A Gallant Gamble (26 page)

Geoffrey saw what happened next as if the whole world had slowed to a crawl. Rookwood’s grin vanished immediately to be replaced by a determined scowl as he leaned forwards on his mount. Standing in the stirrups, he lifted his riding crop, leaned sideways from his saddle and brought down a stinging blow down on Lightning’s flank. Lightning screamed in terror and pain then stumbled and swerved, his rump hitting Vanquish’s shoulder as he made for the finish line. The crowd gasped as one as Vanquish reared up, dug his heels into the earth and stopped dead, sending a surprised Rookwood flying over his head.

In the chaos that followed, Geoffrey couldn’t possibly have heard the crunch of the man’s breaking neck, but he felt it through to his own bones as Rookwood’s body flopped onto the earth. Lightning crossed over the finish line and his diminutive rider began pulling him up, turning in her seat as she stared back at the lifeless form lying on the grass. It was only then that she let out a scream. Geoffrey saw Charlotte’s mouth fall open and her blue eyes widen. He followed her horrified gaze and before he could even think about what he was doing, he charged forwards, elbows working hard as he knocked down spectators and leapt over the rope that separated the crowd from their Prince.

He beat Vanquish to the Royal dais by a second. The furious horse had charged on after throwing his rider so spectacularly and now he reared up, deadly hooves thrashing above the top of the royal head. The giant horse’s feet came crashing down, one glancing off Geoffrey’s shoulder, nearly felling him to the ground, and the other missing his head by inches. Geoffrey ignored the pain in his arm and caught hold of the enraged horse’s dangling reins as he heard Charlotte screaming out his name. The enraged animal went up again and Geoffrey felt his feet almost come off the ground, but he held on hard and refused to let Vanquish have his way.

Vanquish’s huge hooves dropped a hair’s breadth from Geoffrey’s boots and he quickly shortened the reins, planted his feet securely on the ground and stopped the horse from rearing up again. Vanquish snorted violently at his captor, his eyes rolling in their sockets as pandemonium broke out in the crowd. Several raced towards the fallen Lord Rookwood while others took cover from the rest of the field now thundering up the home straight.

Charlotte glanced at the petrified Prince before she leapt from Lightning, threw his reins to Giles, and ran with Alexander to Geoffrey’s aid.

It was some minutes before the crowd had calmed, the Prince had pressed his wig back into place and Vanquish stood quietly under Geoffrey’s control as though he were no more dangerous than a newborn kitten. The shocked Prince looked slightly like a goldfish as his mouth opened and closed in astonishment. He took a few seconds to recover his composure. When he could finally speak, his words were a shocked whisper as he stared in wonder at Geoffrey.

“Dear God alive! The animal is completely mad! Geoffrey Talbot, you have saved the life of your sovereign. That horse was about to kill me.” He remained flustered for a few moments before speaking again. “Have no fear, your gallantry and bravery will not go unrewarded, but for the moment we have to see to the dead man before we declare our winner.” He waved his hand at his men and they set about carrying Lord Rookwood from the field.

Calm soon returned to the terrace as Olivia moved through the crush aiding swooning ladies. Alexander went to speak to the elder Lord Rookwood, who looked about to collapse at the shock of seeing his eldest son not only cheat so diabolically but also die so ignominiously.

Charlotte looked up at her husband and felt fear far greater than she had on the racecourse. Geoffrey’s silver eyes looked her up and down. Her cap had turned askew on her head and he frowned darkly as the tendrils of blonde escaped their confines. She was about to speak to him, to beg his forgiveness for her foolish display, when Vanquish snorted at his prolonged inactivity.

Geoffrey pulled in a breath, closed his eyes briefly, and then gave his full attention to the animal in his care. The horse looked as docile as an aging donkey. He pulled on the reins and guided the beast back out onto the course, walking him slowly to cool the animal’s heated muscles before they made their way back to the stables. Berating Charlotte for her outrageous behaviour would have to wait.

She didn’t see his lips curl in the slightest smile as she took Lightning’s reins back from Giles and followed meekly behind her husband, her gaze upon the ground as she waited for his evident wrath to fall upon her head.

Chapter Twelve

Winners, Losers & Lady Luck

Lord Davenport stood upon the dais looking out over the gathered crowd. The Prince stood beside him, his expression grim. The people below them fell silent.

“Today’s event has been marred by death, but regardless of the sorrow we feel for Lord Rookwood and his family, we must declare our winner, but before we do, His Majesty would like to say a few words.” Lord Davenport stepped back as the Prince came forwards. He stood silently for a few moments before he began speaking.

“My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have witnessed a tragic event today, one for which I hold myself partly responsible, however we also saw an act of selfless bravery that happened to save my very own life. In view of this incredible service done to me, I would like Mr. Geoffrey Talbot to step forwards.”

The crowd began muttering to one another. Some of them had seen the incident but many had not. People craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the hero in their midst and jostled forwards to gain a better view.

Giles shrugged at Alexander. Geoffrey hadn’t returned from the stables.

“Where is he?” Alexander whispered loudly.

Giles shook his head.

