CHAPTER 27
IN THE AFTERNOON, JUST AFTER LUNCH, Victoria retired to look for her father's diary, Richard Hulmann. I was in the room reflecting on the words that Reverend Newman had said. In the afternoon, at Antoine's suggestion, Victoria took a walk around her magnificent mansion. After enjoying the magnificent gardens, he chose a majestic black steed, his father's favorite, to go for a ride. Now, after having circled the beautiful silver lake, they were galloping towards the top of a green hill.
Antoine gently seated her in the beautifully preserved 18th-century carriage seat.
— Are you comfortable?
— Better than never.
He sat beside her and she drove the carriage.
The black hair, with a gray streak of Victoria, who was riding, fluttered wildly under the effect of the same wind that opposed her body, caressing it all over.
Watching her radiant, Antoine tightened his grip on the reins; the steed, which until then had glided vigorously across the meadow, misinterpreted his gesture. Suddenly, neighing, he stood with both paws in the air.
— Horse trouble, ma'am!
— He was always the most docile.
Then, unconsciously, her body responded automatically by pulling harder on the reins and squeezing her feet close to her groin. The animal responded immediately by standing with its paws in the air.
— It's not a problem — said Antoine — I'm just showing you who's in charge here!
— Men! — exclaimed Victoria laughing at the situation, showing her face slightly embarrassed and continued:
— You always have the need to show strength and authority, this is unnecessary — he said smiling.
— Perhaps, madam — Antoine replied with a certain controlled irony — but only as long as his will matches yours.— If you always cherish him and despise force, when his will differs from yours, don't ask me which will prevail.
Saying this, he caused his horse to accelerate to a gallop, reaching the hill and there, again, getting into a prancing position. Victorious, he looked at that beautiful creature that now, slightly embarrassed, reached the top.
Antoine got off the horse, while he contemplated the valley below and then held Victoria in his lap so that she could feel the breeze. Sitting her down quietly next to him.
— This is all wonderful, isn't it? — Said Victoria.
— It is simply divine — pronounced the butler, the words barely audible.
The sun slowly descended on the horizon, making the silver lake, in the distance, kiss the star in the sky, now red, signaling the last moments of its glorious reign.
— Madam...
Victoria smiled:
— You don't have to say anything, Antoine...
She gently took his hand and gave it a kiss.
— One day at a time.
THE HORSE NOW gave the impression that it had wings as they made their way back: they flew around the lake, illuminated by the last remnants of the sun that, majestic, was now dying slowly to give way to the stars.