Chapter One
Newmarket and the thoroughbred racing season were the most exciting things Letitia had ever experienced.
She had lived her entire twenty-five years in London.
She had never even been to the countryside.
Not once. And here she was with her closest friend, Clarice, the Marchioness of Chesterfield, staying at the Red Lion Inn in Newmarket.
The inn was a crush. She’d never seen so many people in one place.
And the one gentleman she wanted to see more than anything was also staying at the inn.
Viscount Greyson. She had first made his acquaintance at the Westport ball at the beginning of the Season, and she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind.
Since Greyson was one of the Duke of Stanton’s friends, she knew she would undoubtedly run into him. The Duke of Stanton was courting Clarice, which was why they were in Newmarket. Clarice had her reason; Letitia had hers.
They were having luncheon on the inn’s outdoor patio when she saw him. “Oh my,” Letitia whispered, “Greyson and his sisters are coming this way. I had hoped . . . but didn’t really think . . .”
“Take a deep breath and relax. You don’t want to seem nervous or overly excited.”
“I know, but it’s difficult. The man is so handsome and makes my heart flutter in song.”
“Song?” Clarice asked. “He makes your heart flutter in song?”
“You know what I mean. Oh my, he’s stopping.”
“Lady Rutherford, Lady Chesterfield, what a lovely surprise to find you here,” Greyson said as he nodded. “You remember my sisters, Lady Aurora and Lady Anastasia.”
“Yes,” Clarice and Letitia said in unison.
After a few pleasantries, he asked, “Will we see you lovely ladies tonight at the Ramsbury ball?”
“Yes,” Letitia replied, blushing.
“Well, then,” he dipped his head and grinned, “until this evening, then.”
Letitia leaned forward in her seat and murmured, “I can’t believe Greyson’s here.
I had dreamed of running into him, but now I’m so nervous.
It felt as though I had a cloth tucked inside my mouth; it was so dry and hard to speak.
I don’t remember ever feeling that way before.
Indeed, when I met Rutherford, I was young and na?ve and overwhelmed with his kindness and generosity.
I loved him deeply, and he made my stomach constrict and my heart pound.
But Greyson, I cannot explain what he does to me, except to say it’s so much more than what I felt with my husband, and I hardly even know him. It makes no sense at all.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone falling in love at first sight, but I believe that is what you did,” said Clarice.
Letitia thought back to the first time she’d seen him at the Westport ball. “I never thought it happened in real life, only in novels,” Letitia exhaled.
When they finished eating, they went up to their rooms to rest so they would be refreshed for the Ramsbury ball.
Letitia rose from her nap rested and began preparing for the ball.
She decided on a blue gown, and Penny, the maid who traveled with Clarice, fixed her hair beautifully with cascading curls that bounced as she moved her head.
Completely dressed and ready for the ball, she went through the adjoining door to Clarice’s room.
She was dressed in a lovely green gown that suited her perfectly.
They made their way down the hall and exited the inn to find Kirkland standing at their carriage ready to assist them inside.
Sitting across from each other to keep from wrinkling their gowns, Clarice tapped on the roof signaling Kirkland that they were ready to go.
The carriage wheels creaked as they rolled forward to Ramsbury Ridge Farms.
Thirty minutes later, her insides humming with nerves and excitement, Letitia and Clarice greeted their hosts.
Then Letitia found herself entering one of the largest and most beautiful ballrooms she’d ever seen.
It was decorated in cream and gold, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and hundreds of wax candles casting a soft glow across the room.
Delicate floral arrangements were scattered here and there.
“Stanton and Greyson are coming this way,” Letitia said as her cheeks heated. “I’m blushing, aren’t I?”
“Yes, but so am I,” Clarice said.
“Lady Chesterfield, Lady Rutherford,” Greyson said as he bowed. “It is a pleasure to see you both again today.”
Clarice and Letitia both curtsied. “Wonderful to see you, Greyson,” Clarice said.
“Greyson,” Letitia said. “I hope you enjoyed your luncheon at the inn?”
His green eyes sparkled as he took her in from head to toe, causing her to blush once again.
