Just plain."
Eric looked doubtful. "So you say. What about Suzette? Giving her the old here's-a-diamond-necklace-see-you-about?"
"I don't see why. Izzy will probably go live at the estate. Lots of gardening to do there." Grinning to himself, Julian polished off his eggs. "Why are you about so early?"
"Going to Tattersall's, old man. Want to go along? I'm looking for a bay to match the carriage horses. Got one down with an infected hoof."
Surveying the remains of his breakfast and thinking of infected hooves, Julian decided he was finished. He threw the napkin down with a flourish and grinned at his friend.
"Let us be off, then. I'm always looking for new blood for my string."
They were having a fine time at the Tattersall auction, enjoying the sights and smells and environs of horse trading, as all horsemen do. The air was thick with equine complaints and the rattle of the auctioneer's gavel. Eric quickly found a replacement for his carriage team, and they were eyeing the saddle mounts when Julian spotted a delicate silver-gray mare.
She was small, but perfectly proportioned, with large intelligent eyes, and lively paces. He bought her on the spot, flagrantly outmatching the other bidders.
Eric was aghast. "Why did you do that? She cannot even carry you. She's a lady's horse."
Julian looked back at him, disconcerted. Then studying the pretty mare again, he smiled. "I'll make it back at the tables tonight, you know I shall. Besides, she reminds me of Izzy."
Julian rolled the die between his fingers and casually threw it down. He tossed back the last of his brandy as a roar of approval greeted his cast.
The pile of money grew larger and the pretty half-dressed lady of the
demi-monde
squirmed herself more firmly into his lap. As the die landed perfectly in his favor yet again, Julian hid a yawn and wondered what Izzy was doing tonight.
He placed one hand on his companion's shapely derriere and gave it a pat. "Off you go, pet."
At her painted pout, he chuckled and used the side of his hand to cut a portion of his take. Pushing it to one side, he bowed to her. "For your trouble, love. You brought me luck."
Her moue of disappointment was replaced by a rather more sincere smile of avarice, and the pile of coins and notes disappeared with her.
Julian strolled and stretched, the noise of the gaming hall beginning to abrade. The casements lining one wall stood open in a useless attempt to combat the swirling smoke and heat from the bodies packed into the cramped room.
He strode to one, neglecting the winnings piled on the table. As he stood by the window, lighting a cigar, he thought about the mare again.
Why had he done it? The horse was of no earthly use to him. Only a woman could ride her. He smiled without realizing, as he pictured Izzy on the mare. He didn't even know if she could ride. Well enough, he would teach her, he thought, tossing the cigar out of the open window.
As he allowed himself to be pulled back into the frenetic pace of the evening, Julian decided to take the horse out to the Marchwells' on the morrow. Izzy ought to be quite surprised by the gift. Perhaps they might even have time for a riding lesson.
Chapter Five
« ^ »
To Julian's disappointment, Izzy was already outside when he and his stablehand, Timothy, delivered his gift. She stood from her labors over the rose bed in the lawn and smiled as he came up the drive. He stopped before her.
"Good morning—"
With a distracted wave to him and an absent pat on the nose for his mount, Izzy passed him right by.
Julian closed his mouth, greeting unuttered. He was stunned by her casual affection toward Tristan, who was a great snorting brute of a stallion. Most people, with the exception of the massive Timothy, gave the Thoroughbred a wide berth.
He dismounted, handing the reins to Timothy—the stablehand had climbed down from his nondescript gelding—then followed Izzy, who had stopped before the dainty gray mare Timothy had on
Eric looked doubtful. "So you say. What about Suzette? Giving her the old here's-a-diamond-necklace-see-you-about?"
"I don't see why. Izzy will probably go live at the estate. Lots of gardening to do there." Grinning to himself, Julian polished off his eggs. "Why are you about so early?"
"Going to Tattersall's, old man. Want to go along? I'm looking for a bay to match the carriage horses. Got one down with an infected hoof."
Surveying the remains of his breakfast and thinking of infected hooves, Julian decided he was finished. He threw the napkin down with a flourish and grinned at his friend.
"Let us be off, then. I'm always looking for new blood for my string."
They were having a fine time at the Tattersall auction, enjoying the sights and smells and environs of horse trading, as all horsemen do. The air was thick with equine complaints and the rattle of the auctioneer's gavel. Eric quickly found a replacement for his carriage team, and they were eyeing the saddle mounts when Julian spotted a delicate silver-gray mare.
She was small, but perfectly proportioned, with large intelligent eyes, and lively paces. He bought her on the spot, flagrantly outmatching the other bidders.
Eric was aghast. "Why did you do that? She cannot even carry you. She's a lady's horse."
Julian looked back at him, disconcerted. Then studying the pretty mare again, he smiled. "I'll make it back at the tables tonight, you know I shall. Besides, she reminds me of Izzy."
Julian rolled the die between his fingers and casually threw it down. He tossed back the last of his brandy as a roar of approval greeted his cast.
The pile of money grew larger and the pretty half-dressed lady of the
demi-monde
squirmed herself more firmly into his lap. As the die landed perfectly in his favor yet again, Julian hid a yawn and wondered what Izzy was doing tonight.
He placed one hand on his companion's shapely derriere and gave it a pat. "Off you go, pet."
At her painted pout, he chuckled and used the side of his hand to cut a portion of his take. Pushing it to one side, he bowed to her. "For your trouble, love. You brought me luck."
Her moue of disappointment was replaced by a rather more sincere smile of avarice, and the pile of coins and notes disappeared with her.
Julian strolled and stretched, the noise of the gaming hall beginning to abrade. The casements lining one wall stood open in a useless attempt to combat the swirling smoke and heat from the bodies packed into the cramped room.
He strode to one, neglecting the winnings piled on the table. As he stood by the window, lighting a cigar, he thought about the mare again.
Why had he done it? The horse was of no earthly use to him. Only a woman could ride her. He smiled without realizing, as he pictured Izzy on the mare. He didn't even know if she could ride. Well enough, he would teach her, he thought, tossing the cigar out of the open window.
As he allowed himself to be pulled back into the frenetic pace of the evening, Julian decided to take the horse out to the Marchwells' on the morrow. Izzy ought to be quite surprised by the gift. Perhaps they might even have time for a riding lesson.
Chapter Five
« ^ »
To Julian's disappointment, Izzy was already outside when he and his stablehand, Timothy, delivered his gift. She stood from her labors over the rose bed in the lawn and smiled as he came up the drive. He stopped before her.
"Good morning—"
With a distracted wave to him and an absent pat on the nose for his mount, Izzy passed him right by.
Julian closed his mouth, greeting unuttered. He was stunned by her casual affection toward Tristan, who was a great snorting brute of a stallion. Most people, with the exception of the massive Timothy, gave the Thoroughbred a wide berth.
He dismounted, handing the reins to Timothy—the stablehand had climbed down from his nondescript gelding—then followed Izzy, who had stopped before the dainty gray mare Timothy had on
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