Page 28 of Lady of Providence
“Some would argue the opposite — that women distract men from their rational thinking.”
“Then they would be wrong,” he said in his arrogant manner, and she raised an eyebrow.
“You do realize you are speaking of your own kind?”
“Elizabeth, yesterday at White’s two ofthese kindhad a bet over which of them could drink the most whiskey before passing out. They both ended up in such a drunken stupor that by the time they got to that point, neither of them remembered why they had been drinking in the first place."
She laughed at that, a tinkling noise that he enjoyed. It had been some time since he had heard her laugh. The last time he had heard such from her was likely the last time he had called upon her before she had found him with another woman. Now that he thought about the time, he couldn’t even remember which woman it was, that was how unremarkable she was in comparison to Elizabeth.
“So that is how you spend your days — with such men at White’s?” she asked.
“There and in Parliament,” he said with a bit of a sigh. “Which are the same men, unfortunately. I appreciate the opportunity to hold such a position, and yet sometimes lords feel the need to argue simply because they are expected to be on opposite sides — even when their true thoughts on an issue are exactly the same.”
“It is rather silly, isn’t it?” she said. “I had always thought you were a Tory.”
“I am,” he agreed. “But that doesn’t mean I cannot share similar ideals with gentlemen of both parties.”
“That makes sense. It is much like the bank itself. Some are known to have a political leaning, but my grandfather was always careful to ensure that he appeased both sides,” she said.
“Your grandfather was always a wise man,” Gabriel said. “He named you his heir."
“Your argument today has changed from when you first came to visit me at the bank,” she said and he shrugged.
“Perhaps my thoughts have changed somewhat.”
She raised an eyebrow, and he realized she may have understood that he had slightly manipulated the situation, but thankfully she didn’t pursue it.
“Gabriel… will you tell me now, what happened with Julia in Newmarket?”
Ah, so the situationhadupset her. Inwardly he smiled that she still cared.
“Your friend, the lovely Lady Julia, and her jockey love, Eddie Francis, clearly cared for one another very much, and yet it seemed that they weren’t quite taking the next step to share their feelings with one another. Sometimes one just needs a bit of a push in order to reach for what they so desire. Lady Julia is an interesting woman, to be sure, but I quickly knew we would not make a suitable match. I never intended to marry her, nor even to court her. I only intervened because I found the entire situation rather intriguing, and saw the opportunity to help her and Francis realize the extent of their own feelings.”
“I see,” Elizabeth said contemplatively. “How soon did you realize that Julia was riding Orianna?”
Gabriel grinned. “After the very first race,” he said with a laugh. “It is interesting that I was one of the only ones to determine the truth. But people see only what they want to unless they know enough of others’ motivations to look deeper within.”
“That is very cryptic,” Elizabeth said. “Why did you not say anything?”
Gabriel shrugged. “It was an interesting situation, one in which I wanted to see just how the lovely Lady Julia would extricate herself, and how Francis would help her to do so. I say, the man nearly bungled the entire situation, but he found his way in the end.”
“With your help,” she said, an eyebrow raised, questioning his motives perhaps.
“I only helped the situation along, ensured that all went according to plan.” Upon her look, he added hastily, “Their plan, not mine. I was an observer, a spectator if you will.”
“Knowing she was my friend?” Elizabeth had to ask.
“Because she was your friend,” Gabriel responded, and Elizabeth remained silent for a moment, clearly not knowing exactly how to respond to this revelation. It was more than Gabriel felt he should tell her, and yet he needed her to know that he had never pretended to court Lady Julia for any reason other than in the interests of those involved. He also had enjoyed seeing Elizabeth’s reaction, determining that there was, if nothing else, still a sense of jealousy within her.
“That is rather manipulative,” she finally said. “But at the same time… I must admit that it worked, and I have never seen Julia as happy as she is now.”
“Aha, so you admit that my methods are not as untoward as you originally made them out to be.”
She tilted her head toward him and eyed him warily out of the corner of one eye as they neared the park.
“I still do not entirely approve. You have a tendency to become rather too involved in many a situation. I am well aware that you played a part in ensuring Phoebe’s publication remained viable last year. And yet your motives seem pure, I suppose.”
Gabriel pretended to be affronted. “My motives are always pure, my lady.”
