Page 10 of Lady of Fortune
Julia was silent for a moment as she looked up at him. Was it a one-time race? Of course, it would have to be — wouldn’t it? But the thought of never racing again, of leaving Orianna in the hands of another jockey… it tore at her soul. She knew she was meant to be out there, though she was well aware that only men found themselves on the backs of horses during such a race. But today she had gone undetected. Could she do it again?
“Eddie,” she began, tapping her booted foot on the floor. “Orianna is set to race in the Two Thousand Guineas. Do you think that maybe…”
She wasn’t entirely sure how to ask him, but he raised an eyebrow. “You want me to ride her? My apologies, but I am otherwise booked.”
“No,” she shook her head, but then saw that he was teasing her. He knew exactly what she was suggesting, yet he wanted to make her ask for it. “I think I could ride her.” The words came out in a rush. “In the race. I want to be her jockey. I’ve helped train her, and spent many hours myself on her back — it has not just been the trainer. But I need help. You taught me to race before, but now I need to learn how to race like aprofessional. We have more than a week until the Two Thousand Guineas. Will you help me? Will you teach me all I need to know?”
His face lost its levity then as he studied her, apparently determining just how serious she was. But now that the idea had entertained her mind, she was more determined about this than she ever had been about anything before.
“Look, Julia — Lady Julia,” he said, and he removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair, clearly now somewhat uncomfortable. “You’re an excellent rider, ’tis true, and I would very much like to help you, but I just… I can’t.”
Her heart sank, though she had known his answer before he had even begun to speak. He wouldn’t help her.
“I would pay you — very well.”
His face darkened. “That has nothing to do with it. I’m not the type of man who cares solely for the payment offered.”
She realized she had insulted him, but she hadn’t known how else to convince him.
“Then why not? Because I’m a woman?”
He twisted the cap he held around in his hands. “That’s part of it, yes, little one,” he said, and for a moment her heart melted at his name for her, which he hadn’t even seemed to notice he had used, for it came so naturally. “It’s a dangerous sport. I’ve seen jockeys break limbs, fall from the horse — hell, I saw one trampled to death once. It’s not for women, not on these tracks.”
“But it would bemydecision to take part,” she protested. “I know the risks, and I do not see why I could not be just as capable to take them as any man would be. Women have raced before. Do you know, but twenty years ago in America, they had three days of racing held entirely for women?”
“That’s different, Jul — my lady. This is England. Racing at high speeds, against men.”
“Andin 1723, nine women raced on a flat course!”
“So they did. Against other women. But besides all of that, you’re not just any woman.”
“No?” she said, her temper somewhat flaring now. “Then what am I?”
“Notonlya woman,” he said pointedly. “But a lady. If you were found out —”
“But I won’t be!”
“You would be ruined. Even I know that, and I am but a boy who grew up in the stables.”
He had always referred to his humble beginnings, as though he were reminding himself as much as he was her. He was the son of a maid and a groom, who grew up with the children of the house and yet remained separated from them. Despite the difference in their ages, Julia could remember her brothers spending their summers in the yard with Eddie, until one day things changed — her brothers went away to school, and when they returned Eddie was still there, working with his father, learning the trade, sneaking away when he could to watch the horse trainers, accompanying the family when they went to the races and watching the jockeys with rapt attention.
He knew the workings of the nobility — he had grown up with it. She knew his disdain for much of their ways — at least, the disdain he had held years ago, though why, she had no idea, for her father had always been good to him. She had to remember that he was a different person now, just as she was.
“I could be ruined, it is true,” she said slowly. “But thus far there has not been a nobleman to capture my attention, and I so desperately wish to live this short adventure. I have always been yearning for an opportunity like this, but I never realized what it was that I sought until today. The man I marry will understand all of that — he must, or he will not be worthy of me.”
Eddie replaced his cap on his head and reached to place his hands in his pockets, apparently realizing after a moment that he was still wearing the tight silk breeches. His hands ended up on his hips.
“And if it is discovered that I’m the one helping you… the consequences could be rather dire for me.”
“I would never allow that.”
“No? And how would you prevent it?”
“I would likely only be discovered while racing. And I would tell no one of your part in this. It would just be a couple of sessions, a few tips to help me learn how to better race, how not to make the same mistakes as today. You taught me the basics years ago.”
“And you remembered it all? It’s been at least eight years!”
Julia’s cheeks warmed. She remembered everything about Eddie, though she wasn’t going to admit that.
