Taming the Wild Duke

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

S imon was glad of the crowds as he and Lilian pushed their way toward the seats he’d reserved for them at the upper rail of the stands along the smooth, oval racetrack. Lilian clung to his arm, pressing against him to keep from being separated from him. Even above the dust and horsey scents lingering in the air, he could smell the slight, fresh fragrance of her perfume, and her proximity was doing funny things to his stomach.

The fact that they were alone in the midst of the crowd felt strangely intimate. Annie, who had once again come along as their chaperone, had chosen to stay in the pavilion above them—which perhaps wasn’t entirely proper, but neither Simon nor Lilian had objected.

“Almost there now,” he said, lifting his voice to be heard above the shouts of the bidders down at the bidding box.

“Everyone seems very excited to be here,” Lilian commented, leaning toward his ear. He glanced down, trying to catch a glimpse of her face, but she was wearing a straw hat with a wide brim to shade her complexion from the sun.

“Aren’t you excited to be here?” he asked, feeling a hint of nervousness. She had seemed willing enough to go along with his idea, but now that they were here— “I can understand how it might be a little overwhelming for someone who has never been,” he said. “Especially someone who prefers reading by the fire or hiding in a tree to most social activities.”

They had reached the rail, and he finally found their seats. He stood back, guiding Lilian to her seat before sitting down beside her. She turned her head toward him. Her face was flushed and smiling.

“I’m excited to be here,” she said. “I don’t know how anyone couldn’t be. There’s a sort of feeling in the air, isn’t there?”

“Yes!” Simon felt a rush of relief that she had picked up on it too. “It’s partly the betting, I suppose, but also there’s just something about seeing horses like these—well-bred and trained to perfect condition. They’re the pinnacle of what a horse can be. There!” He pointed toward the long, low stables off to the side of the track. “Here they come now!”

Lilian leaned forward to watch. Simon found his attention divided between the glossy, prancing racehorses and the bright interest that enlivened her face.

“They’re thoroughbreds, right?” Lilian asked. “But thoroughbred what?”

“What do you mean?” Simon asked, puzzled.

“Thoroughbred is the same as pure-bred, isn’t it? What breed are they purebreds of?” As she looked up at him with genuine curiosity, Simon couldn’t quite keep in his laughter. Lilian smiled back at him, looking puzzled but not offended.

“No, no, thoroughbred is a breed,” he told her. “They’re sometimes used for riding and pulling carriages, but the racetrack is where they really shine. Take a look at them.” He leaned forward with her, pointing at the shining animals pacing toward the starting gate. “The long legs and lean bodies are made for running,” he said, “and jumping. Those horses are all muscle, but it’s not bulky like a work horse’s.”

Lilian tilted her head to look up at him. “You’re really passionate about this, aren’t you?” she asked. “Horses and racing.”

Simon felt his face flush slightly. Had he appeared too eager? Undignified even?

“I’m not criticizing,” she said quickly, laying her hand on his arm. “I’m happy to learn about what interests you.”

The simple statement made Simon’s blood race slightly in his veins. Had anyone ever said that to him? He couldn’t think of anyone who had. He certainly couldn’t think of any woman other than his mother or sister that he’d even considered bringing to a race or sharing this passion with. But with Lilian, it had seemed completely natural. And she was already proving that it had been the right choice.

“You’re right,” he admitted. “I’m very passionate about this.”

“Is that why you have Belshazzar?” she asked. “Do you plan to race him?”

“Maybe eventually.” Simon nodded, keeping one eye on the approaching racers. “Just to prove his speed. But what I’m more interested in is setting him up on my stud farm and raising my own winners.”

“Stud farm?”

He brought his attention fully back to the woman at his side. “Yes, I’ve been building one up on my father’s estate,” he told her. “I have Belshazzar and a few good brood mares. I’m looking to purchase more studs and brood mares over the next year. I have the space for about twenty, I’d say. The pasture is incredible, and we’ve entirely revamped the stables…” He trailed off, realizing he might be getting carried away again. Few people liked to talk about horses for as long as he did.

