Chapter 3
Two days after the Thompson ball, Easton, Ludlow, and Chandler were at Tattersall’s near Hyde Park Corner, looking over the crop of horses for sale. A black stallion caught Ludlow’s eye, and he walked over to the horse.
“Hello there, boy; aren’t you a handsome one?” he said, speaking softly to the animal while rubbing his hand along its neck.
Easton walked over to him. “Is he the one?”
“Yes. I think so.”
When Easton looked up, he saw the most magnificent stallion he’d ever seen being led into the sales ring.
He hurried over to the groom holding the beast of a horse.
The stallion was mammoth, standing at over seventeen hands tall.
His coat was as white as snow, and there was something about the way the horse looked at him that made Easton know this was his horse.
He held out his hand to the horse before rubbing its nose.
“You know you’re magnificent, don’t you?
” The horse snorted, seeming to agree with him.
Easton, Ludlow, and Chandler stepped back, and the auction began. The bids for the white stallion were competitive, but Easton finally ended up with the top bid.
“Congratulations, Easton. He’s a beast of a horse.”
“Just what I was looking for,” Easton said. “Especially when I head to the country estate. There he’ll be able to stretch his legs and run to his heart’s content.”
Next up was the black stallion, who snorted and stamped his feet as he was led around the ring.
The bidding started in earnest, but the more unruly the horse became, the more bidders dropped out, until Ludlow was the last remaining bidder.
“You sure you can handle that beast?” Chandler asked.
“Of course. I think he and I are going to have a great partnership.”
“I wish you well with him,” Chandler said.
“Now this is a good day,” Ludlow said. “See anything that catches your eye, Chandler?”
Chandler shook his head. “Not any more. You two got the best stallions available. I can wait for another day.”
After giving directions for where his stallion was to be delivered, Easton excused himself. “I’ll see you both later. I’m off to meet my father.”
Ludlow and Chandler nodded.
“See you at Gentlemen Jack’s,” Ludlow said.
“I’ll be there,” Easton said before making his way to Devon House. He wanted to tell his father about the new horse, since it would be stabled there for the foreseeable future.
The air was quite crisp for April as Easton walked up the stairs to Devon House.
“Good day, my lord. How may I help you?” the butler asked, opening the door wide to allow him to enter.
“Jeffers, have you seen my father?”
“He’s in his study.”
Easton nodded, gave over his hat and cane, strode down the hall to the last door on the right, and knocked.
“Come,” came the muffled voice inside.
Easton opened the door and found his father sitting behind his large oak desk, studying the document in front of him. “Good day, Father.”
Lord Devon looked up and smiled at his son. “Easton, my boy, what an unexpected pleasure. Have I forgotten an appointment?”
“Not at all. I wanted to let you know I purchased a stallion this morning.”
“Oh? I didn’t know you were in the market for a new horse,” Lord Devon said.
“I wasn’t until I saw this beast,” Easton said. “He’s the most magnificent creature I’ve ever seen. White as the driven snow. I left directions to have him brought here.”
“Of course. There’s room in the mews for him. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
“I think you’ll be quite impressed. He stands at least seventeen hands.”
“Does this beast, as you called him, have a name?”
“Ares.”
“Ah, the Greek god of war. Very apt, I’m sure.”
“Well, I should go. I wanted to let you know about Ares. I’ll not bother you any further. I can see you’re busy,” Easton said, turning to leave.
“Easton? Do you have a moment to review something for me? I need a new set of eyes on this.”
“Yes, of course.” He took a seat in front of the desk, and his father handed him the document he’d been reviewing.
When Easton finished reading, he looked up. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to say here. Slavery has already been banned in England.”
“Yes, it was banned in England and Wales in 1807. However, it’s still legal and thriving in the colonies. I’m trying to put an end to that as well. No one should be enslaved. It’s not right, especially since I hear some of the plantation overseers are quite brutal with their whips and punishments.”
“Father, it’s a well-crafted argument, but I fear it won’t garner much support.
Our colonies in the Caribbean depend on slaves to harvest the sugar cane.
Many investors find it a lucrative business to fill their coffers, and I seriously doubt any of them would vote to pass this bill.
