Chapter Twenty
“Are the baron and baroness home?” Clarice asked, looking worried. “I don’t want to impose.”
“They informed me they would be gone all day, only returning at dinnertime. So you need not worry.”
“Then we have plenty of time.”
“Even if they return early, you are my guest. They will be happy to welcome you into their home again. Please don’t worry.”
“Fine. I won’t. If you say I am welcome, then I will believe you.”
The driver, a nice fellow named Kirkland whom Samuel met that day, opened the door and lowered the stairs. Samuel exited, leaning back in with his hand out. “My dear lady, are you prepared to fall in love with my equine family?”
She took his hand and stepped out of the carriage with more grace than anyone else he knew. “By all means. From the way you brag about them, I expect them to have wings and be able to fly.”
Chuckling, Samuel replied with a lightness in his heart, “Some days when they race, I believe they have invisible wings.” Still holding her hand and leading her away from the main house, he said, “This way. The property is huge. I don’t know how many acres, but the walk to my stable isn’t far.
When you own valuable livestock, it’s best to keep them close to the main house.
I’m glad to see you wore boots since I forgot to mention it. ”
“Yes, well, I figured there would be walking involved, not to mention whatever’s on the floor of the barn.” She exaggerated a full-body shudder. “No pair of slippers of mine would survive such abuse.”
“Probably not.” He paused and cleared his throat to broach something they needed to discuss.
“I spoke to you about getting a special license. Because I couldn’t leave Newmarket with the first race happening in two days’ time, I sent my valet to the archbishop with a note from me.
He should arrive back in Newmarket sometime tomorrow night or the following morning if he rode straight through, only stopping to change his mount. ”
“I see.”
Nerves, something he didn’t usually suffer from when in her company, appeared in the form of sweating.
He removed his handkerchief from his riding jacket and wiped his brow.
“If you wish, we can marry the day after the 2000 Guineas Stakes. I sent word to the local vicar, and he is looking forward to marrying us. We could keep it simple: Lady Rutherford, Greyson, his two sisters, and Hunter.” He exhaled.
“However, we must invite the baron and baroness since I’m staying with them.
” He wiped his forehead again as his nervousness intensified.
“Please say something? If this isn’t what you want, I need to know before I keep rambling on, making an utter arse of myself. ”
Her feet stopped. She turned and took his other hand in hers, her fingers rubbing across the tops of them.
“I’m just now realizing how freeing it is to hold your hands without gloves as an impediment.
To feel your warm hands. And even though you are a wealthy duke and could live a pampered life, never working or getting your hands dirty, you choose the opposite.
You have the strong hands of a man who knows what he wants and sets out to get it.
You are the furthest thing from a lazy, pompous aristocrat.
You inherited this need and desire to accomplish something from your father, who I remember spent hours in his gardens.
He also loved to get his hands dirty and become one with nature.
His nature was the flora, and yours is the fauna.
” She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him soundly on the mouth, then lowered back to her normal height.
“I’m sorry if my silence worried you. I was too in awe of you and how you think of everything when it comes to me.
I love you so much, Samuel.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his heart, which she noticed was beating wildly.
“Everything you said pertaining to our marriage is as I would wish it to be.”
“I’m not sure I heard much after you said, ‘I love you so much, Samuel.’” He wrapped his arms around her, too, and they stood there, their bodies swaying gently as if the wind moved them.
After a moment, Samuel stepped back and again took her hand, and they kept walking toward the stable, which was not far from Ramsbury’s large main stable where he kept his prized thoroughbreds.
Ramsbury’s horse, Thunder, was going to be Zeus’s toughest competitor.
Samuel wished Ramsbury all the best and wanted him to win, but he wanted to win more. “Here we are.”
“I hear them. Do they recognize you, even from out here?”
“Yes.” No doubt his scent drifted their way with the main barn doors wide open. It was common to leave them open to give the horses, stablehands, his jockey, and horse trainer inside, fresh air and the all-important daylight. Lanterns and candles didn’t mix well with hay.
They entered the stable, and Samuel noticed the floors had been swept clean recently, and the scent of fresh hay filled the air, also mingling with leather and polish.
“Prepare to fall in love,” he said, grinning—no doubt looking like a silly fool.
He opened the tops of both stalls, which were side by side, and immediately Zeus and Clover made noises and shook their heads, seeking attention.
“You need a stool.” He hurried to the corner, grabbed a three-legged stool, and helped Clarice stand on it in front of the animals. “Stay here.”
“Where would I go?” she said, laughing.
He brought back the pail that stored carrots and apples that were too bruised for the kitchen. He handed Clarice an apple. “Clover loves apples. She will be your best friend forever if you feed her one.”
Once again, Clarice laughed. “That is good to know.” Samuel watched as she held out her hand with the apple cradled in her open palm. Clover, using her lips, took it gently from Clarice’s hand. “Do you know that I’ve never had a horse of my own?”
“I don’t think I ever knew that. You ride well, that I do remember.”
“Yes. I trained on my mother’s mare, Goldie. She was more or less mine as Mother didn’t ride much.”
“Do you think she rode Goldie to meet my father for their tête-à-têtes?”
Clarice grabbed the wooden door as she wobbled on the stool, steadying herself before Samuel could react.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.” He took a carrot from the bucket and fed it to Zeus.
“It really doesn’t matter. What’s in the past is behind us.
The future . . . our future is what matters. ”
“You are right. There’s nothing we can do to change the past, but the future is wide open and ready for the taking.” Clover nickered and moved her head up and down as if she understood what she said and agreed. “You were right. I’m in love with this sweet filly.”
