Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (20 page)

And how could she not know the pain she
caused by kneeing Everton in such a manner. Wasn’t she raised on a
stud farm? Surely she had glimpsed some of the activities. After
all, a stud farm did serve one main purpose and there were a few
similarities between humans and horses with regard to mating. It
wasn’t as if she were surrounded by geldings. “Did your father let
you help him at the farm?”

A joyful smile formed on her lips and
light danced in her brown eyes. “I would always rise early to help
papa exercise the horses and whatever else needed to be done. I
love riding in the early morning when nobody else is
around.”

He would need to remember this for when
they were finally married. Though he loathed leaving his bed in the
early morning, having done so for years to keep his activities of
becoming a solicitor quiet, he would for Audrey. When they were
finished there was no reason they couldn’t return to the comfort of
their chamber.

The bright smile was replaced with a
frown. “Everton mentioned riding.”

“Oh?” Jordan wasn’t sure if he should
ask and his gut told him they were discussing two different types
of entertainments.

“I am sure he meant ride with me, but…”

Jordan placed his fingers against her
lips. “Someday it will be explained but trust me when I say he was
not referring to horses.”

The confusion was back on her brow. How
did a young woman remain so innocent and sheltered in this
environment? On the other hand, if she knew nothing about mating or
the anatomy of a male, perhaps she didn’t understand. Yet, how
could she not know what was required to achieve the prize pony?
“Your father breeds Thoroughbreds?”

“Oh yes,” she sighed. “Midnight Majesty
is in much demand. Horse breeders bring their mares from all over
England for the opportunity.” She slumped and frowned. “I’ve always
been banned from the stables when there are visitors.”

At least that answered one question.
Had Miss Montgomery been allowed to view even one mounting she
wouldn’t be so innocent.

“Your father owns his own racing stock,
does he not?”

The smile returned. “Yes. We have some
beautiful horses. I just wish I could actually participate in the
official racing.” She turned to look at him, her brown eyes bright
with excitement. “At least papa has let me attend a few races,
depending on where they are held.”

Jordan had never seen her so animated
on any subject before. When they were married he would need to
provide a stable full of her favorite horses just so she could be a
part of what she enjoyed. He might even invest in a few racing
horses. “Who trains them? Does your father do it himself or does he
hire others.”

A light blush came to her cheeks. “I am
usually their first trainer.”

Certainly he had not heard correctly.
It was far too dangerous.

“I take them out in the morning and see
what type of speed I can get out of them and see how well they
handle guidance from my knees or the reins. If they respond well
then father has one of his trainers take over until the jockey
comes in to prepare for a race.”

Jordan intentionally kept his voice
low. “You don’t ride sidesaddle?”

Her blush grew darker and she leaned
close. “Please don’t tell anyone. Not only would some consider it
scandalous but my mother would have an apoplexy.” She quickly
glanced around as if she wanted to make sure nobody could overhear
them. “As it is, I have to keep my breeches hidden because every
time she finds a pair she makes me burn them.” She narrowed her
eyes and leaned in. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

The chuckle welled up in
him. And have every gentleman of the
ton
banging on the door and inviting
her to race? Or worse. “I swear. I will keep your
secret.”

She sighed and relaxed and the impish
grin returned to her face. “I’ve seen you race, you
know.”

He quirked a brow. He didn’t race in
the sense of being a jockey on an official track. The only races he
had been involved in were friendly wagers on the roads outside of
town. “When?”

“Last Spring. You and Naughting had
made some sort of wager. I just happened to be out that day and saw
you.”

Jordan groaned. He had lost that
particular race. Why couldn’t she have seen one that he had
won?

“You held the reigns too
firmly.”

“Pardon?”

“You were holding on too tight. Your
grip needs to be a little looser, to give the horse more
freedom.”

He simply stared at her. Was this young
miss giving him advice on riding a horse? He had spent most of his
childhood riding.

No, he reminded himself, she was giving
him advice on racing a horse. But weren’t they one in the
same?

“You also weren’t leaning forward far
enough.”

“I wasn’t?” he choked out.

A worried expression passed across her
face. “Oh please, don’t be insulted. I just can’t help myself.
There are very few things that I know well, but horses and racing
are two of them.”

He was a gentleman who had always
enjoyed being in the saddle and if it would have been anyone else
making these comments he might have actually become angry. But,
this was Miss Audrey Montgomery and her father owned some of the
finest race horses in England. If she had been as involved in their
training as she claimed then he should listen to every word of
advice she cared to offer.

“I am not insulted.” He offered her a
comforting smile. “I just wish we could find an opportunity for you
to teach me.” He meant every word. “Naughting and I have a standing
bet. Each spring we race the other. The date hasn’t been set yet,
but I would enjoy beating him this year.”

Audrey turned in her seat to face him
and grinned. “I could help, you know. I watched him as well. He is
a heavy rider and it was simply luck that he beat you.”

“Don’t try to soothe my ego.” Jordan
laughed.

“Oh, I wasn’t,” she said with earnest.
“You could beat him. I know you could.”

“Of that I have no doubt, especially if
I had training from you, but I don’t see how that is even
possible.”

Audrey frowned and bit her bottom lip.
“There is nowhere we could ride where we wouldn’t be
seen.”

