Page 50 of Lady of Fortune
“Your father is awaiting his request for your hand in marriage.”
“Marriage?” Julia gasped.
“You would make such an excellent pairing,” her mother said, her cheeks pink already at the thought. “And not only that, but he also has an interest in horses, and therefore I am sure we would see so much of you at the races around the circuit throughout the summer. Oh, what fun it would be. And I am told — by your father, of course — that he has a fine stable, so I am sure there will be many horses the Duke would even give you as your own.”
“Mother.” Julia had to put a stop to this. “There is but one problem.”
“And what is that?”
“I am not in love with the Duke of Clarence. In fact, I am not even interested in him as anything more than an acquaintance.
‘Truly?” Her mother looked shocked, her mouth forming a round O. “But you seemed so — that is, he was always so attentive and you never —” Her mother stopped for a moment, thinking over Julia’s words, perhaps reviewing all she had seen between Julia and the Duke. “Oh dear. Now I feel somewhat of a fool, I must admit. I had thought I knew you better, I must say. Though darling, it seems that the Dukeisrather fond of you, so perhaps give him a chance, will you? You haven’t had much time together. You may simply need to get to know one another.”
Julia could only nod mutely. She should tell her mother now of Eddie, but what was the point? Until he actually made clear what his intentions were toward her, there would be no reason to inform her mother — she would either worry even more, or raise her expectations. Julia wasn’t sure which would be worse.
* * *
Eddie had never before been so distractedthe day of a race. Women had, of course, previously preoccupied his thoughts, but he had always been able to separate that part of his life from the racecourse. With Julia, that had all changed. She was much different than any other woman he had ever known, which was reflected in his own feelings toward her.
He pushed open the door of the jockey’s clubhouse, not surprised to find that Will was already there, seated in the middle of the change room surrounded by a group of other jockeys, all who were interested in hearing of Will’s latest exploits.
“Don’t be shy, Will — we saw you walking with quite the woman last night. Certainly not one I’ve seen around Newmarket before. Tell us more!” one jockey demanded, while others joined in their teasing. Will simply laughed.
“Not this time, fellows,” he said, which caused a few groans. Will was known for his legendary stories. Interesting. Apparently Maybelle was different from the others as well. Eddie was glad Will hadn’t made him out to be a liar, at any rate.
“Eddie!” Will called out now, clearly relieved to have a distraction as Eddie entered the room. “Here is someone else you fellows might like to question. My man here has found a new lady himself — perhaps ask him to share more, boys!”
“There is nothing to tell,” Eddie said with a wink, hoping that they would take that as enough to say that there had been developments between the two of them, though not anything he was going to talk about. At any rate, he certainly wasn’t going to share his feelings with the other jockeys, nor would his thoughts of Julia be what this lot was expecting.
“Nothing to tellyet, you mean!” another roared, and Eddie rolled his eyes good-naturedly. He loved when the jockeys’ room had this air of joviality, especially on race day. There were times when it was quiet and somber, but he much preferred to be distracted from the seriousness to come in a few moments.
He found his racing silks ready for him and changed quickly into Lord Torrington’s red-and-white colors before sitting down and taking more time to lace up his boots. Finally he turned back and found his cap, setting it on his head at just the right angle. Eddie wasn’t overly superstitious, but he did enjoy following his race day routine. Today he would complete it just as he had every other time he climbed atop a horse’s back to race full speed.
Will leaned over and placed a hand on his shoulder, as he did every other time they raced together. Eddie had been waiting for it. Whilehemay not have been overly superstitious, Will certainly was.
“Ready?” Will asked.
“Ready,” Eddie affirmed, and he was. He was prepared to race, of course, but he was also anxious to see how Julia fared. Would all of their practice, all of his teaching, show in her results today? He had always wondered what kind of trainer he’d make — not only of horses, but of people. It would be interesting to see how Julia responded once she was inside the racetrack.
He stood, picked up his saddle to head to the scales to weigh in, and exited the room, wanting to get in there before the rest of the jockeys did. As he walked down the corridor, he looked left and right for Julia. Clearly she wouldn’t be changing amongst the rest of them, but she did have to weigh in.
Eddie was just about to enter the weighing room when a hand flew out in front of him, and he came to an abrupt halt. Who would want anything to do with him now?
“Mr. Francis.”
Eddie cursed, and not silently this time.
“Mr. Young, this is not a good time. I’m about to race.”
“Yes, well that’s the issue,” Young said, tapping his hand against his leg nervously. “You will not be racing today.”
CHAPTER25
“What are you talking about?” Eddie asked slowly. He was not a man who often rose to anger, but he wasn’t sure how much more of Elias Young and his questioning he could take. That he would suggest Eddie wouldn’t be racing, well…
“Valiant is not cleared to race,” Young continued. “We have confirmed that Valiant is not actually Valiant.”
Eddie shook his head in disbelief.
