A Gallant Gamble (15 page)

Charlotte’s face brightened as they drew up to their house.

“Wonderful! I accept and I also I have just the thing to wager with you. It costs almost nothing but might be fun to lose or win, depending on your point of view, of course.”

Geoffrey looked interested.

“I’m not after your diamond, Charlotte.” He smiled as the carriage stopped at the door.

Charlotte shook her head.

“No, I agree that I shouldn’t offer that...I was thinking of something that might be far more interesting, I assure you. It’s something that I hold very dear, so in terms of winning, it’s very special.”

He frowned. She was talking in riddles.

“What is it? Don’t play with me, Charlotte. I am no puzzle solver.”

She glanced out of the window as the footman stepped down from the Prince’s carriage. There was a commotion at the front door. Giles suddenly appeared and leapt down the steps.

Charlotte squealed delightedly and jumped up from her seat, but Geoffrey caught her hand before the door opened.

“Charlotte, tell me. What do you wager on the outcome of the race?” His eyes glimmered at her across the gap between them. She looked down at her hand and then back up into his silver eyes. She grinned as she laughed.

“I hope you think it worth winning. I wager my first ever kiss.” She jumped from the carriage as Giles reached it and she squealed again as her cousin swept her into his arms.

Chapter Eight

Signatures and Shackles

“What a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting you for at least another week.” She untied her bonnet and threw it on the table inside the hall. “Where are Anne and baby Marcus?”

Giles shook his head.

“Anne’s father has been struck down a severe stomach complaint. She has taken Marcus and the nanny and gone to visit him at Lavenham. Although I thought I had forgiven the man for wanting me dead, it seems that I am not as forgiving as I had thought. Though I no longer wish him in Hades, I found that I was unable to bear the thought of seeing the old stoat and made my excuses to come here instead.”

Charlotte peeled off her gloves and coat. She fully understood his sentiments, as it was Anne’s father who had pressed so forcefully for Giles to be hung.

“But what about the livestock? Are you sure that you are not needed at Caithwell?”

“No, it’s all under control. We had a hectic few days but all has gone well. Jamie and Lance managed so well that they barely needed me at all and Alexander said he would call in just to check things were still progressing as planned. I hear that you have been all excitement here. I’m afraid that my unannounced arrival raised Olivia from an afternoon nap. She’s just ordered tea in the drawing-room.”

Charlotte laughed and wondered if napping was all that the woman had been doing.

“I swear that I am nearly dead on my feet. All this socializing is far more wearing than one would think. I think my face will crack if I have to wear my false smile at another dinner party while the man next to me gropes my knee.”

The smile fell from Giles’ face.

“Good Lord! You had best tell me everything. Where has Geoff been while all this has been happening? I had hoped that he would be able to keep the rakes at bay.”

Charlotte sighed deeply.

“I think the poor man has suffered almost as much as myself. It is not easy to slap one’s dinner companion about the face without being thrown from the room, however I managed to stab a well aimed fruit fork into Lord Ainsworth’s upper thigh only last night and his long suffering wife dragged him form the ball soon after. I doubt I will have a problem with him again, though Lady Ainsworth may not be so happy with me. I think I stabbed slightly more than his thigh. It was hard to tell as he couldn’t speak afterwards.”

Giles let out a roar of laughter.

“Good for you! Though I am sorry it has happened in the first place.” He turned as footsteps rang behind him. “Geoffrey! This is well met! How are you? How are your thighs?” Giles laughed again and walked towards the man who had once saved his life. He grabbed his shoulders and looked him up and down. “By God! You make a fine specimen of a gentleman. Alexander was right about the clothes. They look positively spectacular on you.”

Geoffrey rolled his eyes but returned Giles’ smile.

“And I confess that I feel good in them. Three pairs of boots too, you know! I still sweat at the thought of how much they must have all cost. I have no idea how I am ever going to pay Alexander back for them. I fear that it will be an impossible task, so I am accepting them as a wonderful gift from an excellent friend.” He grinned at Charlotte’s delighted smile as Giles clasped his shoulders tightly and spoke quietly in his ear.

“Good man. I know that they were meant as such.” He glanced over Geoffrey’s shoulder and stepped to the side just as Bottomley began to close the front door. “I was so pleased to see Charlotte that I never noticed your conveyance. Is that the royal crest or are my eyes deceiving me?” He looked quizzically between the two of them as they stood together in the hall.

