Chapter Eighteen
“Here you are,” Greyson said as he and Letitia came into view.
Samuel stood and waved to the bench, saying, “Have a seat, Lady Rutherford.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“I have some bad news to share,” Greyson said, a frown marring his handsome face.
“The Jockey Club’s betting book doesn’t show good odds for Zeus, I’m afraid.”
“I’m not surprised, nor does it bother me. I believe Zeus will place. Keep that in mind if you place a bet.”
“Place a bet?” Greyson cocked a brow. “Of course I’m placing bets. And to hell—excuse me, ladies—with the odds. I’m betting on my friend.”
Samuel was touched by Greyson’s announcement about betting on his friend.
As excited as Samuel was about entering his first racing season ever, he was equally nervous.
As a new thoroughbred owner, his reputation going forward would be built on this season.
Everything about starting a stud farm rested on how his horses performed during the upcoming races.
He prayed all the hard work he’d done for the past three years wasn’t for nothing.
“Where have you gone?” Clarice asked as three sets of eyes focused on him.
“Sorry. My mind wandered.” He held out his hand to her.
“Shall we return to the ballroom? I should really join a conversation or two. Will you accompany me?” This was the part of the racing world he disliked.
The socializing, making deals and business decisions.
He loved horses, not business. What he needed was an equal business partner who could do those things and be trusted.
Trust was a huge factor. He’d wanted Greyson and Hunter to join him.
But he understood that until Greyson found husbands for his sisters, most of his free time was taken up.
As for Hunter, he had been top of his class at Eton and Cambridge.
His mind was made for business. He needed to speak to them, but timing was everything. And it wasn’t the right time yet.
“I would like to. It will give me a peek into your world. I know most wives have nothing to do with their husbands’ business dealings, but I want to understand your world.
I love horses. And though I’ve never attended a race, from everything I’ve been reading lately, it sounds fun, invigorating, and totally different from London Society. ”
By now, they had reentered the ballroom, and Samuel made his way over to Ramsbury and Anna, who were talking with the chairman of The Jockey Club and several other owners with horses in the 2000 Guineas Stakes. “Shall we join Baron and Baroness Ramsbury?”
“Yes, it seems like a most interesting conversation. One of the gentlemen’s faces is as red as a radish.”
“Indeed. He is Viscount Thurston. His family has owned and still owns some of the fastest thoroughbreds ever to race. He and his brothers have built an empire. His two younger brothers will go head-to-head with anyone on the topic of racing. However, Thurston dislikes confrontation.” Samuel looked around the ballroom.
“I wonder where his brothers are tonight? It’s the wrong night to abandon the man.
People feel the need to attack him because of his family’s history with the racing empire.
Some feel the need to battle with those at the top, hoping to dethrone them.
Many have tried, but the Thurston family has prevailed. ”
“Do you like the man?” Clarice asked as she watched Thurston interact with a gentleman she didn’t recognize.
“It’s not about liking or disliking. It’s about respect or lack of it.
Personally, I don’t know him, but his reputation speaks for itself.
I respect him for taking over the family empire and keeping it solvent, and their horses are some of the top contenders for winning this season.
I’ve heard he is a fair man when it comes to negotiating his stud fees.
” Samuel chuckled deep and low. “I find talking about breeding horses a strange topic to discuss with you.”
Clarice squeezed his arm. “It is a rather delicate subject. I imagine many of the older ladies attending would swoon talking about stud fees.”
“You would be correct.” Samuel, with Clarice still on his arm, moved their way to stand beside Ramsbury and Anna, joining them in the lively discussion about the chances of Thurston’s newest horse, Moonlight, winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes.
“Nice of you to join us, Your Grace,” said the chairman of The Jockey Club. “Who do you favor to win the first race?”
Samuel laughed, not nervously but confidently. “Zeus, of course.”
Most of those gathered around laughed. Clarice could tell they weren’t laughing at Samuel or his answer. They were laughing good-naturedly because what other answer could Samuel give?
“Of course you would answer Zeus,” Ramsbury chimed in. “Any owner with a horse in the race would name their horse to win. Just as I would answer Thunder. Amongst this crowd, we all have winners.”
