A Suitable Bride (19 page)

She glanced down at her crumpled gown and thought it might be sensible to change, but she didn’t have the energy. If she remained in the shadows and slipped out through the side door that led to the stables she doubted she would be seen by anyone.

She’d not been outside many minutes before her dogs joined her. ‘How did you know I was here? Clever boys – I’m going to go for a little walk. Do you wish to come with me?’

‘I should be delighted, sweetheart, I’ve been wandering about here like a lost sheep for the past few hours in the hope that you might come out before you went to bed. How is Miss Newcomb?’

‘She’s much better, thank you. I’m so sorry I didn’t send word to you …’ She was unable to complete her sentence as he enfolded her in his arms pulling her close so her back was resting against his chest.

For a few moments they were quiet, enjoying the contact. Then her stomach gurgled loudly and quite spoilt the moment. ‘I beg your pardon, how indelicate of me.’

‘I had supper trays sent up to your sitting room, my love, I think it time we both went and ate.’

‘Did you not go into dinner either? Or are you just hungry again?’ She turned in his arms so she could see his face in the moonlight.

‘I didn’t go in – I was too worried about you both. But I can assure you I’m as hungry as you are.’

Hand in hand they walked companionably to her apartment and sure enough there was a veritable feast awaiting them. Eventually they were replete.

‘I’d better go, sweetheart, before I’m discovered leaving your rooms so late.’

‘I don’t care if anyone knows. After all we’re going to be married at the end of the week, are we not?’

His eyes darkened and she knew what he was thinking. Would it really matter if they anticipated their wedding night by a few days?

He got up so abruptly that his chair tipped over startling them both. ‘No, darling, you mustn’t look at me like that. I’m going before I do something we’ll both regret.’

He didn’t even pause to kiss her goodnight but left the room at a run. The hour was approaching two o’clock and if she didn’t retire immediately she would be too tired to perform at her best in the lady’s race which took place at midday.

Chapter Nineteen

Grace slept fitfully and was up again after a few hours. She pulled on her second-best riding habit and left for the stable yard. She’d told Annie to remain with Aunt Sarah for today so would have to manage without her maid’s assistance.

This morning she intended to take Silver Lady out for a gentle hack so they could both become accustomed to this new arrangement. She had ridden the mare a few times, but not for several months. Indeed, she didn’t think the mare had had a saddle on since she last rode her.

The dogs were scampering about as if they belonged there and all the grooms appeared to enjoy the company of her lively pets.

‘Good morning, miss, I’m just about to saddle Silver Lady. Are you going to take Rufus out afterwards?’

‘I am, Peterson, I need to make sure they are both sound before we enter the races.’ She looked around surprised to find there were no other gentlemen, especially the new arrivals, doing the same thing with their mounts.

‘Is Lord Sheldon down?’

‘No, miss, you’re the first. I heard as it was a late night for the gentlemen, a lot of wagering and such took place in the billiard room until the small hours. I doubt we’ll have any of them here before noon.’

This suited her, the fewer of the competitors who saw her expertise in the saddle the better. ‘What are the odds on me winning either of the races?’

‘They shortened, word got round that you beat his lordship in that race yesterday. I’m right glad I put the money on before that – we have ten to one – you’re odds-on favourite now.’

She wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not. She’d forgotten to ask Bennett in which heat they were to run this afternoon and hoped they weren’t together. The other contestants would know she was a danger to them – was it possible they could join forces to prevent her from winning?

‘Have you heard in which heat Rufus is running, Peterson?’

‘You’re in the second one, and you’re racing against the duke and Lord Peregrine – I don’t know much about the other entrants as they’re all horses from elsewhere and not stabled here.’

The mare looked in fine fettle, her dapple-grey coat shining and her eyes bright. When she was tossed onto the side-saddle the horse looked round, but made no further objection.

‘I’m going to have a quiet ride through the woods. If Lord Sheldon enquires, will you tell him where I am?’

The groom touched his cap and returned to his work. The dogs scampered around the mare’s hooves but even this didn’t disturb Silver Lady. The hour was still unfashionably early and she didn’t really expect Bennett to be up in time to join her on this hack.

Then Toby and Buster began to bark – she’d not seen Ginger for a while, but he was usually the one sniffing down a rabbit hole so she wasn’t unduly perturbed about his absence. She swivelled in the saddle and saw her beloved on his magnificent stallion cantering towards her.

