Seb frowned briefly. ‘No doubt as you’ve probably done, I’ve advertised in their glossy pages.’
Not knowing quite what to say next, she leant on the white railings and stared over at the stone, almost heart-shaped archway that made the last focal point of the island before the Channel began.
‘Paige?’
She could feel her heart pounding and hoped that he didn’t realise how much of an effect his presence had on her. ‘I’m not sure who to bet on, though Olly insists I should make the effort,’ she said. ‘He claims it’ll make the evening more fun.’
‘He’s right, you should.’
She took a deep breath and turned to face him taken aback at the frown on his suntanned face. ‘Really?’
‘Paige, about the shop.’
She hurriedly changed the subject. ‘Do you have any tips for which horse I should bet on?’ She opened the booklet they had received with the invitation. ‘I’m completely clueless when it comes to horses. I generally choose the jockey with the prettiest colours on his shirt.’
‘Listen to me,’ he said, ignoring the couple nearby whom she sensed could be journalists, if their interest in Sebastian was anything to go by. She hoped not, for both their sakes.
‘It’s fine,’ she said. Realising she was louder than she had intended, she lowered her voice. She gave the couple a knowing smile, before returning her focus on Sebastian, who did not seem in the slightest bit concerned about their audience. ‘I don’t want to talk business with you.’ She moved slightly closer to him. ‘I know you didn’t become the successful man you are by making easy choices, and I do understand that you were only doing your job. Please, let’s not talk about it again.’
She was relieved to notice Olly making his way towards her and smiled politely at Sebastian. ‘Here’s Olly with my drink.’
Sebastian touched her arm lightly. ‘I know you’ll be successful, Paige,’ he said quietly, his mouth close to her ear. ‘You’re too talented not to be.’
Paige went to reply, but before she could form the words, a tanned hand with perfectly manicured nails landed on Sebastian’s shoulder. ‘Sebastian, darling, there you are.’
Paige immediately looked up at the owner of the clipped voice, and felt jealousy grip the pit of her stomach.
‘Lucinda,’ Sebastian said, his tone flat. ‘I wasn’t aware you were here tonight.’
‘Of course, I am, darling. How can you even think that I’d miss your big night?’
‘Big night?’ Olly pulled a face at Paige.
Sebastian turned to Paige and Olly and shook his head. ‘It’s nothing, really. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s someone I need to speak to.’
Naturally there is, thought Paige, watching him walking away, closely followed by the tall woman from the party, her endless legs disappearing into probably the shortest dress Paige had ever seen.
‘Don’t worry, Sweets,’ Olly whispered. ‘I’ll bet she’s a right cow. Men hate spiteful women, and I can’t imagine any bloke wanting to give her one.’
Paige cringed. ‘That’s a revolting thing to say,’ she nudged him, and lowered her voice. ‘Thanks for trying though.’
‘Here, have a swig of this.’ Olly handed her a glass. ‘Going by the look on your face, I think you may need it. Mind you, having seen the look on his glum face when I arrived, I think you’ve probably been a little,’ he put his index finger up to his lips feigning thought, ‘how shall I put this? Oh yes, shitty.’
‘Why do you automatically assume it’s me who’s been horrible?’ Paige asked, taking a sip of her drink and wishing Olly was wrong. She had been pretty unfriendly to Seb. Again. He always seems to bring out the worst in me, she thought miserably.
‘Because, dearest friend of mine, I know how you can get when you’re in a fury. Did you give the poor guy a chance to explain his behaviour?’ He held up his hand to stop her from answering the question. ‘Don’t bother to answer me, I know full well you didn’t.’
‘Olly?’
‘Yes?’
‘Shut up.’
‘OK.’
‘His ex is stunning, isn’t she?’ she asked, forgetting she had just told him to be quiet.
‘Nah,’ he lied. ‘Forget her. Hey, look over there, they’re about to start the first race, and I haven’t even put on a bet yet. Wait here.’
‘What about mine?’ she said, quickly before he stepped back inside.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll choose the prettiest colours for you.’
‘Paige, hi,’ Maddy shouted, running up to her. ‘Great to see you here. Thank you so much for coming around the other night, Mum was beside herself with excitement when you showed us your designs for my wedding shoes.’
‘I’m thrilled you were both so pleased with them. Now, don’t forget to let me know which one you decide to go with. I’ll need to know sometime this week if that’s OK.’
‘No problem at all,’ Maddy leaned a little closer to Paige. ‘Mum has been boasting to all her friends about the shoes being made especially for me, so I suspect you’ll be getting a few more phone calls over the coming months.’
