Page 24 of The Duke of Distraction
Lady Dartford jumped ahead as they drove toward the first turn.She slowed a bit more than she had in London, and Felix couldn’t help but hold his breath.He tried not to pick favorites, but he liked Dart’s wife, and they were, after all, hosting the event.
Felix lifted the horn.“Lady Exeby takes the lead as they leave the first turn.Lady Dartford is ducking her head and driving the team a bit faster.There they go, gaining on Lady Exeby.”
Lady Exeby led into the second turn, but she was perhaps the most cautious driver in the entire field when it came to corners.Lady Dartford did not make the same mistake twice.In fact, she went into the turn at a rather intense speed, and there were gasps as one of her wheels lifted from the ground.Felix heard someone murmur, “Mrs.Childers,” and could feel the tension in the air.
But she rounded the turn without incident and drove into the lead.She didn’t look back as she thundered toward the finish, easily beating Lady Exeby.
The crowd rushed toward the finish line as Dart swept his wife from the phaeton and swung her around before setting her on the ground to greet the well-wishers.Felix handed the horn to the footman and thanked him for his assistance.
At the finish line, Dart’s retainers poured ale and wine, and the revelry lasted for some time.When the crowd finally thinned, Felix saw Sarah standing with Beck and Lavinia and decided to join them for the walk back to the house.
“What an exciting day!”Lavinia said.“Well done, Felix.”
He inclined his head with a small smile.“Thank you.But the excitement was due to the talented drivers.”
“Yes, but there would be no race if not for you,” Beck pointed out.“People are already talking about next year’s matches, and we aren’t even finished with this year’s.”
Felix still wasn’t sure he would continue them.
“Felix may be too bored to repeat them,” Sarah said, sending him a teasing smile.
He laughed and offered her his arm.“You know me too well.”
She placed her hand on his sleeve, and they all started back toward the house.Sarah walked slowly, allowing Beck and Lavinia to precede them.Felix took the hint and followed her pace, assuming she wanted to speak with him about their objective of finding a suitor.
“What do you have in store for this evening?”she asked him.
He noted the faint color in her cheeks.“In terms of the kissing games, you mean?”
“I’ve begun my, er, assessment.”
Felix turned his head toward her.“You kissed someone?”
She nodded, the pink still highlighting her cheeks.“Mr.Fielding.”
“I see.”Felix was surprised, but he shouldn’t have been.They’d looked rather cozy together all afternoon.“I hope you were covert about it.”
She peered at him sideways.“Did you see it?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean someone else didn’t.”
“We wereverysurreptitious.It wasn’t difficult—everyone was focused on celebrating.”
That much was true.It seemed Fielding knew how to take advantage of a situation.Felix hoped he hadn’t done the same of Sarah.“You were amenable to his advance?”
“Who said it was his advance?”
A sound that was part laugh and part gasp leapt from Felix’s lips.“You’re incredibly saucy.”
“Thank you.I’m trying to be.”She flashed him a small smile.“In the hope that it will make me more attractive.”
“I think you’ve always been this saucy.You’ve just been hiding it.Be yourself.”The recommendation burned the back of his mind where he hid all his own secrets and fears.Just because he gave advice didn’t meanhehad to follow it.
They were nearing the house, and Lavinia seemed to notice that Sarah and Felix had fallen back.She looked over her shoulder at them and slowed.
Felix rushed to ask, “And how was it?Is Fielding still a possibility, or should we focus our energies elsewhere?”
“Oh, he’s still on the list.But I should like to compare.”She winced and shot him a slightly pained look.“Is that bad?”