‘Good morning, sweetheart, I can’t believe you’re out so early. That mare of yours is looking very smart. However, Madeline is riding a powerful gelding and thinks he might be a match for your horse.’

He drew alongside and the presence of a different stallion made her mare misbehave. After a series of bucks Grace managed to settle her and they were able to resume their ride.

‘Having seen the way you handled that disgraceful exhibition, my love, I withdraw my previous remark. My sister is a competent horsewoman, but she’s no match for you.’

‘I expect you’ve seen the lists for the races this afternoon. Would it be unsporting of you to tell me a little about your brothers’ mounts?’

‘Beau’s horse will not be a rival, the animal’s built for stamina and endurance not speed. If the races were for more than three miles then you might have a problem. Perry’s mount is part Arab and goes like the wind – he might well be faster than Lucifer or Rufus, but he only runs well from the front. If he can’t get that position he’ll not do well.’

‘Actually, I’ve been thinking I might run the first heat tactically. I will allow your brothers to beat me and come in third. There’s no point in pushing Rufus until the final.’

‘I wish to ride with you to the races, my love, I want everybody to know we’re a couple. Meet me in the entrance hall at half past eleven.’

She returned to the stable satisfied her mount for the lady’s race wouldn’t let her down. Bennett had continued without her as he wished to let Lucifer stretch his legs and neither of them wanted a repeat of the race they’d had yesterday.

By the time she’d exercised Rufus and returned him to his loose box the yard was busy. Grooms were busy tacking up and she was surprised that none of the saddles were for a lady. Obviously she was the only one who was taking this event seriously enough to make sure her mount was ready for the event at midday.

Annie was back in the apartment when Grace returned and greeted her with a happy smile. ‘Miss Newcomb is able to keep down food now and her fever has completely gone. She will be up and about in time to see you race your big stallion, miss, but won’t be there for the first event.’

‘I’m so glad she’s feeling better as I was very worried about her.’ She tossed her gloves, hat and whip on a side table. ‘I see you’ve put out my new riding habit – I want to look my best this afternoon.’

‘Green is perfect on you, miss, and brings out the colour of your eyes. I’m glad you decided not to have all the gold braid and buttons that the modiste suggested – the military style is all very well but you don’t want to scare the horses.’

Although she hadn’t eaten since the small hours, Grace wasn’t hungry. It was never a good idea to do anything strenuous on a full stomach. Once she’d completed her ablutions and changed she went to sit on the window seat from where she could view the racecourse.

There were now two wooden structures positioned on either side of the track at the place where the start and finish would be. She assumed they had been built for the race officials to stand on so they could see there was no cheating.

An area of grass had been roped off, presumably as a collecting ring. The racetrack itself had already been marked out with white-painted posts and there were men busy nailing rope to them to prevent the spectators from wandering into the path of the horses when they were racing. Hopefully they would remain on the seats provided either side of the finishing line.

Each race would be two circuits of the track and would be a test of horsemanship as well as of the ability of the horses themselves. There were two sharp bends to negotiate and a shallow stream to jump. The track also narrowed at both the bends which meant that the participants would have to be vigilant if they didn’t want to be unseated.

As she watched she saw several carriages approaching along the drive and at the head of those were half a dozen horsemen. She glanced at the mantel clock – there was no need for her to go down for another half an hour. The clumping of feet and excited chatter from the ladies outside in the passageway indicated the time had come for her to make a move.

*

Bennett decided to remain in his apartment until it was time to meet his darling girl in the grand entrance hall. From his sitting room window he could watch the goings-on in the park. His reverie was disturbed by the arrival of his sister who wasted no time in getting to the point.

‘I suppose you won’t be supporting me this afternoon, Bennett.’

He lifted her from her feet and placed an affectionate kiss on top of her head. ‘Of course I will, it’s perfectly possible to support both you and Grace. I warn you, she’s determined to win.’

‘And so am I – I think all the races should be won by members of this family…’ He frowned and she stuttered to a halt. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Miss DuPont will also be a member of this family very soon.’

‘She will indeed, sweetheart, and I hope you’ll welcome her without reservation. If I’m forced to choose, then you know what will happen.’

