Page 7 of The Duke of Distraction
Felix hadn’t noticed that.“I wasn’t flirting with her.She was throwing herself at me.”
“Well, whatever the specifics, might I suggest you stay away from her for a while?”
“You don’t need to.”He narrowed his eyes at her.“I’m not sure I like you playing the role of manager with me.”
“Manager?I thought I was rescuing you.”She laughed softly, and he let out a low groan because she was right.
“Whatever you’re doing, it isn’t seemly.We shouldn’t be discussing my… Never mind.”He looked toward the horses, which were now free of the phaeton.Several of the gentlemen were working to right the vehicle.Mr.Childers was not one of them.He was glowering at Felix.
Bloody hell.
And now he was stalking straight for Felix.
Thankfully, Anthony arrived at that moment with a physician in tow.“I’ve brought a doctor,” he said.
“I’m glad someone is thinking,” Childers grumbled.
“Where is the patient?”the doctor asked.
“This way,” Childers said, leading the man toward his wife where she sat on a bench beside Lady Exeby.
Felix exhaled with relief—at least for now.
“Shame the races are over for the day,” Anthony said.“Sarah, it looks like you won’t be fattening your purse any more today.”
“It does not.”She sounded disappointed.Felix knew how much she’d made and wondered if she was really just saving for a lonely future.
Lonely.Was that how he thought of spinsterhood?He didn’t plan to wed.Why couldn’t she make the same choice?Furthermore, he didn’t expect to feel lonely, so why should she?
Alas, none of it mattered because women and men weren’t afforded the same choices.He could be a bachelor and she’d be a spinster.
“Felix isn’t certain the races are over,” Sarah said, eyeing him.
Anthony stared at him.“Are you mad?You can’t mean to continue.Not today.Why not carry on with the men’s races tomorrow?”
Because he had appointments tomorrow.“Do you people think I have nothing better to do than host entertainments?”
“No.”They answered in unison, and he was torn between growling at them and laughing.What came out of his mouth was an unfortunate mix of the two.Anthony laughed in response, and Sarah merely arched a brow.
It was true that he spent most of his life in the pursuit of entertainment and diversion.“Well, tomorrow I’m busy.I’m sure Dartford and the others would prefer to continue.”
“Let’s ask him,” Anthony said.
Before they could do so, Childers marched back over to them, not stopping until he was nearly in Felix’s face.“My wife has suffered a concussion, you dolt.I’m going to make sure these races of yours are finished.I’ll petition the Regent if I have to.”
Felix exhaled with boredom.“He will likely attend the final, so I wish you luck with that.”
“I doubt that.Mrs.Childers’s uncle is a special friend of his.When he finds out she was injured and you didn’t even have the sense to ensure a doctor was at the ready, he’ll shut these races down faster than you can saygo.”Spittle had gathered on his lip and then leapt onto Felix’s coat with the vehemence of the man’s last word.
While he was skeptical of Mrs.Childers’s uncle’s importance, Felix didn’t say so.Perhaps itwastime to move to a new amusement.
Or perhaps he should move them to a new location and ensure only certain people were invited.Then they would be quite exclusive… Even better, he’d have one final race—the women’s final between Lady Dartford and Lady Exeby and a madcap six-man competition with the remaining gentlemen.They’d have to hold it somewhere quite large… Felix’s mind was already working.
He smiled at Mr.Childers.“You are quite right that the races should be finished.”
Felix went to Sarah.“May I have the horn?”
She placed it in his hand.“Certainly.”
