Chapter Four
Ascot
Berkshire, England
The weather was inclement, and what should have been the beginning of summer and warm temperatures felt more like a dark winter day.
Julian looked up at the sky, leaden with gray clouds that perfectly matched his mood.
He’d read about the volcanic eruption at Mount Tambora on the Dutch East Indian Island of Sumbawa.
Given the reported size of the explosion, he agreed with the scientific conclusion he’d been reading about in the scientific journals that this eruption was the cause of the awful “year without a summer.” The beastly weather had now stretched into two years without a summer and might even linger into three.
England’s weather was already blighted enough without climactic disasters adding to the problem.
The black cloud that hovered over him, however, was predicated on his father’s interference in his personal life, and particularly his adamant refusal to discuss his disapproval of Lady Beaufort.
Julian swept his gaze over the Royal Stand, looking for Lacy. His mood didn’t improve when he didn’t see her or her aunt in the crowd. Surely they’d received a royal invite. Given the queen showing favor to Lacy at her birthday ball, it would seem likely.
He knew his impatience was evident to his friends.
He hardly conversed with them, only nodding and answering with clipped replies.
His attention was riveted on seeing who arrived at the Royal Enclosure.
It was a crowded venue, with roads clogged by both the elite and common folk eager to share in the festivities.
Throngs of the beau monde filled the stands, men dressed in silk toppers, morning suits, and ladies adorned with elaborate millinery, all eager to see and be seen.
Below, the common folk walked, entertained by men on stilts and purveyors of refreshments at their stands.
There were games to be played, wagering booths, and all manner of entertainment offered.
Julian ignored the hopeful glances that came his way from young, marriageable women in attendance. There was only one woman who held his thoughts—Lacy. He’d made a few subtle inquiries and found out that she and her aunt would be in attendance. But where was she?
His fingers drummed on the silver knob of his walking stick.
At long last, he saw her and her aunt entering the stands.
He blinked rapidly as if to clear his vision.
She looked glorious. Her magnificent red hair was swept up into a straw-colored, wide-brimmed, woven hat decorated with silk ribbons and red roses.
Her lilac-colored pelisse enhanced her hazel eyes, which were startlingly bright and inquisitive.
Julian sat not far from the prince and felt excitement at the prospect that she might look his way.
Her gaze flitted upward, and for a moment, her eyes locked with his, and a rush of excitement surged through his veins. He lifted his black silk topper and nodded his greeting, but to his dismay, she looked away without an acknowledgment.
It was a purposeful snub, and to be truthful, he’d expected it. And was prepared for it. But it stung, nevertheless.
Without thinking, he stood and made his way to where she’d been seated. No woman could resist his charms and appeal when he committed to the chase. And he’d never felt such a strong sense of determination before.
“Let me be the first to welcome you, Lady Beaufort, and you, Lady Maxwell. I’m delighted to see you again.”
“Lord Kingsley, good day to you,” Antoinette replied. “How nice of you to deliver such a warm welcome.”
“Your lordship.” Lacy nodded and looked away, her shoulders tensing.
“Might I join you?” he asked.
“Of course.” Antoinette smiled, ignoring Lacy’s unwelcoming frown and obvious discomfort.
Taking a seat beside Lacy, he removed his top hat respectfully and brushed back the errant curl that fell over his forehead. “I was hoping to see you here so that we might continue our conversation,” he said in a low voice.
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered. “Why not leave well enough alone?”
He relished their hushed conversation, feeling as if they were the only two souls in the world. Her resistance only fueled his desire to unravel her. “I’ve told you, I find you intriguing and am eager to know more about you,” he whispered back, his determination unwavering.
She turned to him, her eyes ablaze, and he felt an immediate physical response in his trousers.
“You’ll come to regret this pursuit of a fantasy,” she warned, her voice low, cold, and forbidding.
“And why is that? My instincts tell me you are worth the pursuit.”
“This can go nowhere. It can only end in heartache.”
