"It's my pleasure, all of it," Sarah said shyly.
"Mine too," he admitted. "But we need to get back. That storm is definitely on its way."
They were just starting to head back for the vicarage when the skies opened up. Within seconds they were both drenched, and the grass underfoot became slippery, the bridle path a stream of mud. They were about half way down when Alexander felt himself sliding forward over the neck of the horse.
"Alexander! Hold on!"
Sarah threw her arm out to try to halt him, but he went flying and landed with a huge splash straight in a viscous puddle. Fortunately he had not been going too fast.
She jumped down off her mount and ran over to his prone form. "Alexander! Are you hurt?" she asked, clutching his chest and searching his arms and legs for any broken bones.
"I think the only thing bruised is my dignity," he wheezed.
She slipped one arm around his lean, hard body, and helped him up.
"Can you walk?"
He took a few tentative steps, and then nodded. "Nothing broken."
"Here, we'll walk them both."
He shook his head. Water droplets flew from his drenched hair. "It'll take ages to get back. I can try to get back on," he offered.
"There's no point. I don't want to run the risk of you falling off again. You might really injure yourself next time. Come on, let's go before the storm worsens."
She took the reins of both horses in one hand, and his arm in the other, and carefully led Alexander over the various obstacles on the path until at last they reached the bottom of the hill.
They got back to the stables in record time, but were still soaked to the skin. They led the horses back into the stall, and she shook some oats into their feed troughs.
They stood panting together for a few moments, dripping into the hay and flicking their streaming hair out of their eyes.
Sarah said, "I'm going to go inside to put the boiler on for our baths. Can you manage the saddles and rubbing them down?"
"I think so."
"I won't be long," she promised.
Sarah went inside and lit the fire under the boiler, then removed her soaking garments in the bathroom. She wrapped herself in a towel and went upstairs to get clean clothes for them both. She paused. It was evening. They could simply wear wrappers. She put out the clothes anyway in preparation for the morning, but put on her dressing gown and brought his also, and some blankets.
After washing her hands carefully, she went into the kitchen. She put on some spilt pea soup to heat, and gathered together a tray of bread, cheese, beer, and apple crumble, which she took into the sitting room. She pulled up the wooden settle right to the stone hearth, and banked up the fire into a roaring blaze. Then she threw a cloak over her dressing gown and went back out to check on Alexander and the horses.
"How are you managing?"
"I think they're glad to be back home. So am I."
"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you about the storm."
"Not your fault. I enjoyed the ride."
"Did you hurt yourself?"
He tested his back and shoulders. "No, I think I'm all right. I just got winded, that's all."
"Still, you're bound to be bruised."
"I'll need to get Caleb to put some cream on me tomorrow."
"I can do it tonight, if you like," she offered boldly.
His mouth went dry. "Oh, no, that's fine."
"I don't mind, honestly. In any case, you're going to need some help in the bathroom."
"I can't ask you to-"
"I'm happy to do it. You do trust me, don't you?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, but you're-"
"I know, a little shrinking violet."
"A decent woman."
She laughed. "I don't sound too decent at the moment, do I?"
"It's fine, Sarah, really. I can manage."
"We can put a cloth over you, and I've seen you in your drawers anyway. It's nothing to worry about."
He slipped away from her, looking very uneasy. "We can talk about it later."
Sarah, determined to help, decided she was going to do more than talk. But for the moment she simply asked, "Are you famished?"
"Fairly hungry."
"We'll eat in the sitting room, on the settle, then bathe."
"Fine. Just let me know if I'm ruining the carpet."
"I'm in my dressing gown and cloak. You'll be fine if you take your boots off as soon as we get in, and sit by the fire. The last thing we need is for you to take a chill."
They finished tending to the horses and headed up the path to the house. She helped him off with his boots, and led him to the bathroom. Alexander stripped off his dripping jacket and waistcoat, and washed his hands.