The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (9 page)

Joanna trotted on horseback beside Lady
Hannah and Amelia, with Wallis following. The afternoon sun beat
down on the path through Hyde Park, making her Merino cloth riding
habit much too warm. The crowd prevented them from traveling as
fast as she’d prefer, but the slower pace made conversation easier.
Besides, the mare she sat upon would never reach the speeds Patriot
ran. For the near future, her stallion would be travelling from one
race meeting to the next, so she must get used to this calm, proper
pace.

She turned to Lady Hannah. “This might not
be the place to discuss it, but how is your father faring? I hear
such tales at the races, I hardly know what to believe.”

“He is in good health, but low spirits,
especially since the loss of his brother and sister-in-law,” Lady
Hannah said.

“I recall he became ill after his horse was
killed some years past.”

Lady Hannah’s voice held a mixture of pride
and sorrow. “Not just any horse. Zephyr was his prize stud, the
foundation horse for Fernleigh Stud. He was quite the runner.”

Joanna frowned. “That is what I never
understood. Why would someone poison a perfectly sound horse?”

Lady Hannah responded. “My brothers believe
someone was envious of his wins. All I know is my father lost his
joy for life when Zephyr died. We’ve won some races since, but it
doesn’t bring back the excitement for him. He hasn’t been to a race
meeting in years.”

Joanna realized they had that in common, a
parent who’d slipped into melancholia with no apparent way to
recover. Her new friend would understand the dark cloud constantly
hovering in the background of one’s daily thoughts. And the need to
escape the gloom and sorrow. She and Lady Hannah would be friends
for a long time, she was certain.

“Tell me, what do you think of my brother?”
Lady Hannah asked.

“Mr. David Lumley? He is rather handsome, I
suppose.”

“
Rather handsome
. Do you think I
don’t see how you study him when he’s not looking?”

Joanna laughed. “All right then, he is quite
handsome. And witty. Quite pleasant to be around.”

“I wish you and he would form an attraction
so we might be sisters. We’d have such fun together.”

“Now there is a reason for marrying I hadn’t
considered. I shall add it to my list of qualities. The gentleman I
marry must have amiable sisters.”

Lady Hannah joined in her laughter. “And
you, Amelia, shall marry Knightwick.”

“I’ve seen him and agree most adamantly. I
would have Knightwick in a moment, if he’d have me.”

“There is also Trey, who is two-and-twenty,
and Sam will turn twenty in a few weeks,” Lady Hannah continued.
“You see, you may have your choice of brothers.”

Amelia waved away the notion. “I’ve met
Trey, I’m afraid, and I can’t claim any strong feelings toward him.
Of the two, I much prefer Lord Knightwick. Besides, I would be
called Lady Knightwick then. It suits me much better than Mrs.
Lumley.”

Joanna could barely maintain her false
indignation as she spoke, tipping her face away from her friends.
“Aha, Mrs. Lumley is fine for me but you are above such a
designation. I see how it stands between us now.”

“Oh, never. You deserve better than a
viscount, as you are an earl’s daughter.” Amelia burst out in
laughter again. “Who am I fooling? I could never aspire to marry a
viscount, especially one who will one day be an earl. I’ve no wish
to.”

Joanna sighed. “I agree. I care not if my
husband is a mister or a duke. Just so long as he loves me.”

“That’s a relief,” Lady Hannah said. “You
can marry my brother after all.”

Joanna didn’t push the argument that Mr.
Lumley had expressed no interest in her. She let the conversation
take its natural course and move on to the new pattern Amelia had
seen at the modiste’s shop.

She’d all but forgotten the discussion of
Lady Hannah’s brothers by the time the three ladies went shopping
with Aunt Ophelia the next afternoon. As they rode in her aunt’s
carriage, Amelia was aglow from having danced twice the previous
night with her hopeful beau, Sir Richard.

“He dances so divinely,” Amelia said with a
sigh.

“You do make a handsome couple.” Aunt
Ophelia’s smile seemed to say she remembered the emotions of a
first love.

“He asked if I would be attending Lady
Foxley’s Venetian breakfast at Vauxhall on Saturday. Will you all
be there? I would be so nervous without you beside me.”

Joanna looked to her aunt for confirmation.
“I believe we accepted that invitation. I’ve never been to a
Venetian breakfast. I’m not certain what to expect.”

“It’s merely a picnic,” Amelia explained.
“In a beautiful setting of course.”

Aunt Ophelia nodded. “Some years, Lady
Foxley has required Grecian dress, which is silly given the
location of Venice, but Grecian was the thing that year. There will
be music, food, drink, and all of the walkways to explore.”

The carriage stopped in front of the
modiste’s shop and the footman opened the door. As Joanna followed
Aunt Ophelia down the step, a familiar, and unwanted voice, rang
out. “Lady Joanna. What luck. Are you shopping this afternoon?”

“Yes, as you see, Sir Frederick.” She
motioned toward the shop door. Hearing her aunt clear her throat
softly at her side, Joanna introduced him. “Sir Frederick is an
acquaintance of Lord Northcotte’s.”

His smile appeared forced. “Charmed. Lady
Joanna, while your friends shop, would you care to walk with
me?”

Joanna’s brows drew together. The man was
shockingly rude. “I’m engaged this afternoon, as you see. If you’ll
excuse us, we have an appointment.”

“Then I shall call on you later.”

“I’ll not be home, sir. Please don’t trouble
yourself. Another day, perhaps.” She looked to her aunt for
aid.

