by Mariel Grey
Looking into Lucien's happy face, Lucy decided against enlightening him. His strength and humor were only just beginning to return. She didn't want to risk any setbacks. A few more days couldn't possibly make much difference. Besides, she fervently hoped to have good news for him after the race. Maybe she'd even wager on herself, or Lucien as far as everyone else knew. Lucy smiled at the thought.
"What are you smiling about?" Lucien asked.
"You!" Standing, Lucy said, "I need to pack for my trip. We'll speak later."
To ensure the ruse worked, Lucy needed to pack for a trip to Monique's house. She and Monique had worked this out when they discussed her plan during her recent stay at Glenhurst Hall in Town. Monique had been dubious about the prospect of her success and tried to dissuade Lucy from pursuing her "wild scheme" as she called it, but Lucy had been adamant. Monique would be expecting her at the residence after the race.
Lucy had no doubt Lucien would learn of "his" race performance at some point in time. However, she was certain he would forgive her the impersonation if the ruse relieved them of Perdan's threats. Win or lose, Lucy would at least make good on one thing she told Lucien. She would return to Town to visit Monique. If she won the race, Lucy could put an end to the extortion from Perdan.
Retiring to her room, she selected the gowns and clothing she might need. As for the single most important articles of clothing, Lucien's Riding Silks, obtaining them from his room had been no small feat. The day before, she had slipped into his room during a time when he slept and she was sure Alistair was busy downstairs.
Stealthily, she had rifled through Lucien’s clothes until she found the riding outfit with the colors registered to the Goodwin family. She had exited his room, muscles taut with fear of discovery, the clothing tucked under her arm. Heaven only knew what she could have told anyone had she been caught!
Pausing in her task of selecting the clothes for her visit, Lucy's thoughts turned to Monique. Lucy desperately wished she could tell her friend everything, but she wasn't sure how Monique would react to the allegations of cheating. She wanted to believe Monique would dismiss Perdan's contentions, but she couldn't be sure. Best to let Monique go on believing her business with Perdan was a simple debt rather than blackmail based on accusations of cheating.
If she could win this race, Lucy was certain she could work out an arrangement with Perdan. She would be able to pay Perdan a large sum of money he couldn't refuse. Lucy would have Perdan sign some sort of affidavit or retraction. Then Monique, nor anyone else for that matter, would ever know. The threat would be over and she and Lucien could return to their normal lives.
Contemplating the race, which would occur in only two days time, Lucy would have been more confident if she had been able to practice riding astride. Unfortunately, she had not been able to devise a way to do practice without getting caught. Even though she and Lucien lived fairly close to Epsom Downs, Lucy would spend a great deal of time tomorrow walking Heather Mist to Epsom so she would be fresh for the race the following day.
Lucy had already made preparations for her luggage to be transported to the Fox and Hound Inn in Epsom. She and Heather Mist would spend tomorrow evening at the inn, resting. On her return trip from Town, Lucy had the foresight to detour to Epsom and make arrangements for accommodations at the inn. Knowing Epsom would be crowded and hectic during the race, Lucy could not take the chance she would arrive in Epsom and have no room for her or stable for Heather Mist. She and Heather Mist would set out for Epsom early tomorrow.
Would Lucien realize she had taken Heather Mist? So far he had not inquired about the horses, but then again, Lucien knew she was more than capable of managing the business. Now that she was leaving and he was growing stronger, Lucien might very well begin to try to take matters into his own hands, even if those hands were trapped upstairs in his bedroom. Lucy would have to invent an excuse why she had taken Heather Mist if Lucien inquired. Lucy couldn't worry about now.
Chapter Twenty
The day of the race arrived. Lucy had spent a great deal of time observing how men mounted their horses. However mounting astride was much more difficult in actual practice than it appeared. After three unsuccessful attempts, she had only managed to attract unwanted attention from the stable boys. On the fourth try, her leg flew over Heather Mist's back. Good! Finally, success!
Lucy sat up straight in the saddle and gasped. Good heavens the feeling was far more intimate than she had ever imagined! Every movement of the horse's muscles rippled through the thin cloth of Lucien’s breeches.
