Page 6 of Lady of Fortune
Julia beamed at her father. Of course, Orianna would still run in his name, wearing his colors, but Julia would be content in the knowledge that it was her own decisions on the trainer, the jockey, and the race itself that led to whatever outcome was decided.
“What do you think of the choice of Sam Abney, Father?” she asked. “Was it too great a risk?”
Lord St. Albans tilted his head to the side, studying her as he contemplated her question.
“He’s young and still somewhat green — but then, so is Orianna. And his results have been impressive,” he mused. “It is a risk, to be certain — buttoogreat a risk? No, I do not think so.”
“Nothing seems to be a risk for you,” her mother said with a bit of a snort, though affection shone in her eyes as she looked first at her husband and then her daughter. “Nor you.”
“Oh, that is not altogether true, Mother,” Julia responded. “Everything in life is risky.”
“The only thing you seem to shy away from is choosing a husband,” her mother said, her tone edged with some disappointment, and Julia attempted to keep from rolling her eyes. Why did everything they discussed lately have to come back to this?
“Choosing someone to marry is likely the most important decision a woman must make,” said Julia earnestly, leaning forward slightly. “It can be the difference between a lifetime of happiness or one of utter regret. It is not something one should take lightly, as do so many women. I want a marriage such as the one between you and Father.”
It was the correct approach to take, for her mother softened as she squeezed her husband’s hand and gave him a warm smile.
“We have been fortunate,” she said as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the manor house. Julia’s father had set up a residence here several years ago, along with the stables, where he now trained and bred many of his horseflesh. Newmarket was the home many races throughout the season in addition to the Jockey Club, of which Lord St. Albans was a member. Besides that, it had become far too difficult to find appropriate lodgings anywhere near Newmarket during race week.
It was a simple house compared to what Julia was used to, but she rather liked it. It was not overly difficult to find one’s way from the front door to her bedchamber, for example, nor out the back door and to the stables — where she would proceed momentarily in order to greet Orianna, whom she hadn’t seen since the horse had journeyed to Newmarket a couple of weeks ago.
In fact— “Excuse me, Mother, Father, but I will be in the stables,” she said, and before they could utter another word, she was out the door and across the grounds.
The stables were filled with activity as grooms and trainers were preparing horses for various races ahead. Many of the horses were her father’s own, of course, but some belonged to other breeders as well, who were retaining the space this week.
Julia was just in time to see Orianna being led out the opposite door of the stable into the field beyond, and she hurried to catch up to the horse and trainer. By the time she made it outside, the trainer had already mounted the horse and was leading her on a leisurely run around the field. Julia climbed up on the fence that bordered the yard, perching on the top board as she watched Orianna. My, but she was a beautiful horse. The palomino was so fluid, so graceful, her every stride seemingly effortless. Today Julia would have to settle for simply observing, but she longed to be the one out there on her back, urging her around the green field. In fact, what she really wished was that there could be a way for her to race her own horse. But that, of course, would never, ever to be.
* * *
Eddie opened his eyes slowly,his back slightly aching — why? Oh yes, he thought as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. Because of what he was lying on, which could barely be called a mattress.
When Lord Torrington had told him that he had “arranged accommodations” for him in Newmarket, Eddie hadn’t been entirely sure of what to expect. The arrangements had turned out to be a small room above the stables Torrington was renting for the duration of the Newmarket races. Eddie was here for more than one race — Torrington was convinced that Valiant should race in the one-mile Craven Stakes as well as the Two Thousand Guineas. Eddie wasn’t sure whether it was the best strategy or not but they would see following today’s race. Valiant was healthy, however, so he shouldn’t be too stressed by the first jaunt. Or so Eddie hoped.
He had been here nearly ten days now, and what he had appreciated was the opportunity to ride Valiant as much as he pleased, between the few races he had taken part in during the first two days of the Craven meeting, riding Torrington’s lesser horses. With Valiant, he had been careful, of course, not to push him overly hard, and today would be the first test. The race in Middlesex had been his first of the year, and most of the serious contenders hadn’t been present.
Today was the day, Eddie thought as he gathered his white breeches, tight-fitting red-and-white-striped jacket, and short-top boots, before gathering his cap and belongings for the upcoming race. Some jockeys were nervous the morning of a race, but not Eddie — no, Eddie was thrilled.
* * *
“Doyou think this is wise — racing Orianna today?” Julia asked nervously, wringing her hands together.
“Never second-guess yourself, Julia,” her father instructed, and Julia nodded. He was right. She could hardly back out of the race now. She knew betting on Orianna would be low, green as she was, no one having heard of her — although, Lord St. Albans was well-known for raising winning horses, so there were bound to be a few bets placed her way. “This will be good, to acclimatize her to the track and the noise, before the bigger race.”
And noise there was. Many of the nobility remained within their carriages, armed with picnic baskets at a fair distance between themselves and not only the race-goers, but the pickpockets finding coin, the gypsies telling fortunes, and the food vendors hawking their wares. Not only that, but bookmakers were everywhere, attempting to draw out one last bet, comparing notes, or arguing with one another.
The Stone family, however, was different. Julia’s father lived for days such as these, and he appreciated being within the thick of it all. Odors wafted around them of not only the hot food cooked in oil and the people surrounding them, but also the scent of the turf below them, fresh for today’s races, and the horses who surrounded them, from those who had drawn carriages here to those preparing to race on the track before them.
It was the day of the Craven Stakes, the third day of the Craven meeting held annually at Newmarket, and Julia was nervous, despite the fact that it was a smaller race than that which would be held in just over a week — the Two Thousand Guineas. It was a test for not only Orianna, but also Julia herself.
“Why don’t you go through the parade ring with Abney?” her father asked, and while Julia would prefer not to be the center of attention, she was proud of Orianna and so she readily agreed to his suggestion of leading her horse about for potential betters to see.
“Of course,” she said, beginning to inch her way down past the members of the nobility who had seated themselves in the permanent grandstands, high above the mass of people who crowded in below and the carriages sitting atop the lawn, lining the track.
“Take Maybelle!” Julia’s father called, and Julia turned to look for her maid, who followed dutifully behind her. Truthfully, even with Maybelle, Julia shouldn’t be in the stables alone, and were her mother with them, Julia was well aware that her bottom would still be firmly seated in the grandstand. But her father had a tendency to overlook such things, and Julia felt slightly guilty that in moments like these she took advantage of that fact.
Having been down to the stables earlier this week, Julia easily made her way through the grooms and the jockeys who were assembling below, preparing for the race. She looked back, seeing Maybelle had stopped to speak to one of the grooms, but Julia continued on her way, knowing her maid would catch up eventually.
As Orianna’s owner, she was allowed entrance, and she found her horse’s stall, slightly surprised to find her alone, as Sam Abney should be ready to accompany her. And where was Orianna’s groom? Orianna looked slightly agitated, draped in the purple-and-white St. Albans colors, though she relaxed somewhat when Julia approached, sensing the familiar presence.