There was no need for him to finish his sentence, the colour left her cheeks and her eyes filled. Immediately he felt ashamed that he’d upset her. He loved his sisters and would do everything in his power to keep them safe – but one thing he would never do was give up the woman he loved.

She hurried off and he didn’t call her back. There was something going on that he wasn’t privy to and he had an unpleasant sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He pushed his worries aside. Today was about the races – about Grace – he refused to consider the remotest possibility that something would happen to force him to make that impossible choice.

There was a steady stream of spectators heading for the racetrack and already there were several mounted ladies in the collecting ring. The time had arrived to collect Grace and escort her to the start line. He wanted it made clear to everyone present that they were now inextricably linked.

The rules and etiquette of high society meant that once an engagement was official only the lady could break the arrangement, not the gentleman. As he had no intention of releasing Grace whatever scurrilous gossip was unearthed about her family, his marriage could go ahead as planned and he had nothing to worry about.

She was there before him and he looked down on her from the gallery and was almost unmanned. He was a military gentleman, had thought romantic love was for other fellows, but now he knew different.

Somehow she sensed he was there and looked up. Her face lit with such love he wanted to vault over the banisters in order to be with her. He took the stairs three at a time and she laughed at his unorthodox arrival. ‘I’ve not seen anyone do that before, you’re lucky you didn’t break your neck.’

‘I was tempted to slide down the banister, but refrained. We must hurry, sweetheart, or you’re going to be late. By the by, that’s a spectacular ensemble you have on. I’ll have no difficulty picking you out from the other entrants.’

‘If my dressmaker had had her way I would be even more visible.’ She ran her fingers over the gold braid and large brass buttons on the front of the jacket. ‘I’ve not worn this before – I do hope I’m not going to be too conspicuous.’

He pulled her hand through his arm when what he really wanted to do was crush her to him and kiss her breathless. ‘I can assure you there are at least two other young ladies with more ornamentation on their habits than you have. I also saw a girl in scarlet – now that is certainly making a statement.’

Why in God’s name were they discussing something so trivial? This was a momentous occasion for both of them and yet here they were talking about costume.

‘I’m glad Rufus is not to run until the second heat as this will give me time to return Silver Lady to the stables. I’ve asked Peterson to shut my dogs up this afternoon as I don’t want them getting in the way of the horses or the spectators. I sincerely hope they remain incarcerated.’

‘I’ve become inordinately fond of your pets. They’ve proved excellent ratters, far better than the cats, our barns are now free of rodents because of your dogs.’

Her mare whickered eagerly when she saw her mistress approaching. He tossed Grace into the saddle and checked the girth was tight and her stirrup leather the correct length. He was more nervous about this than she. He wasn’t happy at the thought of her thundering around the racetrack on a horse that was more used to pulling a carriage than being ridden under side-saddle.

He mounted Lucifer and together they left the stables. ‘As you know my heat’s immediately after yours so I’ll watch your race from horseback. Please be careful, sweetheart, don’t take any unnecessary risks. Remember, you no longer need to win the purse.’

She tapped him playfully with her whip. ‘It’s a matter of pride, my love; I wish to show everybody my horses are second to none.’

The groom in charge of ensuring the correct horses were ready to race came forward and handed her a number painted on a piece of card through which string had been threaded.

‘Give it to me, Grace, I’ll tie it around your arm.’

She held this out so he could do so and both horses remained commendably still during the process. ‘Thank you, my lord, I must go as the other contestants are gathering at the starting line.’

*

Bennett was right, her riding habit was comparatively subdued compared to one or two of the others. She nodded and smiled when spoken to but her attention was mostly on the other horses, seeing which would be the ones to beat.

Lady Madeline came alongside her with a friendly smile. ‘I don’t think there are any others to touch us, Miss DuPont. We will leave the rest of the field behind and conduct the race between ourselves.’ She patted her massive gelding’s neck and grinned. ‘I warn you I intend to win. It’s a family failing – none of the Sheldon clan like to lose.’

‘And neither do I, my lady. However, I’m in agreement that our mounts are the only two with a chance of winning.’ Grace didn’t say that she knew the gelding only ran well from the front. She intended to take the lead and hold it all the way round.

A smartly dressed gentleman that she didn’t recognise had climbed one of the structures and was holding a brightly coloured flag aloft. All the horses turned to face the start. The spectators fell silent and her heart hammered loudly.