“If you would stop mocking my life, I would greatly appreciate it.”
“It’s not you I am mocking,” he said with a shrug. “It’s all of those around you — who take their life of ease for granted, when there are so many struggling in this world.”
She saw the anger flash within his eyes, and she wondered at that — why was he so cynical when it came to this gap between them?
“What has happened to make you so angry towards the nobility?” she asked, suddenly needing to know more about him and what had made him into the man he was today. As far as she knew, he had an enjoyable upbringing with loving parents. What had changed?
“Nothing important,” he said, shaking his head and shutting her out as he turned from her and began to walk back to the stables. “Forget I said anything. I’ll leave you to your day of leisure. See you tomorrow, little one.”
He turned to look at her, his familiar smile returned, and Julia couldn’t help the riot of emotions that roiled within her. With his use of that pet name from all those years ago, her heart warmed as she recalled the time they had spent together, how well they had come to know one another. And yet she couldn’t shake the unease following their conversation.
Though what sheshouldbe focusing on was all he had just taught her. She wished she had something upon which to record notes while he had been speaking. She would have to write it all down when she returned to her chambers. Andthenshe could allow her mind to wander to the man behind the knowledge — not that it had ever been very far from him at all.
* * *
Well,he had made a mess of that. How was it that his life, which but a few days ago seemed to be exactly what he had been striving for after so many years, was now falling into pieces around him? His profession, which was more than a job but who he was, was in jeopardy for no reason of his own doing; he was unfocused on the race to come; and he was allowing the daughter of an earl to wade into his thoughts, threatening to completely unbalance him. For he couldn’t help but be taken in by her shy yet genuine smile, those sparkling blue eyes, and the spirit with which she approached life.
But to tempt fate with a woman like her was stupidity. She was from another world, and he shouldn’t even be spending time in her presence, let alone be entertaining thoughts of another sort.
When he entered the stables for Valiant, he was startled to find Lord Torrington striding toward him. Not only was Eddie well aware that it was far too early in the day for a member of the nobility to be awake and down at the stables, but typically the lord kept himself scarce until race day. He was not one of those men who lived for horse racing, who examined breeding and was heavily involved in the inner workings of his stable. No, Lord Torrington had simply gotten lucky with a horse who was proving to be a winner — at least, that was what Eddie had thought, until his visit yesterday from Elias Young.
“Francis,” the Earl said as he neared. Eddie could see there were dark circles under his green eyes, and his greying hair was rather unkempt. “I need to speak with you.”
Eddie nodded. It was not for him to deny such a request from his employer.
Lord Torrington motioned with his thumb outside, and soon they were standing against the cedar wall of the stable.
“What did you say to Young?” Torrington asked without preamble, and Eddie tried not to bristle at his accusatory tone.
“I had nothing to say,” Eddie responded, shrugging his shoulders as he attempted to keep his face from displaying any emotion. “I told him I had been riding Valiant since last season. He asked for whom I had ridden prior to being employed by you, and I responded. He also inquired about my own mount — Boomerang, the one I own — and how I traveled to each race. I did not think it a question that required much of a response, but nevertheless, I answered him.”
Eddie hesitated. He certainly didn’t want to lose his position as Valiant’s jockey, but he also had questions of his own. Remembering Young’s words to not share that he had provided Eddie with any further information, Eddie formulated his question carefully.
“My lord, may I ask why I have been questioned? I do not believe I have done anything wrong, though I would like to know if I have.”
Lord Torrington folded his arms across his chest, revealing his rich crimson waistcoat beneath. Eddie felt quite drab in his own gray jacket, though he refused to let the thought bother him.
“There’s been a malicious attempt to undermine my credibility,” Torrington finally said, his breath coming out in a whoosh. “Unfortunately, it came from a source high enough for the Jockey Club to look into it. You were also accused. It sounds like you answered well, Francis, and I appreciate it. If you’re bothered again, come tell me, you hear?”
Eddie could only nod as Lord Torrington walked away without another word. He hated being ordered about like this, but then, what else was he to do? This was his life. And he would just have to accept it.
CHAPTER12
Julia sat on the edge of the blanket, trying to close her eyes as Lady Rebecca Charles droned on and on from her place beside her. Julia had been training with Eddie for just over a week now, and she was only just beginning to find that she could make it through a day without feeling as though her eyes could close at any moment.
Though it remained tempting to try to do so during moments such as this one. They were spread out over a grassy hill, on land belonging to Rebecca’s father, just outside of Newmarket. Rebecca was nice enough, Julia supposed, but she was also only speaking to Julia because their mothers were friends and had decided that their daughters would also be the best of friends throughout their lives.
Unfortunately, Julia and Rebecca had not been consulted in such a decision, and from early childhood had discovered that they were not at all compatible. As children, Rebecca had always loved dressing her dolls, which, over time, became an obsession over her own fashion. Julia, on the other hand, could care less about what she wore and was much more interested in what her brothers were up to and all that was happening within the stables. Her interests horrified Rebecca, but Julia didn’t actually care. Over the years they had developed an unspoken agreement that they would simply tolerate one another and spend as little time together as possible.
Only today, they were sharing a lunch basket, so if they wanted to eat, together it would be.
“Andthen, Lady Chesterfield said that she could not understand why a woman would want to wear such a hideous ornamentation on the top of her hat. Can youimaginewhat that would have looked like? Well, when she told me this I was absolutelyhorrified. I can hardly believe that I hadn’t already heard of it from another source. Andthen…”
Julia continued to nod her head but allowed her eyes to drift closed as Rebecca continued speaking. She pictured herself on the other side of the meadow, riding with Eddie, or simply lying in the grass listening to nothing but the wind passing by — certainly not Rebecca’s shrill, nasally voice.
“Julia? Julia, darling, all you all right?”
Julia’s eyes flew open at her mother’s voice, and she sat herself up to search out where it had been coming from. It was only then that she realized that there were more than a few pairs of eyes upon her — Rebecca’s brown eyes were wide and accusatory after realizing that Julia had not been listening to her at all, her mother’s were worried and questioning. Many other ladies and gentlemen stared from nearby blankets and conversations with open curiosity.