The next morning Eden was up and pacing she wanted to go riding. She knew if she did she would anger Nikki and that was something she didn't want to do. Was she willing to do something she shouldn't be doing at the risk of losing her hands. Maybe a walk in the garden would make her feel less caged up. She rang for her maid and waited to have her help her dress for the day. When the maid entered she was carrying one of her dresses altered to be loose on her shoulders. Someone had to stay up to alter the dress.
"Thank you for altering the dress I appreciate it."
The maid blushed, and curtsied.
"It was nothing my lady. Would you like a bath before you dress for the day since you won't be riding?"
"No, I think I would like to dress and have my morning meal in the garden if that would be possible?"
When walking out of her room she was meet with the guard who had been placed to watch her room. Before he thought she was doing anything nefarious she mentioned she was only going to the garden he didn't talk he nodded his understanding and resumed watch over her room. She went to the garden and sat and looked at the flowers. This was not doing anything to calm her, so she decided to walk the garden until her food arrived. She took time to smell the flowers after all she didn't have anything else to do. After her meal she took to the study waiting for noon and the arrival of Nikki.
Nic arrived at noon as promised and was brought to the study where Eden had been she was sitting at the desk looking over ledgers. She looked up when the door opened, and she seemed to shine when she saw him. It did funny things to his person he needed to get a grip on his emotions the girl was going to make him embarrass himself in front of her.
"I brought my new Phaeton I thought you might like a drive in that instead of a stuffy old carriage."
He was rewarded with a smile that sent his heart to the moon and back. She got up out of the chair and flew across the room it wasn't very lady like Nic noted but it was quite Eden like. As they were on their way out the door Lizzy came rushing down the stairs.
"I am ready to go too."
Nikki and Eden looked at one another as what Lizzy was talking about. It was Eden who spoke not too kindly to Lizzy by this time she about had it with her trying to take Nikki for her own.
"You were not invited and there is no room for you in the Phaeton also this is a business trip I am sure Nikki doesn't need a petulant child around while he is conducting business."
They walked out the door leaving Lizzy with her mouth open on the stairs. Nikki helped Eden into the and they were off before Lizzy decided to come out to make a scene.
"So where are we going for this business meeting?"
"It's a surprise but first I thought we would get something to eat at Rules."
"That would be lovely."
Nikki had sent a message ahead to Rules that he would be coming and what he wanted served. He did this, so he wouldn't embarrass Eddie when or if she had to tell someone about her sensitivity to oranges. He always remembered when they were at his estate and cook placed an orange garnish on her plate and she almost died on them. He was not going to let that happen again. When they got to Rules they were brought to a privet dining room where it had been totally scrubbed so there was no chance Eden would come in contact with an orange.
Nic never remembered enjoying a dinner with a woman as he was right now. They talked business without the least little bit of awkwardness, they talked about the ton and how some of the up coming parties neither of them was looking forward too. And he found out that Eddie was going to take time out of the season to attend the Derby. They made plans to attend together it was the perfect balance of life. He knew he had feelings for her he had always had feelings for her. He had never really hidden them well he always asked after her she had never been far from his mind. He just needed to know how she felt, he knew she liked kissing him but to be honest he had never had any complaints in that department.
Eden tried to get where they were going out of him, but he would not tell her. They arrived at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for to her utter amazement a circus. When they found their seats Nic had to laugh at her wide eye wonder of all the things that seemed to be over their heads. There appeared to be a trapeze bars and tightrope wire.
"Oh, Nikki I have never been to a circus before I am beyond excited."
The wonder in her voice made him glad he had asked her to attend with him. She was much better company than Mel his stable hand. As they sat and waited a gentleman approached them. He bowed and greeting Nic by his title.
"Your Grace."
"Lord Rickman."
"This must be Natalie we heard about all your antic while at school."
Eden looked over at Nikki to see what the man was about. What antics could he have told him about since Natalie was the one who had stayed out of trouble it was more Eden and Nikki who had any antics to talk about. Nikki looked at little uncomfortable, which meant there was more to this story that she would investigate later. Nikki cleared his throat he was going to have to clear up the misunderstanding.
"This is Lady Eden Bedford."
The man looked bewildered and Eden wasn't sure why her name would cause the man such a state. She looked over to Nikki who was sitting with a very uncomfortable look on his face. But he offered her no explanation. She turned her attention to Lord Rickman.