“Let’s switch so you can meet Zeus.”
Clarice hopped off the stool. Samuel moved it several feet to the right, and she stood back on it. As she petted Zeus, she said, “Shouldn’t they be on a special diet for the upcoming races?”
“Guilty, yes. But the one treat they get a day shouldn’t hurt.”
“You haven’t said anything about your silks and your colors. Are you keeping them a secret until the first race?”
“I am. They are locked away in my chambers. Would you like to be the first—besides my jockey and The Jockey Club, who needed to approve and record them—to see them?”
“Can I give Zeus a carrot first?”
Samuel chuckled as he handed her a carrot. “If not, I think he might eat your long strands of hair.”
“Now, you be a good boy, Zeus, and win that 2000 Guineas Stakes for your owner. As you know, he’s a wonderful, loyal, and kind man. I have it on good authority that if you win, you can eat all the carrots you want.”
“You listen to Clarice, Zeus. She knows what she’s talking about.
I can plant a row of carrots in the pasture, and you can dig them up whenever you want.
I’m leaving the top door open, as Tobias comes by this time of the day.
” Laughing, Samuel held out his hand, his eyes filled with amusement.
“Come. I would love to show you my silks, but you must swear yourself to secrecy.”
She took his hand, stepped down from the stool, and giggled. “Be careful what you say. One might think you’re showing me your silk bedding.”
Samuel couldn’t help it; he burst out laughing.
He couldn’t be more in love with Clarice if he tried.
“I never thought of it like that.” He tugged gently on her hand to hurry her along.
She had given him a very salacious idea.
He may not be sleeping on silk bedding, but the cotton was soft, and he definitely wanted to show it to her.
They entered through the front door and were greeted by the butler, who bowed in greeting. “Your Grace, Lady Chesterfield.”
“Sullivan, are the baron and baroness in?”
“They have not returned yet.”
“Thank you. When they return, please inform them that Lady Chesterfield will be joining us for dinner. Also, send a message to Mrs. Mather. I don’t want her to panic when she sees an extra place setting at the table.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Samuel, still holding her hand, led them up two flights of stairs and down the hall to the room he used when in Newmarket.
He always wondered how he could repay Ramsbury and Anna for their kindness.
Not just for housing him and his horses, but also for their friendship and sharing their deep knowledge of the racing business.
He didn’t know what he would do without them, especially Ramsbury.
“Here we are.”
“It’s nicely decorated with masculine colors. I love the navy and brown. And you have a nice sitting area in front of the hearth. You would think the room would be dark, done in deep colors, but with light from the windows, it’s not.”
“There’s a dressing room through that door.” Samuel pointed to the right. “It’s comfortable and I feel at home here.”
Clarice wandered over to look out a window. “You mentioned buying property somewhere near here. Have you found anything to your liking that meets your needs?”
“I have a business agent looking for me, but so far, nothing is for sale that meets my approval. There is land for sale, but it would take too long to build a house and stables. The perfect property needs a large house and stables already built and in good condition. If nothing becomes available soon, I’ll set up my stud farm at my country estate in Hampshire.
That is where I spend most of my time anyway.
” He moved and now stood beside her. “I just thought if I had a farm close to Newmarket, it would be more convenient for buyers to visit. Although, to be realistic, I can always use Tattersall’s. ”
She turned to look at him, and he could see her thinking. “Forgive me if I overstep, but I believe you said funds were tight and you were looking for investors. Perhaps you could start the stud farm in Hampshire, and when you have the money, you could then buy property here.”
“Hmmm. I’ve thought about that. Truthfully, I’m waiting for the perfect moment to speak with Greyson and Hunter and ask them to invest. I’d rather have them as partners than anyone else.
With them, I know I’ll get hard work and honesty.
” He paused and considered another option.
“I could always give up my dream of owning a stud farm and just enjoy the ride as far as it goes with Zeus and Clover. It would be the safest and wisest path. I could spend more time dealing with obligations to the dukedom. I would feel less guilty if I did that.”
She moved closer, wrapped her arm around his waist, and leaned her head against his shoulder. “What would make you happy?”
He exhaled and ignored the knot in his stomach.
“Perhaps when one is a duke, one is not meant to be happy. I have obligations to my title. I try. I really try to manage it all, but I don’t always succeed.
I have this undeniable draw and connection to my horses—actually, all horses in general—I can’t always ignore it.
I know this might sound perplexing, but they know me and I know them on an elemental level.
We connect. Both Greyson and Hunter say I’m part Arabian horse myself. ”
“Regarding dukes or gentlemen with titles, I’m unsure how truly happy anyone is.
But for daughters born into the aristocracy, we learn early on that our success, our hoped for happiness, depends on the talents we can share—embroidery, musical instruments, painting, and other art forms—things a potential husband admires in his bride.
And, of course, there is the amount of our dowry.
But our parents will plan the match for most unwed young ladies.
Whether it’s a father, mother, or legal guardian, they have complete control over us.
” She sighed. “Our years together, Samuel, knowing we were meant to marry and spend our lives together, becoming friends and then lovers, is most unusual. Most girls and young ladies are made to feel that their only purpose in life is to secure a good match for their family. And then produce heirs for her husband. If that match leads to friendship, common interests, and perhaps love, they are considered lucky. That is the only happiness a woman can hope for or expect.”
“You are correct. But it’s sad to hear it said aloud.” Because he and Clarice had had a wonderful time growing up and falling in love, he’d never thought of how little input a young lady had when it came to marriage.
At least he hadn’t thought about it until Clarice married Chesterfield.