Charlotte nodded as Geoffrey gazed back at her. He slipped his coat from his shoulders as his eyes dropped to her mouth, her rose red lips, the lips that she had just wagered a kiss from. He managed to free his mind as Charlotte nudged his arm.

“Yes, it was the Prince’s carriage...Come, we had best take tea while Geoff tells you what has happened.”

Geoffrey nodded and sighed.

“Yes, you may not be so pleased to see me once you hear what I have done. Upsetting royalty is probably not the best way to endear oneself to the members of the ton.”

The men stood back as Charlotte preceded them into the salon. Olivia half sat, half lay on the settle with a damp cloth over her eyes, but she roused herself at the sound of someone entering the room.

“If it’s more visitors, Bottomley, tell them that I am indisposed. I cannot think of entertaining today.”

Charlotte moved to her side.

“Are you still unwell, Olivia? Should we call the doctor for you?”

Olivia removed the cloth and struggled to sit straight. She clasped Charlotte’s hand.

“Thank you for worrying, but I know it is just the symptoms of over indulgence. Too much rich food and too many late nights. I am not as young as I used to be and had forgotten how wearing a season can be. I am afraid that it has all caught up with me.” She patted the space beside her. “Now come and tell me all that happened at the palace. You are home far earlier than expected. I am sure that the Prince had mentioned tea.”

Charlotte looked up at Geoffrey. He stared back at her as if he hadn’t heard Olivia’s words, which indeed he hadn’t. He was looking at Charlotte’s lips, longing to taste them, to delve his tongue between them. He cleared his throat and shook himself.

Giles stared at him.

“Well, are you going to keep us in suspense all afternoon?”

Geoffrey looked confused.

“Pardon? Sorry, I fear that I lost my train of thought.” He dabbed his handkerchief over his forehead.
Her first kiss! Her very first!
And he might be the one to be given it. He’d make damn sure that he was. She wasn’t kissing anyone else ever if he had anything to say about it. He’d win the bet somehow and kiss her until the feel of his lips was imprinted so deeply on hers that she never wanted another. His hand trembled where it lay on the arm of the chair and he balled it into a fist, crushing the square of white linen in his palm.

“Geoff, are you alright? Perhaps you and Olivia are both sickening for something.” Giles’ concerned face suddenly appeared in front of him.

Geoffrey coughed and shook his head.

“It’s nothing, just a delayed reaction to what I have gone and done, I think,” he paused and closed his eyes briefly before clearing his throat again. “I refused the Prince’s offer to ride his prize stallion in Lord Davenport’s steeplechase. I fear that I have offended him greatly, but his horse is nowhere near ready. Charlotte and I witnessed the animal break a man’s leg not half an hour since.”

Olivia gasped and sat up immediately.

“Was the man alright?”

Charlotte shook her head.

“The Prince said he would ask the doctor to see to him but only offered the poor man five pounds before he sent him on his way on a board carried by two men. Fortunately, I took the time to discover the address of his family and will enquire after his health as soon as we are able. It was our fault that he was injured. If we hadn’t gone to visit the stables the poor man wouldn’t have found it necessary to bow to the Prince. Vanquish took umbrage, knocked the man to the ground and proceeded to trample him. If Geoffrey hadn’t stepped in and calmed the beast I think it a good probability that the Prince’s man would be dead. None of the other stablemen were about to rescue him for fear of their own lives. Geoffrey was quite right to refuse to ride the horse. Until Vanquish is trained, he is a danger to any who go near him.”

A tight line appeared across Giles’ brow.

“This is bad news on all fronts. You are right when you say that the Prince will be unhappy. I have heard that he is a stubborn man and not used to being thwarted. I daresay that he’ll race Vanquish whatever you have advised.”

Geoffrey gulped the tea Bottomley had brought in.

“That’s what I fear. It’s Lord Davenport’s ball tonight. I have been told that all entries must be recorded by midnight. If Charlotte will give her permission, I had thought to enter with Lightning. He is a fabulous stallion with the best pedigree. If we get a good placement it will raise our credibility for the stables and any stud fees.”

Charlotte looked worried.

