“Who?” Evan asked, looking ahead of the carriage. Two horses approached at a slow walk, their riders seemingly unaware of them.
“Lady Marjorie and her younger sister. They were at dinner last night with their horrible father, the Marquess of Mortham. Ah, I remember them from when I was barely your age, he and his beautiful wife. You’ve never met a more saintly woman, but since her passing these few years ago, their entire estate has fallen into ruin. Sit up straighter and don’t glare, there may be a bride in it for you if you mind your manners!”
No sooner had Lady Lanercost finished giving Evan the basest of introductions than Marjorie and Harriet came within speaking distance.
“Good afternoon, how do you find your ride today, my dears?” she asked brightly. Marjorie and Harriet smiled warmly.
“Wonderful indeed,” Marjorie answered for them. “We’ve only just now begun, but have already taken a pleasant turn from Lady Mitchell’s gardens to stop by the Colonel and Mrs. Pendroot’s home.”
“Oh, and how are they faring?” the older woman asked with genuine concern. Evan fought to keep his face expressionless, but this mind-numbing type of pleasantries drove him mad.
Marjorie took note of the look on Evan’s face and scowled slightly. “They’re doing well, all things considered. Their son, I’m afraid, had set sail for India last year and there was a storm.” She lowered her voice and said softly, “If you remember, there were no survivors.”
“I do remember that now! How awful of me,” Lady Lanercost said with a worried sigh. “We shall have to go call on them too, just to see how they’re getting on.”
* * *
As they chatted with Lady Lanercost, Marjorie couldn’t help but notice the young Earl’s frown. Surely he couldn’t still be cross with her from last night! She, who had done nothing more than inquire about his evening, was not one to be cast as the villain in any situation.
Upon further notice, she saw that he was actually staring at Valiant. Without letting him know she was aware of his rudeness, she snuck a glance down at her horse. Was something wrong with him that made the Earl stare so brazenly? No, nothing seemed amiss, although she couldn’t see very well without being far more obvious.
“And then I said, no! That’s not the bisque! That’s a stew!” Lady Lanercost said with a merry laugh, causing Harriet to join her. Marjorie feigned interest and pretended to laugh as well.
“Pardon me, My Lord, but is something wrong?” she finally asked coolly. “You seem rather interested in my horse, and I cannot help but wonder why you’re staring at him so.”
Evan didn’t answer, but instead continued to look Valiant over with utmost interest. Finally, he seemed to come out of his trance after his mother tapped him on the arm with her folded fan.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” he asked, quite unaware that she’d even addressed him.
Marjorie looked from Harriet to the woman in her carriage. All of them were taken aback at the dismissive rudeness in his reply. Fortunately, Marjorie was spared the insult of having to speak to him once more when his mother said in a reproachful voice, “Lady Marjorie has asked if there’s some reason you’re looking over her horse. I’d quite like to know the answer myself.”
“Oh, yes. I’m… that is to say, I’ve seen this horse before. Do you enter your stock in the local races?” he asked without a hint of shame.
“I beg your pardon?” she managed to reply. “Are you implying that… that I race?”
“Yes.” Evan had answered so plainly that for a moment, he couldn’t figure out why no one answered. “I mean, no! Not you, of course. Your horses. Do you enter your family’s horses in the races, with a paid rider, of course?”
Everyone seemed to relax only slightly at his clarification, but Marjorie’s pulse began to thud harder in her veins.Of course, he recognized Valiant! How could I have been so stupid?she thought as fear gripped her.
“I’m sorry, My Lord, but no,” she managed to answer while Harriet sat rigidly beside her. “We’re not interested in that kind of sport. Father has some intention of making a name for our stock so that they’ll be known as some of the highest quality breeders in the region, but as of yet, we’ve not shown them in that way.”
“But I’m sure I’ve seen this horse. His veritable twin is quite the amazing racer, it’s got to be in his blood. Just the other day, this one horse—again, an identical match to this one—took first place in the second race of the day, beating all the others by more than five full body lengths. Then the rascal who’d ridden him had the nerve to duck out of the final race so no one could place a bet on him!”
“Is that so? Well, I shall have to tell the stable hands to be on the lookout for an imposter to my horse, lest he try to break into our stables and eat up all the feed!” Marjorie said, trying to make a joke of the whole thing. Lady Lanercost laughed with her, while Harriet still looked from face to face nervously.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Evan argued, and all three ladies turned silent once again. His flushed slightly, and he added, “Forgive me. I don’t joke where these amazing creatures are concerned. I can tell by the lines of your horse’s leg and the pitch of his neck that he is a superb animal. I am sorry if I spoke harshly.”
Marjorie wanted to be cross with him, and his curt manner and clipped speech certainly did not endear her to him. But anyone who could show such appreciation for any horse, let alone her own beloved Valiant, was on equal footing. Still, that didn’t mean she had to show her approval.
“I appreciate your attention to detail, My Lord, but it’s time we continued on our way,” she said, a hint of irritation in her words. “Do let me know if you see my horse’s twin racing around the track any time soon.”
Marjorie clucked softly to Valiant and nudged him with her heel, while behind her Harriet did the same. She could feel the Earl’s penetrating gaze boring into her back, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of so much as a glance over her shoulder.
Chapter 11
All afternoon, Marjorie chanced a look at the clock, her nerves getting the better of her. Somehow, her first excursion to the races hadn’t given her so much concern, perhaps because it was impulsive. Now, with a meticulous plan formed in her mind, she worried that something would go horribly wrong.
After tea, Diana came into the drawing room and announced that she would draw Marjorie a bath if she so desired. When Marjorie looked at her, somewhat taken aback, Diana only looked strangely at her then proceeded to move her head slightly towards the door.