Paige smiled at her. ‘Please tell her I’m very grateful.’
Maddy waved and left to join her friends. ‘Here, have another champagne cocktail,’ Olly said, handing her a glass. Seen any more of Sebastian Fielding?’
Paige shook her head. ‘No, but I’ve had some great feedback from the bride I was telling you about the other day.’
‘I told you everything would be all right, didn’t I?’
‘You did,’ she agreed.
They watched several races. Paige was enjoying herself more than she expected, thrilled by the speed of the horses and watching the beautifully dressed crowds milling around nearby.
‘Right, let’s take a breather from all this extravagance and check out the horses for the next race in the collecting ring,’ Olly suggested, taking her half-empty glass from her hand and placing it down on their table. ‘I’ve lost on every race so far, and I’m determined to change tactics this time.’
‘But you don’t know anything about racehorses,’ Paige teased, following him out.
‘It’s worth a try. Maybe I’ll be inspired or something.’ He pointed over to one of the horses who the groom couldn’t seem to be able to keep still. ‘That grey seems to have a lot of energy.’
‘He’s white,’ Paige said.
‘He’s correct, dear,’ said a ruddy-faced woman standing next to her. ‘They might look white, but they’re called greys.’
‘See, I told you.’ Olly gave her a smug look. ‘My grandfather kept a few horses on his farm. Hey, look over there.’
‘That’s Sir Edmund’s nephew,’ interrupted their new friend from below her crooked straw hat. ‘Dear chap. Bless him, he’s presenting his uncle’s trophy.’ She sniffed. ‘Never missed a Meet, did Sir Edmund. I should think that boy misses him dreadfully, not that he’d show it, mind.’
It was strange hearing someone referring to Sebastian with such affection, Paige thought. She watched as he chatted to the stewards, being patted on the back by jockeys and trainers alike.
‘Know ’im, do yer, love?’ The woman asked, tiny eyes staring at Paige as she waited for an answer.
Paige shook her head thoughtfully, as Sebastian shook hands with the winner of the previous race. ‘Not really,’ she said in all honesty.
Olly leant towards the woman. ‘Any tips on who we should bet on?’
‘You won’t go far wrong if you put a few quid on ’is uncle’s horse. She was his pride and joy; bred her from his favourite mare, Elusive Queen. He has the best jockey riding for him for ’er first season too. Although after the nasty accident the boy had last year everyone apart from young Sebastian there wrote him off. Just like Sir Edmund, he is, giving the underdog a chance.’
Paige looked over at Sebastian, watching with interest as the jockey bent down from his saddle to say something privately to him. Sebastian nodded and patted his leg.<
br />
Olly scanned down the page of the programme, ‘Do you mean Elusive Goddess?’
‘I do indeed,’ the woman jerked her head at the nervous horse, her chin somehow disappearing into her neck. ‘He only named her recently. We were all wondering what ’e was goin’ ter call the mare. I think Elusive Goddess is a grand name, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Paige said.
She and Olly glanced at each other and then over to where Sebastian was now chatting to a tiny jockey, dressed in black and green silks. The thin fabric of his shirt matched in the cover of his racing helmet. ‘Not quite the racing colours you’d usually choose,’ whispered Olly sarcastically.
‘Olly?’ Paige said, looking at him through narrowed eyes.
‘Yes, I know. I’ll shut up.’
‘No,’ she giggled, knowing he had been right. ‘Here’s ten pounds. Go and place it on Elusive Goddess for me, will you?’
Having manoeuvred their way through the melee inside the marquee and out to the enclosure by the racecourse, Paige stood next to Olly leaning against the railings to watch the excitable horses impatiently waiting for the race to start.
‘And they’re off,’ shouted the commentator unnecessarily, as the pounding of the horses’ hooves reverberated through the ground under Paige’s feet.
‘Look at them go,’ she shouted to Olly, almost willing them on. ‘Those jumps look a bit high though, don’t you think?’
‘It’s a steeplechase. They’re used to it. Stop fretting.’
She nudged Olly in the ribs. ‘She’s way in the lead. Look, Ol.’
‘Ouch, I hope she bloody well stays there too. I need him to win.’
The atmosphere intensified as Elusive Goddess widened the distance between her and the horse behind.
‘She’s amazing,’ Paige shouted over the noise of the cheering crowds, fascinated by the power of the magnificent creature as she galloped towards the final jump. Ooh, I can’t look,’ she squinted through half-closed eyes, scared to look, but not wanting to miss anything at the same time.
