Page 43 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
“Do what?”
“Don’t be obtuse. You’re too smart for me to believe that. Plus, you sound guilty.”
She chuckled. “Do I? I wanted to see you race, and who knows when I’ll have another opportunity.” She spoke in her deeper “man” voice, which was probably for the best. More and more, however, Andrew longed to see and talk to her without her disguise.
Now it was his turn to laugh. “I see. Well, I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“I wish I could ride with you.” There was an edge of wistfulness to her tone that he’d heard before. “But I’d slow you down.”
He eyed Greene and turned his head to look at the man’s phaeton again. “Yes, but I think I could still win. However, if you rode with me, you wouldn’t be able to wager.”
She stopped before they got to Nevins. “I could actually go with you? It wouldn’t be odd?”
Andrew came to a halt beside her. “Not terribly. Sometimes faster drivers do it to offer an advantage to someone less experienced.”
“Like Greene?”
“Greene’s one of the better drivers, especially for his age.” Andrew grinned. “He’d probably take offense if I said I was taking a passenger. However, I like this idea. I won’t have to leave you unattended.”
She frowned. “But I can’t wager. Even so, I don’t know when I’ll have a chance to do this again…” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, her lips parted. “Let’s. Please.”
He was powerless to resist the feminine lure of her gaze and the breathless seduction of her plea. “Then let’s place your wagers on the next races before we head over to the start.”
He instructed her on the races leading up to his, which would be last. After Nevins recorded their bets, Andrew turned to Greene, who lingered nearby.
“Greene, I’m going to take a passenger to make things interesting.”
Greene’s brow climbed. “Who?”
“Smitty, here.”
Greene raked his gaze over Miss Parnell, and Andrew felt a ridiculous urge to plant his fist in the other man’s face. “I’ll take someone too then.” He glanced over at the men gathered near the finish. “Beaumont.”
Beaumont was several inches taller than Miss Parnell, and several stones heavier with his athletic build. “Are you certain you choose him?”
Greene smiled. “Like you said, to make things interesting.”
Andrew nodded. “As you say.”
He and Miss Parnell walked to his phaeton. “Can you climb in by yourself? I can’t help you without drawing notice.”
“I’ve been scaling trees my entire life. This is easy.” And so it was as she vaulted up into the vehicle.
He joined her on the seat and picked up the reins. “Do you know how to drive?”
“I do.”
He handed her the ribbons. “Then you drive over.”
She turned her head, blinking, her mouth open in shock. “You’ll allow me?”
He leaned back in the seat. “Why not?”
“I’m… Thank you.” She clutched the reins for a moment before guiding the pair of horses forward. She proved a sure and steady hand as she drove them to the starting area.
As they drew near, the next race started. His team didn’t flinch as the gun sounded, and neither did Miss Parnell.
They watched the race, and she cheered as her driver won. She turned her head toward him, laughing. “I’m doing well today. Thank you. I needed to make up for the other night when I lost money.”
