Unrivalled Regency: A Gallant Gamble Part 8

He frowned deeply and shook his head as they moved past the injured man.

"I am going to have to disappoint you, Your Highness. Much as it pains me to say it, Vanquish is not ready to be raced. His strengths are obvious to see, but his fiery temper makes him unreliable in the extreme. People could be killed if one such as him is let loose in a crowd."

The Prince stopped dead and stared up in surprise at Geoffrey.

"Are you denying me your services?"

Geoffrey looked back down at the man.

"Not denying you, no. Just declining your kind offer and advising on your best course of action. The animal could be a great contender, if trained. He has the spirit necessary but needs to learn to control it. He is young yet and will learn. If I had him for three months you would see a great benefit, not least of which would help with your turnover of staff." He lifted his chin in the direction of the stableman who groaned in misery as his friends lifted him onto the pallet.

The Prince's eyes widened.

"Good G.o.d! You are refusing to race Vanquish for me...You are braver than I had first supposed." He took a deep breath. "I probably don't need to tell you but this opportunity will not come your way again. There are many others who will willingly take your place."

Geoffrey sighed and shrugged.

"Then I wish them and anyone else in the race very good luck because, at this moment in time, that horse is not ready. It would not be fair to him or to me if we were to race him. His inexperience could prove disastrous. I am afraid that you will have to give someone braver than I a chance."

The Prince stared up thoughtfully at Geoffrey for a long moment before he turned back to Charlotte who had been kneeling at the injured stableman's side. She looked up as the Prince waved his hand, beckoning her towards him.

"Come my dear, do not worry your head over him, and certainly do not soil your skirts. Men like these are two a penny. I'll send him off with five pounds and have him replaced within the hour."

Charlotte's beautiful blue eyes hardened to shards of ice as she stood, but the Prince seemed not to notice and held out the crook of his arm. She glanced up at Geoffrey who fell back behind them as they made their way out of the stables, into the carriage that had brought them and back towards the palace. She wasn't at all surprised when the Prince announced that he had sudden, urgent business and that their promised tea would have to wait for a more convenient time. His footman saw him down from the carriage as he gave instructions for his driver to take them home.

Charlotte sat back in the squabs, pulling threads from her glove as Geoffrey stared out of the coach window.

"I think I have offended him greatly." Geoffrey spoke at last.

Charlotte nodded and stopped pulling the threads.

"I thought for a moment that he was going to have you taken to the tower. I can see why you refused him though. The man is mad to attempt racing an animal like that. I doubt that many could ever ride him."

Geoffrey leaned back and considered her words.

"And yet I feel sure that someone will fill the saddle come race day. I fear that there are not many who would refuse the Prince. I will advise Lord Latham against attempting it though. Without criticising his horsemans.h.i.+p, there is no way that he is up to the task. The man would be thrown within a mile."

Charlotte frowned.

"Did he want to ride for the Prince? Why on earth should he do such a thing?"

Geoffrey thought for a moment and then decided to tell the tale.

"His conscience is p.r.i.c.king him. His name was mentioned when a young woman's virtue was called into question. Even though he had done nothing wrong he liked the girl well enough, and fearing the consequences for her if he did not, he made her an offer of marriage, but being an honourable woman, she refused him on the basis that her family had lied in order to force his hand. They are friends but they do not love one another. To keep her family quiet and in the hope of covering the scandal, his father paid the woman's family a sum of money to remove her from his son's circles. Her family accepted the payment and immediately disowned her. They have sent her to live with some ghastly old aunt in the country. The younger Lord Latham is not a wealthy man in his own right and I believe he thought that Lord Davenport's prize money would be enough to set up his friend in her own home. But however badly he feels for the woman and however much he would like to help, there is no point in putting his life in danger. I must warn him not to accept the Prince's offer if he should give it."

Charlotte tilted her head.

"I had heard a rumour about Annabel Bellingham from Louise. The family are apparently notorious for their aspirations. Poor girl. I am glad that he thinks of her still."

Geoffrey nodded.

"But not to the extent of risking his life. He says that he has luck at the gaming tables and sends her any money that he wins. It's an admirable thing to do but not enough. Maybe he will place a wager on the race instead of riding, though I would not advise him to gamble on the Prince's horse. He is likely to send his rider into a ditch."

Charlotte looked quizzically at her companion.

"A wager? How interesting. I had not considered the possibility. How does one manage such a thing?" She stared out of the window as she spoke in light tones.

Geoffrey snorted.

"By the usual means, I suppose. One offers another odds on the winning outcome. I'll lay you a wager that the Prince's horse loses." He raised his eyebrows in an obvious challenge.

