The Gift

After a long ride in the fading sun of the afternoon we arrive at the inn. Étienne descends Bernard and comes to my side to help me dismount. He places his hands on my waist as I turn to face one side.

"You should hurry so you can get Elene back to her owner before night fall." I remind him as I drift down to the cobblestone.

He laughs, enveloping me with an embrace. "I just need to bring her to the inn's stables."

"Won't her owner miss her?" I densely inquire.

"She's yours." He informs me. I stare at him with disbelief.

"Mine?" I turn in his arms to look at Elene, my horse, and then back to Étienne, my love. "She is an extravagant gift." I feel guilty at the splendor he is offering me.

"Nothing is too much for you." He retorts. He dips down for a peck before continuing, "Besides, she is the perfect temperament for you."

"Isn't she expensive?"

"I am a Marquis; I can afford a hundred horses without ruining myself. I want you to have a horse to ride alongside me." He reminds me. In his words I see how he has a different perspective and ability then me. He is from another world. Father bought two horses and a cart a few years back. He didn't stop complaining about the high price of the beasts for over a year. For Étienne this is petty change.

"How am I blessed with such a generous and thoughtful man?" I say as I lean in for another peck. I know he didn't have to do this. Based off of one conversation that I said I had never learned he has decided to teach me, and gift me a stunning mare. I see that with him I will be papered and love for eternity.

When I pull away, I study him, trying to know how to ask my question without offence. "How are you kind with the example of a man you had as a child?"

He gives a chuckle, playing with a stray hair from my redone braid. "I know people have different reactions to the same circumstances and I want to know why you reacted the way you did." I clarify as he contemplates.

"Comparing my brother and my reactions you are correct. They both objectify women, though neither seek to murder their wives. They are unfaithful to their promises, and don't care how they may hurt the young girls they chase."

"Exactly, why are you different?" I encourage when he pauses.

"I guess I saw the pain his actions brought. I never wanted to hurt someone like he hurt his wives, and by extension us children. Because I was so little when my mother died I stayed at home with nurses who taught me how to act. There was also the old stable master who taught me how to be a man. My brothers however were sent off to military schools, where they were taught cruelty. We take different approaches to people. That is why I wanted Charlotte to come with me, instead of being left at their mercy." He opens his heart and thoughts to me.

"You have surmounted your past. That is no easy feat." I observe. I open my mouth to continue when Charlotte with her ears burning rushes out of the inn to greet us.

"Camille, Étienne, I missed you." She tosses her arms around us, joining our hug. "You two are scandalous, being gone all day." She goads.

"Hi Charlotte, come meet Elene, my horse." I offer, trying to distract her from speculating. I might tell her some in private, but I don't want her to scare Étienne.

"You got a horse?" She pulls away, and Étienne drops his arms to his side.

"It was Étienne's surprise for me. He taught me the basics of riding today." I grab her hand, leading her over to Elene. Étienne remains in the background, letting us have our conversation.

"No fair, I want to learn to ride with you." She complains.

"You don't know how to ride?" I glance over to Étienne with accusation, though the question is for Charlotte.

"Few ladies learn. If they ride there is a man behind them." If this is the norm, why teach me?

"We will have to rectify that then."

"You would let me crash your private lesson?" She teases, joy twinkling in her eyes. My thoughts return to the memory of earlier. She is right, I don't want to share those intimate moments. If she had been there, we wouldn't have removed those barriers between us. We definitely wouldn't have kissed like we had.

"You can join every once and a while." I clarify. She heartily laughs at my correction.

We drift into a silence as we stroke Elene, content with our compromise. "She is a beautiful horse. You will have to find one like her when we get to Montclar." She observes.

"Étienne has given her to me." I inform her.

"What? He gave you a horse. He must love you." She says, before she covers her mouth at the slip of her tongue. What has he told her?