“I disagree, but I must know why you have arrived at this conclusion?”
She looked at him as if he were daft. “Surely you jest.”
An eerie sensation climbed his spine. She knows something that you are entirely unaware of.
“I never jest when the subject is serious. My interest in you is genuine and not frivolous. If this is about my father’s rudeness at the ball, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what occurred.
I have no idea what got into him to behave so abysmally. ”
She nodded at his apology, then glanced around nervously. “I would like to place a wager on the race. Would you be kind enough to escort me to the wagering booth?”
“It would be my pleasure.” He followed her, admiring the subtle sway of her hips. She’d been beautiful at the ball, but now, in the light of day, there was no comparison to any other woman. Damn, she is a breathtaking vision. And the fire within her is tantalizing.
He couldn’t help but wonder how many men were courting her, and this made him feel an instant jolt of jealousy that astounded him. Julian had never in his life felt possessive of any woman he’d encountered, yet here he was feeling the green-eyed monster over an imaginary rival.
“Why Sir Richard?” he asked after she placed her bet on the horse. “He’s not the odds-on favorite.”
“I don’t care. I like Mr. Blake, who owns Sir Richard.
He visited us in Somerset. Before my mother’s death, my father expressed an interest in horse racing, and Mr. Blake was building a Thoroughbred stable.
I suppose my father thought about becoming his partner, but when my mother became ill, he had no other interests other than being with her and making her well.
My father never invested, but Mr. Blake held no grudge.
He was very saddened to hear of my mother’s passing and sent beautiful flowers expressing his condolences, and invited us to visit his stables whenever we wished. ”
“Well, then, I wish you good luck, as several of the best horses in England are competing today.” He looked at the board where the post positions, odds, and the riders’ names appeared.
“I see William Wheatley will be the jockey on Sir Richard for the Gold Cup. He is one of the best. Your chances are good, indeed. Allow me a moment whilst I place my own wager on Sir Richard, and then perhaps we can share a cup of tea before the race begins. There is something I would like to discuss with you.”
“Have we enough time before the race? I would not want to miss it.”
“The race won’t start until all the wagers are in. We should be fine.”
“Very well, place your wager. We need to be honest about the situation and why this flirtation is impossible and can’t lead anywhere.”
Julian didn’t like the sound of that one bit, but he said nothing and smiled agreeably. It was apparent that she knew something he didn’t, and he was determined to find out what it was.
He also knew what he wanted and where he wanted this flirtation to go.
*
Julian led Lacy to a small venue that served tea.
When they were seated, and steaming cups of tea were before them, Lacy took a sip, fortifying herself for what was to come.
It seemed impossible that Julian, as she had before Antoinette told her the story, knew nothing about their fathers’ feud.
Apparently, he was as much in the dark as she had been.
She took a moment to decide how best to tell him the truth without destroying any illusions he might hold.
It was possible he had no idea that his parents lived in a loveless marriage, and it would be cruel to tell him.
It was better to let him come to his own conclusions.
She wished that she hadn’t found him so intriguing.
It would be better if she found him repulsive, but, alas, that was far from the truth.
She found him impossibly handsome, like the fanciful Prince Charming of her childhood dreams. The undercurrent of danger that she sensed in him should have been a warning, but instead made her want to feel his arms around her and the press of his lips on hers.
She had never been kissed before, and she sensed that it mattered very much who did the kissing.
“It is somewhat embarrassing to share my exchange with your father or the reasons for his behavior, but I think once you understand, you will see that we must abide by his wishes and cease any contact,” she began.
“Please let me be the judge of that.”
“Very well then. I will be blunt and tell you what my aunt shared with me.”
“In everything I seek the truth, so hold back no punches.”
“I will keep it simple. Our fathers were best friends at university. Your father was engaged to my mother.”
Julian’s face reddened, and she looked away so as not to offend him. Lacy knew how difficult this was to hear. She herself had been shocked senseless by the revelation.