Page 54 of Lady of Fortune

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He heard her chuckle from behind him.

"You needn't look as though I am doing this to personally torture you," she said. "Youarethe one who told Maybelle her services were not required, were you not?"

"Perhaps," he said, and though he knew she was correct, he could hear the strain in his own voice.

She stepped through the straw behind him and he closed his eyes as he felt her soft hand on the back of his neck.

"You said this was a time to celebrate, did you not?"

He turned quickly, capturing her delicate hand in his. She still wore her silk breeches, but atop of them, all that was remaining was the band she tied tightly around her breasts to keep them from showing through the silk. Damn, but he hated that material. That was something he certainly wouldn't miss when this whole ordeal was over — to be taunted by what was so solidly hidden underneath.

She was looking up at him now with a seductive smile that was entirely uncontrived, and he groaned loudly as he could no longer keep himself away from her. He brought his head down quickly, fiercely taking her lips with his. She returned his kiss eagerly, the silk jacket she had clasped in her arms now falling to the floor as her hands came to clutch at his own jacket instead. His arms rounded her back to pull her in closer to him, and when her mouth opened to him of its own accord, he nearly lost all of his senses. He found the edge of the linen and began to slowly unwind it from her body, and when it fell to the straw at their feet, he cupped one of her perfectly round breasts in his hand, nearly growling himself when he heard her moan.

How could a woman do this to him — completely remove all of his defenses, bring down any wall he had built around himself?

He had always loved women, being the charming and jovial type. But he had kept part of himself at a distance — the part that knew how easy it would be for him to be hurt if he let in the wrong person. It had happened to his mother. And he knew as a jockey his life was sensational. There would be many women who may be interested in his quick fame, in the notoriety he had gained after a few well-known wins. But the life of a jockey was not as glamorous as it may seem, and he knew most women would quickly tire of it.

But now he had bared his soul to Julia. The girl he had known in her youth had grown to be a strong, stubborn, independent, and beautiful woman — one he could no longer imagine life without.

The thought returned him to his senses.

For whether he could imagine it or not, he would have to become used to it. If his life was not one for most women, then it certainly was not one for the daughter of an earl.

He would have this night to remember with her. A night in which he would see her in her finery, have the opportunity to escort her around the room, and then their time together would come to an end. He was sure she would soon be back to London, while he... he actually didn't know where he would be going next now that he wasn't riding Valiant. Likely he would be making his way to Epsom, where he would hope someone in need of a jockey would pick him up.

Now, he raised his head from what had become one of the greatest moments of his life, resting his forehead against Julia's for a moment.

He wanted to whisper to her that he loved her, that he was proud of her, that he would do anything for her, but instead he simply left one last kiss upon her forehead.

Eddie noticed she was panting ever so slightly, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"No more temptations, little one," he said with a grin. "You are an innocent woman and we are in a horse's stall. Now, on with your dress, and I will help you so that you can go celebrate your win — as an owner."

"Oh yes!" she said, as though she had forgotten all about the fact that she was the one who should be out collecting Orianna and walking her about the track. Likely her father had taken on the responsibility. "Dash it!" she exclaimed, and as she picked up the fabric and began unfastening the breeches, he wanted so badly to watch as she revealed what was underneath, but instead he turned around with a sigh as he listened to the rustle of her clothing and her grunts as she attempted to hurriedly remove the jockey's clothing and pull her dress on over her head.

"I'm ready," she finally said, and Eddie turned and fastened her buttons as fast as he was able — which, as a matter of fact, was not very fast at all as his fingers kept fumbling, when what he really wanted to do was pull the material apart and allow the dress to pool at her feet.

She wore purple to match the racing silks, and to him, she looked like a queen.

Her hair was already coiled atop her head, and he now handed her the bonnet that had been resting on the tack shelf.

"Here you are, my lady," he said with a flourish.

"Thank you, Eddie," she responded, slightly chuckling.

"I cannot say I would make a terrific lady's maid," he admitted. "But if you ever again need someone to stand with his back turned and then ensure that you are respectable, you know who to ask."

"Careful," she teased, though there was a hint of seriousness in her expression, "I just might take you up on that offer. I shall see you tonight?"

He nodded. He dreaded the event and yet, he wouldn't miss it for the world.

CHAPTER27

"Julia! There you are. Where have you been?”

Julia rushed toward her father, who was holding Orianna, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I was visiting with Elizabeth, and then I became caught up in the race, and the next thing I knew I was lost in the crowd."