by Mariel Grey
"I feel the same way." Lucy returned the smile, but this time her smile was genuine.
Lucy drug herself to the stables and asked Henry to ready the coach for her. Giving the address to Henry, Lucy stepped through the door and into the dim coach, eyes downcast, spirit leaden. The door closed behind her and Lucy realized with a start she was not alone.
That unmistakable male scent assaulted her senses. It was suddenly difficult to breathe. "What are you doing in here?" Lucy finally managed.
Arms crossed, Chalifour's powerful frame rested at an angle against the back corner of the coach. His face was hidden in the shadows. "I'm here to prevent you from making a grievous error."
"I appreciate your concern, Lord Chalifour, but I'm perfectly capable of caring for myself."
"Does caring for yourself include throwing yourself at Perdan?"
The blood froze in Lucy's veins. How could Chalifour possibly know that? "How, how," Lucy stammered before finding her voice. She then changed her response and said defiantly, "How dare you accuse me of something like that!"
The thump of the horse's hooves coincided with the jerking and swaying of the coach. Chalifour leaned forward into the light and his cobalt eyes flashed a brilliant hue when the sunlight danced in them. Lucy couldn't move. Her breath came in ragged bursts. He had such an effect on her. What did he want? What did he know?
Chalifour reached across the coach and ran his long finger over her bottom lip before pulling her roughly against him and lowering his lips to her. Lucy's senses reeled. Desire erupted from the core of her being. She surrendered and leaned into him, letting his lips claim hers. If Chalifour wanted to take her here in the coach Lucy had no will to stop him.
Chalifour kissed her deeply and then gently pulled away. "You told me on the terrace there was nothing between you and Perdan."
"There's not.." Lucy's voice was shaky and she tried to pull herself together.
"Then why are you going to see him?"
Lucy couldn't bring herself to meet Chalifour's eyes. His strong fingers cupped her chin and lifted her face toward his.
"Look at me, Lucy."
Reluctantly, Lucy raised her eyes to his.
"I want to help you, Lucy. But I must have the truth from you, and your trust. All of it. I cannot bear it any other way. Why are you going to see Perdan?"
The gentleness in Chalifour's voice pierced her heart like the sharpest of glass shards. Lucy wanted to weep and fall back into his arms. "I received a letter from Lucien. He will be racing in the Derby."
"He's not strong enough for that."
"I'm aware of that," Lucy said miserably.
"So why are you going to see Perdan?"
"Because I must."
"Why must you?"
Lucy stared at Chalifour mutely.
"We'll be at Perdan's townhouse soon. You have a decision to make."
Still Lucy said nothing.
Chapter Thirty Three
"I know about the blackmail. I want to help you, love," Chalifour said.
Lucy stiffened and her face crumpled. The damn burst and the tears flowed hot on her cheeks. Sagging, Lucy's shoulders heaved with the sobs she could no longer control. Lucy cared too much for Chalifour, she realized with a start. She couldn't go forward without his knowing the full truth. No matter what Chalifour thought of her afterwards, she had to tell him everything. Lucy would bare her soul and hope he would be able to forgive her. It was time to trust him. Lucy swallowed, took a deep breath and turned to face Chalifour.
A scorching heat rose within Lucy as she stared into the depths of those intense blue eyes. The concern in Chalifour's eyes was palpable. It made it all the more difficult for Lucy. "You wanted the truth."
"Yes."
Chalifour moved to place his hands around her waist but Lucy stopped him. "Please, don't. Not until I finish what I need to say to you. You may not want to even look at me again, much less touch me."
"I doubt that. I find you irresistible."
A knife twisted inside Lucy. "I can only start from the beginning. I don't know how else to tell it."
"Go ahead. Tell me in whatever fashion you need to."Chalifour's voice was kind.
Lucy took another deep breath. "You know my brother has been the head of our family and heir since my father passed."
"Yes."