Viscount Thurston spoke up. “Your Grace, I have heard good things about both Zeus and Clover. They come from strong bloodlines. I hope your jockey can handle them.”
“Thank you,” Samuel replied. “As for my jockey, Tobias, he has the magic touch. I’m hoping to shock the racing world this season.”
“Good luck.” Thurston nodded his head. “If you will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I will take my leave.”
Clarice noticed he walked toward two men who had just entered the ballroom and looked similar.
Each of the conversationists walked away, leaving Clarice and Samuel standing alone in a ballroom filled with people she didn’t know.
It made her realize how sheltered from society she had been, first by her parents and then by Chesterfield.
An older gentleman, well into his seventies, approached with a slightly younger lady on his arm and a cane in his other hand, which he leaned on with each step.
They came right up to them. “Your Grace, Lady Chesterfield,” the man said with a slight and stiff bow, while his wife slowly lowered into a curtsy, making Clarice realize how awkward it was to greet people when one was elderly.
“Lord and Lady Kendall,” said Samuel. “What a pleasant surprise to see you. You are acquainted with Lady Chesterfield.”
“Actually,” Lady Kendall said, “we have never met, even though she was married to my brother.”
Her brother? All the sounds in the room disappeared, and so did all the faces except for Samuel and Lord and Lady Kendall.
They were vivid and overwhelming; she thought she might swoon.
She closed her eyes briefly, inhaled and exhaled, and pulled herself together.
She would not embarrass herself or Samuel by fainting dead away onto the floor.
Why had Chesterfield never mentioned having a sister?
He had been an enigma. A holder of many secrets.
“Lady Kendall,” Clarice managed to find her voice. “I apologize. Your brother never told me about you.”
Lady Kendall smiled, and her face softened, making her appear younger.
“I should be the one apologizing for my brother. You poor thing, being married to that man. Oh, forgive me for speaking plainly, but Chesterfield distanced himself from his family when he inherited the title from my father. Besides occasionally seeing him in public, my family never spoke to him again. It was what he requested, and we abided by it. Sadly, I’m the only one left from my family.
But when I heard word that you were attending this event, I had to approach you. ”
“I’m so glad you did,” Clarice said as she smiled and began to get her bearings back.
“Pardon the interruption,” Samuel said, and added, “I didn’t realize you were related to Chesterfield.”
“Yes, well,” Lady Kendall said, “I hardly ever went around admitting to being related to a curmudgeon who didn’t acknowledge his own family.”
Lord Kendall grinned. “I hope it wasn’t too forward of us to approach, but my dear wife just had to speak with you, Lady Chesterfield. Perhaps you would indulge us with a visit. We are staying at the Red Lion Inn.”
Samuel met Clarice’s eyes, smiled and nodded his head, giving her confidence. “Yes. I would like that very much. Lady Rutherford and I are staying there as well. We could meet for tea tomorrow afternoon.”
“Wonderful,” Lady Kendall said. “Will you be joining us, Your Grace?”
“I would enjoy that very much,” Samuel said. “It’s been a while, Lord Kendall, since you entertained me with your tales of when you had a filly racing.”
He laughed. “Yes, my Queenie. She was a beauty. Won the 1000 Guineas as a three-year-old filly. Best race of her life and mine.” He nodded his head. “Until tomorrow.”
Her feet wouldn’t move as she watched the couple walk away, looking happier than they had when they’d first approached. She had a sister-in-law she’d never known about. Life was full of surprises.
“Come,” Samuel said, “let’s get refreshments. I suddenly find myself in need of a glass of wine.”
“I could use one, too,” Clarice said as she took his arm. “I can’t believe Chesterfield had a sister. That man had more secrets than the king’s confidant. How do you know them?”
Samuel plucked two glasses of wine from a servant’s tray.
“I met the Earl of Kendall two years ago at Tattersall’s.
He has a love of horses as strong as mine.
I learned a lot from our conversations there.
His filly, Quennie, won the 1000 Guineas Stakes that year.
Several weeks later, right before another race, she became sick and died.
Kendall believes she was poisoned but couldn’t prove it.
His heart was broken, and he’s yet to enter another horse in the races. Perhaps in time, he will.”