She gave him a wan smile. “Well, as I do not intend to ride ever again, I suppose I am not necessarily in need of a riding habit.”
Taviston scowled. “But of course you will ride again. This was a strange and unfortunate mishap. You said yourself things were going well before your regrettable choice of words.” He smiled at her. “I will gladly buy you a new riding habit.”
“That, my dear sir, would be utterly improper.” She tried to turn a disapproving look on him, but it was difficult to do when he smiled. “We should probably be on our way now.”
“Very well,” he said, as he reached for Excalibur’s reins. Timothy finally caught up to them so Taviston handed him the reins and the footman and horse fell in behind them.
“Who is this lovely fellow?” Victoria asked as she nodded toward the magnificent black steed.
Taviston gave her an inscrutable look and paused before answering, “This is Excalibur.”
“Really?” Surprise shaded her tone.
“Yes.” He sighed. “I have studied the history of the legend of our King Arthur.”
So, the myth fascinated the proper and dignified duke as well. How coincidental they had both named their animals after parts of the legend.
“Do you believe he really existed?” Victoria ventured. “The sword in the stone and Merlin the wizard seem fantastical, but otherwise I think the story could be true.”
Taviston tilted his head back and looked up at the sky for a moment. Watching him out of the corner of her eye, she decided he was the handsomest man she would ever meet. Since he wasn’t the man she was going to marry, there was something not quite right about that. But he certainly looked exceptionally... manly in his riding coat, breeches and top boots.
He finally spoke. “I believe Arthur was real. Legends almost always have some basis in fact. But stories get embellished over time, much like gossip. In the course of my studies, it was fascinating to note when certain elements of the story came into existence.”
Oh, to have the resources to study such things. “What aspect of the story do you like the most?”
“Well, the lessons it attempts to convey about morality, leadership, and betrayal are all intriguing. What is there to dislike?” Taviston lifted an eyebrow at her.
“Indeed.”
“And yourself, what do you find so interesting?” he inquired.
She looked off into the distance. “Why, the lessons about love and relationships.”
Taviston lapsed into silence for a noticeable moment before asking rhetorically, “The Arthurian legend has something for all, doesn’t it?” He glanced over at her. “Speaking of Arthur, your wandering feline has spent the past few nights sleeping beside me.”
Surprisingly, he spoke without rancor. Victoria stopped walking, unable to check her astonishment. “He has? I have been completely at a loss as to his whereabouts.”
“Wonder no more.” Taviston, who had not stopped walking, turned completely around to say this to her, but continued walking backward.
“I do apologize,” she replied, while briefly wondering if an apology for one’s pet annoyed him as much as an apology for one’s relative. “I have no idea how he is getting out of my house.” She set her feet in motion again. “Do you know how he gets into yours?”
Taviston grinned. “Through the front door.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Every night about ten or eleven o’clock he takes up residence on my front step and sets to caterwauling until Halston lets him in.”
He still smiled, which was good. She had expected him to be more irritated.
“Oh, goodness. Arthur can be such a dreadful annoyance.” She felt like apologizing again but didn’t deem it wise.
“He really isn’t too much trouble. He has trained Cook to leave him a treat in the kitchen. Then he prowls around the house until I retire.” A wicked gleam sprang into his eyes. “My mother is still under the impression that a large grey rat inhabits Taviston House. She has been attempting to persuade me to hire our own personal rat catcher.”
“Oh, dear.” Then Victoria rounded on him. “Wait a moment. Why have you not informed her Arthur is just a cat? How despicable you are, sir!”
Taviston laughed. “’Tis true. But my brothers and I have always enjoyed giving her frights ever since we were children. Sometimes even Harriet joined in on the tease.”
“If you do not assure me this is all in good merriment, I shall be forced to call upon your dear mother and inform her of the truth,” Victoria warned.