The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (13 page)

“He has not. And he will be gone for the
next sennight at a race meeting. I can only assume he has no
intentions beyond entertaining himself while his sister shops the
marriage mart.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. I’ve
seen the way he looks at you.”

“Well, unless his looks are very suggestive
and he does them in front of Northcotte, I’ve no hope of marrying
him.” She reined her mare to a walk when they approached other
riders. “I want to go back to my life before London.”

“Leave Town, you mean? Where would you go?
Anyone who is worth notice is here during the Season.”

Except Mr. Lumley, when his horses were
entered in a race, Joanna thought. “Patriot is racing at Goodwood
next week. I miss him, and would enjoy watching him run again. I
hate not seeing him win. It’s not the same, reading it in the
papers.”

Amelia’s laughter rang out. “You would leave
all these marriageable young men for a horse?”

“There are men worth marrying at the race
meetings, too. And I’ve a common interest with those gentlemen,
outside of the desire for a family.”

Her friend turned to look at her. “Oh, I
understand, now. Your Mr. Lumley will be at Goodwood.”

“He isn’t my Mr. Lumley, didn’t I just
explain that? And yes, he will be there. He mentioned that his
brother, Trey, would be attending some of the assemblies with Lady
Hannah in his absence.”

“Oh, that one. Why does Knightwick never
attend? I would love to dance with him. I hear he moves divinely.
When you marry Mr. Lumley, will you put in a good word for me with
Knightwick?” Amelia’s laughter was contagious, and altogether too
loud for polite society. Joanna loved it.

“I shall be sure to do so. But first, I must
capture Mr. Lumley’s heart. If only I could slip away without
Northcotte noticing.”

“Won’t your brother be at Goodwood? You’d be
seen. You need another scheme.”

Joanna shrugged, a gesture Mama hated.
“Another dream, you mean. Another gentleman’s heart to steal, and
soon.”

“The Season isn’t half gone yet, you have
time.”

“No, I haven’t.” She glanced about to make
sure no one was within hearing distance before continuing.
“Northcotte is getting anxious for me to marry. Sir Frederick has
spoken to him about marrying me, but my brother put him off.”

Amelia groaned. “It can’t be true. No one’s
family could ever support a match with that man. What does he have
to offer that might tempt Northcotte?”

“I don’t know. A horse, perhaps? That would
make sense. Northcotte mentioned some financial concerns. A winning
racer would bring in needed funds.”

“Your brother would trade you for a
horse?”

Joanna ducked her head. “I don’t wish to
believe it. He loves me. He’s a good brother. But he’s changed so
much since he inherited, I no longer feel I know him
completely.”

Chapter Ten

David sat in his room in the inn near the
Duke of Richmond’s estate where the Goodwood Race Meetings were
held. The heavy fog outside kept the small space in darkness, which
didn’t help David’s mood. He was on edge and blamed it on the
upcoming race. “I hope this clears before the meeting begins. We
can’t have any horses going off course, and how will the judge be
able to tell who won?”

His brother, Knightwick, shook his head,
looking at David as if he were quite mad. “They won’t hold the race
until they can do so fairly.”

“I’m not so sure. It seems the fates have it
in for Triton. What if the judge can’t see the jockey?”

“I don’t think the orange and yellow Peter
will be wearing can be missed, even in a fog.”

David rose and stretched. “I hate waiting
for the meetings to begin.”

“You are more restless than Triton when he’s
in his stall. I swear, he can smell the pending competition.”

“He knows the routine. Strange paddocks,
strange stalls, familiar horses nearby. It all adds up to being
allowed to run.”

“Now, if he could run a bit faster and win
some of the more important races, I’d be quite pleased with
him.”

Turning to confront his brother, David said,
“You aren’t pleased with his performance? He’s the best runner
we’ve had since Zephyr.”

Knightwick lifted his hands, palms out. “I
am not displeased, but more wins would be preferable. He needs wins
to increase his value as a stud.”

“He’ll have the wins. He loves to run, loves
to compete. He just has the bad luck of always coming up against
Northcotte’s Patriot.”

“Perhaps you should run Triton in the
northern meetings.”

Pacing back to the window, David pushed the
heavy, wheat-colored damask curtain aside. “I’ve the impression
wherever I run Triton, Northcotte will have his horse there. He’s
determined to destroy us.”

“Are you certain that’s his aim? The rivalry
was between our fathers. His is now dead, and ours never attends a
meeting.” Knightwick absently polished the toe of his boot with his
handkerchief.

“I think he’s carrying on where his father
left off. Who else would have tried to poison our horses last year?
No one had anything to gain from it.”

“I’m not certain we can blame Zephyr’s death
on Northcotte. I thought you were searching for proof, not trying
to bring down the earl.”

David slumped into the empty chair. “That
was my first intention. However, the longer I’ve searched without
finding evidence I know exists, the more I see I might never prove
the Hursts were behind the killing. But if I can keep Northcotte
from profiting from it, keep Patriot from winning, I can get
revenge for Father.”

Knightwick rested his elbows on his knees,
pressing his thumbs and forefingers together as he sat quietly. “Do
you hear yourself? What’s this talk of revenge? Has Father ever
asked you to seek it?”

“Well, no. Not in so many words. But look at
him. Look at how broken he has become. He’s an empty shell of a man
wandering through his waking hours, enjoying nothing.”

“And you think seeing Northcotte fail will
restore him?”

David leaned back, throwing his weight on
one elbow on the arm of the chair. “I hadn’t thought of it that
way. I believed having a winning runner again would give him
joy.”