Lucy shivered. The sensations were a keen reminder of her time with Chalifour only a few nights ago. She pushed the thought away. Now was not the time to think of that. Now was the time she needed to be focused. If only she could have practiced riding astride! Lucy found herself completely distracted now, awash with feelings of sensuality. This was not good.
Lucy arrived at the racecourse riding Heather Mist. She was startled by the cheers which periodically rose from the throngs of people milling about. The races weren't the only events the crowds flocked to see. Cock fighting and all forms of games and wagering swirled around her. Vendors hawked their wares. Children laughed and screamed, their mothers following and scolding them. Men, exuberant in the carnival atmosphere, bragged and strutted, raising their voices to be heard above the din.
A barrage of boisterous laughter filled Lucy’s ears so she wanted to cover them. She had attended many such events as a spectator, but never as a participant. The entire experience was unnerving. How did Lucien do it? A kaleidoscope of sounds and color surrounded her. The aroma of sausages and fowl cooking permeated the air around her, causing her nervous stomach to roil.
Heather Mist pawed the ground again. The horse wasn’t accustomed to this much bedlam. Lucy patted her horse, reassuring her. She leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I know, sweet girl. It’ll be over soon, and then you’ll be the toast of the Town!"
Lucy squirmed in her saddle. She had always admired Lucien's Racing Silks in the green and yellow colors the Goodwin family had registered with the Jockey Club. She loved the distinctive striped pattern of the riding jacket she wore paired with the cream breeches worn by all of the riders. Dressing in the wee hours of the morning, however, it had dawned on her how very revealing men’s clothes really were. Every curve of her body was exposed instead of being hidden by her usual gowns and petticoats. The image of Chalifour's muscular thighs in similar breeches popped unbidden into her mind. She quickly squelched the thought.
Lucy touched the cap on her head and reassured herself it still sat tight. Fighting her thick hair this morning, Lucy had sorely missed Millie and her deft hand. Lucy had struggled to pin and secure her hair under her cap. After some rather unladylike words, she finally managed to succeed in stuffing her hair into her cap. Now Lucy prayed her auburn mane would stay tightly tucked away during the race, or it could be a disaster for her.
The onslaught of sights and sounds continued to grate on Lucy. Lucy sat astride Heather Mist and waited for the race to begin, endeavoring to compose herself. What had she been thinking? Could she do this? Lucy took a deep breath and petted Heather Mist again, calming the horse as well as herself. She was racing against some preeminent jockeys, William Clift, Ben Smith, and Dennis Fitzpatrick. Could she possibly beat them? Doubts began to worm their way into her mind.
Her fellow riders and their mounts gathered around Lucy. The crowds in the stands overflowed. Turning toward the teeming throng, she observed men pointing and gesticulating wildly, frantically making wagers at the betting posts, with the local bookmakers, and with each other.
Most people were laughing and appeared excited. Lucy turned her head to survey the spectacle and froze in horror. Even with his broad back to her, Lucy knew that shock of wavy, dark hair. Standing taller than almost anyone else in the throng, Chalifour's head turned, slowly scanning the crowd as she had just done.
Now what! Would Chalifour recognize her or would
he think she was Lucien? With a gasp, her hand flew to her mouth. If Chalifour thought she was Lucien, he would be furious with Lucien for not receiving him due to his injuries but then showing at the Oaks to race.
For some stupid reason, it had never occurred to her Chalifour would attend. Of course he would attend! He was a member of the Jockey Club. Chalifour probably already knew Lucien was racing today. It was imperative she win now because Chalifour would be furious with Lucien. This race was going to create more trouble for her and Lucien and it would be entirely her fault.
Lucy looked around wildly. There was no hiding. She couldn't withdraw from the race either. Lucy and the other riders were on the verge of being led to the starting line. It would look unusual for Lucien to drop out of a race just as it was about to begin, not to mention the attention her defection would draw. No, there was no way out of this. Chalifour was going to see her and believe Lucien had been deceiving him.