“Not in London.” A vision
of he and Miss Montgomery racing down Rotten Row with her riding
astride in breeches flashed through his mind. The
ton
would be scandalized
and probably wouldn’t stop talking about the event for months. That
would not do. If anyone was going to see Miss Montgomery riding in
such a way it would only be him.

She was glancing about the room,
tapping a gloved finger against her chin. What was she thinking?
Surely she knew it was impossible for the two of them to race.
Suddenly she straightened and grinned. “I will be back in a
moment.” With that she was gone and he watched her glide across the
room and come to stop before Mr. Slaine, who also happened to own a
stable of racers only an hours ride from London. Surely she wasn’t… Jordan couldn’t even finish the thought.

He wished he could hear what she was
saying, but he could certainly see her speaking animatedly and
gesturing with her hands. Mr. Slaine threw back his head and
laughed at whatever Miss Montgomery had said and their conversation
continued in earnest. Jordan could just imagine her asking if she
could bring him to the stables to teach him how to properly race a
horse. Surely she wouldn’t, would she?

A moment later Mr. Slaine and Audrey
turned to look at him. Good God, she had told him.

The two began walking back and Jordan
stood to greet the man. They had never been introduced but Jordan
knew him by reputation.

“Mr. Jordan Trent, may I introduce you
to Mr. Robert Slaine.”

The two shook hands. “It is a pleasure
to meet you, Sir,”

“I understand you need to win a
race.”

Jordan shifted his gaze to Audrey. He
should have made her promise not to say anything as
well.

The man laughed. “Don’t worry. Your
secret is safe with me. Especially since it will be little Audrey
who teaches you.”

“I beg your pardon?” What was she
thinking? Did she not have a care for her reputation?

“Come by the stables tomorrow
afternoon. We should be done using the track. It will be all
yours.”

“Are you certain?”

The man laughed again. It was a deep,
happy laugh. “I’ve seen Miss Montgomery race. She knows what she is
doing. It is a shame she is a lady because she would make a fine
jockey.”

Audrey preened at the
complement.

“What if someone sees her?”
He really wasn’t concerned for himself. He really didn’t care what
people thought or said about him and most people probably wouldn’t
believe the story anyway. However, the same could not be said for
Miss Montgomery. She could be thoroughly ruined or discredited in
the eyes of the
ton
. A lady did not race, ride astride or wear breeches. Not if
she wanted to keep her good name intact, at least.

“I’ll let you in on a secret,” the man
said quietly. “When I’ve had a questionable horse who didn’t like
to respond, Montgomery would visit with little Audrey and she would
test the racer to see if the horse was just being difficult or if
the trainer just wasn’t good enough.”

Jordan shifted his gaze to Audrey
again. She simply smiled and shrugged.

“Nobody will be around. I’ll make sure
the back track is deserted and keep everyone working in other
places, as I always do when she is riding. They are too easily
distracted by her.”

Of that he didn’t doubt.

“I appreciate the offer,” Jordan found
himself saying.

“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”
Audrey asked.

There were a few matters he needed to
attend to, but he was willing to put everything off if he could
have an afternoon alone with her. “I believe I am.”

Audrey turned to Jordan, practically
bubbling over with excitement. He had never seen her this happy
about anything. She was always calm and rational. This was a side
of her personality he had never imagined and Jordan wondered what
more there was to discover about Audrey Montgomery.

The smile fell from her lips and Jordan
turned to see what she had just witnessed behind him. Everton had
returned to the ball, walking a bit stiffly. It was a wonder the
man could even walk at all. Everton turned and glared at the two of
them. Jordan moved to put himself between Audrey and the man even
though he was a good deal away from them.

Lady Lydell rushed toward Everton, a
worried look upon her face. She studied an area of his jaw which
Jordan assumed was beginning to sport an impressive bruise. He
could not hear what the two were saying but a moment later Lady
Lydell glanced at Audrey with what could only be described as
hatred. Audrey gasped. Lord Lydell simply stood a few paces
watching his wife watching Everton and then Audrey and Jordan. His
mouth set in a grim line.

What was she thinking? Audrey pulled
the breeches up over her hips and began buttoning the front flap.
She had offered to teach Jordan Trent how to race and he would see
her dressed like this! If she had hoped to entice him this was not
the way to go about it.

Could she think of any less feminine
way to attract a gentleman?

At least in a ballroom she was a lady,
though he still preferred widows. But as a lady she was more
respectable than the Angelique person that he apparently had fallen
in love with at one time. But even Angelique was more appealing,
despite her profession, than Audrey wearing men’s
clothing.

She hadn’t been thinking and that was
the problem. She let her love for riding and racing get in the way
of her usually perfectly good sense. If anything, after today was
complete, Trent would think of her as a horse trainer in breeches
and nothing more.

Did it matter?

Probably not. He already made it clear
who and what his preference was and he hadn’t tried to kiss her
again. He simply happened to arrive at the ball just in time last
night which is why he intervened to save her. Even if he wasn’t
interested in courting her, he was gentleman enough to come to her
aid. There hadn’t been any of his normal flirtations afterwards, as
if she was nothing more than an acquaintance. He simple had asked
about her father’s stud farm and racing horses, no different than
what he would discuss with his friends. She had hoped he would
court her but it was unlikely now. He hadn’t shown interest in
doing so in the past few days and he would be even less inclined
today. She had been relegated to the status of a friend, if even
that, and Audrey would just need to accept his feelings on the
matter.