Silks: A Taboo Kentucky Derby Romance

Chapter 8 （Ophelia）

I tried to surreptitiouslyadjust my dress on the deck of the Belle of Louisville as we steamed down the river for the Great Steamboat Race, which always took place the day before the Derby.

The race was a couple of hours long, and Louisville’s elite would be wined and dined on the deck of the boat as she made her way merrily through the waves of the Ohio River in the friendly competition.

Granny had produced a dress for me when we arrived back home—a tight-fitting white dress with splashy pink and yellow and blue flowers on it and big puffed sleeves. I absolutely loathed it but since I had nothing better to wear, I resigned myself to my fate. It was topped off with a huge white hat with a dramatic swoop of peacock feathers.

Perfect for discouraging anyone to stand too close to me, but of course that didn’t include my brother, who was discourage by nothing and nobody.

He was wearing a powder blue suit jacket and pants with a crisp white shirt and matching tie, and of course he looked cool and relaxed even though the evening was unseasonably warm.

“I’m going to throw up if all Dad catered were mint juleps,” I said.

Teddy laughed and produced a can of champagne from his pocket.

“For my classy as fuck sister.”

I couldn’t help squealing and grabbing it from him.

“Thank you!” I cried. “Finally, something normal.”

“Some people might say this 50-year-old single malt whiskey is even better,” Teddy said, leaning on the rail beside me.

“The bubbles are going up my nose!” I squeaked and he just smiled.

We watched the Belle of Louisville make her way easily down the Ohio, and for a moment everything was like it used to be. Us together, shit-talking the cream of Louisville society.

We watched my parents pretending not to notice the people they were fucking on the side as they circled around the party.

“Wow, they could make a cute couple,” I said, indicating one of my dad’s mistresses with the fitness instructor Mom had boinked for several years.

“Nah,” Teddy said. “They already tried to go in together on a blackmail against Dad and Mom. Dad forgave, but Mom didn’t.”

I laughed, then remembered Harvey.

Fuck.

I looked around for any of Dad’s hired muscle or Chet or somebody to get information from.

“I have to go pee,” I said, shoving my drink at my brother and walking away.

Teddy was going to think I had a hamster’s bladder, and I was no longer even safe from him in the fucking bathroom, but at least there were people around. He wouldn’t dare to shove his knee in my pussy in front of everyone, would he?

I suddenly caught sight of Barrington Stables jockey Ezekiel McCluskey.

Who better to know the inside scoop about Mintmaker?

There was only one problem, I reflected, as I advanced on the thin, graceful man.

He absolutely loathed me.

As soon as Ezekiel saw me, he did a literal spit take, spattering the suit of the man he was talking to, and he took off like a shot.

I ground my teeth and gave chase.

Because of his short legs, I was able to catch up fairly easily.

“Ezekiel! So good to see you!” I panted in what I hoped was a winning manner.

“I still use the crop and I will continue to use the crop!” he said belligerently, jutting his jaw out.

I stifled my anger. For like one second, because then I burst out.

“Give it up, asshole! It’s ineffective and doesn’t even make the thoroughbreds go faster!”

“Oh who let you out of the fiery pits, you hellspawn?” Ezekiel hissed at me.

“Why are you hissing?” I asked maliciously. “What are you afraid of?”

“Your goddamn brother, of course,” he whispered in agony, darting his eyes back and forth. “If you’re somewhere, he’s going to be there, too.”

I felt a vicious satisfaction that he was afraid of Teddy.

“The rule change is coming,” I said. “I’m going to enjoy you being disqualified for using the riding crop.”

“Why you little—” he began, then with a yelp he darted away.

I half-turned and of course there was my big as fuck brother, heading purposefully toward us.

I stifled my own urge to yelp and headed in the opposite direction, threading my way through the crowds.

The jury was in. I was way too big of a bitch to do undercover work and that was all there was to it.

I was wondering how much time I could actually get off for good behavior when I ran into Chet himself.

“Ophelia!” he said appreciatively, but he too darted his eyes around me.

“Want to go somewhere quieter?” I asked, putting my hand on his arm.

Away from my brother.

“I bet we could get into one of the crew cabins.”

I didn’t have all motherfucking year to listen to him waffling around about the office he wanted.

I needed to get this information now.

I put a hand on his arm to encourage him, and he had just put an arm low on my waist, right above my hips, when suddenly Teddy was there.

“Did I not make myself clear at the golf course?” he growled, pulling me out of Chet’s arms and propelling me firmly away.