George nodded in sympathy. “I do understand. And is this young man experienced with horses?”
“He is not, but he has expressed to me a passion for riding. And I thought that Barnstable could train him. He is small, slight of stature, and I believe would be perfect on a horse.”
“But is that what we want? Will we not need an experienced jockey?”
“He will be a great deal less expensive than a seasoned professional, George, and we have time to train him. We need to save every penny we can until we get the rest of our investment.”
“Then leave it to me. I will interview him and see if he is qualified and interested.”
Barnstable had just quartered the last horse, and he came over with the last set of tackle to store away.
He said, “It is time, Your Grace… We need to start work on the course. It is all well and good working in our small ring, but we need them to be stretching their legs on a half mile course.”
Thomas and George had already chosen the spot to build a dirt racing course. It was a level field that had been cleared of brush and small trees and was ready for workmen to start posting the fences and doing the final clearing and leveling of the track’s dirt surface.
Thomas turned to George and said, “Maybe tomorrow you can contact young Robert and sound him out, I will get the workmen started on the track, then we can meet up afterward and see what is next for us to do.”
George nodded. “And then we need to raise the rest of our investment.”
* * *
Now that George and Helena were no longer restricted to meeting secretly at her Aunt Rosemary’s, George was able to meet his fiancé at Springford Manor at any time. It was such a huge relief for Helena to anticipate Georgie’s appearance any morning or afternoon without clandestine notes for secret rendezvous.
Helena was working with her mother on the guest list for the wedding when Benton appeared and announced, “Miss Helena, your fiancé has arrived and wishes to see you. He is in the blue parlor, Miss.”
“Thank you, Benton.” She turned to her mother. “Can we continue this later?”
“Of course, dear,” her mother responded.
Helena ran to greet her dearest George.
“How lovely. I did not realize it was already tea time?” she said as she entered the parlor.
“I am actually on an errand and wanted to consult with you first.”
“Very well,” she said, sitting in a chair opposite him with her hands folded in her lap. “I am ready to be consulted,” she teased.
“I know Jenny is your very best friend—aside from me, of course.”
“Of course.”
“And Thomas and I are in need of a jockey.”
Helena howled with laughter. “And you are thinking of Jenny as a jockey?”
“You are being silly. Of course, not. We are thinking of her brother, Robert.”
“But he has never ridden anything that I know of. Why him?”
“Apparently, Thomas believes he is interested and can be trained, and well... we want to give the lad a break… and he will be a lot cheaper than a professional.”
Helena gave him a sour expression and shook her head.
“Not a good idea?” he asked, dubiously.
“I have no idea. But it seems like a complete long shot to me. Robert is working with the family in the bakery. Why would he want to just up and leave the family for a rather strange job?”
“Fame and fortune for one thing,” George said without a lot of conviction.
