Page 14 of The Duke of Distraction
Chapter 3
“Afternoon, Ware,” greeted the Earl of Dartford as he strode into his drawing room, where his butler had led Felix to await the earl.
“Afternoon, Dart.Thank you for seeing me.”
“I sincerely hope you’re here to talk about how to wrap up the races.Not for me, mind you, but for Lucy.My wife deserves to take the championship.”
Felix smiled.“I will try to remain impartial,” he said judiciously, which earned him a chuckle from Dart.“That may be difficult if you agree to my proposal, but I daresay no one will care if it means the races will have the opportunity to conclude.”
“I’m thoroughly confused,” Dart said with a laugh, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.“Sit.”He gestured to a chair while he sprawled at one end of a settee.
Felix took the chair Dart indicated.“I think it best to act as though the races are finished.”
“Because of that dolt Childers?”Dart shook his head.“His wife was foolish, and now everyone else is paying the price.”
“I don’t know if he’d really get the Prince Regent involved, but I’d just as soon not find out.”
“A wise decision.”Dart stared at him with interest.“What is your proposal, and what has it to do with me?”
“I should like to continue the races—in secret.”
Dart leaned forward, his eyes alight.“Ha, you did say ‘act as though’ they’re done.What do you plan?”
“We’ll need to stage them out of town, and I thought Darent Hall might be the best location.Furthermore, I didn’t think you’d—” Felix didn’t get a chance to finish.
“Yes.Hellyes.When?”
“Whenever we can manage?In a week perhaps?”
“I can manage it.Just tell me what you need.”
Felix had considered a possible schedule, and now that he was using the event to help Sarah, he’d come up with what he hoped would be an enjoyable social occasion for everyone involved.“I’m envisioning a two-day affair.Guests will arrive in the early afternoon, and we’ll have the next men’s heat followed by the women’s final.That evening, we’ll celebrate the winner with a feast.The following morning, we’ll have the men’s semifinal and then the final in the afternoon.We’ll finish off that night with another celebration.I will provide additional staff and pay for the celebrations.”
“Nonsense.It’s my house party, I’ll pay.”
“But they’re my races,” Felix said.
“You can contribute, but it will be a shared expense,” Dart said firmly.“Those are my terms.”
“How can I possibly refuse?”Felix asked with a smile.“As I said, this event will be secret.I will invite very select people and no one in possession of a flapping tongue.”
“This may be your most successful endeavor yet.The races were terribly popular, and now to have them becomeexclusive?The Prince Regent may be annoyed that he wasn’t invited.”Dart said this with a grin.
It was a risk, Felix supposed, but he didn’t know Prinny and wasn’t going to jeopardize the event by telling him about it.
“Next Wednesday through Friday, since Wednesday was race day?”Dart asked.
“If you can organize it that quickly.I’ve calculated about forty guests.”Ten of them would be bachelors for Sarah to consider, but Felix wouldn’t point that out.
“It’s a bit tight for Darent Hall, but we can make it work, particularly if we can put unmarried guests like you and Anthony Colton in the same room together.”
“That’s more than acceptable—and there will be a decent number of unwed guests.I’ll let you know a final count and rooming situation as soon as I speak with each guest.”
“You plan to invite them all personally?”
“I refuse to write it down—it’ssecret.”
Dart laughed.“Brilliant!”