“I would love to see it sometime,” Lilian said. His eyes flew to her face.

“Truly?”

“It sounds magnificent,” she said. He studied her expression. Her hazel eyes were wide and clear, her lips turned up in a half-smile. She was being entirely genuine.

“We could go after the races,” he offered. It was sudden, unplanned, but he found he really wanted to show Lilian the project he’d been working on so tirelessly since his father’s death. Somehow, he thought she would see it as he did—as a beautiful thing.

Lilian nodded, her face brightening even further. At the same time, the starting gun was fired, and the horses were off. She and Simon both turned, their attention fully focused on the horses as they shot from the starting gate. Well, Lilian’s attention seemed to be fully focused on the horses. Simon found he was intensely aware of the fact that she was once more pressed against his side as she strained to see down the track.

“Which one do you think will win?” she asked, her voice barely audible above the cheers of the crowd. Although he hadn’t consciously chosen a horse at the beginning of the race, Simon’s eyes had been drawn to one horse as soon as they started running.

“Number three,” he said. He took his eyes from the tight group of speeding horses to watch her search for the horse. He saw the surprise on her face as she spotted the horse at the very back of the group. Simon hoped he was right as her gaze flickered curiously to his before returning to the race.

The race was over in less than two minutes, but during that time, Simon found his attention glued almost entirely to the woman at his side. She leaned forward the entire race, her eyes wide and bright with excitement. He could follow what was happening just by her reactions.

As number three slowly began to pull toward the front two thirds of the way through, Lilian gasped, reaching out to grab Simon’s arm. A moment later, when the tall chestnut passed the finish line a full stride ahead of all the others, she leaped to her feet and cheered.

“How did you know?” she asked, spinning to face Simon.

He laughed, enjoying the pure delight on her face. “I’ll explain later,” he promised. The frenzy of the crowd around them was deafening. “Shall we head out?”

Lilian nodded, her face still flushed and sparkling with excitement. Simon turned and scanned the crowd, trying to pick out a clear path to the exit. There was no way he and Lilian were going to be able to make it out side by side, so he reached over and grabbed her hand.

“So, we don’t get separated,” he explained when she glanced up at him, her eyes wide. Then she nodded. Her hand felt small in his, and her fingers curled around his trustingly. Something stirred inside of Simon that he couldn’t quite name as she followed him in a weaving path through the crowd. Or maybe he could name it. He just wasn’t quite ready to.

Simon felt strangely nervous as he escorted Lilian toward the stables on the back of his property. Everything was neat and tidy at all times, per his instructions, but it was still never a place he’d imagined showing a lady while courting her.

But Lilian’s face was full of interest as he pointed out the various stables and paddocks and outlined his plan. Annie looked less enthralled. Simon made a mental note to invite David, the stableman who was courting her, along next time.

“This is all so amazing,” Lilian said as they walked slowly back up to the veranda. Simon had asked Mrs. Grimes to have refreshments sent out, and he could see one of the maids arranging them on a cloth-covered table. “I would think the men you’ve approached about it would be more than happy to become involved.”

Simon shrugged, even as he felt a warm gush of gratitude at her affirmation. “It’s an old business,” he explained. “People want to see that you really know what you’re doing and that you’re committed to the long haul before they’ll risk investing or selling their good stock to you. They want to make sure the time they’ve put in doesn’t go to waste. I understand their hesitation.”

He watched as she nibbled on a biscuit, still looking out over the estate. She had taken off her straw hat, hanging it off the back of her chair. Her hair was in curly disarray about her face, the simple twist she usually wore it in barely discernable amid the party of chocolate-brown ringlets. Her face was peaceful as she chewed the biscuit and tilted her face to the breeze blowing in from the west.

Looking at her here, so relaxed and seemingly happy, brought a strange ache to his middle. He could picture her here always, he realized. He wanted that to be the case. Not just because it would help to mend his reputation but because he didn’t think he’d ever meet anyone he found so interesting and understanding, so easy to be with and…everything he hadn’t known he wanted in a woman.

“Lilian,” he said.

