by Jane Charles
“Mr. Jordan Trent, may I introduce you to Mr. Robert Slaine.”
The two shook hands. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir,”
“I understand you need to win a race.”
Jordan shifted his gaze to Audrey. He should have made her promise not to say anything as well.
The man laughed. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. Especially since it will be little Audrey who teaches you.”
“I beg your pardon?” What was she thinking? Did she not have a care for her reputation?
“Come by the stables tomorrow afternoon. We should be done using the track. It will be all yours.”
“Are you certain?”
The man laughed again. It was a deep, happy laugh. “I’ve seen Miss Montgomery race. She knows what she is doing. It is a shame she is a lady because she would make a fine jockey.”
Audrey preened at the complement.
“What if someone sees her?” He really wasn’t concerned for himself. He really didn’t care what people thought or said about him and most people probably wouldn’t believe the story anyway. However, the same could not be said for Miss Montgomery. She could be thoroughly ruined or discredited in the eyes of the ton. A lady did not race, ride astride or wear breeches. Not if she wanted to keep her good name intact, at least.
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” the man said quietly. “When I’ve had a questionable horse who didn’t like to respond, Montgomery would visit with little Audrey and she would test the racer to see if the horse was just being difficult or if the trainer just wasn’t good enough.”
Jordan shifted his gaze to Audrey again. She simply smiled and shrugged.
“Nobody will be around. I’ll make sure the back track is deserted and keep everyone working in other places, as I always do when she is riding. They are too easily distracted by her.”
Of that he didn’t doubt.
“I appreciate the offer,” Jordan found himself saying.
“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?” Audrey asked.
There were a few matters he needed to attend to, but he was willing to put everything off if he could have an afternoon alone with her. “I believe I am.”
Audrey turned to Jordan, practically bubbling over with excitement. He had never seen her this happy about anything. She was always calm and rational. This was a side of her personality he had never imagined and Jordan wondered what more there was to discover about Audrey Montgomery.
The smile fell from her lips and Jordan turned to see what she had just witnessed behind him. Everton had returned to the ball, walking a bit stiffly. It was a wonder the man could even walk at all. Everton turned and glared at the two of them. Jordan moved to put himself between Audrey and the man even though he was a good deal away from them.
Lady Lydell rushed toward Everton, a worried look upon her face. She studied an area of his jaw which Jordan assumed was beginning to sport an impressive bruise. He could not hear what the two were saying but a moment later Lady Lydell glanced at Audrey with what could only be described as hatred. Audrey gasped. Lord Lydell simply stood a few paces watching his wife watching Everton and then Audrey and Jordan. His mouth set in a grim line.
What was she thinking? Audrey pulled the breeches up over her hips and began buttoning the front flap. She had offered to teach Jordan Trent how to race and he would see her dressed like this! If she had hoped to entice him this was not the way to go about it.
Could she think of any less feminine way to attract a gentleman?
At least in a ballroom she was a lady, though he still preferred widows. But as a lady she was more respectable than the Angelique person that he apparently had fallen in love with at one time. But even Angelique was more appealing, despite her profession, than Audrey wearing men’s clothing.
She hadn’t been thinking and that was the problem. She let her love for riding and racing get in the way of her usually perfectly good sense. If anything, after today was complete, Trent would think of her as a horse trainer in breeches and nothing more.
Did it matter?
Probably not. He already made it clear who and what his preference was and he hadn’t tried to kiss her again. He simply happened to arrive at the ball just in time last night which is why he intervened to save her. Even if he wasn’t interested in courting her, he was gentleman enough to come to her aid. There hadn’t been any of his normal flirtations afterwards, as if she was nothing more than an acquaintance. He simple had asked about her father’s stud farm and racing horses, no different than what he would discuss with his friends. She had hoped he would court her but it was unlikely now. He hadn’t shown interest in doing so in the past few days and he would be even less inclined today. She had been relegated to the status of a friend, if even that, and Audrey would just need to accept his feelings on the matter.
It didn’t matter, she reminded herself as she pulled the man’s shirt over her head. She knew what he was. A rake, cad, rogue and all around immoral gentleman with whom she shouldn’t even be associating with.
If only her heart would listen to her head all would be well, but that was not the case. Yet, he had rescued her last night. Audrey still wasn’t sure what Everton was intent on doing with her, but she had a fairly good idea that if Trent had not arrived when he did, all her questions regarding the differences between men and women would have been answered, and against her wishes.
It chilled her to realize how close she had come to being thoroughly ruined.
Audrey stood back and looked in the long mirror Mr. Slaine had placed in the old wood cutters cottage. The shirt practically came down to her knees, shielding the tight fit of her breeches. She pulled on an equally long jacket before slipping her stocking feet into boots. Lastly, she tied her hair back behind her. Audrey hadn’t bothered to have it arranged in a proper style this morning because she knew the moment she was riding the pins would fall and the hair would come loose and fly in her face. It was better just to leave it down and tied behind her at the neck. At least she wouldn’t be blinded this way.