“I did, thank you.”
The musicians were setting up to play a lively country reel, and Greyson surprised her when he bowed and said, with his gloved hand out, “May I have this dance?” Letitia took his hand, and they made their way to the dance floor to set up for the reel, ladies on one side facing their partners.
It wasn’t a dance for conversation as they went forward, turned around each other, and then went back.
Several times they switched partners but always came back to each other.
By the end of the dance, they were laughing, and he surprised her again when he said, “Would you care to stroll through the gardens?”
“Yes,” she said, suddenly breathless.
He offered his arm, and she slipped hers through his, and they strolled carefully through the crowded ballroom, out the double doors to a veranda, and beyond to the gardens lit up with torches.
When she realized how romantic it was, she almost turned and ran away.
It was the first time she’d ever been alone with a gentleman who wasn’t Rutherford.
“You seem nervous. Relax. I don’t bite.”
His comment made her giggle, and her insides eased. “This place is beautiful. The property goes on and on.”
Greyson looked at her intently. “The place is, but that isn’t what I’m looking at. You are more beautiful than any flower I’ve ever seen.”
Her steps faltered, and her cheeks heated. His words made her unaware of where they were in their stroll until Greyson said, “Here you are” when they came upon Stanton and Clarice sitting on a bench.
Stanton 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.”
Stanton held out his hand to Clarice. “Shall we return to the ballroom?”
After Clarice and Stanton left the gardens, so did she and Greyson.
To her disappointment, he had been a perfect gentleman during their stroll through the gardens.
The closest he came to not being a gentleman was when he brushed his lips against her cheek just before they stepped onto the veranda on their return to the ballroom. “Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
He chuckled. “For spending time with me. I know we’ve only met a few times, but I feel as though I know you. So I hope you don’t think I’m being forward if I ask you to accompany my sisters and me to a luncheon at Lord and Lady Greenville’s tomorrow? If you don’t already have plans, that is?”
“I would love to.”
“Wonderful. We will meet you in the main lobby at one o’clock.”
They made their way inside, and it wasn’t long before Clarice and Letitia left. The ride back to the inn was quiet as both Clarice and Letitia were lost in thoughts of the men they had fallen for. Letitia had pleasant dreams that night about a green-eyed devil who stole her heart.
The following morning, after taking breakfast in her room, Penny helped Letitia prepare for the luncheon.
She wore a lovely sage-green muslin day dress with a matching spencer and bonnet.
She’d never socialized with Rutherford during their five years of marriage.
Even though it was nearly two years since his death, this would be her first luncheon.
Penny assured her she was dressed perfectly, but her stomach still ached from nerves.
She couldn’t wait until social gatherings didn’t leave her petrified.
By then, she’d probably be bored with attending such affairs and want to stay home.
She laughed out loud, which made Penny frown. “Is something amiss?”
“No. Nervous laughter.”
“Try to relax and enjoy yourself, my lady.”
“I will, Penny.” Letitia said goodbye to Clarice and left the room right on time.
Since her room was on the ground floor, the end of the hall opened into the main lobby, and her breath caught at the sight of Greyson.
Dressed in a brown jacket, tan breeches, a cream-and-tan waistcoat, and brown boots, he was without a doubt the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
“Lady Rutherford,” he said, bowing as she approached. “How lovely you look today.” He offered his arm. “My sisters are already in the carriage. Shall we?”
She had to fight not to giggle like a nervous debutante. “We shall.”
He helped her into the carriage, and she took the empty seat facing forward.
Anastasia and Aurora occupied the other seat.
That meant . . . Greyson would sit beside her.
Oh dear, she hadn’t brought a fan, and she suddenly felt warm as he sank into the cushion and his booted foot brushed against hers.
“Good day, Lady Rutherford,” Lady Anastasia said with a smile.
“Yes, good day,” Lady Aurora said.
“Please call me, Letitia.”
“We will,” replied Aurora.
The ride took about an hour, and Letitia was grateful the twins kept the conversation going whenever it lulled. Greyson was quiet beside her, and she had a feeling he didn’t often get to speak around his sisters.