"Lucien and I were always so close. We even had our own secret language as children." The troublesome lock of hair fell across Chalifour's brow. This time Lucy reached up and brushed it away, reveling in the silky texture of his hair. When Lucy's fingers grazed Chalifour's forehead, his breath hitched, giving her an odd satisfaction.
Lucy continued, "After my father passed on, Lucien became my whole world. There was no one else. He's my only family and I would do anything to protect him."
"I believe you," Chalifour said gently.
The kindness in Chalifour's voice wrenched Lucy's insides. "They brought Lucien into the house after the accident. He looked so awful." Lucy's voice dropped to a whisper. Her tears welled and it was difficult to speak. "He wasn't conscious and the doctor couldn't tell me when he would wake, or if he would live."
"So why not delay before signing our contract. It surely could have waited a few weeks?"
Lucy swallowed. This was the hard part. "Lord Perdan came to see me. He said my brother owed him a large sum of money for a debt, a debt of honor. The amount was staggering. I asked him what the debt was for, but he directed me to my brother, who, of course, was not conscious."
"How much was the debt?"
"Six thousand pounds."
"How did you know Lucien really owed him the money?"
"I reviewed Lucien's ledgers and there had been a series of payments over the previous year which began shortly after my father died."
"And what did this have to do with your brother and me?"
Nervous energy began to build in Lucy. She fidgeted with the lace on her dress and chose her words carefully. "I wasn't aware of your discussions with Lucien until you came to see him that day. When you first appeared, I was elated. I thought you were going buy horses so I led you to believe everything was fine. I thought it would provide money I could use to pay Lord Perdan until Lucien was better and could sort things out."
"Not having been privy to the details, it's natural you would have thought that, particularly given your family's routine business dealings."
"Of course, later I was shocked when you told me you were investing in the business, but we needed the money so I continued the ruse. When you brought the contract to be signed, and I realized there would be no money, I couldn't very well refuse after my earlier deception. Besides, it was obviously something Lucien wanted to do or he wouldn't have been speaking with you about it in the first place."
"Was that when you decided to race in the Oaks?"
"No. Not actually."
Chalifour's brow furrowed. "Then what prompted you?"
"I went through my brother's desk and found his cheque papers. I gave one to Perdan for the same amount Lucien had been paying."
"You did what? You forged a cheque from your brother's accounts?" Chalifour's voice went up two octaves and he stared at her in disbelief, disapproval written on his face.
"Yes." Lucy's voice so small she barely heard it herself. "I needed to stall him for a while."
"Lucy, this is serious. Lucien knows there is a cheque paper missing. Does your brother know you forged money from his accounts with it?"
"No. Well, maybe now."
"Does Perdan know it was forged?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Thank the Heavens for small favors. What did you tell Perdan?"
"I was trying to get information from him, and, um, soften him a little."
"Soften him? What do you mean soften him?" Chalifour sat up straighter.
"He had, um ... " Lucy glanced at Chalifour before cutting her eyes away. "He made some
inappropriate suggestions in the past. I thought
if I flirted with him, he might tell me more about this debt and how it came to be." Relating this to Chalifour heightened the turbulence within Lucy.
Chalifour's jaw tightened and his fists clenched.
Lucy hurried on, "That's when he told me it was a debt which would never be paid. He was blackmailing my brother. That's when I decided to race in the Oaks. I thought perhaps I could win enough money to bribe Lord Perdan." Lucy paused for a moment.
Chalifour crossed his arms and waited for her to continue. Lucy would rather die than say it, but there was no other way. The words flooded from her. "It was just after you told me about your discussions with Lucien. Lord Perdan informed me he was blackmailing Lucien. If my brother didn't pay him, he would spread untrue rumors about Lucien cheating in the races at Newmarket last year. He would ruin my brother. Even so, that doesn't excuse my actions. I should never have signed that contract and brought it to you! In doing so, I allied you with my brother knowing about those allegations, knowing it could affect you terribly. I'm so sorry. It was wrong of me."
Chalifour's hand lashed across the distance and Lucy cringed. Lucy wasn't sure what she expected, but it wasn't Chalifour pulling her to him. Chalifour crushed her to his chest and held her tightly. His strong arms soothed her. Lucy was suddenly so weary.