“He went to stable Vanquish. Charlotte took Lightning and went along with him.”

Alexander rolled his eyes and beckoned to one of the servants. With instructions to fetch Geoffrey from the stables, the man trotted off while Alexander went to explain to the Prince. It was some few minutes before Geoffrey appeared at the edge of the dais with his wife, still dressed in her shirt and breeches, her hat askew on her head. He glowered at her, daring her to move an inch before he let her hand go and climbed the steps to greet the Prince.

He bowed low.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. I had to take care of a troubling irritation.” Geoffrey scowled down as Charlotte let out an undignified snort.

The Prince nodded.

“Yes, I saw you taking that damnable animal away. I want the thing shot. I take it that you will see my wishes carried out.”

Geoffrey drew in a sharp breath.

“I beg that you don’t destroy the animal, Your Majesty. It is not his fault that he needs training. I would be delighted to take him off your hands rather than see him sold as dog meat.”

The Prince raised a surprised eyebrow.

“You would care for an animal who dared to attempt killing me? It’s an outrage!” The Prince’s face began to turn red.

Geoffrey shook his head quickly.

“Not at all, but you have to admit that the horse may not have recognized you as his Sovereign. Horses are not known for their intelligence.” He rolled his eyes at Charlotte’s stifled laugh.

The Prince narrowed his eyes and pondered Geoffrey’s suggestion before he waved his hand dismissively.

“As you will. I’ll have transfer papers drawn up.”

Geoffrey bowed again and was about to leave the platform when the Prince spoke up again.

“I have not done with you yet, Talbot. There is the small matter of your saving my life. It was a gallant thing that you did, one for which I am sorely grateful. You will be rewarded. Kneel before me.”

Geoffrey glanced about him as though looking for some escape. He pointed his own finger towards his chest and the Prince nodded once. Geoffrey dropped down on one knee, feeling horribly self conscious and slightly foolish. He didn’t like the thought of begging for some small favour of the Prince. He didn’t want anything from the man at all.

The Prince stepped forwards and held out his hand to his guard. The uniformed man handed over his sword and the Prince touched it lightly to Geoffrey’s shoulder.

“I award you this knighthood in recognition of your unrivalled gallantry while serving your Sovereign. Arise Sir Geoffrey.”

Geoffrey nearly fell over in surprise. He staggered to his feet as the crowd applauded and shouted their congratulations. The Prince then leaned forwards and, taking a jewelled ring from his own fifth finger, slipped it onto Geoffrey’s.

Lord Davenport stepped forwards and shook Geoffrey’s hand as Charlotte bounded up the steps and threw her arms around his neck. She had kissed him full on the lips before either of them realized that silence had fallen around them. She stepped back quickly and glanced into the Prince’s horrified face.

“Good God! And in public too!” The Prince threw up his hands as his tone left the crowd in no doubt as to his thoughts on that type of activity.

Geoffrey rushed to explain as he whipped the cap from Charlotte’s head and her golden blonde tresses fell down her back.

Lord Davenport gasped out his own horror.

“GAH! A woman! Riding in my race, no less!”

Geoffrey grinned as he gave Charlotte a squeeze.

“And winning, if I remember rightly.”

Lord Davenport appeared to swell as he gawped down Charlotte.

“I’m afraid that she cannot have won. Women are not allowed to ride in my race.” He spoke with finality in his tone, but Charlotte tilted her face up to him.

“Where does it say that in your rule book? I noticed that it said a lot of things that riders can and cannot do but I don’t remember there being any mention of no women riders.”

Lord Davenport wiped his brow with his handkerchief.

“There doesn’t have to be a written rule. Women cannot complete my course. It’s impossible. They would never have the strength necess...” His voice trailed off as Charlotte pursed her lips up at him, but he soon gathered himself again. “Well, the fact that you accomplished it is irrelevant; you still cannot be declared the winner. Substitute riders are strictly forbidden and Geoffrey Talbot’s name is listed as Lightning’s rider. I am afraid that you cannot win that argument however much you try to disguise it.”

Charlotte frowned and shook her head as she moved over to where Lord Davenport had laid the book of registration.

“I agree entirely with what you say, except in the small matter of the entry being for Geoffrey Talbot.” She opened the listings and ran her fingertip down the page. She stopped at the name Lightning and moved her finger across the paper.

Lord Davenport and the Prince peered over her shoulder. Unable to stop himself, Geoffrey craned his neck to see the listing too. Lord Davenport let out a startled gasp. The Prince roared with laughter and stepped back. He thumped Geoffrey on his back with the flat of his hand, leaving him wheezing in pain as the Prince spoke.

“You’re a canny fellow with an even cannier wife! Well done, Sir. Well done indeed!” He bent to a large velvet purse on the table as he ushered Charlotte forwards. “My Lords, Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the winner of this year’s Davenport steeplechase. Mrs. Charlotte Talbot.” He dropped the purse into Charlotte’s outstretched hand and walked back over to his attendants.