Charlotte grinned at him.

"But that's no wager as I don't think he will win either. I don't know what I can gamble against if I agree with you."

Geoffrey considered for a moment.

"I see what you mean, but we could make it even more interesting. You can wager that Vanquish doesn't win, but I will go one step further. I not only think that he won't win, but that he won't even finish the race complete with his rider. If the horse crosses the finish line in any place with his rider still on his back, you will have won our wager."

Charlotte tilted her head.

"That seems fair enough but I'm afraid I do not understand these things. What will I have to gamble? What do I stand to gain if the Prince's horse crosses the line with his rider intact?"

Geoffrey considered for a moment.

"It's just for fun and neither of us are rich, so we should make the stake something small. Can you suggest anything?"

Charlotte laughed.

"I think that I am the richest woman you know. That blasted diamond is small but worth a king's ransom if I could only sell it, but it seems I cannot so it is only a worthless bauble. How-about that for a stake?"

Geoffrey glared at her as he shook his head.

"Don't be ridiculous. You cannot possibly gamble away your inheritance. Someone will buy it someday. Be serious and think of something that will suit. Something that costs nothing but is fun to win." He looked to be deep in thought as he considered what to give as a prize. "I know what I can promise you. If you win, I promise that I will never again moan at your breeches when you are riding about at Ormond."

Charlotte's face brightened as they drew up to their house.

"Wonderful! I accept and I also I have just the thing to wager with you. It costs almost nothing but might be fun to lose or win, depending on your point of view, of course."

Geoffrey looked interested.

"I'm not after your diamond, Charlotte." He smiled as the carriage stopped at the door.

Charlotte shook her head.

"No, I agree that I shouldn't offer that...I was thinking of something that might be far more interesting, I a.s.sure you. It's something that I hold very dear, so in terms of winning, it's very special."

He frowned. She was talking in riddles.

"What is it? Don't play with me, Charlotte. I am no puzzle solver."

She glanced out of the window as the footman stepped down from the Prince's carriage. There was a commotion at the front door. Giles suddenly appeared and leapt down the steps.

Charlotte squealed delightedly and jumped up from her seat, but Geoffrey caught her hand before the door opened.

"Charlotte, tell me. What do you wager on the outcome of the race?" His eyes glimmered at her across the gap between them. She looked down at her hand and then back up into his silver eyes. She grinned as she laughed.

"I hope you think it worth winning. I wager my first ever kiss." She jumped from the carriage as Giles reached it and she squealed again as her cousin swept her into his arms.

Chapter Eight.

Signatures and Shackles "What a lovely surprise. I wasn't expecting you for at least another week." She untied her bonnet and threw it on the table inside the hall. "Where are Anne and baby Marcus?"

Giles shook his head.

"Anne's father has been struck down a severe stomach complaint. She has taken Marcus and the nanny and gone to visit him at Lavenham. Although I thought I had forgiven the man for wanting me dead, it seems that I am not as forgiving as I had thought. Though I no longer wish him in Hades, I found that I was unable to bear the thought of seeing the old stoat and made my excuses to come here instead."

Charlotte peeled off her gloves and coat. She fully understood his sentiments, as it was Anne's father who had pressed so forcefully for Giles to be hung.

"But what about the livestock? Are you sure that you are not needed at Caithwell?"

"No, it's all under control. We had a hectic few days but all has gone well. Jamie and Lance managed so well that they barely needed me at all and Alexander said he would call in just to check things were still progressing as planned. I hear that you have been all excitement here. I'm afraid that my unannounced arrival raised Olivia from an afternoon nap. She's just ordered tea in the drawing-room."

Charlotte laughed and wondered if napping was all that the woman had been doing.

"I swear that I am nearly dead on my feet. All this socializing is far more wearing than one would think. I think my face will crack if I have to wear my false smile at another dinner party while the man next to me gropes my knee."

The smile fell from Giles' face.

"Good Lord! You had best tell me everything. Where has Geoff been while all this has been happening? I had hoped that he would be able to keep the rakes at bay."

Charlotte sighed deeply.

"I think the poor man has suffered almost as much as myself. It is not easy to slap one's dinner companion about the face without being thrown from the room, however I managed to stab a well aimed fruit fork into Lord Ainsworth's upper thigh only last night and his long suffering wife dragged him form the ball soon after. I doubt I will have a problem with him again, though Lady Ainsworth may not be so happy with me. I think I stabbed slightly more than his thigh. It was hard to tell as he couldn't speak afterwards."

Giles let out a roar of laughter.

