I carried out my plan. Or, at least, I started to. I went for a ride on my new mare the very next morning, ostensibly to put her through her paces. However, I only got a few hundred yards before I heard the sound of galloping hooves behind me. I knew it was Hardley before I even turned. 

 'Riding alone, m' dear?'

 'I could not persuade Louisa to come this early in the day.'

 'Unfortunate.'

 'Yes.'

 'You must allow me to accompany you instead.'

 I did not dare betray any reluctance. 'I would be honoured, my lord.'

 'Were you going anywhere in particular?'

 'Not at all. I was just riding.'

 'Then you set the pace.' It was in the nature of...

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