“I don’t believe he’s capable of feeling joy
any longer. He speaks to me of starting my nursery, but not with
the excitement I expect to see in his eyes at the mention of
grandchildren. He seems to be putting his affairs in order. I think
his health is failing, not his mind.”

“Well, can you expect any less after Aunt
and Uncle Lumley died last year? He must be intensely aware of his
own mortality.”

“As the earl, he’s always been aware of the
need to continue our line. Why should he suddenly feel as though
it’s in danger of dying off? I am only weeks past my thirtieth
birthday. And there are three of you in the family to inherit,
should I fail to produce an heir. Not to mention all the cousins we
have.”

David smiled. “That would never do, letting
the earldom fall to me, or Trey, or Sam. You will need to step up
at some point and marry, you know.”

Straightening in his seat, Knightwick pushed
his hair off his forehead. “At some point, perhaps. But I’ve little
time to think of it now, with keeping all of father’s properties
running. Cousin Stephen will be moving into Hambleton Cottage after
his wedding next month, did I tell you? He will act as Father’s
steward there.”

“That is good news. He knows farming, but
working the land his father left him must be difficult with his
injuries. Perhaps he will learn to delegate as a steward. But now
that I think on it, I thought he was moving to Yorkshire to be near
his mills?”

“Jane couldn’t tolerate the climate.
Hambleton is only a few hours ride from her parents’ home. She will
be able to visit often.”

“That will make Hannah happy. She was quite
upset over losing her friend.”

“You don’t suppose Hannah will take the
location of a man’s property into consideration when she gets a
marriage offer, do you? I highly doubt it will matter where he
lives, if she is in love.”

David jumped to his feet, unable to sit
still. “Don’t mention her marrying. I’m still not certain I care
for the thought of some man pawing at her.”

Knightwick laughed. “You must make an
excellent chaperone for her, then. Mother must be quite at ease
knowing you are attending the same assemblies. Have you considered
doubling your efforts and finding a wife while you’re there? Now
that you’ve seen the available ladies, I mean.”

“I’ve too much on my mind to think about
ladies.”

“That’s not what Hannah writes.”

David paused in mid-step. “What has she
said?”

“She mentioned one miss in particular. Lady
Joanna Hurst, I believe. She said you’ve been spending a lot of
time with her.”

Grimacing, David muttered, “I suppose she
neglected to tell you she was present each time I saw Lady Joanna?
And that I was acting as chaperone for our sister.”

“I suppose she did say something of the
sort. But she remarked you seemed to find the lady’s company quite
enjoyable.”

“She is a very pleasant conversationalist.
And since she’s Northcotte’s sister, you can get any notion of a
friendship out of your mind. I’ve been questioning her about her
brother’s stable.”

“Of course. I should have guessed, knowing
how much time a lady of marriageable age spends discussing stud
servicing and foaling. Not to mention nefarious plots to poison the
best runners in England,” Knightwick said with a smirk.

“If you thought otherwise, you haven’t met
this lady. She claims Northcotte lets her train his runners.”

Knightwick’s grin spread. “And I let
Patience and Madeleine take the reins of the gig sometimes on the
road by the house. But it doesn’t mean I’d ask their opinion when
it came to choosing horseflesh.”

David raised an eyebrow. Knightwick had no
idea just how knowledgeable Lady Joanna was about horses. But any
words David said in her favor would be taken as a sign of affection
for her, and he couldn’t admit to having such feelings. “The truth
is, I’ve had a change of heart regarding using her for information.
She’s a very sweet girl, much like Hannah. I’d kill any man who
toyed with her affections as I’ve been doing. I need to find a way
to end this. It’s quite ironic, actually. If I were searching for a
wife, I can see where a lady with her passion for runners would be
the perfect choice.”

Knightwick nodded. “Hannah has said as much
herself. Maybe you should give up this obsession of yours for
revenge, and get to know Lady Joanna better. You might not find
another woman as suitable later on.”

Shaking his head, David returned to the
window to stare at the fog. The grudge between himself and
Northcotte was too large. Even if he allowed his feelings for Lady
Joanna to blossom, their relationship would be fraught with tension
between the men. She deserved happiness. “It would never work
between us. If she found out why I sought her out, she’d never
forgive me. What worries me is that her brother apparently wants to
marry her off to Sir Frederick Ardwen.”

“The money lender? There’s only one reason
anyone would ever consider that bounder for a husband. Northcotte
must be in deep straits.”

David shoved his hair off his forehead. “I
cringe at the thought of that man touching her.”

“You have become attached, whether you’ll
admit it or not. So what will you do about it? Beyond dropping your
scheme to bring her brother down.”

“If he’s in debt to Sir Frederick, he
doesn’t need my help in bringing him down. But marry her? I don’t
think I’m ready for such a step.” He was not. The fear of her
ending up with Sir Frederick probably made his feelings seem
stronger than what they were.

Well, that and the obvious reaction his body
had to her. But lust and fear did not make for a happy
marriage.

Once the fog burned off, carriages and
riders gathered at the Goodwood racecourse, a straight length of
six furlongs measured off on the Duke of Richmond’s estate.
Excitement bristled in the air as people discussed which horses
were favored to win, and what the odds were on the long shots.
David sat upon the broad back of Nemo, the retired runner he used
during racing season, when Triton had to be kept in condition or
was at a race. Nemo had adjusted to the fact he no longer raced,
but at times, he still grew skittish as if he recognized the
activity around him.

Knightwick sat on his horse next to David at
the end of the course, where the majority of the crowd was. There
were no stands, so viewers sat in their carriages or on horseback,
while some sat on Trundle, the Iron Age hill fort that rose above
the Downs.

David rose in the stirrups to look down the
course. “What’s keeping them?”