It was in that moment their eyes locked. A chill coursed down Lucy's spine. She was imprisoned by his stare. Chalifour strode purposefully toward her, eyes never wavering. Each long stride brought him closer, his gaze penetrating. Lucy couldn't read Chalifour's expression, though she knew he must be furious. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Lucy watched him approach, unable to move. In an instant Chalifour was standing before her.
Before Lucy could utter a word, Chalifour seized the bridle from her hands, hauled her bodily from the horse, and snatched her cap from her head. Lucy's hair tumbled to her shoulders in a profusion of auburn curls. The nearby crowd gasped in shock and went still. A moment of awkward silence followed while the crowd realized the import of what they had just witnessed.
Outrage swelled within Lucy and she choked with outrage. Lucy wanted to pummel Chalifour with her fists. The only thing stopping Lucy was the very real possibility of imprisonment which could result from striking a peer. Particularly with so many witnesses. Otherwise she might have launched herself at Chalifour and clawed his eyes. Instead, she stood stock still with her fists clenched at her sides. They stared silently at each other.
Chalifour's eye's dropped, his gaze impenetrable. His eyes raked her. His jaw tightened and his lips compressed. The silence thickened. Lucy turned to see the leers of the men around her. It occurred to Lucy that every curve of her body was revealed in Lucien's Riding Silks. Nothing was left to the imagination. Lucy might as well have been naked. Instinctively she shrank back against Chalifour.
Wordlessly, Chalifour whipped his coat from his broad shoulders and draped it around her. She was mercifully swallowed in the large folds. Grabbing her hand, Chalifour drug her and Heather Mist through the jostling crowds which had grown even more dense with people trying to get a better glimpse at the spectacle she had made.
****
Chalifour propelled Lucy and Heather Mist out of the crowd and into a clearing. Chalifour threw the reigns down, thrust Lucy's hand away and whirled on her. "Just what the bloody hell do you think you were doing?" Chalifour stood, legs wide and hands on his hips.
"Racing! Or rather, I was racing until you ruined it!" Lucy spat back, her posture mirroring his. Chalifour stepped closer to her and she moved backwards a step.
"I'm trying to keep you from breaking your pretty little neck, not to mention that of your horse!"
His words stung. Of course Chalifour was concerned about her horse. He had a vested interest in their horses. The horse was obviously the main reason for Chalifour's concern. "I can take care of myself! I didn’t need you to save me!"
"The hell you didn't. You would likely have been killed if you had raced. You're a skilled horsewoman, but not riding with those jockeys, Lucy, and not riding astride." Chalifour's jaw was set and his eyes glared at her.
"I'll thank you to address me properly, Miss Goodwin, please."
Chalifour's hand lashed out and pulled Lucy roughly against him. He brushed the curls from her face. "Don't play games with me, Lucy. I'm not in the mood," he said.
Lucy tried to push herself away from him, but Chalifour held her tightly. "Let me go."
"No. Tell me what this is all about, Lucy. Why would you pretend to be your brother?"
Lucy twisted in Chalifour's arms and he abruptly released her. Lucy stumbled backwards a few steps, oddly deflated.
"You have no right to question me!"
"The hell I don't. My name is linked with yours now."
Lucy fumed. Naturally Chalifour was concerned that her actions might cast some aspersion on his name. "Now that you've ruined my chance to participate in this race, please return Heather Mist to me so that I may take my leave."
"Oh no, you don't Lucy ... "
"Miss Goodwin," Lucy interrupted.
"Oh no, you don't Lucy," Chalifour repeated himself slowly and distinctly, his eyes locked on hers, daring her to interrupt again, "you'll be accompanying me into Town."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Lucy said flatly.
In one swift move Chalifour stripped his coat from her body, leaving Lucy horribly exposed in her brother's clothing. Chalifour's eyes lingered on her appraisingly, his eyebrows raised. A mocking smiled tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, but I think you will. Unless, of course, you'd like to continue parading around Epsom dressed like that."
