rid himself of a troublesome daughter while still keeping Fancy Free.
Tempting to call his bluff and take Fancy Free anyway.
Foolish, though. In strictly practical terms, twelve thousand pounds would be a gift of the gods. It would buy a prize stallion and a few good mares as well as dealing with most of the necessary repairs.
A widow’s jointure of two thousand a year was ridiculously high for an estate such as his, but he could hope Dracy would be in fine state when that came due many decades hence. The generous pin money would have to be cut and any extravagance curtailed, but as he and hiswife would be living quietly in the country, that shouldn’t be a hardship for her.
She wouldn’t like it, though, and a bitter wife was a hard burden.
Was he even considering this?
Yes.
It was a gamble, indeed it was, and one that would affect his whole life, but the sea was a chancier wench than any woman, and he had a way with women, even now.
He looked again at the miniature.
A siren. No, they’d been ugly and drawn sailors to their doom by song. Circe had been the beautiful enchantress encountered by Odysseus, but she’d turned his men into swine.
This one had turned a husband into a corpse.
“You can’t be expected to make your decision without a meeting,” the earl said, breaking the enchantment. “We’ll be dining soon, and she’ll be present. Join us. Only an informal meal for the men here for the race and those wives who accompanied them. You’ll know the men from racing circles.…”
Dracy realized he was still staring at the miniature. He returned it.
“Keep it for now if you wish,” Hernescroft said.
“No, thank you.”
The earl laughed. “Wise man. But you’re the type she needs. A man of iron, used to command.”
“Keelhauling and the cat-o’-nine-tails?”
The earl laughed. “No, no, but a switch now and then might do her good. Kept her in line as a girl. Come along, then, come along, and judge for yourself.”
A part of Dracy wanted to walk away from this treacherous bargain while he still had his wits, but he couldn’t resist an encounter. After all, he was in no danger.
The scandalous Lady Maybury would have no interest in an impoverished scarred sailor, and once the earl accepted that, he’d find a way to pay the money.
Chapter 4
Dear Lizzie,
I couldn’t resist the race. After all, Fancy Free is my favorite, for I named her when she was born. So I cajoled Pranks into letting me ride out with him.
Yes, of course, dressed in breeches. I see you shake your head, but I didn’t want to be known. I wore a wide-brimmed hat and would have been completely undetected had it not come adrift. Twice. Very well, in the second instance I was carried away and took it off to wave it in excitement. I doubt anyone noticed, for all eyes were on the race. I didn’t intend a scandal, not even a tiny one. I simply wanted to see Fancy Free triumph.
Alas, Lord Dracy’s Cartagena won by a head against all odds, and now poor Fancy Free will have to move to Dracy’s stables, which I gather are decrepit.
Do you think horses have the same sense of home as we do? When my mind turns to Belling Row and Sansouci, I can be quite cast down even now, nearly a year later. And I’m living in luxury. Imagine if I’d been compelled to move to a hovel in an alley!
I know, I know, that could never be, but this move will be the equivalent for Fancy Free.
Moreover, I have control of my future, whereas the poor horse must go where she’s sent. Lud, she’s no more than a slave. Shall I start a movement against such cruelty? Yes, yes, I know it’s folly, but I truly feel for the poor creature.…
The loud knock at her boudoir door startled Georgia into blotting her letter. Before she could respond, her mother had entered the room.
“Georgia? Ah, there you are. You are to dress and go down
Tempting to call his bluff and take Fancy Free anyway.
Foolish, though. In strictly practical terms, twelve thousand pounds would be a gift of the gods. It would buy a prize stallion and a few good mares as well as dealing with most of the necessary repairs.
A widow’s jointure of two thousand a year was ridiculously high for an estate such as his, but he could hope Dracy would be in fine state when that came due many decades hence. The generous pin money would have to be cut and any extravagance curtailed, but as he and hiswife would be living quietly in the country, that shouldn’t be a hardship for her.
She wouldn’t like it, though, and a bitter wife was a hard burden.
Was he even considering this?
Yes.
It was a gamble, indeed it was, and one that would affect his whole life, but the sea was a chancier wench than any woman, and he had a way with women, even now.
He looked again at the miniature.
A siren. No, they’d been ugly and drawn sailors to their doom by song. Circe had been the beautiful enchantress encountered by Odysseus, but she’d turned his men into swine.
This one had turned a husband into a corpse.
“You can’t be expected to make your decision without a meeting,” the earl said, breaking the enchantment. “We’ll be dining soon, and she’ll be present. Join us. Only an informal meal for the men here for the race and those wives who accompanied them. You’ll know the men from racing circles.…”
Dracy realized he was still staring at the miniature. He returned it.
“Keep it for now if you wish,” Hernescroft said.
“No, thank you.”
The earl laughed. “Wise man. But you’re the type she needs. A man of iron, used to command.”
“Keelhauling and the cat-o’-nine-tails?”
The earl laughed. “No, no, but a switch now and then might do her good. Kept her in line as a girl. Come along, then, come along, and judge for yourself.”
A part of Dracy wanted to walk away from this treacherous bargain while he still had his wits, but he couldn’t resist an encounter. After all, he was in no danger.
The scandalous Lady Maybury would have no interest in an impoverished scarred sailor, and once the earl accepted that, he’d find a way to pay the money.
Chapter 4
Dear Lizzie,
I couldn’t resist the race. After all, Fancy Free is my favorite, for I named her when she was born. So I cajoled Pranks into letting me ride out with him.
Yes, of course, dressed in breeches. I see you shake your head, but I didn’t want to be known. I wore a wide-brimmed hat and would have been completely undetected had it not come adrift. Twice. Very well, in the second instance I was carried away and took it off to wave it in excitement. I doubt anyone noticed, for all eyes were on the race. I didn’t intend a scandal, not even a tiny one. I simply wanted to see Fancy Free triumph.
Alas, Lord Dracy’s Cartagena won by a head against all odds, and now poor Fancy Free will have to move to Dracy’s stables, which I gather are decrepit.
Do you think horses have the same sense of home as we do? When my mind turns to Belling Row and Sansouci, I can be quite cast down even now, nearly a year later. And I’m living in luxury. Imagine if I’d been compelled to move to a hovel in an alley!
I know, I know, that could never be, but this move will be the equivalent for Fancy Free.
Moreover, I have control of my future, whereas the poor horse must go where she’s sent. Lud, she’s no more than a slave. Shall I start a movement against such cruelty? Yes, yes, I know it’s folly, but I truly feel for the poor creature.…
The loud knock at her boudoir door startled Georgia into blotting her letter. Before she could respond, her mother had entered the room.
“Georgia? Ah, there you are. You are to dress and go down
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