She walked across the room and glanced out the window. There wasn’t much foliage between the cottage and back racing track. Since she had first started visiting Slaine, this is where he had directed her to change her clothing. It was out of the way of the stables and by working on the back track it was unlikely anyone would see her.
The area was deserted with the exception of the horse Slaine had loaned her. Actually, her visit had served two purposes. Not only would she be able to spend time with Trent but Slaine had asked her to test one of his newest mares to see if she had it in her to become a racer. She was a beautiful creature with a slick, black coat and long legs. If the horse’s bloodlines ran true then she would be a magnificent ride. Unfortunately, no matter how perfect the bloodline and breeding, some horses did not live up to the sire’s reputation. But this beauty had been sired by her father’s best stud and Audrey knew in her heart the horse would not be a disappointment. If she was, the fault would lay with the trainer and not with the horse.
She looked beyond the horse to the narrow lane leading to the track. There was still no sign of Trent. What if he decided not to come? Had she insulted him by offering? He was a gentleman after all and most did take exception to a lady offering advice on something considered a man’s domain. Yet he hadn’t seemed shocked or insulted, but rather a bit intrigued.
With a huff she fell back into a chair. Why had she even suggested this in the first place? Wasn’t she going to distance herself from Trent? Why would she put herself in a position to like him even more than she already did? Hadn’t her heart suffered enough already? Was she trying to see that it was completely destroyed? And why was she attracted to a gentleman who was so very wrong for her and not even interested in courting her?
Perhaps she and Millicent had more in common than she realized.
With a sigh Audrey pulled herself up out of the chair and left the cottage. It would be best if he didn’t keep the appointment. Then it would
be easier to dismiss him from her life and move on to find a more suitable gentleman, if one existed.
The horse’s ears perked as she drew near and Audrey soothed her in a low voice and stroked her neck. She was a beauty. Taking the reins Audrey led Midnight Vixen to the mounting block and hopped up in to the saddle. “It is time to see what you can do.”
Jordan followed the narrow dirt road Mr. Slaine had directed him to and wondered if he had taken a wrong turn. But then he rounded the corner and was greeted by one of the most beautiful sights he had ever beheld. In silence he watched as Audrey raced a black mare down the track. Her pale blonde hair flew behind her on the wind as she kept in rhythm with the horse as it galloped. She rode low on the horse, bent so far forward that she was almost one with the horse. Her very nicely rounded behind was raised, not touching the saddle as her legs supported her weight. He could see the outline of her long, sleek, muscled thigh as she rode past him. If her legs were strong enough to hold her weight and position on a racing horse they must be very strong. He could just imagine how else she could use that strength and the various positions.
Jordan shifted in his seat. This was not a good idea. He wouldn’t be able to ride in this state, let along race. If he didn’t do something about his rising lust for Miss Montgomery he would have to cancel their appointment, though he could think of no reasonable excuse. He certainly couldn’t tell her the truth.
Audrey rode past him again and didn’t even glance his way, too focused on the horse and the track. She was one with the horse, leaning only slightly to her left as the horse took the curve. Watching Audrey ride was more beautiful than the dancers on the stage at the ballet and he didn’t think anything could match its grace, art and poetry until now.
He shifted again, finally jumping from the saddle. It had been far too long since he had been with a woman if just watching Audrey Montgomery riding a horse brought him to this state. Perhaps he should visit Angelique or take Lady Rothsbury up on her offer.
The idea was dismissed the moment it crossed his mind. Jordan didn’t want either of those women, though his hand could easily ease some of his burden. But, he would not bed another woman while he was courting Miss Montgomery and if matters continued he would be proposing soon and obtaining a special license. There was no way he was going to survive until the end of the Season before he made her his wife.
Audrey glanced up and spotted him from the other side of the track. She grinned, sat straighter and began to slow the horse. Jordan panicked. He could not sit a horse right now. At least not in comfort and she certainly couldn’t see him in this state, even if she wasn’t aware of what it meant.
He closed his eyes and tried to force his desire away. Think man. Cold water, snow, the icy pond Madeline had fallen into last winter, Lady Lydell. Those seemed to do the trick and his member began to relax. Jordan suspected it was thoughts of Lady Lydell more than anything else and kept his mind focused on that unbalanced woman.
Audrey cantered toward him and Jordan blew out a breath as his riding breeches became comfortable once again. When they rode he would need to stay at her side, or hopefully ahead of her. It would be impossible to race behind Audrey and keep his seat and his sanity because he would be too focused on her bum.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to keep the appointment.” She grinned down at him. Her brown eyes were bright and there was a lovely flush to her cheeks which was probably from the exertion and wind. The cause didn’t matter because the color was lovely on her.
“I apologize for my tardiness.” He hadn’t thought he was late.
“It is of no consequence, I needed to work with Midnight Vixen.” She patted the horse’s neck as she said the name. “She is new and Mr. Slaine wanted me to test her out.”
“Will she be a racer?”
