Of course—it sounds fun!

Peggy smiles. It does sound like a lark! "Very well, Mr. Winthrop," she says, settling herself more firmly on Corbin. "To the mile-marker, you say?"

"Aye," he says with a grin. "Are you ready?" She hears Simmons sigh behind her, but he sounds amused.

"On your mark, Mr. Winthrop," she says with a grin. Her heart's already beating harder. What fun!

"Ready...steady...mark!" Percy cries, and she snaps Corbin's reins. Both horses take off with a whinny and a clatter of hooves, breaking toward the town at a gallop. Well, in Corbin's case it's a bit more of a hard canter, if she's honest - but what can you do? The trees are still flying past her as she rides, and she laughs breathlessly as she pursues Percy down the road. He's pulling ahead of her, but not by so much...if she just pushes Corbin a little harder, she can catch him! Percy disappears around a bend in the road and Peggy snaps the reins again, eager to catch up.

As she rounds the bend, though, a hare darts across the road in front of her. Corbin, spooked, rears up, and Peggy's eyes widen as suddenly she's only able to see blue sky in front of her. For a second, she scrabbles desperately at the bridle and the pommel of her saddle - then, with a cry, she falls, landing hard on the dirt road.

Peggy hears Corbin galloping off away from her as she lies there, wind knocked out of her and feeling quite bruised. Slowly, she starts to push herself up on her elbows, wincing with each movement. Oh, she will be in trouble over this, she has a feeling...

"Peggy!" Peggy looks up to see Percy cantering back toward her. He reins to a stop a few feet away, and leaps down lightly. "Are you hurt?! I heard your cry, then I saw your horse rush past - are you injured? My God!"

"I am fine!" Peggy exclaims. Well, not exactly true - she does feel devilishly sore. But she doesn't seem to have suffered any serious harm. "No, no, I am well. Thank you, Mr. Winthrop...I appreciate your coming back for me."

"Of course." Percy, still looking concerned, pulls her to her feet. "I really feel abominable about this - I encouraged you into this silly race, and now you've taken a frightful spill. Still, you feel you are well?"

"Quite well," Peggy says, still a little winded but putting on a smile for him.

"I've ridden horses all my life, had my share of falls. Do you mind if I -" without even finishing his question, Percy reaches out and puts his hands on Peggy's side, gently pressing on her ribs. She gasps with startlement at his touch, and blushes slightly as he gently prods her side, hands moving higher, but he just smiles. "That doesn't hurt?"

"No - no, I was just startled. That doesn't hurt a bit." In fact, it's making Peggy feel rather warm.

"Good. No broken ribs, then, I don't think. Follow my finger with your eyes?" He moves it back and forth in front of Peggy's face and she complies, giggling. "Well done. It seems that you probably didn't hit your head, either, or not badly. You're lucky girl, Peggy Foxhaven!"

"Am I? I don't feel lucky right now, I feel foolish," Peggy admits, laughing slightly as she brushes herself off.

"Nonsense. As I said, this is entirely my fault. Here - let me give you a ride back home."

"Oh, but - won't you be late for dinner with the Bellingtons?"

"I think, given the circumstances, they'll understand," Percy says with a chuckle. Peggy nods with a blush, and he gives her a hand up onto his horse so that she can sit side-saddle. Percy swings himself up behind her, and as he settles into his seat she's suddenly deeply aware of how close he is to her - his chest is practically pressed against her back and side. Peggy's pulse quickens and she takes a slow, steadying breath, trying to control her body.

"I don't suppose we have time to track down Corbin," she says glumly, looking for a topic of conversation as they set off at a walk.

"The horse? I shouldn't worry about him. Horses are good at finding their way home," Percy says lightly. As they turn a corner, Peggy slips slightly and squeaks, and he takes a hand off the reins to wrap it firmly around her waist. Peggy shivers slightly at the forwardness of it all, but her heart is beating even faster and she can feel a blush rising in her cheeks. His arm around her is so firm...so strong...

They walk in silence for several minutes, then Percy suddenly leans forward and inhales deeply, sniffing her hair and startling her. "I say, Peggy, are you wearing a perfume?"

"Wh-what? I - n-no, Mr. Winthrop, not today," Peggy says, blushing furiously.

"Ah. So just naturally fragrant then," he says to her with an easy grin. She gasps, scandalized but flattered, and looks away, shaking her head. She's hard-put not to smile at his compliment, though. She feels his arm around her waist tighten ever so slightly.

"Tell me, Miss Foxhaven, have you had many suitors?" Percy asks merrily. "I should think an attractive woman like yourself would have to beat them off with a stick, even around here..."

"Oh - haha - no, no I...I haven't," Peggy says, a little breathlessly. "Truth be told, I...I always find I fall in my older sisters' shadows, a bit!"

"What!" Percy's definitely leaning close to her now, speaking almost in her ear. "Ah, the men of Wiltshire are fools, Miss Foxhaven! Do you really mean to tell me that no man has recited poetry to you at your window, or sent you bushels of roses because you complimented his hat once? No one has offered you the courtesies of love? No one has stoked your inner flame?" His lips graze her ear as he speaks, and Peggy gasps softly. The arm around her waist has moved stealthily, and his hand lands on her thigh, warm and firm, massaging her thigh gently through the layers of her riding skirt and petticoats. Peggy is not sure what's happening, but she knows that she wants this, wants him...she knows, as well, that it's not proper for her to feel this way, or to acknowledge it. She writhes slightly in Percy's arms, uncertain what to do.

"Can it truly be that no one's loved you?" Percy asks seductively in her ear. His hand on her thigh slides slowly lower, and she gasps as his hand with the reins rises to squeeze her breast, sending a tingle of pleasure through her chest and down toward her loins.