"I know about it already," Chalifour said.
"You do?" Lucy didn't even recognize her own voice, muffled against Chalifour's chest.
"Your brother told me." Chalifour pressed his lips to Lucy's forehead. "I didn't know everything, though I had guessed most of it. What I needed, was for you to trust me enough to tell me the truth yourself."
"I am so ashamed. I thought you would hate me."
"I know admitting this has been difficult for you, but it's a step in the right direction. You're in trouble and you need help. Lucien knows about the contract now. I don't know your brother well enough to discern how he will feel about the cheque, but I presume he will forgive you that."
"I can only hope."
"Where did that cheque leave Lucien financially?"
"It didn't leave much money in his account."
"Your brother must have known Perdan would be insisting on additional payments. That's probably why he wanted a concession with some of the foals this year."
"Yes. Now Lord Perdan is demanding Lucien pay him more money or race in the Derby. Lucien doesn't have the money, thanks to me. Now he has to enter the race even though he's not physically up to it."
"How exactly did you plan to stop it?"
"I was going to do whatever I needed to protect Lucien."
"Which is?"
Lucy didn't answer. She couldn't bear to say it aloud.
The coach stopped in front of Perdan's townhouse. Chalifour looked at her. "Do you still want to see Perdan?"
Chapter Thirty Four
"I can't see Lord Perdan now," Lucy whispered.
"Good. I was hoping you would say that. Now we need to find a way to extricate you and your brother from Perdan's intrigue."
Chalifour gazed into Lucy's tear streaked face. She sniffled and rubbed at her magnificent green eyes. Chalifour pulled a pocket square from his coat and gently dried Lucy’s tears. Chalifour handed her the cloth and Lucy blew her nose in a most unladylike manner. Chalifour hid his smile. He had to determine a way to free her and Lucien from Perdan’s blackmail. "Are you ready to return to Glenhurst Hall?"
"Yes," Lucy said in a nasal voice. She blew her nose again.
The door of the coach opened. Henry peered in, ready to assist them from the coach. Henry tacitly tried to ignore the fact Lucy was in Chalifour’s arms in a most improper fashion. Chalifour instructed Henry they had changed their minds and wanted to return to the mansion.
The coach got under way again and Chalifour returned his attention to Lucy. He couldn't help but admire the courage she had shown. Her actions had been misguided for sure, but her motives had been true. Lucy had been ready to sacrifice herself for her brother. Chalifour now had to decide how best to foil Perdan.
"Did you mean it when you called me love?" Lucy’s voice had a vulnerable quality to it.
Chalifour smiled at her. "I did." He looked at her incredible mouth and found himself shifting in his seat. Chalifour leaned down again to capture her lips and take his pleasure, pulling her more snugly against him.
Lucy sighed and her body relaxed against him. Chalifour’s breathing grew ragged and he became aroused. It would not do for Henry to find him making love to Lucy in the coach so he forced himself to push her away. Chalifour allowed his breathing to return to normal before asking Lucy, "Do you doubt my intentions?"
"I'm beyond worrying about your intentions, Chali."
The tentative sound of his familiar name on Lucy’s lips for the first time was music. Her mouth was swollen and her voice husky. God help him. It was Chalifour could do not to take Lucy right then and there. "I've paid your debt to Henry."
"I'll have to repay you."
"Oh, have no fear, Miss Goodwin. I'm sure I'll find ways to extract payment from you."
A lovely blush bloomed on Lucy's cheeks.
"Lucy, have you thought about why Perdan would want Lucien to race in his condition?"
Lucy looked at Chalifour blankly.
"It can't be because Perdan thinks Lucien can win in his current state." Chalifour mused. "Perdan wants money, but he can't expect to receive it from Lucien’s taking the purse. So what could his motivation be?"
"I have no idea. I never thought it through."
"The only way this could work would be if he were betting against Lucien."
"Why would he do that?"
