Page 55 of Lady of Fortune
Lord St. Albans nodded, though he still wore a somewhat vexed expression, and the guilt tugged at Julia anew. But she would no longer have to worry about it. She had finished the race — won it — and now she would return to the life she knew.
Only with all that she had experienced — the exhilaration of racing, the possibility of winning, the rush that came with it all — she wasn't sure how life could ever be anything close to what it was before.
"Never mind that now," her father said, though Julia had the feeling that they would be sure to speak of it again later. "Congratulations, daughter," he said, his eyes shining as he looked between her and Orianna. "You won."
"We did," she said, with a nod, the full reality of it all now filling her. If only she could share with her father just how much of the win was entirely by her own doing.
"She is an excellent filly," her father continued, stroking Orianna's withers. "I had high hopes for her, 'tis true, but she has done more than I ever thought possible."
"Why did you doubt her?" Julia asked, looking up at him, and her father shrugged ever so slightly.
"Primarily because she is so green. Her jockey was also… unknown. Not only that, but Orianna's a filly, and while fillies can compete, 'tis true, it's nearly always the colts that win.”
Yes, it certainly was, wasn't it? But not today. Today, a female horse had won with a female rider on her back. Julia was so unbelievably proud of the fact, and it hurt that she couldn't share it with anyone. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Eddie celebrated the win as much as she, and Julia could also tell Elizabeth of her excitement. And then there was Maybelle, who had been instrumental in all of this.
Though, her maid had been rather absent lately. Of course, the girl had done so much for her that Julia couldn't complain, but she had a feeling that she might be losing her maid shortly, to a certain Will Scott.
"Well," Julia said now to her father, "Sometimes females can surprise you."
"Yes," he said with a slow nod, looking at her with some confusion, as though he was aware that suddenly they were no longer speaking of Orianna, but of something else entirely — something he no longer understood. "You did well, Julia," he said now, and she nearly choked. Did he know? "You ensured she was well trained and well ridden. You provided her with the utmost care. Somehow, I think, she thanked you for that."
Julia smiled warmly at her father. While she knew he would never have allowed her to actually ride her horse in a race, he had always been so understanding and generous that she didn't know entirely how to thank him for it.
Although...
"Father," Julia asked now as Finter finally came to take Orianna from them and they began their return to the grandstand. "I do not suppose you placed a bet at all today, did you?"
"I did," he said with a nod, revealing nothing.
"Who did you bet on?"
He turned to her now, a wide smile covering his face.
"Orianna. Which tells you, daughter, that you have nothing to thank me for — it is I who have to thank you. Your management of this horse has filled my pockets this week.”
Her father’s subsequent pat upon her head left her feeling like a young girl, but she was so happy to hear that not only was he proud of her, but he hadbelievedin her. He would never have otherwise bet upon Orianna, especially after the loss in the Craven Stakes.
“We best be collecting our prize money and then make our way home to begin preparing for this evening’s festivities,” her father said now, and Julia nodded.
“Where are we to go?” she asked, having forgotten all with her concentration fully upon the race at hand.
“Lord Dorchester’s,” he said, and Julia’s heart nearly stopped in her chest.
“Truly?”
“Yes,” he said, looking down at her as though trying to read more through her expression, his own face slightly troubled. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No,” she said, swallowing hard, unsure of how exactly Eddie would take the news. She had told him she would send a note of where to meet her. How he would respond to this, especially after all that had happened with Valiant, she had no idea.
* * *
Eddie readthe note three times through before the words sunk in. The Viscount Dorchester's. Finally he ran his hand through his hair once more before reading the entirety of the note again.
Eddie,
I have just learned the whereabouts of tonight's festivities. I am so sorry, I had no idea, but it is to be held at the Viscount of Dorchester's. I understand if you choose not to come, and if so, I will do all that I can in order to extricate myself from the party — of which I am not incredibly fond of attending anyway — and join you elsewhere.
With love, J
