Hugh stared out the window feeling restless. He had gotten up early that morning intent on visiting the mews so that he could take an early morning ride in Hyde Park. He had awoken to gray skies and the sound of rain on the rooftop, causing him to forego the idea. If they had been at Eastbridge he would not have minded the rain but riding through the dirty streets of London even the short distance from the mews to Hyde Park was not something that he wanted to do.

The weather was not the only thing weighing on his mind that morning though. Hugh was highly annoyed that he allowed himself to react so poorly to Lady Priscilla's gossiping the night before. While he abhorred the tendency of London's social elite to delight in the misfortune of others, he well knew that it was normal behaviour all year but especially during the Season. It had been rude of him to stand up and leave so abruptly and he hoped he had not offended Lord and Lady Alderside.

Lady Priscilla had seemed quite astonished when he stood up to leave and he felt a pang of remorse for that. He had been angered and acted upon it but she most likely had no idea why he had left. It would be ridiculous of him to ruin his chances of a courtship with Lady Priscilla all because she was doing something everyone around was doing.

That thought suddenly causing him to sit up in his chair. Perhaps if he could spend some time with her without her companions he would be able to learn more about her. He selected a new piece of paper from his desk to write a note inviting Lady Priscilla to go riding with him in Hyde Park. Once he was done he put on his coat and left the house. He went directly to the family residence off Grosvenor Square directed Fletcher to deliver the invitation to Ridgewood Hall and then sought out his sister to ask for a favour.

"Henrietta, I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to come with me," Hugh was saying several hours later.

Henrietta shook her head and laughed. "I am glad that you asked me. I have not gone riding in weeks. I am rather looking forward to it."

"Are you not going to thank me profusely as well?" Matthew asked.

"No, not at all," Hugh told him. "I did not ask you to come, you invited yourself."

"And it was a good thing too," Matthew assured him. "Now we have an even number. Henrietta and I will be talking to each other which will make it much easier for you to talk to Lady Priscilla."

"I suppose you are correct," Hugh admitted, although begrudgingly.

"You suppose? You will not be alone with her but she will be forced to endure your sparkling personality." Matthew bowed theatrically. "You can thank me at the wedding."

Henrietta giggled while Hugh rolled his eyes and then turned around as they heard someone approaching.

Hugh was surprised to see a carriage appear around the corner. He thought his note had been rather clear that he wanted to ride horses even going insofar to direct her to indicate in her reply if she needed a horse to ride.

Before he could discuss it with either Henrietta or Matthew the carriage door was opened by one of the footmen and Lady Priscilla emerged looking beautiful and somewhat out of place on the riding trails of Hyde Park. She was wearing the most magnificent and elaborate riding habit he had ever seen. While the question of if she had understood his invitation had been cleared up he wondered if she would actually be able to alight a horse in the habit.

Behind him, he heard Matthew say quietly, "What on Earth is she wearing?"

Henrietta had hushed him whispering loudly, "I do not know but be quiet."

"Good afternoon, Mr Repington."

Hugh was about to ask about the carriage when one of the footmen led a chestnut horse out from behind the carriage. A second footman hurried out with a large wooden box setting it down next to the box. "Lady Priscilla, we are ready."

"Good," she said and moved toward them her riding habit fluttering behind her. The pricked its ears back briefly as she passed but the footman calmed the horse while the other footman helped Lady Priscilla to mount the horse. After several minutes of arranging and rearranging, Lady Priscilla was seated in her saddle and they set off with Matthew and Henrietta in the lead.

"Oh no," Lady Priscilla suddenly gasped.

"What is wrong?" Hugh asked looking over. As far he could see there was nothing amiss, both horses were moving along at the same pace and Lady Priscilla looked well seated in her saddle.

"Water is being splashed upon my riding habit," Lady Priscilla said as though her predicament was the same as rotten tomatoes being thrown at her.

"It is merely water, I..."

"No! Stop it!" She cried out and leaned over as if to brush something off of her skirt.

One of the fluttery pieces on her sleeve floated out over the horse's head which caused the horse to come to a sudden and complete stop. It happened so fast that Hugh could only watch as Lady Priscilla tried to sit up in time to grasp at the pommel but she had already left her seat when she stretched out her arm. A second later she landed flat on her back in a mud puddle that the horse had managed to avoid on the side of the trail.

Hugh scrambled off his horse amid screams from Lady Priscilla. "No! My riding habit!"

By the time Hugh got around his horse and hers she was sitting up and looked horrified. "I am covered in mud! What am I going to do?"

A moment later Henrietta hurried up beside him. "Oh dear, Lady Priscilla, are you unhurt?"

Henrietta was being very kind and caring but Hugh could tell she was trying not to smirk. He could not blame her. Lady Priscilla was quite the sight still sitting in the puddle of mud.

"Perhaps we could get you up out of the mud," Henrietta suggested, holding out her hand to help the other young lady up.

"No, do not touch me. I want to go home."

"I understand," Henrietta her voice soothing. "We will get you back on your horse and we will set off right..."

"No," Lady Priscilla said again. "I want to go home, now."

Henrietta stood up and stepped away, irritation showing clearly on her face.

"You..."

"Someone needs to fetch my carriage straight away." Lady Priscilla gave a stern look from her place on the ground.

"I would be happy to," Matthew offered, the only one among them still seated on a horse.

For a moment, Hugh wanted to say he would go but he realized it had more to do with not wanting to wait with Lady Priscilla for the carriage. He only wanted to be away from her.

"Are you sure you do not want me to help you out of the mud? There is a tree stump right here that you could sit on to wait," Hugh offered.

"No. Please just leave me alone."

Hugh did as she asked stepping back across the trail where Henrietta had tied up the horses.

"Well, this went rather well," Henrietta told him.

"Is it quite unladylike to be sarcastic," Hugh said lightly.

"Did you really expect it to go better?"

"I had hoped so, yes." He shook his head and then smiled. "At least I know this will not be spread about London." It was unlikely that she would spread gossip about herself.

"Oh, I am sure some version of it will be spread about," Henrietta looked across the trail at the petulant young lady in the mud. "Only the version that you will hear about will be quite different. Unfortunately, Lady Priscilla will the only person that will not be blamed for her predicament."

"Yes, you are most likely in the right." Hugh nodded and sighed.