Page 30 of Lady of Fortune
“Strange, isn’t it? But yes,” he said, sitting back in his chair. Unlike many of his peers and despite his graying hair, the Earl still retained an aura of youth. While not an overly tall man, he was fit and still quite active, riding often himself. While the family was, of course, most often in London during the Season, they typically spent the rest of their time split between their country estate and their home here in Newmarket where their main stables were located. Julia’s father had already greatly involved her eldest brother Martin in the running of their estates in order to free up much of his time for what he really enjoyed.
“I suppose you could say it was the jockeys’ race,” he continued. “They rode their own, unknown, mounts, competed for no purse, for themselves or for anyone else. There was no official betting, though much on the side, of course. It was quite extraordinary.”
“It sounds fascinating,” Julia said, her heart beating fast as she looked beyond her father at the paintings of their own horses which hung on the wall behind his head.
“It was,” he mused as the footmen began serving their main course, roasted pork this evening. Julia cut up her food and pushed it around her plate, but she was having a difficult time actually eating anything.
“One of the horses reminded me of Maximus,” Julia’s father mused as he chewed, and Julia nearly choked but dared a quick glance up at him.
“Was he of the same coloring?” she asked, holding her voice as steady as she could.
“He was,” her father nodded. “And there was something about the way he ran… but it couldn’t have been. It was hard to see as it was quite foggy today, so I’m sure I was simply seeing things. Anyway,” he continued, “The horse never won, though neither would have Maximus.”
Julia said nothing — for what was she to say? Either a lie, or words that would only lead to her parents’ disappointment, and she wasn’t sure which was worse.
“I believe that new jockey was riding the horse,” her father continued. “Smith, the one who rode Orianna. I’d still like to meet him, Julia, before the Two Thousand Guineas. Will you arrange it? Perhaps tomorrow or the day after? I’m sure you’ll be speaking with him, will you not?”
“I shall do my best,” Julia promised, though she had no idea how she was supposed to do such a thing.
Julia relaxed somewhat when her father dropped the subject and moved onto assessing the various horses that would be racing that weekend. Her mother feigned some interest, though Julia knew that she primarily listened to her father because of her love for him and not so much her love of horses, nor racing. Julia’s nerves were just far too on edge, between racing, and… and Eddie. She knew she shouldn’t go tonight, that it could be the greatest of follies. It was very likely she would be recognized, for she had spent so much of her life around the track. To attend as a woman but not Lady Julia would only add a third character to the charade she was keeping, which would make it all the more a challenge.
But perhaps not, she mused. She could still be Julia, she just wouldn’t impart any additional information. For one night only, she mused, she would be just a regular woman. And she couldn’t wait for that night to begin.
* * *
Eddie tippedhis chair back as he pushed his plate away from him. He had come for dinner, and now Will was trying to convince him to stay for a few drinks.
“Come,” Will urged. “What’s the harm? The Two Thousand Guineas is still days away and today was terrific. Celebrate a bit with the rest of us.”
Eddie shook his head.
“I’ve an early morning, Will. It’s likely best that I head out.”
His statement was met with a litany of insults hurled at him from some of the others across the table, despite the fact that there were women present. Some of the jockeys were married, others had found women in town with whom they had become attached — for the week, at least. But the majority, like he and Will, were on their own. Their table was a lively one, and already the drinks began to flow around them.
“Just one drink,” Will urged, and before Eddie could argue a pretty barmaid was setting a glass of ale down in front of him. She lingered and gave him a wink as she placed it in front of him. Her dress was open low enough that the majority of her ample bosom was exposed to him. Clearly she was offering him more than just ale, but Eddie had no appetite for what she was selling. He just didn't want to admit why that might be.
He took a sip but, less than impressed with the turn of events, he cuffed Will good-naturedly on the shoulder.
“Well, friend, I thank you but…”
His words died out as the door to the tavern opened and his gaze became affixed on the figure who walked through. She wore a dress of soft pink, though it was not what Eddie would have expected, made of a rougher material than she would typically clothe herself in. It was cut rather low and hugged her slight curves, causing all types of stirrings to occur within his body.
She was a vision. And she was his.
The thought struck him so suddenly that he nearly shook.She is not yours. She could never be.
Finally her searching eyes caught him, and Lady Julia Stone took two steps into the tavern, attempting to make her way through the crush of people to the table of jockeys and their wives. Eddie had no idea what to say to her, nor how to explain her presence to his friends.
But Julia took care of all that for him.
“Hello,” she said upon reaching their table, and just then Eddie noticed that she was accompanied by Maybelle, who he did remember from years ago. At least she hadn’t traveled here entirely alone. He prayed that she had enough sense to have taken a carriage here.
Eddie noticed Will glance up at Julia before returning to his conversation. Then suddenly Will stilled, stopped talking, and slowly turned back around to take a better look at their new guest. Eddie would have laughed if he wasn’t so caught up himself.
“I’m Julia,” she with a hesitant smile, offering no other form of introduction — no additional names and certainly not a title. “This is my friend, Maybelle. Since we are on our own tonight, I was wondering if perhaps we might join you?”
“Of course,” Will said, hurriedly standing and making room for them, pulling up two chairs from another table, despite the annoyance of the table’s occupants. “Sit, sit. Tell me, what are the two of you doing in Newmarket?
