Page 69 of A Duchess to Fight For
“That much of a difference?”
Frederick nodded. “Amazing, isn’t it? I wonder what Victor thought the animal would fetch when he bought her.” Frederick leaned in close to Percy’s ear, “He might take a loss on this transaction with Donny. He and Barton must make a fortune when we aren’t mucking up the works.”
Barton casually walked over to the stall where the carthorse was housed. Percy and Frederick were in the back of the crowd, but Barton scanned it and quickly found them. Barton’s eyes slit, and colour ran quickly from his neck up to his face.
He turned to the horse and said to no one in particular, “What a great workhorse.”
A gentleman strolled to the front and stood next to Barton. “How so?”
“Well, look at his strong back and muscled legs. It’s obvious he has been used as a workhorse before.”
“What kind of work do you think he’s capable of doing?”
Barton answered the question, but Frederick and Percy weren’t listening. Frederick was whispering in Percy’s ear. “This man was brought in to add legitimacy to Barton. He is supposed to help counteract whatever we may say.”
Frederick and Percy stepped forward. Barton was talking about the horse’s endurance.
Percy asked, “And how do you know this animal has endurance?”
Barton cleared his throat and said, “From his muscle structure. Well-developed muscles will allow the animal to work longer.”
“How long would you say?” Frederick asked.
“Longer than is typical for a carthorse,” Barton answered.
Percy tilted his head, “What is typical for a carthorse?”
Barton took a deep breath and tried to smile to mask his face. “That depends on what you’re asking the animal to do.”
“So, when you say he has longer endurance than the typical carthorse, under what conditions is that true?” Percy asked.
Barton had recovered from his rage and now presented a calm, relaxed front. “If you measure a typical carthorse doing a typical task, this horse,” Barton pointed to the animal, “will have more endurance.”
Percy said, “Pardon me for being confused, but how do you know just by looking at him that he will endure?”
Barton smiled and pointed to the animal’s legs. “Take a look at that muscle development. This animal was made for long hard work.”
Percy said, “I’m confused. Wouldn’t his muscle development indicate how much he could carry, not how long he could carry it?”
Barton smiled a smile much too large for the occasion and said, “It indicates both.”
“Hmm,” Frederick said. He scratched his head and looked sceptical.
“I wonder how you know that.”
Percy asked, “Are you an expert in horses?”
“I consider myself knowledgeable about them,” Barton said.
“Then, I have a question. Are you a member of Tattersall’s staff?”
Barton gave him a soft laugh. “No, I’m not. I just love horses and wander down here on Sundays to see the auctions. They are entertaining, wouldn’t you say?”
Frederick nodded. “Yes, they are. Come, Barton, I have a few questions about a horse in the stall near here.”
Barton shook his head. “I’m curious about the auction. I thought I might stay here. But you don’t need to stay here on my account.”
Frederick gave him a bright smile. “No, you’re right Barton. I am curious to see how this auction turns out. After all, neither of us really knows much about this horse. I’m interested in staying and seeing how much Victor will get for it.”
