the hunt last year —and been
refused by both brother and father, in no uncertain terms.
"I can't help wondering why Sir George
allowed his daughter to ride today," commented Rush, echoing Anthony's
thoughts —and doubtless those of half the room. "That uncle of hers I can
more easily understand, for he doubtless sees profit in it." He nodded to
the group by the fireplace, where Mercer Emery was talking with a dozen or so
gentlemen.
Partly for Killer's benefit, Anthony said,
"Yes, he knows he'll get twice as much for that hunter because she was
riding it today. I doubt he himself could have handled that beast at all, much
less shown him to advantage in the hunt."
Thor glanced down at Killer, who was frowning
suspiciously at Anthony. "I'll not bid on that horse myself tonight, even
if he is one of the few fast hunters who can bear me. I prefer to know a bit
more about a beast first —and did you note how Miss Seaton kept her distance
during the checks? Did anyone else so much as touch her hunter?"
"I did, if you must know," Killer
said testily. "Just after the meet, when Miss Seaton was turning him over
to Mr. Emery before she left. She didn't seem at all nervous about letting me
near him, for all you lot want to read something nefarious into her motives in
riding him."
"I spoke with Miss Seaton more than once
during the hunt myself," Anthony felt obliged to confess. "Her mount
showed spirit, but no ill-temper that I noticed, even when Faro was only an
arm's length away. Still, a horse may be different with every rider. I'd insist
on sitting him myself, were I interested in buying."
"I'm minded to ask about the hunter Emery
was riding today," Stormy said then, gesturing to the group by the
fireplace. "That mare had pretty lines, and might do well with a more
skilled rider. She may go cheaply after today's showing, too." He grinned
and the others chuckled, for Stormy was well known to have an eye for a
bargain.
He led the way across the room and the others
followed. As they neared the fireplace, they heard Emery saying, "—not
until after dinner, of course, when everyone is here and has a chance to bid.
I'll be available for questions until then, however."
Several of those near him drifted away,
allowing Anthony and his friends to approach. "You've not forgotten I'm
interested, have you, Mr. Emery?" Killer asked by way of greeting.
Mr. Emery, only an inch or two taller than the
little viscount, smiled. "Of course not, my lord. But, as I was telling
those others, you'll have to take your chance in the bidding after dinner,
along with the rest."
"I have a question or two about that
hunter, if you don't mind," Anthony said then.
Mr. Emery's smile was almost too pleasant.
"Of course, my lord. What do you wish to know?"
"Was he bred at the Seaton stables?"
he asked, already knowing the answer from his conversation with Miss Seaton
earlier. When Emery shook his head, Anthony continued, "How long has Sir
George owned him? And from where was he purchased?"
"Nimbus is one of our more recent
acquisitions," Mr. Emery replied, his smile now a bit stiff. "His
sire was Equity and his dam Thundress, of the Preston and Littlebottom
stables."
" The Equity, who won all those races a decade ago?" asked Killer,
visibly impressed.
Emery nodded. "The very one. Nimbus is five
years old, so should just be coming into his own as a superb hunter."
Though somewhat reassured, Anthony noticed that
the man hadn't exactly answered his second question. "Then you purchased
him from Littlebottom?" he asked. "Why so quick a turnaround? I'd
have thought you'd have wanted to breed him."
"He was already gelded," Emery began,
then looked off to the left. "Ah, it appears supper is being served. I'll
speak with you gentlemen later."
Anthony didn't think it was his imagination
that Emery seemed eager to escape his questioning. "It seems odd that a
horse with such bloodlines would be gelded so young. It could indicate a
temperament problem after
refused by both brother and father, in no uncertain terms.
"I can't help wondering why Sir George
allowed his daughter to ride today," commented Rush, echoing Anthony's
thoughts —and doubtless those of half the room. "That uncle of hers I can
more easily understand, for he doubtless sees profit in it." He nodded to
the group by the fireplace, where Mercer Emery was talking with a dozen or so
gentlemen.
Partly for Killer's benefit, Anthony said,
"Yes, he knows he'll get twice as much for that hunter because she was
riding it today. I doubt he himself could have handled that beast at all, much
less shown him to advantage in the hunt."
Thor glanced down at Killer, who was frowning
suspiciously at Anthony. "I'll not bid on that horse myself tonight, even
if he is one of the few fast hunters who can bear me. I prefer to know a bit
more about a beast first —and did you note how Miss Seaton kept her distance
during the checks? Did anyone else so much as touch her hunter?"
"I did, if you must know," Killer
said testily. "Just after the meet, when Miss Seaton was turning him over
to Mr. Emery before she left. She didn't seem at all nervous about letting me
near him, for all you lot want to read something nefarious into her motives in
riding him."
"I spoke with Miss Seaton more than once
during the hunt myself," Anthony felt obliged to confess. "Her mount
showed spirit, but no ill-temper that I noticed, even when Faro was only an
arm's length away. Still, a horse may be different with every rider. I'd insist
on sitting him myself, were I interested in buying."
"I'm minded to ask about the hunter Emery
was riding today," Stormy said then, gesturing to the group by the
fireplace. "That mare had pretty lines, and might do well with a more
skilled rider. She may go cheaply after today's showing, too." He grinned
and the others chuckled, for Stormy was well known to have an eye for a
bargain.
He led the way across the room and the others
followed. As they neared the fireplace, they heard Emery saying, "—not
until after dinner, of course, when everyone is here and has a chance to bid.
I'll be available for questions until then, however."
Several of those near him drifted away,
allowing Anthony and his friends to approach. "You've not forgotten I'm
interested, have you, Mr. Emery?" Killer asked by way of greeting.
Mr. Emery, only an inch or two taller than the
little viscount, smiled. "Of course not, my lord. But, as I was telling
those others, you'll have to take your chance in the bidding after dinner,
along with the rest."
"I have a question or two about that
hunter, if you don't mind," Anthony said then.
Mr. Emery's smile was almost too pleasant.
"Of course, my lord. What do you wish to know?"
"Was he bred at the Seaton stables?"
he asked, already knowing the answer from his conversation with Miss Seaton
earlier. When Emery shook his head, Anthony continued, "How long has Sir
George owned him? And from where was he purchased?"
"Nimbus is one of our more recent
acquisitions," Mr. Emery replied, his smile now a bit stiff. "His
sire was Equity and his dam Thundress, of the Preston and Littlebottom
stables."
" The Equity, who won all those races a decade ago?" asked Killer,
visibly impressed.
Emery nodded. "The very one. Nimbus is five
years old, so should just be coming into his own as a superb hunter."
Though somewhat reassured, Anthony noticed that
the man hadn't exactly answered his second question. "Then you purchased
him from Littlebottom?" he asked. "Why so quick a turnaround? I'd
have thought you'd have wanted to breed him."
"He was already gelded," Emery began,
then looked off to the left. "Ah, it appears supper is being served. I'll
speak with you gentlemen later."
Anthony didn't think it was his imagination
that Emery seemed eager to escape his questioning. "It seems odd that a
horse with such bloodlines would be gelded so young. It could indicate a
temperament problem after
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