Audrey’s grin widened. “She is going to be magnificent.”
As if knowing she was being praised the horse threw back her head and pranced to the side.
“Shall we?” She asked with a questioning brow.
Jordan hooked his booted foot into the stirrup and swung his leg over the side before grasping the reins in both hands. “I am your pupil.”
“First, adjust your grip.” She leaned over and showed him how to hold the reins. “Hold them securely but don’t pull too tight.”
He relaxed his hands.
“When you want to guide the horse, use your wrists, much the way you do in your phaeton. It is a smoother motion.”
Jordan nodded, testing different movements.
“Let’s try that first.” She grabbed her own reins and adjusted her seat. “Let’s race to the end of the track first.”
He barely nodded when she said, “Go.”
Audrey held her horse back though Jordan knew she could beat him at the moment no matter how tired her horse was. She watched him, calling instructions until he could feel the difference in how he had handled the horse before and how he was now.
“Your horse responded well,” she said when they stopped at the end of the track.
“Much better than before,” Jordan admitted.
“You gave her the lead,” Audrey shrugged. “When you hold too tight, they hold back.”
It made sense to him but he could tell the horse wasn’t quite sure. It would take time and training for her to get used to this new way he would handle the reins.
They raced three more times with his horse becoming more comfortable with each one, getting used to the freedom.
“Now it is time to adjust your seat,” Audrey announced after the last run.
He wasn’t sure if he could race as she, not touching the saddle. Were his legs strong enough?
She stood up in the stirrups. “Try this.”
He did, it was a bit unsteady and he had to grab the horses’ mane to keep from falling.
“Now, bend your knees. You will be able to keep your balance better.”
Jordan did and felt some control return.
“It is best, if you can, to grasp the horse with your thighs and once you get used to riding in such a way you will be able to guide movements with the shifting of a leg, much as you do when sitting in the saddle.”
“I am not so sure I will get the hang of that.”
Audrey chuckled. “You will in time.”
They rode from one end of the track to the other and Jordan tried to keep from sitting in the saddle by leaning forward and keeping his legs bent.
“It will help if you adjust the stirrups next time you try,” Audrey said.
Jordan glanced over and realized hers adjusted perfectly for her.
They continued racing, though slowly, from one end of the track to the other, never going completely around, until the horses began to tire.
“I think we should stop for today.” Audrey glanced toward the sky. “If we don’t leave soon it will be dark before we return to London.”
Jordan hadn’t realized how long they had been out here. The moments flew by when he was in her company and they discussed very little. He had spent most of his time concentrating on her lessons and trying not to fall out of the saddle and completely embarrassing himself. Thank goodness his attention had been diverted because he almost forgot she was wearing breeches.
He followed as she rode the horse down a narrow path to an old cottage. She dismounted and tied the horse to a low limb of a tree. “I’ll return in a moment.” With that she disappeared into the building.
What was she doing? Jordan swung down from his own horse and nearly collapsed. His legs felt as if they were filled with Cook’s preserves. He grabbed the saddle at the last moment before he fell. He had ridden horses for as long as he could remember, sometimes spending hours in the saddle and his legs never felt like this? Then again, he had always been sitting in the saddle, not standing only high enough to keep his arse from touching it.
His arms had been like this a few times after sessions at Gentleman Jacksons and Jordan knew that getting out of bed tomorrow morning would
not be a pleasant experience.
He stomped his feet a few times to get used to solid ground again and glanced back toward the door. What was she doing in there? It seemed an odd place to stop when they needed to head back to London.
Jordan slowly approached the door wondering if he should follow her in. Was there a necessary in there and that is why they stopped? It was the only thing he could think of. Should he wait for her out here? She did say she would be back, but that was few moments ago.
He approached the door and studied it before raising his hand with the intention to knock. That was ridiculous. The place was clearly abandoned and even if she was using the necessary it wasn’t as if that was in the front room and he seriously doubted there was a necessary on the premises.
Instead of knocking he turned the handle and opened the door.
Audrey squeaked. As his eyes adjusted to the light he realized that she was standing in the center of the room in only her chemise and riding skirt. His mouth went dry.
Jordan could only stare. The fine line of her neck tapered to delicate shoulders. Full breasts threatened to spill from the fine silk that covered them. He wished the fabric were more sheer so he could see the color of her nipples but right now he could only see the outline and she was clearly chilled. He would love for there to be a different reason for them to be erect. For being such a fine boned and delicate miss, her breasts were larger than what he suspected. How did he not notice in her gowns? Where the chemise ended at her waist her riding skirt began. If only he had entered a few moments earlier would he have caught her naked?
Audrey grabbed the shirt and held it against her body, hiding the beauty he had just been admiring. He glanced up to her face. It was a deep rose and she was glaring at him.
“My pardon,” he offered, not the least bit sorry for walking in on her in her state of undress.
“I told you I would return in a moment.”
He shrugged. “You were gone longer than a moment, I became worried.”
Her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips. She knew it was a lie as much as he.