The crowd roared their approval as Geoffrey picked his wife up about the waist and twirled her around. Seconds later other men scrambled to look at the book. Several appeared on the point of seizure as they stared at the name on the page. Two took one look at Charlotte and disappeared quickly into the crowd. Others came forward, colour high in their cheeks as they bowed before the triumphant pair.

Geoffrey looked curiously at them as they shuffled uncomfortably. One was brave enough to speak.

“I’ll have my majordomo bring you the keys within the week. I assume that you will allow me to take personal items with me.”

Charlotte gulped guiltily, but a second man spoke before she could respond.

“My solicitors will be in touch, madam. The estate manager will have to be informed. Please let me know what you wish to do with the staff. I wouldn’t want them to become embroiled in my affairs and find themselves suddenly homeless. I hope that you will give me a month to re-house or find other positions for them.”

Geoffrey frowned down at his wife.

“What on earth are they talking about? What have you gone and done now?”

Charlotte put her hands on her hips and glared back up at him.

“I did what you suggested and placed a few bets. It’s not my fault that they put up their houses and estates as collateral. I was only offering the blasted diamond and asked that they come up with something of similar value. I wasn’t expecting their property to cover their wagers.”

The first man took in a long breath.

“I have nothing else of that kind of value and I always honour my debts. You will have to accept it.”

The second man had paled so much that he looked as though he was about to faint. His voice quavered.

“I always honour my vowels too. I only ask that you let my mother remain in the Dower house. I have nowhere else to put her.” His request ended on a squeak.

Charlotte gasped as other men lined up behind the first two, offering their keys or notes for their solicitors. She pressed her hand against her breastbone to her still her heaving chest.

“Oh God! What have I done? Is there no way around this? I swear that I only did it to get back at Rookwood for attempting to kill my husband. You were all known to have been his friends. I assumed that you were all in on his plans to win the race no matter what he had to do.” She wrung her hands and looked up at Geoffrey in desperation.

Geoffrey was aghast.

“Good grief woman! I don’t want their property. I don’t even want their money. You have to give it all back. You cannot take all this from them.”

The pale man shook his head.

“No! We accepted the proposition offered. We have nothing else of value to give you. Though I swear that I never knew of Rookwood’s deceit or dastardly plans, I never go back on my word. There is nothing of higher value than a man’s honour.” He gave a short bow.

Geoffrey took  a few breaths before he suddenly grinned.

“I have it! A man’s honour is priceless, wouldn’t you agree, Charlotte?”

She nodded vigorously, following his train of thought instantly.

“As priceless as my diamond, would you estimate?” She gave a small laugh and the gathered men gawped at her. She smiled at the first man. “So you agree that your honour is worth more than the value of your property, that’s why you insist on honouring the debt? Well, my diamond has been described as ‘priceless’ too. It appears that we all hold something of similar value. The solution is simple. I accept your honour and my husband will accept your respect in payment of your debts.”

The gathered men looked at one another as if they disbelieved their ears. One at the back pushed up on his toes to speak over the other’s heads.

“This is most singular. I’m not sure that I quite understand. Are you saying that you will accept our honour and respect as your payment?”

Charlotte looked up at Geoffrey for confirmation. They both nodded as one.

“Yes! We have the thousand guineas prize money and we already own two estates. Anymore and we will be unable to cope. Your respect is all that we ask.”

There was a few more seconds of confused rumblings before the men began to believe their own good fortune. The first man spoke up again, a flush on his cheeks as he gave a relieved smile.

“I think I can say for all of us that you both have our honour, our respect and our highest regard. You will be welcome at my home at any time and if you ever need assistance of any kind you only ever have to send word.” He bowed low, shook hands with both of them and made a quick exit. The others soon followed suit.

Geoffrey and Charlotte were left on the platform with Giles, Alexander and a rather confused Olivia.

Giles spoke first.

“I think you have made several loyal friends with that gesture. It was a wise and elegant thing to do, but I am still slightly confused. You mentioned two estates.”

Charlotte puffed out a resigned breath.

“Well, I could hardly refuse Lord Rookwood’s original stake.” She took out a paper from her breeches pocket and showed it to her friends. Colin Rookwood’s rough signature was scrawled and witnessed on the bottom of the solicitors note. He had agreed that his estate was of equal value to the Caithwell diamond and that he gave up his rights to his property if Lady Charlotte Denvers won her bet.

Geoffrey shook his head.

“You aren’t really going to take it from him, are you?”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“Well, of course I am. It’s not like he’ll be using it any longer. He wasn’t married and has no heirs. Besides, when we have children we might want to leave them a place of their own...He took the gamble and lost. He deserved to lose, Geoff. He would have seen you dead after those women drugged you and his men beat you, he tried to unseat me too. I might have died at his hands.”

Giles shuddered at the memories before he huffed out a breath and quirked up his lip.

“I know that you won the race, but it was hardly fair. I don’t know how you fooled Davenport and the Prince, but we all know that Geoffrey’s name was in the book.”

Charlotte pressed her hands to her hips again.

“No it isn’t. Go and take a look.”

The all moved over to where the register of horses and riders sat. Giles opened it up, raised his eyebrows and looked at Charlotte for an explanation.