"Good for you! Though I am sorry it has happened in the first place." He turned as footsteps rang behind him. "Geoffrey! This is well met! How are you? How are your thighs?" Giles laughed again and walked towards the man who had once saved his life. He grabbed his shoulders and looked him up and down. "By G.o.d! You make a fine specimen of a gentleman. Alexander was right about the clothes. They look positively spectacular on you."

Geoffrey rolled his eyes but returned Giles' smile.

"And I confess that I feel good in them. Three pairs of boots too, you know! I still sweat at the thought of how much they must have all cost. I have no idea how I am ever going to pay Alexander back for them. I fear that it will be an impossible task, so I am accepting them as a wonderful gift from an excellent friend." He grinned at Charlotte's delighted smile as Giles clasped his shoulders tightly and spoke quietly in his ear.

"Good man. I know that they were meant as such." He glanced over Geoffrey's shoulder and stepped to the side just as Bottomley began to close the front door. "I was so pleased to see Charlotte that I never noticed your conveyance. Is that the royal crest or are my eyes deceiving me?" He looked quizzically between the two of them as they stood together in the hall.

Charlotte nodded as Geoffrey gazed back at her. He slipped his coat from his shoulders as his eyes dropped to her mouth, her rose red lips, the lips that she had just wagered a kiss from. He managed to free his mind as Charlotte nudged his arm.

"Yes, it was the Prince's carriage...Come, we had best take tea while Geoff tells you what has happened."

Geoffrey nodded and sighed.

"Yes, you may not be so pleased to see me once you hear what I have done. Upsetting royalty is probably not the best way to endear oneself to the members of the ton."

The men stood back as Charlotte preceded them into the salon. Olivia half sat, half lay on the settle with a damp cloth over her eyes, but she roused herself at the sound of someone entering the room.

"If it's more visitors, Bottomley, tell them that I am indisposed. I cannot think of entertaining today."

Charlotte moved to her side.

"Are you still unwell, Olivia? Should we call the doctor for you?"

Olivia removed the cloth and struggled to sit straight. She clasped Charlotte's hand.

"Thank you for worrying, but I know it is just the symptoms of over indulgence. Too much rich food and too many late nights. I am not as young as I used to be and had forgotten how wearing a season can be. I am afraid that it has all caught up with me." She patted the s.p.a.ce beside her. "Now come and tell me all that happened at the palace. You are home far earlier than expected. I am sure that the Prince had mentioned tea."

Charlotte looked up at Geoffrey. He stared back at her as if he hadn't heard Olivia's words, which indeed he hadn't. He was looking at Charlotte's lips, longing to taste them, to delve his tongue between them. He cleared his throat and shook himself.

Giles stared at him.

"Well, are you going to keep us in suspense all afternoon?"

Geoffrey looked confused.

"Pardon? Sorry, I fear that I lost my train of thought." He dabbed his handkerchief over his forehead. Her first kiss! Her very first! And he might be the one to be given it. He'd make d.a.m.n sure that he was. She wasn't kissing anyone else ever if he had anything to say about it. He'd win the bet somehow and kiss her until the feel of his lips was imprinted so deeply on hers that she never wanted another. His hand trembled where it lay on the arm of the chair and he balled it into a fist, crus.h.i.+ng the square of white linen in his palm.

"Geoff, are you alright? Perhaps you and Olivia are both sickening for something." Giles' concerned face suddenly appeared in front of him.

Geoffrey coughed and shook his head.

"It's nothing, just a delayed reaction to what I have gone and done, I think," he paused and closed his eyes briefly before clearing his throat again. "I refused the Prince's offer to ride his prize stallion in Lord Davenport's steeplechase. I fear that I have offended him greatly, but his horse is nowhere near ready. Charlotte and I witnessed the animal break a man's leg not half an hour since."

Olivia gasped and sat up immediately.

"Was the man alright?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"The Prince said he would ask the doctor to see to him but only offered the poor man five pounds before he sent him on his way on a board carried by two men. Fortunately, I took the time to discover the address of his family and will enquire after his health as soon as we are able. It was our fault that he was injured. If we hadn't gone to visit the stables the poor man wouldn't have found it necessary to bow to the Prince. Vanquish took umbrage, knocked the man to the ground and proceeded to trample him. If Geoffrey hadn't stepped in and calmed the beast I think it a good probability that the Prince's man would be dead. None of the other stablemen were about to rescue him for fear of their own lives. Geoffrey was quite right to refuse to ride the horse. Until Vanquish is trained, he is a danger to any who go near him."

A tight line appeared across Giles' brow.

"This is bad news on all fronts. You are right when you say that the Prince will be unhappy. I have heard that he is a stubborn man and not used to being thwarted. I daresay that he'll race Vanquish whatever you have advised."