“But you said yourself that if the Prince enters Vanquish, other horses and riders will be in danger. He is too unpredictable. I don’t want you to do it if there is the chance of any danger,” her voice cracked as she spoke.

Giles took a few moments to think before he looked seriously at Geoffrey.

“What are your thoughts on the Prince’s horse? Is it capable of winning if it keeps its temper in check?”

Geoffrey shrugged and glanced at Charlotte. She blinked quickly as tears threatened to fall and he had to look away. He wasn’t sure if her distress was for him or her horse but he couldn’t give in to her fears.

“He’s a huge beast with plenty to power, but it’s hard to say whether it could win. Often a heavier animal cannot stay the distance. Five miles is a long way, especially when you add in the jumps. Rumour has it that they are uncommonly harsh. Vanquish may tire quickly, or he may be strong enough to go the distance, but a lot will depend on his rider. I have no idea who the Prince is going to ask now that I have declined the honour, but I suspect that there will be many who would accept the offer without turning a hair.”

Giles breathed in thoughtfully.

“Lightning is no heavyweight and we know that he can gallop five miles with ease, but Geoffrey is far heavier than you, Charlotte. That may make a substantial difference in a race. Only consider entering him if you are prepared to lose.”

Charlotte heaved a sigh.

“I’m not worried about losing. That would be the last thing to concern me. It is the danger I fear, however Geoffrey has been riding Lightning for the last few weeks while I have borrowed a horse from Olivia. I suspect that Lightning is used to the extra weight by now, but I don’t want to put either my horse or Geoff in peril.”

Giles stirred sugar into his tea and sipped the hot liquid before he answered.

“Neither should you, but you have to agree that he has a point about the stables. It would be the ideal opportunity to show the whole of London what we can do. Winning wouldn’t be the point. We can leave that to those who are reckless. Others who are serious about their own stock will be more interested in stamina and temperament.” Giles smiled encouragingly at her. “Geoff could keep Lightning at the back of the field, well away from any problems and still gain us unprecedented publicity. It’s worth thinking upon.”

She glanced over at Geoffrey who was staring back at her. She dropped her gaze and threaded her fingers as she thought. She hesitated a few more seconds before answering.

“Fine, we’ll enter him, but you must promise me that you will take no chances with him or yourself, Geoff. I can’t bear to think of anything happening to either of you.”

Geoffrey smiled as he breathed a sigh of relief. Not only was she worried for him but his first steps to independence were accomplished. He leaned forwards in his chair and spoke earnestly.

“I’ll take no chances, you can be sure of that. You won’t regret the decision, Charlotte.”

Olivia took hold of Charlotte’s hand and squeezed it encouragingly.

“Well done, child. Geoffrey will do you proud and I know that Alexander will be thrilled by these developments. Ormond had the most fabulous stables at one time. It will be wonderful to see them thriving again.”

Charlotte nodded and blinked back tears. Her own father’s stables had once been admired too but had declined rapidly with her brother’s lack of regard for money. She had only kept hold of Lightning by keeping him hidden from John in the old woodcutters cottage, deep in the forest at Caithwell. Fortunately John wasn’t much interested in the estate or what his younger sister was up to. So long as he had funds, he spent most of his time in London at their townhouse.

Their London townhouse?
She suddenly looked up at Giles. He hadn’t ever mentioned the place. Was it possible that he didn’t yet know of its existence? He had spent the first several weeks of his Lordship incarcerated in the local gaol and then been so busy at Caithwell and so worried about his sick wife and son that it may well have been forgotten.

She leaned forwards excitedly, hoping that he wasn’t going to inform her that the place had already been sold.

“Giles, are you staying here for your sojourn or are you going to St. George Street? I have never been there before and would be interested to see it if you are taking up residence.”

Giles turned his attention to her again.

“I’m afraid that you have lost me, Charlotte. I don’t know what you mean. Why would I go to St. George Street?” Her cousin looked at her quizzically.

Charlotte smiled triumphantly.

“It’s part of the estate, but I suspect that you overlooked it what with everything else that has happened over the last eighteen months. Twenty seven St. George Street, if my memory serves. As I said, I have never seen the place, but father used to send John’s correspondence there. I don’t remember him mentioning that it had been sold. In fact, as part of the entailed estate, it couldn’t be, but it might have been let to raise an income.”