It would be the end of their easy money. ”
Lord Devon sighed. “I know. Not many men have an excellent advisor like Ludlow to guide them on investments. He’s amazing, and my investments are paying handsomely.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I don’t know how he does it, but my coffers certainly thank him.”
“I have to keep trying to get this passed. No one should own another human being. It’s plain wrong, and while I still have breath in my body, I’ll continue to fight to have slavery abolished in our colonies.”
“I understand, Father, and wholeheartedly share your sentiment. I would suggest a few changes to the third paragraph.”
“Of course. What would you propose instead?”
Easton sat with his father for the next hour as they worked on the language of the anti-slavery bill.
He always enjoyed spending time with the earl.
His father had a wealth of knowledge, and even when Easton was young, he’d passed it along in easy-to-understand lessons.
Managing the earldom was a monumental task, and his father had begun his instruction to his heir early on, even before Easton realized he was learning those valuable lessons.
Now that he was older, he was grateful to his father for his ability to impart knowledge in ways a youngster could understand without making it overly complicated.
“I appreciate your help,” Lord Devon said when they were satisfied with the final arguments in the bill. “Will I see you at the Carter soiree this evening?”
Easton stood. “I don’t know. Perhaps. I don’t want to make any promises,” he said and left the study. As he walked down the hallway, he could hear a distinctive laugh.
What was she doing here?
He was standing in the drawing room doorway, observing the scene, when his mother looked up and saw him. “Easton, how delightful. I didn’t know you were here. Do join us, my dear,” she said.
All eyes turned to him when he walked in.
“Mother, Lady Fletcher, Miss Parker, good day,” he said with a bow.
Both Parker sisters stood and curtseyed. “Good day, Lord Easton,” Lady Fletcher said.
When Miss Parker turned those sparkling blue eyes on him, his heart did a stutter step. It was almost like she’d reached inside his chest and deepened his obsession with her. As much as he’d tried to convince himself that she had no hold on him, his traitorous heart had other ideas.
What was it about her that was so alluring?
She was beautiful, of course; no one could doubt that, with those cornflower-blue eyes, that creamy complexion, and a figure that could drive a man wild, but it was more than that.
She had a certain spark about her, like she was the sun and everyone else was merely orbiting around her, trying to soak up the warmth.
“Lord Easton, how delightful to see you,” Miss Parker said. “It’s been too long.”
Before Easton could make a fool of himself by gaping at her, he was saved from embarrassment by the maid bringing in a tea tray, breaking the tension he felt. He took the seat on the other side of his mother, the farthest one away from Miss Parker.
“Will there be anything else, Lady Devon?” the maid asked.
“No, that’s all.”
The maid curtseyed and left the room.
“Miss Parker, will you pour?” Lady Devon asked.
“Of course,” Miss Parker said, standing and moving to the tray. “Lord Easton, how do you like your tea?”
Easton always took two lumps of sugar, but after reading his father’s argument against all kinds of slavery, he decided he could no longer in good conscience indulge in such a luxury. “A splash of milk, please.”
Miss Parker handed out cups to them, then prepared one for herself and returned to her seat.
“How are you enjoying the Season thus far?” he asked, for lack of something better to say. He inwardly cringed, as that was almost as bad as talking about the weather, but he had to do something to quiet the pounding of his heart.
“It’s been ever so much fun,” she said, her eyes lighting up with joy. “Tonight, we’re going to the soiree at the Carters’. Lady Fletcher has been asked to sing.”
“Is that so?”
“Easton, are you planning to attend?” Lady Devon asked.
He’d been thinking about that very question since his father asked it a few moments earlier.
Now that he knew Miss Parker would be there, it would give him another opportunity to speak with her, as he believed not many young bucks would be in attendance.
A musical evening would not appeal to the more raucous crowd.
“Oh, please say you’ll be there,” Miss Parker said before he had a chance to respond. “I’ll feel so much better if I have a friend with me.”
A friend?
The last thing Easton wanted to be was her friend, but he smoothed his face and said, “I’ll try.”
“Please try hard,” Miss Parker said. She went on to talk about how she was looking forward to all the different entertainments she would hopefully attend this Season.
She chatted on for several minutes before Lady Fletcher put a hand on her sister’s arm. “Dearest, perhaps it’s best not to get too excited as of yet. We’ll have to wait and see which events we’re invited to. One cannot just show up at these things without an invitation.”