr. Dawes, I’ve never—”
He held up that hand again, requesting silence. “Just a moment.”
This couldn’t wait a moment.
“Mr. Dawes.”
He straightened and turned to her. “What’s the matter?”
“Kindly take the reins,” she begged. “I don’t know how to drive.”
“You seem to be driving right now.”
“But what if we have to turn? Or slow down? Or stop?” She tightened her grip. “Oh dear. Now they’re going faster.”
He eased closer to her on the seat. His arm pressed against hers. “You’re doing fine. It’s not a busy road, and the horses know their way.” He put his hands over her wrists, shaking lightly. “Just lift the reins a bit and loosen your grip. These are good horses. They’re trained to a soft touch.”
He helped her position the reins, sliding them between her fingers.
“Like this?” she asked, sitting straight.
“That’s just it. You’re doing well.”
His low, gentle voice entranced her and gave her confidence.
He showed her the commands for right and left; how to urge the horses faster and draw them to a halt. The lesson made for welcome distraction. At least they had something to discuss other than the mortifying events of yesterday.
“Every woman should learn to drive,” he said. “I taught my own sisters when they were old enough. I never understood why the Spindle Cove ladies spend all those mornings shooting pistols and muskets, yet never have driving or riding lessons.”
“I suppose the shooting lessons make us feel strong. In control of ourselves and our lives.” At least, that’s what the ladies’ weekly target practice did for Diana.
He shrugged. “I’m not saying it’s bad. But there’s feeling powerful, and then there’s actually taking the reins. They are a great many situations a woman might do well to drive away from. Very few where it’s advisable to shoot her way out.”
He was right, Diana thought. Loading and shooting a pistol might give a lady a rush of exhilaration, but this was true power. The freedom to choose her own direction, and harnessing the power to take her there.
“There, now you know how to drive.” He moved back to his side of the seat. “Where do you want to go?”
Diana pulled on the reins, drawing the horses to a lurching halt in the middle of the empty lane. “I want to stop right here and apologize to you. I know you don’t wish to speak of yesterday, but I cannot be easy until I say this. You were very kind to me, and I can’t . . . I heard the way my mother spoke to you just now, and I need you to know I don’t think of you that way. When I came to the tavern last night, I wasn’t just seeking a moment of rebellion. I . . .”
She’d been staring at her hands all this time, but she forced herself to look up. At him.
His handsome features were a mask of confusion. Oh, she was making a hash of this.
“May I be honest with you?” she asked. “I think that’s the best strategy. I’ll just say everything I’ve been keeping to myself. And when it’s out, it will surely sound ridiculous. We’ll have a good laugh, and that will be the end of things. Can you bear it?”
His wide mouth crooked in a smile. “I can bear far worse.”
“I . . .” Out with it. “I’ve been infatuated with you for quite some time. It’s terrible.”
“Terrible,” he echoed.
“Not that you’re terrible, of course. That ‘s not what I mean. I think you’re remarkable. I’m the terrible one. It all started that night of Finn’s accident. You were so confident and so strong. Just did what needed to be done, and no wavering.”
“That night? Believe me, I was wavering. On the inside, I was wavering.”
“I never would have known it.” She laughed a little. “Of all the places to develop an infatuation. Making eyes at a man over an amputation table. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“Rather.”
“Hardly a story a woman wants to tell her grandchildren someday.”
“No, I don’t suppose it would be.”
She felt lighter already. “See, I told you this would all sound ridiculous. Oh, and there’s so much more. You already know that I purposely broke things just to have excuses to come by the smithy. When did you start to realize the truth?”
“Just recently.” His mouth tugged in a self-effacing grimace. “I’m not too sharp.”
She waved off his words. “That’s not true. You’re so perceptive. It’s evident in your finer work. I’ve spent hours poring over your jewelry pieces in the All Things shop. I’ve bought five of them.”