Lucy seethed inside. Chalifour knew she couldn't very well go anywhere in her current state of dress, or more accurately, state of undress. He was blackmailing her! Unbelievably, she was being blackmailed yet again! Lucy's view of the world reduced itself to a red haze.
Chapter Twenty One
Lucy's anger ebbed during the trip into Town. Weary and exhausted, she leaned back in the seat of the coach and closed her eyes. The weight of Chalifour's stare penetrated her eyelids. She just couldn't open her eyes to meet his. Lucy didn't have the strength to evade his questions right now.
How was this all going to end? In addition to forging documents, she had now created an embarrassing blemish on Lucien's reputation and the inquiries regarding the fiasco at the racecourse would be endless. If that wasn’t enough, she had misled Chalifour and still had no way to pay off Perdan. Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes. A hot tear trickled down her cheek. She was making a bigger mess of things than they already were.
Chalifour's strong, warm hand covered hers. A thrill coursed through her body at his touch. Memories of only a few nights ago seared across Lucy's mind causing her heart to pump wildly. Taking a deep breath, Lucy opened her eyes to meet his. Chalifour's blue eyes peered into her soul.
Maybe she couldn't face him after all. Lucy quickly closed her eyes again and the unwanted tear continued its course down her cheek. What about her growing feelings for Chalifour? Chalifour didn't know she was a forger. In forging that contract, Lucy had linked his name with theirs, knowing full well about the allegations against her brother. The same accusations which could taint Chalifour's reputation. How would Chalifour feel about her if he was aware of her duplicity?
"Lucy, what is wrong?" Chalifour placed a pocket square into her fist which lay in her lap.
Lucy didn't dare open her eyes and look into those cobalt blue eyes again. Eyes squeezed tight, she sniffled and blew her nose into Chalifour's pocket square. "Nothing is wrong."
"Yes, I can see that," Chalifour said dryly.
Lucy was so conflicted. She was ridiculously attracted to this man. He had seduced her and made love to her. He had proposed marriage to her and yet she had refused. She had to consider the prospect that perhaps she was an idiot. Heaven forbid her brother ever discover she had refused an offer of marriage from a peer. Chalifour had not been sincere in his proposal and to accept the offer would have been disastrous for them both.
Lucy was going to have to face Lucien and tell him everything. Would he be able to forgive her? She had forged documents and committed him to the breeding business with Chalifour without obtaining the concessions he wanted. She had made a blackmail payment to Perdan and significantly depleted his accounts. She had only wanted to h
elp Lucien and protect him. Instead, all she had succeeded in doing was making matters worse.
Lucy needed to talk with Lucien and to confess her deeds. She needed to understand what had happened and why Perdan had accused Lucien of cheating. Before she could return home, though, Lucy had to visit Monique and see Perdan. Lucy was lost in her soul. She needed to share her troubles with someone. It would help her to talk to Monique before she faced her brother.
A disconcerting thought formed in her mind. Could Monique have betrayed her secret? "How did you know I would be there today?" Lucy opened her eyes to peer at Chalifour.
Chalifour's eyes shifted from her face before he answered. "I was at a meeting with the Jockey Club when I was informed that Lucien would be racing. Since the extent of Lucien's injuries have prevented him from receiving me in the comfort of his home, and yet he was planning to race ... ," Chalifour's voice trailed off and he returned a questioning gaze to Lucy's face.
"Well, now you know it was me and not Lucien that was racing."
"What did your brother have to say about your racing and why was he not here himself?"
"Lucien doesn't know about this. He's just now regaining his strength and I didn't want to worry him."
"But why?"
"Why what?"
"Why were you planning to race to begin with? Surely you can't be in such desperate financial straits that you must win prize money."
"That is not your concern."
"My name is now associated with yours so it is very much my concern."
Without answering him, Lucy turned to stare out the window, refusing to respond. What would Chalifour say if he knew his name was now linked with theirs because she had forged that document with full knowledge of Perdan's accusations against Lucien. Even though Lucy knew in her heart those allegations were false, they could still dishonor Chalifour's name, particularly with the Jockey Club. Lucy could not endure the thought.