“I told her who I was. She was very cross with me Michael, and rightfully so. Though I apologized profusely, she still told Papa, who swatted my bottom then punished me for a month afterward. I was not allowed to leave the nursery at all. I could not ride, could not fish...”
“Oh, but you did. You even hid my horse from me the morning a group of us were going into the village to shop.”
Elise turned a bright shade of pink and looked away. “They could never keep me in if I didn’t want to stay punished. Please understand Michael, this was after I’d heard you tell Ren what you wanted in an ideal wife.” Elise covered her face with her hands. “Even then I felt you were describing me.”
Michael watched the children riding, and the groom leading an indignant Sophia, who insisted she could ride by
