Page 68 of His Stolen Duchess
No words passed between them. They simply lay there, letting silence say what they could not yet name.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Ididn’t know you were a fan of horse racing,” Georgina said.
She sat in a private box with Lysander, sporting a high-waisted pastel pink muslin day gown with long sleeves and a modest neckline. She’d paired a delicate parasol and a wide-brimmed bonnet with the dress and carried a reticule containing a selection of personal belongings.
“I don’t usually go in for any sort of racing, but I have two horses competing here today. I thought you might enjoy attending the event.”
“Well, that was very thoughtful of you, Your Grace.”
“I think we are well beyond formalities, don’t you?” he asked. “Please address me as Lysander.”
“Your wish is my command,” she replied.
Lysander wore cream breeches with high-polished black boots, a pale gold silk waistcoat, dark green cravat, and a perfectly fitted deep green tailcoat. He embellished his ensemble with a pair of cream leather gloves and a black beaver felt top hat, worn at a very slight angle.
“Do you win money if your horses win their races?” Georgina asked.
“Yes, some,” he replied. “I make more from breeding them with local horse owners, but that doesn’t matter. We don’t need to get into the intricacies of my business. We are here so you can have fun.”
“And what about you, Lysander?” Georgina asked. “I don’t wish to have fun alone. Can’t we have fun together?” She pouted.
“Of course,” he replied. “That’s what I meant. Now, I will fetch you some white wine and some cognac for myself. If Thomas turns up today, I know I will need it.”
“Thank you,” Georgina said.
Lysander leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, and it felt intimate, not something he did to prove to the world the legitimacy of their relationship. It felt to her like he meant it.
She watched him leave their personal box and go off to get them both refreshments. Georgina didn’t know much about the races, but it all felt terribly exciting. Three races had already passed,and she had never seen some members of thetonlooking as animated and passionate as they were when the race was in full swing.
It’s only horses racing against each other.
As she watched the spectators cheering on the horses, looking as though they were riding invisible horses themselves, she knew there was something to be unlocked about the sport.
A part of her also desired to be embroiled in the excitement and understand it on a deeper level, but for the time being, she was content to watch and experience the excitement through them.
Georgina raised her hand and waved when she saw two familiar faces walking between her box and the paddock. Isabella and Beatrice waved back and made their way over. They were both unaccompanied.
“Georgina, what a pleasure to see you here. First the ball, and now Ascot. You are really making your way around the events,” Isabella said.
“There was some talk about you after you left the ball the other evening,” Beatrice said.
“Oh, no, please come and sit,” Georgina said. “What did people say about me? I fear people must have been gossiping non-stop.”
“Oh, they are,” Isabella said, sitting closest to Georgina. “They couldn’t stop talking about it. It was just about the only thing everyone spoke about for the rest of the night.”
Georgina groaned. That was not what she’d wanted to hear.
“Don’t worry, it wasLady Eastbeckthey talked about,” Beatrice added. “They spoke about you and His Grace, of course, but only in relation to her.”
“She would have struck you,” Isabella said, balling her fist before her. “I can’t believe that.”
“She wasn’t going to,” Georgina corrected. “Perhaps she might have slapped me.”
“Lord Havisham saw the entire thing,” Beatrice told her. “He was the first one out on the veranda after hearing the commotion. He was very boastful about it for the rest of the night.”
“Yes, but wouldn’t you be if you were the one who saw it?” Isabella questioned. “His Grace ran in there and grabbed her hand! If I were the one to witness such a commotion, I would be telling everyone! It was so dramatic, wasn’t it?”