"The fact Lucien was recently injured is not well known, thanks to your efforts, correct?"
"I would say that's probably true."
"So a lot of people are apt to bet on Lucien, right?"
"Yes."
"Perdan likely knows that as well. So if he bets against Lucien, when everyone else is betting for him ... " Chalifour allowed his voice to trail off to see if Lucy followed his line of reasoning. He could see her working though his suppositions. Lucy looked at him questioningly. "If he's desperate for money, what do you think he might do to ensure Lucien lost, especially after everyone else has bet in his favor?"
"I'm not sure I understand what you're saying," Lucy said.
"I think he might harm the horse Lucien will ride."
Lucy’s eyes widened and her lovely mouth dropped open to form a perfect "O."
"You’re well-aware Perdan has accused Lucien of cheating in manner which is similar to the scandal the Prince of Wales got caught up in with his horse, Escape, and Sam Chifney some years back. I have a feeling Perdan might have sabotaged the very Newmarket races he's accusing Lucien of losing last year. I think Perdan created the illusion of a similar pattern. It wouldn't surprise me to discover Perdan had bet against Lucien in the first race at Newmarket last year and then bet with him in the next."
"Could you find out?"
"I don't know. Maybe. But I have a better chance of finding out how he's betting in the upcoming race."
"And then what?"
"If Perdan's betting the way I think he is, then I suspect we'll catch him or his subordinates in the stables doing something they shouldn't." The scenario made perfect sense to Chalifour now. He could almost guarantee Lucien would tell him his horse had been taken ill during the first race. Chalifour looked at Lucy. "I'd like to know if Lucien’s horse became ill during or before that first race last year. Do you know the answer to that?"
Lucy shook her head in the affirmative. "Yes, our horse became sick without any warning."
"Do you remember which horse Lucien rode during those races?"
"It was Zeus."
"The Derby is the day after tomorrow so Lucien will likely arrive in Epsom today, though maybe not until tomorrow. Any idea which horse he'll be riding this time?"
"It would have to be Thor. The only eligible three year olds we have right no
w are Heather Mist, the filly I planned to race in the Oaks," Lucy looked at him wryly, "or Thor. So it would have to be Thor."
"Do you know where Lucien would likely stay?"
"The Fox and Hound is his favorite inn because the stables are quite good there."
"Does anyone stay awake to care for late travelers and watch over the horses at that inn?"
"I'm not sure," Lucy said. The coach slowed, apparently approaching Glenhurst Hall.
"That's what I figured. Pack your things. We'll be leaving for Epsom first thing in the morning. For now, I’ve got to see my lawyer and the bow street runners this afternoon."
Lucy’s eyes widened. "My reputation is already slightly tattered at the moment, if I leave unescorted with you, there may be no salvaging it."
"Ah yes. We'll take my sister. Besides, Elizabeth loves the races. She'll enjoy the outing"
Lucy’s eyes sought his. Chalifour breathed easily. He was now confident Lucy’s longing was equal to his. "Lucy, we have many things to discuss, but now is not the time. Right now, we need to focus on keeping your brother from being injured and thwarting Perdan. No, we need to focus on exposing Perdan. Your brother will not be safe until we do."
Lucy nodded slowly. Chalifour couldn't help himself. He gathered her in his arms and lowered his mouth to her succulent lips and feasted. Chalifour dimly heard the coaches’ door open and quickly close.
Henry had no doubt been embarrassed with an eye full. No matter. Chalifour had his own plans for Lucy. First, he had to free Lucien from Perdan’s machinations. Chalifour released Lucy reluctantly and opened the coach door himself. Bless Monique for having seen through both of them.
****
Chalifour, Lucy, and Elizabeth arrived in Epsom early in the following day. Chalifour registered them at the Lion's Gate Inn.
The innkeeper wrung his hands nervously. "I'm sorry, Lord Chalifour, I didn't know you would be here. The private rooms for dining are all full at the moment." He eyed them with trepidation. "If you want to take a meal, it will have to be in the tavern. I am lucky to have rooms available for you to sleep in."