“She’s not that pretty.” Amelia cast me a disapproving frown, jealousy sparking her temper. She turned her attention to the track. I couldn’t truly see the duchess, but I dared not point that out since Amelia was already in a huff over my admiration for another woman.
“She doesn’t hold a candle to you, my love,” I said, laying my hand on Amelia’s waist. Even without my shameful desires, I thought she was very appealing. Her eyes were a honey brown with hints of gold in her irises, and I loved the color and texture of her hair. During our days lying by the lake in the summer, I used to run my fingers through the silky strands.
She cast a reluctant smile at me over her shoulder. “You have to say that.”
“I don’t. I simply choose to.” It was the truth.
The bell clanged, and she whipped her head around. The starter was situated close to where we stood as the horses stilled and prepared for the five-furlong race. Each furlong being twohundred and twenty yards, the race was two miles in total. The noise on the field seemed to quiet as all waited for the race to begin.
I wasn't sure whether Noah elbowed me by design or accident. I glanced at him and saw the spark of amusement in his eyes. He leaned closer. The pressure of his shoulder against my arm thrilled me to no end. “You’re laying it on a bit thick. She does not know about your other interests.”
I thought my heart might jump out of my chest. Pulse thundering a mad beat, I clenched my hands into fists, wishing the crowd were not there. At the same time, I was pleased Amelia was with us.
He released his hold on my shoulder, his hand gliding down my back. I felt his touch to the tips of my toes. He pressed his chest into my arm. “I think it might behoove us to talk. After the race, would you like to have a glass of French brandy?”
“I do enjoy a good French brandy,” I said, pleased my voice sounded normal and not shaky like my legs. French was a double entendre used by queer men for fellatio, or perhaps I was reading more into his statement than warranted. If he wanted an affair, why had he invited Amelia?
The clanging of a bell sounded a second time, cutting through the noise. I forced myself not to focus on how close Noah stood next to me. Like us, people were leaning over the rails, excitement in the air. A collective silence settled over the crowd before the flag came down. The horses shot across the green.
“Go, Aether, go!” Amelia cupped her hands over her mouth, shouting for all she was worth as Aether passed the first of three frontrunners. The horses were moving quickly away and became smaller and smaller. Crammed into the center of the track, the crowds hampered our view. “What is happening?” Amelia asked, jumping up and down to better see.
“He’s sitting second in the lead’s flank.” Noah’s chin was near my ear, near enough I could turn my head and kiss him.
“Oh, I wish I could see,” Amelia said.
Alarmed over my awareness of Noah, I clasped her waist, lifting her physically off the ground. Anything to distract me from him. I barely noticed her weight in my desperation to hide my own secrets.
“Go, Aether, go!” She leaned back into me, all womanly curves. The familiar scent of roses mingled with the acrid stench of horses. I rested my cheek against hers, uncaring if others watched.
The horses rounded the bend as Aether shot forward, his compact body intent on one thing, the win. The frontrunner tried his best to keep up, but he was no match for the roan. Pounding hoofs rumbled the ground, my heart thundering in the same beat. As they came nearer, Amelia’s shouts became more frequent, her enthusiasm contagious.
Caught up in the enjoyment of the moment, I went from holding her upright to hugging her slender waist. Were she not destined to be my duchess, we would have created a scandal. Of course, everyone was entranced by the race and wasn’t paying much attention to us. The entire crowd erupted as horse and rider shot across the finish line.
“He won! He won!” Amelia twisted in my arms and kissed my mouth in her zeal. I returned the kiss, happy that she was happy.
Noah cleared his throat, and Amelia and I broke apart. I put her back on her feet. Aether loped by us with his jockey still on his back as he cooled off from his impressive run. I took a step back from Amelia and trod on Noah’s toe, calling out an apology over the roar of noise. Applause broke out, and I used the distraction to look at him. Instead of watching the horse, he was studying me with noticeable concentration.
We’d meet up later for brandy, and I prayed for more. No matter how much I wanted to be intimate with him, I wasn’t sure if it was wise to follow through with the confession to get us to that state.
Chapter Seven
Lady Amelia Brimley
“I haven’t had such fun in ages.” I studied the new batch of horses lining up for the next race. After Aether’s excellent performance, I wasn’t sure if any of them could compare to the brilliance I’d witnessed. The entire experience was a much-deserved respite from my everyday life. “I can’t thank you enough, Noah.”
