“Ah well, I’m sure he’ll be back in a few hours. May as well come with us and lose money at the races.” He slapped Ash on the shoulder. “Not the usual time of year to hold races I know, but there you have it. Lord Hardy is extremely odd.
“I have no wish to attend the races.”
“It will be entertaining, as Warwick is riding.”
“Pardon?”
“They have a race that anyone can enter. Warwick is riding this year. Eden rode last year and was pipped at the post.”
He would not say pardon again.
“Do not tell her I said this, but she is as good, if not better than any man.” Cambridge leaned in to whisper the words.
“Now what a lovely thing to say, brother dear.” The duchess arrived.
Ash wasn’t sure how she heard her brother’s words, yet she did.
“I didn’t mean it,” Cam said.
“Of course you did.” The beautiful duchess patted her brother’s cheek. She wore a deep rust-colored jacket. Her skirts were black, as were her hat, gloves, and boots. She looked stunning.
She walked away laughing.
“Put your earplugs in!” Cam roared.
The duchess waved over her shoulder.
Ash wondered why she needed to wear earplugs but didn’t ask.
“I will call for my horse and leave.”
“It’s been called for,” James said. “You’re coming with us.”
“I am not,” Ash said calmly.
“We plan to stop at the Bull’s Head on the return journey. Their fruit pasty is the best you’ll ever eat. The fillings change, and every one is superb.”
“Do you think of anything other than food?” Ash felt the need to ask Cambridge.
“I quite like my wife and children.” His smile made him look a great deal younger than he was. “Come, you will enjoy it, I promise.” His hand nudged Ash, and soon he was moving to where his horse now stood.
“I need to return to London.”
“And you will, but surely tomorrow is soon enough?”
He saw her then, walking arm-in-arm with her twin. They were laughing, and it lit her face, like the clouds had parted and the sun was shining. She wore a deep gray velvet jacket with black braiding and frogging. Her skirt was black like her sister’s. On her head was a black hat. Elegant and sweet, he thought.
Ash dragged his eyes from her. “I must leave,” he said again. Finding Gus, he watched as he shrugged into the overcoat the footman was handing him. “I will pack my things and go and collect Baron.”
“Seems a shame,” Cam said. “Seeing as Baron loves children and they seem to love him equally. He’s with the adults among us who we cannot coax out into society. We often have to attend events without them.”
“Why do they not like to attend?” Ash made himself focus on the man talking as Dorset Sinclair drew closer.
“They were not raised in society, and while we have a duke, marquis, and baron handy, there are still those who would look down on them,” Cam said.
“Not in our earshot, however,” James said, arriving with another footman who held Ash’s coat and hat. “Put on your coat and hat; we shall leave.”
“I have no wish to go.”
