Page 24 of Twice Shy
‘Weak and watery?’ Sir Lucius sneered.
‘Indeed. Well, you can imagine how little Syston liked the idea of his heir being betrothed to a girl who was the centre of gossip, and dowerless.’
‘Syston was ever a warm one when it came to money, and cold when it came to humanity.’
‘He certainly had no interest in his son’s feelings for Miss Ashling. He forbad him having anything more to do with her, once the circumstances of the death were known.’
‘And Freshford would, of course, obey, the spinelesspuppy.’
‘Of course. Miss Ashling left Town with a bruised heart and no future. I’ll say this for Chalford, he might not be able to pick a horse, but he worked hard on her behalf with the lawyers for the best part of a year. Then Chalford’s brother – do you remember Gerald Chalford? Poor chap died of wounds after Waterloo – left all his money to Miss Ashling.’
‘I never realised the army paid that well. What an opportunity you and I must have missed.’
‘Hardly. But he had savings, and he got his man of business to buy into Funds when everyone else was selling122before the battle. Good move. Pity he never lived to enjoy the fruits of his acuity.’
‘But it means Miss Ashling is restored to “marriageable” status in the eyes of society.’ Sir Lucius frowned. ‘Indeed she might have returned last Season, had she so wished.’ His voice dropped almost to a whisper. ‘And yet she did not do so. I think, Giles, I have done the unfortunate young lady a great disservice.’
‘You, Lucius? But …’
Sir Lucius looked grim, and shook his head.
‘But you are purchasing her a horse.’
‘Indeed I am. How inadequate.’
Lord Godmanchester frowned, but said nothing more and wondered.
Tattersall’s was, of course, busy, being both auction and settling day. They took a brief look into the subscription room, and Sir Lucius collected his winnings from a bet he had laid upon one of his fillies, racing at Newmarket. He appeared to be one of the more fortunate, since many more were paying rather than receiving.
‘Don’t tell me, this is what you are going to use to purchase the hack for Miss Ashling. You are the luckiest of fellows.’
‘It wasn’t so much luck. I had every hope for Damselfly, and the opposition was not likely to trouble her. The odds were quite short, though, so do not see this all as profit. Oh, and keep your voice down, there’s a good fellow.’
Having exchanged greetings, congratulations and commiserations with a number of gentlemen, they made123their way outside to the auction. Sir Lucius was in his element, and at his most relaxed, laughing and joking with his fellow horse lovers. He also kept his eyes on the horses being paraded around the outside, and soon had his eye on a promising grey mare. He spoke to one of the auctioneers, took a close look at her as she was trotted up and down, and had a whispered conversation with one of the stable staff.
‘She’s the one,’ he said, quietly, to Lord Godmanchester. ‘Good quarters on her, intelligent head. The lad says she has no vices in her but can be a bit lively, and I think our Miss Ashling will enjoy a bit of a challenge after her current mount.’
Lord Godmanchester noted the possessive ‘our’, but kept his own counsel.
‘Right, she’s coming up next. Let us see what the opposition will offer.’
The bidding started in a desultory way, but then picked up. Sir Lucius prompted his friend to up each bid, since ostensibly it was Godmanchester’s purchase. As the figure rose, Lord Godmanchester gave a muttered ‘Are you sure, Lucius?’ but obeyed the pressure at his elbow.
Only one other bidder remained, and Sir Lucius detected a falter. ‘Keep going; he’ll fold.’
He was proved correct, but the hammer price was rather in excess of what Lord Godmanchester had expected, and certainly exceeded Sir Lucius’s winnings.
‘Are you mad, Lucius?’ he whispered, as Mr Ecclesfield patted him on the back and commended his choice.
‘No,’ Sir Lucius murmured, ‘not quite. If you want to124pay straight away, I have enough, I think, above the roll of soft I collected from Damselfly’s win.’ He took the notes and slid them surreptitiously to his friend. ‘You have bought a nice mare.’ He grinned.
Lord Godmanchester arranged for the mare to be collected by one of his grooms. She was certainly a pretty ladies’ mount, with heavily dappled, steel-grey forequarters, and an intelligent eye. He thought that Helen would love her looks, but, even in normal circumstances, be very nervous about riding her.
‘Are you very persuasive, Lucius, or am I easily gulled?’
‘Ah. If I said yes to the first I would be insufferably conceited, and if to the second, intolerably rude.’ He laughed, taking his friend’s arm. ‘Let me buy you luncheonat the club to console you.’
‘Console me? That means you do think I am easily gulled!’ Lord Godmanchester grinned. ‘I think I would do better to return to Brook Street and warn my lady wife about her horse, lest Miss Ashling call and we find ourselves in the basket. Join us, then if the questions become too difficult, I can let you answer them.’