Without slowing down, the horse took off, landing awkwardly and somersaulted over, her hooves spewing clumps of grass and earth into the air. The jockey landed heavily and ended up somewhere underneath the enormous animal. A collective intake of breath silenced the onlookers, as everything seemed to go into slow motion. Paige heard a familiar voice shouting for someone to call for help. Then, dumbstruck with horror, she spotted Sebastian, stepping between the white railings and running across the track, somehow reaching his jockey just before the other horses galloped past.
All Paige could see through the hooves as they thundered by was Sebastian crouching protectively over the unconscious man beneath him.
Chapter Twenty-nine
As if in the distance, Paige became aware of shouting all around her.
‘He’s going to be trampled on,’ screamed one of the partygoers. ‘Who is that idiot?’
‘Isn’t that Sebastian Fielding?’
‘He owns Elusive Goddess,’ someone replied. ‘The horse crushed the jockey.’
Transfixed, Paige stared as Sebastian, oblivious to the chaos around him, waved over the paramedics and took charge of the situation. She realised she was holding her breath, and seeing he was unharmed, loosened her grip on the rails. It occurred to her that this arrogant man in his now ruined bespoke suit meant far more to her than she’d cared to admit. Her hands and feet tingled with fright at the thought that he could have been killed.
The crowds murmured their opinions on the accident, parting as stewards pulled the railings back to allow the ambulance to reverse over the track.
‘Stand back, please,’ shouted the steward, pushing back the few journalists who were already taking photos.
Paige watched as they examined the jockey, his leg lying at an unnatural angle, and eventually lifted him carefully on to a stretcher. Sebastian seemed to be soothing him and stood back as they lifted the stretcher into the back of the ambulance. He walked behind the vehicle, talking animatedly to one of the stewards, as it slowly made its way across the track. People surrounded him as soon as they could get near him. He seemed unaware of their presence, as he strode over to his car, his phone held against his ear.
Paige waited for the crowd to disperse a little, then not caring if he chose to ignore her, went after him. ‘Sebastian,’ she called.
He turned immediately, locking eyes with hers, as he continued to speak calmly to whoever was on the receiving end of his call. He held up his hand motioning for her to wait. ‘Paige,’ he said eventually, turning off his Blackberry, the concern evident on his face. ‘I’m going to have to go.’
‘How is he?’ She knew it was probably a ridiculous question, noticing a small cut above Sebastian’s left eye and dirt on his cheek.
‘Pretty bad, I think. They can’t tell me much until they get him to hospital. I’m off there now. I’d better get going.’
Without thinking, she opened her mouth to speak. ‘Would you like some company while you wait?’ She was unable to bear the thought of leaving him to deal with this alone.
He looked a little taken aback by her question for a second before nodding and without further hesitation said, ‘That would be good, thanks.’
‘I just need to text Olly to let him know where I’m going,’ she said, tapping away at her Blackberry. ‘He can pass a message on to my sister. I don’t want her worrying about me.’
He nodded, spoke quickly with a couple of the course stewards through his Mercedes’ window, and drove them both to the hospital.
‘It was good of you to do this, you know,’ Sebastian said later, as they waited in the Relatives’ Room at the Accident and Emergency Department. He passed her a cardboard cup of insipid-looking tea.
Paige sipped and grimaced. ‘I think I’ll leave that, if you don’t mind.’
He smiled. ‘It is pretty grim, isn’t it?’ Paige shifted on her hard, plastic chair. He could see she was uncomfortable and wished he could find somewhere better to wait. ‘You’re going to miss the end of your evening out,’
‘Don’t be silly. I couldn’t let you wait here alone.’
He turned his body to face her, one arm resting on the back of the seat between them. ‘Why not?’
‘Because, despite our differences, I can’t watch someone do something as dangerous as you did tonight and not be impressed by their complete disregard for their own personal safety.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you trying to tell me I was stupid to go out there?’
Paige shrugged. ‘Yes, maybe, but you probably saved that boy’s life.’
‘I hope he’s going to be all right,’ he said, willing Mickey, the jockey, to pull through. ‘I’ve tried to contact his wife, but her phone went straight to voicemail. I’ve left a message asking her to call me.’
Sebastian stood up as soon as he spotted the surgeon coming through the large double doors towards them. A fixed half-smile on the man’s face told him that Mickey was still alive, but he’d seen for himself how badly injured the boy had been and couldn’t help feeling guilty that it was he who’d persuaded Mickey to ride Elusive Goddess in her first race. He’d suspected the boy may not be fully fit after his fall last year. Why the hell couldn’t I just leave it and find another jockey to ride her, he wondered.
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 53