"This isn't Eddie Bedford is it?"
There it was the moment in Nic's life that he wanted to crawl in a hole and die. His secret was going to be revealed and he hadn't had time to proclaim to the lady his interest other than the kiss the night before.
"Edward is my brother."
Lord Rickman laughed,
"I don't think the things I heard about Eddie had anything to do with being a girl."
Nic hissed.
"Go away Rickman before I skewer you."
Nic groaned Eden moved over and asked him to join them. She was very curious as to what Nikki had told them about her. But Lord Rickman made it worse he refused to tell her since she was a lady which only peeked her interest more. But he was silent on the subject, but he did talk about Natalie and her antics. He told her about the time Natalie climbed a tree to get a kitten out of it and found she couldn't get down and she sat up there all day until Nic rescued her. Eden looked over at Nikki and smiled whispering quietly.
"Natalie never climbed a tree in her life, why didn't you tell him the true story? I am sure he would have found that one more amusing."
"Hush!"
Before any more antics could be shared the music started the show started. A team of eight horses flew into the ring with a carriage in tow. They were white and simply beautiful before she could pay any more attention the Ringmaster jumped out of the carriage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the Royal Circus."
The horses left the ring and a single black Stallion entered. He was wearing a headpiece with a large red feather in the front. He was magnificent and at the crack of the ringmasters whip he began to dance to the rhythm of the music. Nic looked over at Eden and found her completely enthralled. The next act was the trapeze artist and when his act was over Eden forgot about the blisters on her hands and began to clap. It was Nic who stopped her and showed her she had popped some of the blisters the fluid was seeping through her gloves. She tried to sit on them but when they brought out more horses this time with riders she was too excited and kept trying to clap until Nic took her hands and held them to keep her from doing any more damage. When the jugglers came on to the stage Nic was having a tough time keeping her still. She leaned over to Nikki.
"I can do that!"
He gave her a puzzled look.
"I can juggle I learned the first year you didn't come home for the summer and went to a friend's instead. Natalie learned too we spent the entire summer practicing. He laughed it would figure the two of them would learn such a useless skill they would never need in real life.
"So, do you want to audition for a job in the circus. They can bill you as the Lady Juggler."
She swatted at him he was such a tease. At the end of the circus they excused themselves from Lord Rickman and went to find the owner of the circus who Nikki had a meeting with. The ringmaster who was also the owner of the circus bowed to Nic.
"Your Grace I have seen the two horses you brought along, and they are perfect specimens, I would be willing to buy a couple more if you have more they are of the highest quality."
"Do they need to match?"
"That would be preferable."
Just then the two horses in question were brought over to where the three of them were standing. Eden immediately went over to inspect the horses, they were two of the most beautiful grays she had ever seen. She had two on her farm that were close in color but nothing as fine as the two Nikki was selling.
"I don't have two more Grays if you give me some time I might be able to acquire two more, but I have to check with my suppliers."
She couldn't help it the thought of her horses in the circus was thrilling.
"Paradise Farms has two grays that would match. I am sure the owner of the farm would be willing to part with them for you, Nikki."
Nic turned to the owner,
"How long will you be in town for?"
"We will depart in seven days."
"Give me till the end of this week I will go out to Paradise farms and see if they are of equal quality and if so I will purchase them for you. Is that acceptable?
"That is more than acceptable your Grace."
The two men shook hands and the ringmaster bowed to Eden and walked off. The two of them went back to the Phaeton and started back to Eden's there was the Gormans ball tonight and they only had a few hours before they needed to be ready for it. Nikki broke the silence.
"Are you sure your father will sell me these horses?"
She laughed,
"I am sure you can purchase the horses at cost even. I really don't think my father even knows we have two Grays at the farm he doesn't come to the farm much I take care of all day to day transactions and things. I think if you would like to see the horses before the end of the week we should head out after the ball tonight. We can escape early and be at the farm by noon tomorrow. I would ride but..."
She held out her hands.
"So, it would have to be by carriage. What say you Nikki we can go on a midnight adventure?"
He looked down at her hope in her eyes sparked with the longing for an adventure. His mother was going to kill him if he absconded with her for a few days and society would demand he marry her. He had to wonder if marrying Eden was such a terrible thing, but he was so young he had a lot of life to live he was only twenty and two. But the thought of being alone with her excited him. What he had already done today was questionable even that could get them married if someone insisted.