Chapter Four #2
“I am ashamed to say that my father and Clara, my mother, were found together in a compromising situation. Naturally, there was a scandal, and a duel…but thankfully your father’s honor was preserved.
” She’d added that last bit of assurance hoping to lessen the blow.
“My father was injured badly, but with time, he healed, and my parents married. Shortly after their marriage, they sold our townhome in London and rarely, if at all, spent time in Town. I imagine that, at first, it must have been difficult for them to give up their place in Society, but they must have been terribly in love and never seemed to miss that life. My aunt told me on the rare occasions when they found it necessary to be in Town, they stayed with her. I was born at Darling House in Somerset, as were my twin sisters. I have only been to London a few times and would be just as happy if I never returned. I love the simple pleasures of country life and have no need for the folderol inherent to a societal lifestyle. I would not be here now if my aunt hadn’t insisted that I make my debut.
I did it as much for my sisters as for her.
I would never want to harm their chances.
I will tell you that my parents shared a great love, and my mother’s death has devastated my father.
I fear he may never recover. There you have it—you now know as much as I. ”
Lacy looked up at Julian and was relieved to see his color had returned to normal. His brows were knitted together as he processed what she’d said.
He took a deep breath, but before he spoke, she quickly interceded.
“I should add that your father, in no uncertain terms, told me that he would never agree to any courtship or relationship between you and me. I found it embarrassing and ridiculous that he made such assumptions, especially since we barely know each other. However, he made sure that I understood his position, should we even think of pursuing anything beyond a dance.”
“Lacy, I am shocked by my father’s attack on you, and I am shocked to learn this tale from the past. You must be outraged, indeed. I can only think that my father has nurtured this hatred his whole life and is incapable of forgiveness. It is a sad and lonely way to live one’s life.”
Lacy could see how affected Julian was, and she would have loved to squeeze his hand and show her sympathy. She refrained, knowing it would be inappropriate.
His reaction surprised her. He displayed no resentment or anger. If anything, his sense of what had occurred matched her own. Lacy had expected him to make an excuse and quickly depart. Instead, he remained steadfast by her side.
*
Julian rubbed his clean-shaven face, pondering how best to proceed.
Lacy’s laying bare the bones of this tragedy had explained a great deal.
He had not been blinded to the truth that his parents’ marriage was based on tolerance and not love.
It was why he had never believed in love.
He had emulated his father, using women without care or commitment.
He had never expected to find anyone who could bring down his carefully constructed walls and make him think about his actions and the consequences.
For some reason, Lacy imbued him with desire, and it was not of a sexual nature. Oh, he wanted that too, but this was more. He enjoyed her company, particularly her directness and honesty.
For God’s sake, man, you could spend the day doing nothing with her and never suffer the boredom that most young women elicit with their vaporous conversation.
“It is all profoundly sad,” she continued. “Now that you understand, it will be easier for you to leave well enough alone. Thankfully, we learned the truth before it could cause harm. No need to apologize or make excuses. Shall we return to the Royal Stands?”
What he wanted to do was drag her to a secluded spot and kiss away her protestations. “Yes, I think we should. However, let’s not act hastily. Let’s watch the race together. I feel like this is my lucky day.”
Lacy’s brows rose, revealing she was perplexed that he would want to continue their conversation, but nothing she had said had dissuaded him.
Julian escorted Lacy to her seat and sat beside her.
Her shoulder brushed against him, and her warmth and closeness created a sense of longing.
Somehow, in a matter of minutes, his whole perspective on life had changed.
To say that the riddles that had plagued him his entire life were now solved would be putting it mildly.
Lacy represented a new beginning—and, if he was lucky, a happy ending. Am I falling in love?
“Did you place a wager for me on this Sir Richard horse of yours?” asked Antoinette as they returned.
“Yes, Auntie. The odds are so against him that should he win, we will be flush in the pockets.”
“It does make it so much more exciting when one participates. How about you, Lord Kingsley? Do you have a stake in the race?”
