Page 41 of Lady of Charade
The entirety of what he truly did want in the future remained slightly out of his grasp, but it was becoming clearer to him the more time he spent together with her. He had no wish to rush into anything, however, for the last thing he wanted was to hurt this woman if he decided that a future together was not what he desired.
The gentlemen were to take part in a hunt that afternoon upon the arrival of others within the party, which David welcomed as he had always loved a good chase.
He followed Berkley out to the stables to prepare his mount, Francis and Clarence among them as well.
“You are in good spirits today,” Clarence commented, and David nodded.
“It’s a beautiful day and we are off on a hunt — what else could a man want?”
He noted Berkley and Clarence exchange a look, but he chose to ignore it.
“Say,” Francis said, calling David’s attention to him, for the man didn’t typically say much amongst their company. “The ring you’re wearing — is that the one you were discussing yesterday? The one belonging to Miss Jones?”
“It is,” he affirmed, though he felt somewhat ridiculous at actually wearing the thing. He was worried, however, that he would otherwise lose it, which he was loathe to do after promising its safe return.
Francis surprised him by reaching out and taking his wrist, stepping closer to take a better look at the ring.
“I’ve seen this crest before,” he murmured, causing the other three men to stop mid-step upon the grass halfway between the house and the stables and stare at him.
“You have?” David asked. “Where?”
“That’s the problem — I’m not entirely sure,” Francis said with a frown. “Permit me some time to think on it?”
“Of course,” David said, and then, hoping to prompt the man’s memory, continued. “Where would you have seen noble family crests?”
“Redmond,” Clarence chastised with a disapproving stare and David quickly altered his words.
“I mean no offense, Francis. I am asking simply to try to help determine to whom this might belong.”
“It’s fine,” Francis said with a wave of his hand. “However, I actually see more crests than you might think, upon jockeys’ silks, horses’ tack, or documents regarding the pedigrees. This one seems familiar. I just have to think about it. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” David said, though he impatiently wished he could shake the information out of the man. “It’s more than we had to go on before.”
Francis nodded, the contemplation remaining on his face, and David could only hope that his memory would prove useful.
* * *
So David was pleasantlysurprised when, at a stop on the hunt much later that day, Francis pulled him aside.
“I think I’ve remembered,” he said, and David couldn’t recall the last time he had experienced such anticipation for another man’s words.
“Yes?” he asked eagerly.
“I cannot be entirely sure, but you are aware that I rode for a time for the Earl of Torrington?”
David certainly did remember due to the scandal that had surrounded Lord Torrington’s prized mount. But that was another story.
“I’ve seen Torrington’s crest, and this is not it,” he said with a frown, and Francis nodded.
“Correct. I would have known Torrington’s crest immediately, having worn it for so long. But if I recall, his interest in racing was passed down from his mother’s family, not his father’s. While I must be honest in that often crests can look rather similar to me, I believe I saw that one in particular on some of the tack within his stables.”
“Are you sure?” David asked, excitement filling him at finally having found a lead, and Francis lifted one corner of his mouth as he shrugged.
“I cannot be entirely sure,” Francis said, “But I have my suspicions.”
“I can make some discreet inquiries as to Torrington’s past,” Clarence said from behind David, and before David could open his mouth to object, to tell him that he could do so himself, Clarence held up a hand.
“I understand you would like to do so yourself, but you must understand, Redmond, that you are not exactly…”
