Aloyisius Gibb marched heartily along the lane. He was in "fine fettle" as the locals would say as he swung his silver topped stick at the daisies, lopping heads in all directions. Probably not the use Aspinalls the jewellers had foreseen when the stick was being crafted, but its weight and balance made for a marvellous scythe.
He had eaten a magnificent breakfast and now felt the need to walk it off. His musings as he advanced filled out by the images of the serving girl who had brought the trays of food. Young, pretty and nearly bursting out of her low cut shift. Every time she bent over, and sometimes he felt it had not always been absolutely necessary, he could see clear down to her navel. Oh, what a wondrous sight. She was a new girl, best to let her settle in first, after all we don't want to scare the horses do we, he considered.
The day was fine and clear. He stopped and lit a cheroot blowing a cloud of blue smoke into the air. With no breeze it took its time to clear and he gazed across the valley. Continuing his walk, he passed a low cottage with a woman sat outside spinning. He exchanged greetings with the spinner casting an appreciative eye over her form. Not bad he thought and strolled on giving her a smile, knowing that the woman would find him a very agreeable sight indeed.
Well dressed in his early forties, he looked the epitome of a well to do landowner of these parts, which he was. His silhouette was good, topped with an elegant hat and furnished with a fine moustache, he was just dandy.
Striding along the lane he came to a low wall at which he stopped and surveyed the valley. Fine riding country he thought, and at the same instance into view lower down the vale came several riders travelling fast. Some wore red coats and others black with streaming ribbons from their hats. Ah, I see the hunt is out, tally-ho boys. He watched in admiration and envy as they raced on accompanied by tooting horns and baying dogs. His eyes followed them round the spur and then as they disappeared from view he carried on his walk.
Progressing further round he found himself approaching a small wood. As he got closer he could hear odd sounds. Peculiar he thought, and not being one to turn away he pressed ahead toward the noises. He could hear a horse blowing and stamping and what sounded like female cries from within the thicket. Pushing through the bushes he came upon the source of the noises. Horse and rider were trapped in the thick foliage. The horse was whinnying and straining to free itself. On the horse was a woman rider also trying in vain to disentangle them both.
Aloyisius Gibb was a man who knew horses. He stepped forward toward the horse and grabbed it firmly by the bridle. The horse resisted and tried to shie away but was hemmed in by the bushes on the other side. "There, there beauty, calm yourself, calm yourself, now, now.' he said, firmly but calmly. After some further pulling the horse stopped moving and became calmer. This allowed Aloyisius to turn to the rider.
My, what a cracker, he thought. And she was, albeit somewhat distressed and dishevelled.
"Oh my goodness, thank you so much sir. He bolted and I couldn't stop him. Much too powerful, and as I hung on he ran straight into the woods, pushing through everything in his way. Oh my!"
The lady was clearly distressed and Aloyisious knew he had to take control.
'Calm yourself madam please. I have the horse controlled now we just have to extricate you both"
And both were well tangled in the rhododendron. Bridle and reins were twisted through with branches, although the horse itself appeared to have suffered no real injury apart from a few scratches. Aloyisius continued to stroke and calm him, and now he was nearly docile. As for the lady she was still somewhat entangled, with jacket and hat ribbons wound around some of the higher branches. As the horse calmed she was able to disentangle somewhat and became freer in movement. She pulled her hat off, but the ribbon was still caught and the hat was left to dangle in the foliage. Having removed her hat, some of her hair had come loose and fell fetchingly to her shoulders.
"Perhaps we can now get you down, my dear" suggested Aloyisious.
"Oh please, if we could" she responded.
However, try as she might she could not lift herself to dismount. "I appear to be stuck!" she exclaimed.
Aloyisious assessed the situation. "I think as you are riding side-saddle one of your legs is trapped," he ventured "there is the problem."
'Ah," replied the lady "I do think you may be right. I cannot seem to move my leg to release it"
"Do you mind if I take a hold of your leg and try to raise it sufficiently to allow it to clear the pommel?"
"Not at all sir, if it is going to help."
Aloyisious gripped her calf and tried to lift, but to no avail. Taking a firmer grip and bracing his feet he tried again. Still no movement.
'Hmm" he breathed. "i think you are more trapped than we thought. Probably some of your skirts are wrapped around the pommel and thus restricting our activity."
"I think you may be right sir. How do you suggest we proceed?"
"Well. I think the only way we can is to loosen the skirts, but obviously that produces other problems"
"That's as maybe, but I cannot stay in this position indefinitely," responded the lady.
"So we are in agreement then! Please forgive my forwardness ma'am"
At this Aloyisious Gibb proceeded to raise the lady's skirts. Above her boots white stockings came into view. Once again he grasped her leg but his time above the boot and he could feel the warmth of her skin. Another attempt at a lift and still a failure.
"I shall have to go further madam."
"As you must sir." was the response.
He lifted the skirts higher and was now confronted with her stockinged thighs, the stockings secured by blue ribbons. Another attempt, but no progress.