Julian wrestled his thoughts back from the strange, persistent thoughts of love that demanded his attention.
“I am following your niece’s lead. I have to say, I am feeling lucky today.
Perhaps it is the company.” His eyes bored into Lacy.
What he wanted was to take her hand, kiss it, and tell her that nothing on this earth could keep him from pursuing her.
He didn’t give a rat’s arse what his father thought.
The crowd buzzed with excitement and stood as the horses and their jockeys assembled at the starting line for the last of the Gold Cup races.
The horse that won the most of the four races over four days would win the thousand-guinea prize and take home the magnificent gold trophy.
What set the Gold Cup apart, in a nutshell, was the competitors’ stamina.
The endurance course was 4023 meters long and required extraordinary pacing by the jockey to complete and win.
From where they sat in the Royal Stands, they would see the winner cross the finish line.
“I am quite excited,” Lacy exclaimed. Her hazel eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
She nodded toward the jockey seated on the gray horse in the distance.
“There’s Sir Richard.” The jaunty horse pranced in place, and Lacy applauded.
Antoinette and Julian roared with laughter because it seemed as if Sir Richard had heard Lacy and was showing off for her.
“He looks ready, able, and willing. It seems he desires to please you,” Julian said. As do I.
Lacy’s smile when she looked at him was dazzling, and he found it hard to look away from her.
His own desire spread through his veins, warming him.
It crossed his mind that this was a face he could look upon forever.
It was something he’d never felt before, and he wondered if she was fighting the same dizzying attraction he was feeling.
Before he could turn his head back to the turf and horses, the race began, and Lacy squealed with delight, which put Julian’s mind to thoughts of other things that might elicit that delicious sound.
He had never wanted to bed a woman so much.
Everyone in the stands stood, and Julian had to shift to hide his burgeoning desire, evident by the tightening in his trousers.
Lacy was so caught up in her excitement, she grabbed his arm. “Look, Julian, he’s off to a splendid start!”
“I’d say he is.” He tried to focus on the race, but hearing his given name on her lips and the warmth of her hands on his arm bespoke an intimacy that heated his blood.
Realizing her faux pas, she let go of his arm, and he was keenly aware of the loss. He was treading into uncharted waters and imagining a world where being close to her was an everyday occurrence. In an instant, she had become the sunshine that was missing from the day.
Those hands that had brightened his outlook now applauded as the riders raced for the gold.
Even the staidest and most poised couldn’t contain their excitement, and voices rang around them with shouts of encouragement to the riders.
Julian glanced at the prince and could see he was boisterously jumping up and down, egging on his mount.
Not today, Prinny. I feel a shift in the winds.
“Julian, I believe he will win it!” Lacy enthused. The horses were tightly bunched, running neck and neck.
“My dear girl, I believe you’re right!”
“Oh my,” said Antoinette, “this is so exhilarating.”
The horses raced for the finish line, turf flying, as the roar of the crowd rose in the air.
The horse whose odds were against him opened his gait and crossed the finish line in a blur of speed and endurance.
The stands erupted with shouts of joy from the winners and cries of disappointment from the losers.
Lacy, forgetting herself, threw her arms around Julian in celebration of the moment.
Their eyes met, and her cheeks glowed with embarrassment.
It was all he could do not to grab hold of her and kiss her until her body melted against his.
Her passionate nature, so carefully hidden by her public demeanor, aroused his desire to be alone with her.
Beneath the well-bred lady, he sensed a fire burning deep inside her that she herself was not aware of.
He could only imagine the pleasure if he were the recipient of those passions.
Lacy released him, composing herself. She glanced at Antoinette, who smiled knowingly at her. Julian could see that Antoinette was not in the least dismayed by this social faux pas. If anything, her reaction displayed approval.
Thank you, Countess. It seems I have your blessing. Nothing precludes my courtship of Lacy, except for my own father’s objection, and I will not allow his unreasonableness to interfere with my future. I want this woman… She will be mine.