Page 61 of Betting on a Duke
“You aren’t. I pride myself on hiring good people who don’t listen to gossip.”
“Everyone talks about gossip at some point,” Clarice said.
“I stand corrected. Listening to gossip and believing it are two different things,” Ramsbury added.
“Clover races in five days. What am I going to do if things don’t settle down?”
“You act as if nothing happened,” Ramsbury said. “You have nothing to hide, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Samuel went on to explain Kirkland’s search for the stable hand who leaked the gossip. Clarice told them that Lord and Lady Kendall would send word if they saw her father.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Samuel,” she said. “Lady Rutherford asked if there was anything she could do. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked her to get word to Greyson and Hunter, and have all three of them meet us here.”
“Thank you. Seeing Greyson and Hunter will make me feel better. I hope Tobias and Albert don’t buy into the gossip and quit, leaving me high and dry for the rest of the racing season.”
Ramsbury chuckled. “Forgive me for laughing. Tobias and Albert would be insane to leave your employment after Zeus won yesterday. One doesn’t leave a winning horse and its owner for gossip.”
Samuel leaned back in his chair, cradling his cup of coffee in his hands and sighed. “I think the only thing I can do is spend time getting Clover ready and stay away from any members of theton.”He paused, taking a sip of his coffee. “Do you think The Jockey Club will revoke my membership? They pride themselves on the pristine reputations of their members.”
Ramsbury looked thoughtful, then shook his head. “I can’t say. But they would be fools to believe a stable hand over a duke.”
Samuel shrugged his shoulders. “I can only hope. If they cancel my membership, I’ll get a letter today. Meanwhile, I’m going to see Clover. Tobias and Albert should be with her in the paddocks. No better time than now to find out what they have to say. And Zeus, well, that boy deserves some carrots.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Ramsbury said.
“Lady Clarice,” the baroness spoke up. “Would you care to join me in the drawing room? We can find something to pass the time while we wait for Lady Rutherford, Viscount Greyson, and Mr.Hunter.”
“I would like that very much.”
Samuel and Ramsbury left, and Clarice found herself in a pretty burgundy drawing room, sitting on a chair facing Anna, who was sitting on a settee with an embroidery hoop on her lap. “Do you mind if I work on this?”
“Not at all. I’m happy to sit and wile away the time pretending nothing is amiss.”
“This must be difficult on you, knowing your father is responsible for what is being said about Samuel.”
“It is. Except he warned both of us it was coming. We didn’t think he would go through with it, though. And if he did, Samuel believed it was better than granting him what he wanted.”
“Forgive me for prying, but what does your father want?”
“I assumed you knew. That perhaps Samuel told Ramsbury. Anyway, he wants to keep us apart and force me to marry a man of his choosing... again.”
“Does he realize he doesn’t have that type of control over you anymore?”
Clarice found herself laughing. “Yes. He chooses to ignore it. There is more to the story of why he hates Samuel and forced me to marry Chesterfield instead of him seven years ago. But I’m not at liberty to say.”
“I can’t imagine my father forcing me to marry anyone other than Ramsbury. You must have been truly devastated when this happened.”
“I was. I’m glad it’s all behind me now. And no matter what my father tries to do now, Samuel and I will prevail and get married.”
“Ramsbury and I will help you in any way we can.”
“Thank you.”
A footman entered and announced, “Lady Rutherford to see you, my lady.”
“Thank you,” Anna said.
Letitia entered the room and said, “Baroness, I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. I just had to come with Greyson and Hunter, who have joined Stanton and your husband at the stables.”
“Not at all. Please sit,” Anna said, and Letitia sat on the settee with Anna. “Clarice explained what was going on and said you’d be coming.”
Letitia looked at Clarice and sighed in relief. “Oh, good. Have you heard anything new?”
“No,” she said as she clasped her hands together on her lap. “Hopefully, Kirkland will have word soon. Until then, I’m going crazy with worry. I just can’t understand why my father can’t let it go. He already got his revenge once.” She had a terrible feeling that her father would forever, until the day he died, cause strife in her and Samuel’s life.
