“Hmm,” Linton said and then went quiet.
Wilcox turned to Elizabeth. “I am on my way back to Gloucestershire for a spell. Business calls. And I was thinking, if you were free, you might want to come for a visit. I have a fine property and can offer some excellent riding. I could set up a few dinner parties, and you might want to visit the cathedral. A fine example of a Norman abbey church turned into a delicious gothic cathedral.”
“I may not consider a trip at the moment,” she said. “My responsibilities require my staying in London for the time being.”
“Another time perhaps.”
“Perhaps.”
Linton leaned forward as much as his paunch would allow and said, “I have a box for the opera on Thursday next, and I am putting together a little supper after. I would be so honored if you could attend both. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales shall be attending. And I believe he will be accompanied by her Highness, the Princess Wittlesbach.”
“How charming, I should love to attend.”
“As my escort, of course,” Linton added.
Elizabeth smiled and turned the crust of her sandwich over on her plate.
Wilcox could not compete with that. He had no recourse but to offer the most outrageous lie. “Oh, yes, Princess Wittlesbach. I understand she just returned from Bath. It seems she was being treated for a debilitating disease she contracted from some Russian Grand Duke or other in Heidelberg. But I understand she is only lightly scarred.” Elizabeth registered profound shock. Wilcox stood, and said with a bow, “Now, if you will excuse me, I really must be going. I have my weekly visit to comfort the poor orphans at Saint Catherine Labouré.” And with that, he bowed again and left.
Chapter 29
Thomas and George were ecstatic with their new horses. The day after they arrived at Pemberton, the two men spent the entire day with Barnstable examining every inch of the horses, making certain they were in the top of health. They then spent the rest of the day leading them around the training ring so that they could become familiar with their new surroundings.
Thomas and George stood leaning against the training ring’s fence, watching their four thoroughbred horses becoming acquainted near the end of the afternoon.
“Well, friend, here we are,” Thomas said. “We have the beginning of our stable and now all we need to do is raise the other thirty percent of the investment. Have you any wonderful new ideas?”
George considered. “I hate to say this, but I really believe Ralph is our best chance. He knows the proposal, and I believe he would have invested with us if it had not been for the interference of your uncle.”
“What do you think? Now that he knows about you and Helena marrying, might he reconsider?”
“I am afraid to say, I think not. He has accepted the marriage because he has no choice, but I know he is still not happy about it, and I know for certain he is still angry at you.”
Thomas sighed and then sucked in his breath. “Lady Alderman and her mother and sister will be coming for a visit soon. Perhaps they might have some other ideas of someone who might be interested. We have exhausted all of our other leads.”
George put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder. “Something will come along. At least we have enough to keep us going for now.”
“But time is running out to enter next season’s races. We need to be registered within the next month or two, and we need to be able to put up cash to do that. Cash we do not have.”
“And we must start thinking about finding a jockey,” George said. “That will be an expense which we will need to include in the other thirty percent.”
“Might not Barnstable serve as our jockey?”
“You must be joking. Take a look at him. He is far too old and too large to be an effective jockey. He is a magnificent trainer, but he could never be our jockey.”
Thomas remembered an encounter he had, not that long ago, and he realized he might know of the right person. But he was puzzled about how to approach the young man. “George, I think I might know of a local lad who could make our perfect jockey. But it is an errand you must take on.”
“Why is that?” George asked.
“The young man is Robert, Miss Jenny’s younger brother… and… well… it would not be appropriate for me to approach him… after…”
“After what, you dog?” George asked with a smile. “I thought you and Miss Jenny were on good terms. Did you not invite her to do the pastries for the ball?
“I did, but things might have become a little complicated between us.”
“Oh? And how is that?”
“We… I… was developing feelings for her. But my focus is now on Lady Alderman, and I must squelch those feelings for Jenny. Therefore, I do not believe I should be the one to approach her brother. If I ran into her again… well…”