“It was pleasant meeting you, Sir Frederick.
Good day,” Aunt Ophelia said, then motioned for the girls to follow
her indoors.

Amelia leaned close to Joanna’s ear once
they were inside. “How insufferable. Does he call on you
often?”

“I am not home during the day to find out.
He does leave his card on occasion, or will have Robert pass along
his greeting. He’s made reference to us becoming betrothed. I
shudder at the thought of it.”

Aunt Ophelia patted her arm. “I can speak to
your mother. Perhaps she has some influence over Robert. You should
not have to marry against your wishes. Now ladies, let us forget
about the man and look at the new patterns.”

The evening after David returned from the
final race of the Second Spring Meeting, he went to White’s in
search of Pierce. The man was so predictable, David didn’t bother
stopping by his friend’s rooms first. As expected, he found Pierce
in the middle of a card game with a large pile of winnings in front
of him. “You appear to be enjoying a grand evening.”

“Lumley. What brings you to Town?”

David stood to one side, watching the deal
and bets placed. “I’m in between excuses to stay away. I must
escort Hannah for the next few weeks. Knightwick will accompany the
horses to the race meetings.”

“How did Triton do?”

“A second and a third place. He’s close to
winning, I’m certain. I believe I’ll go get a drink.”

Pierce nodded. “This game is growing dull.
I’ll join you when this hand is done.”

David found a pair of comfortable chairs
away from the noise and set his whisky on the table between them as
he sat. Pierce followed shortly after, his own drink in hand. “Did
you find what you were looking for in Newmarket?”

“Not exactly. The constable has no names to
investigate. I’m still certain Northcotte is the culprit,
however.”

Pierce took a swallow from his glass as he
glanced about. “You believe he killed his own groom?”

“I think it happened by mistake. I think the
target was Peter, my groom. The boy killed was of the same size and
coloring as Peter. Northcotte might have thought losing my groom
would make me scratch from the race, maybe the entire event. This
feud goes back years, with our fathers. The elder Northcotte had a
stallion that had beaten all comers in challenge after challenge.
Short lengths, longer ones, it didn’t matter. The horse could run.
My father challenged him repeatedly. His horses would come
close—one would have won if not for throwing a shoe, but he
couldn’t beat Northcotte’s stallion.

“Eventually, my father bred Zephyr. By this
time, Northcotte was racing a colt out of the first horse. The colt
and Zephyr were born the same year, so they went head to head in
all of the meetings. Zephyr won each time. Northcotte couldn’t bear
it, sold his colt, started buying and selling mares and stallions
in an effort to produce the perfect horse.”

“He became obsessed, it would appear,”
Pierce commented.

“Yes, bordering on madness. Before any of
his foals were old enough to race, Zephyr died. The next year,
Northcotte’s stables were back on top again.”

“That is quite a coincidence. But you can’t
let it become an obsession. You’ll be as bad as Northcotte’s
father. Move on. You have Triton, who will win plenty in his prime,
and will sire enough for you to have your pick and sell the rest.
Not to mention the stud fees he will bring in.”

David leaned back, crossing one leg over his
knee. “The money is not the point. Fernleigh produces sound
horseflesh known for temperament and easy gait. But the pride of
owning winning horses is immeasurable. As is the loss Father feels
over Zephyr. I want to bring back his joy for life.”

“Just don’t let the desperation of that
thought lead you to do something foolish.”

“How foolish can I be when Mother is
dragging me around to afternoon teas and crowded ballrooms?”

Pierce’s lips twitched as if he fought a
smile. “Have you seen Northcotte’s sister recently?”

“Lady Joanna? No, not since I’ve been back.
Hannah told me they would be attending the same assembly
tonight.”

“I’m surprised you’re here and not
there.”

David motioned to a footman to bring him
another whisky. “I pleaded weariness from my travels. Mother was
quite sympathetic.”

“That’s not what I meant. You seem to be
spending quite a lot of time with the young lady, during the day as
well as socially.” Pierce leaned back, raising one thin black
brow.

“You know why. I hope to gain information on
her brother.”

“I can see where it might take weeks and
weeks to build up the nerve to ask if her brother is a vengeful
horse-murderer.” His sarcasm was tangible. “Is there a guideline on
how long an acquaintance must be in place before steering
conversation in that direction?”

“Very well, it’s not something I would ask
her directly. But Lady Joanna might accidentally let slip something
I can use to prove my case.”

“These are the excuses of a man treading
dangerously close to the parson’s noose.”

David’s bark of laughter made a few heads
turn. “I am not in danger of that. She’s pretty enough, and has an
excellent seat—”

“Don’t let her hear you discussing that part
of her anatomy.” Pierce grinned and winked.

“I am not familiar enough with her person to
discuss it with you or anyone else.” A realization struck him.
“Good God, do you suppose men are discussing Hannah’s anatomy?
They’d better not do so in my hearing, or they’ll be trying to
speak around my fist.”

Pierce cleared his throat. “I’d advise you
to stay out of the clubs, then, until Hannah is married.”

“The devil you say. Who is it? Who has dared
speak of her that way?”

“The list of who haven’t is shorter. Your
sister is a Diamond, haven’t you noticed? If I were—”

“Don’t say it,” David growled. “Not if you
value our friendship.”

Chuckling, Pierce shook his head. “She will
be married one day, you know. Some man will have all of her
treasures to himself. Hmm, I might be willing to consider sampling
her myself.”