Page 500 of From Rakes to Riches

A hive of activity, focused in the morning quiet, bustled about the course. Local women who had been hired to groom the turf filled pocks and holes. So, too, were there lads and grooms hanging about in small clusters, trying to appear busy, but really here to see Hannibal run. The black colt held a charisma that made eyes want to watch him.

But could he give them a proper show? That was top of everyone’s mind.

Today they would know the answer.

Gemma’s gaze caught on the pair of still figures inside the track’s interior white fence—one tossing orders this way and that; the other propped against the rail, patiently taking it all in.To the uninitiated, Rakesley could appear relaxed, laconic even, so at ease was the man in his body. But beneath that insouciant exterior ran a focused intensity that it would be a mistake to underestimate.

For an instant, she wondered if she should pass that information along to Deverill.

No, was her instinctive response.

She was to report on the running of Somerton, not about its owner. For some reason, that information felt like a step too far…like a betrayal.

Rakesley’s gaze cut left and landed on her and Hannibal. A frisson sparked through her—of what she couldn’t be sure.Fear? Excitement? Anticipation?

All of it.

But also something more.

Thesomething morethat ever sparked through her when his gaze landed on her.

“Gem,” came Wilson’s matter-of-fact voice. “Take Hannibal around the track and ease him into a trot halfway around.”

Gemma nodded, complying only because she agreed with the command.

Anticipatory energy lit the air alive as everyone watched Hannibal. But Gemma only felt one pair of eyes—Rakesley’s.

Taking everything in…missing nothing…drawing conclusions.

This duke was a thinker. But not in a dispassionate way. Rather she sensed a fire inside him that affected all he put his mind to. She couldn’t help but like that about him—even if it struck cold fear through her.

Heaven help her if he ever set his mind to puzzling her out.

Hannibal gave his head a shake, pulling her from unhelpful thoughts and back into the moment. “Impatient to show them what you can do, my friend?”

He gave another shake of the head as if in answer.

With a chuckle, she eased up on the reins by a slight increment to test his sensitivity.

Immediately, he quickened into a trot.

Oh, he was a ready goer, all right.

Today would be fun.

After they’d completed the lap, they pulled up before Wilson and Rakesley. Gemma only realized she was smiling from ear to ear when she met the serious gazes of the two men. The smile fell, and she slid from Hannibal’s back.

Again, it was Wilson who spoke and Rakesley who observed. “No starts today.”

Gemma nodded, relieved. “You’ll be wanting to get a handle on Hannibal’s action.”

Wilson nodded, a glint of respect in his eyes. “Aye.”

Rakesley cocked his head. “You seem to know a great deal about horseracing, considering you were a stable lad only three days ago.”

Gemma’s gaze found her feet, and she lifted a shoulder indifferently. “You hear things around,” she mumbled.

“Ah.”

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