Her hazel eyes flashed to his, and she blinked. It was only then that he realized he’d just used her first name—as he always did in his thoughts nowadays. He thought about correcting himself but decided not to.

“I just want you to know,” he said slowly, “that I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together over the past weeks. Whatever you decide in the end, I’m grateful that you agreed to this courtship.”

Lilian smiled, looking surprised and pleased. The expression suited her. She flushed shyly.

“Well, I’ve enjoyed spending time with you as well,” she said after a moment. She dropped her gaze to her lap, brushing biscuit crumbs from the light print dress she had chosen to wear to the race. When she looked back up at him, her expression had grown serious. “I appreciate you being honest with me and letting me really get to know you. I don’t mind telling you it has changed my opinion of you considerably.”

Simon felt his heartbeat quicken slightly as she set down her teacup and straightened in her seat.

“Remember at our picnic, you said I had to reveal a secret on our next outing?” she asked. Her eyes had widened slightly, as if she were nervous about something.

“I remember,” he said.

Lilian took a breath and let it out. “Well, the secret I’ve chosen to reveal to you today is… that I’ve decided that…if you still want to marry me, I am willing to marry you.”

He had expected to receive the news of her decision—no matter which one it turned out to be—cooly. With some happiness or disappointment, of course, but only what he would have felt at a business partner accepting or rejecting his offer.

He not expected this: the way his heart leaped at her words and his skin felt hot. He was not expecting the sudden urge to leap up and whoop aloud or snatch her into a triumphant hug. It took him a second to regain his composure enough to respond.

“I do still want to marry you,” he said, and it came out sounding like the impulsive confession of a bashful boy. He felt his own cheeks flush as he tried to regain control of his emotions.

Emotions. There were so many emotions, and he didn’t know what to do with them. He felt almost giddy with joy—and at the same time frightened by his very happiness. Lilian Weston was agreeing to be his wife. To come here and live on the estate with him, just as he had just been daydreaming about. And suddenly that daydream was expanding, bursting out of the careful box he’d been unconsciously confining it to. In an instant, he wasn’t just imagining cohabitation. He was imagining friendship, affection, maybe even…

“I’m glad,” Lilian said, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at him from under her lashes. “I was a little worried you’d change your mind after you found out about the tree climbing.”

“We’ve all made mistakes in the past,” he said, and Lilian tossed her head back and laughed. But her laughter was gentle. She was remembering, he knew, the context of when she had said that phrase to him. “May I ask what led you to this decision?” he asked. Gratefully, his voice came out sounding more decorous this time. Lilian nodded, meeting his gaze with a candid one of her own.

“I’ve decided I can trust you,” she said. “I believe you’re a good man—a man of your word. And I feel it would be an honor to help establish your reputation as it should be among the ton and your business partners.”

A man of his word. Mending his reputation… Here was something else unexpected. Simon knew this answer should not have stolen a small portion of the happiness that had been rushing through him. She was simply reminding him of the premise he himself had offered for their marriage only a few short weeks before. He would give her the independence she craved. She would give him the respectability he required.

But it did. The rush of good feelings was abruptly polluted by a feeling of…disappointment.

He remembered what he had told Aaron before the courtship had even begun. Plenty of marriages were built on nothing more than mutual respect. At what point over the past few weeks had he started to want…more?

Simon bit his tongue before the question he longed to ask could burst forth. He bit it hard enough that the pain brought him back to himself. The carefully trained self that could calmly say, “I’m very glad that you’ve come to this decision. And I promise you that your confidence is well placed.” He reached for his tea, anxious to have something to do with his hands and mouth that didn’t involve grabbing Lilian’s hands or asking her if she felt the slightest bit of anything beyond respect between them. “I shall ask the curate to begin to read the banns Sunday next if you are amenable.”

“That would be fine.” Lilian said, smiling faintly. He suddenly noticed that despite her calm exterior, she was wringing her hands lightly in her lap. At this indication of possible inner uncertainty, his joy dried up a bit more. He had never yet known Lilian to not tell him the truth, but in a moment when everything should have been right…something was wrong.