As they approached the gathering, Lady Sommerset began a conversation with another chaperone, so Dory took the opportunity to find her friend. It wasn’t difficult, as Rose wore a pretty, rose-colored dress and bonnet while most of the other women wore white, pale yellow, and green. When close enough, she clasped her friend’s hand.
“Oh, there you are.” Rose turned and pulled her to the front. “I have much to tell you.”
“You do?” They’d just spoken a couple of hours ago. “Has so much come to pass, then?”
Rose leaned in and whispered. “My time spent with Lord Manning was all about you.”
“What?” More than a bit surprised, she checked those nearby to make sure no one heard, then leaned back in. “Why me?”
Rose’s eyes twinkled. “As you know, I didn’t want him to be interested in me, so I happened to mention that this outing was your idea and that was all I needed to do. He asked me oh-so-many questions about you. So many that I feel we need to spend hours together for me to be able to answer them all.”
“Lord Manning?” She should be ecstatic that the marquess was interested in her, but she wasn’t.
“I was as surprised as you are. If it had been Lord Dearling, I would have expected it, as everyone can see he is quite smitten with you.”
She had surmised as much. That meant two men were interested in her. If either was serious, she could be wed beforethe next season. Relief ran through her at that possibility. Her mother was less likely to cause a scandal before the next season started.
Rose squeezed her hand even as she whispered excitedly. “So which would you choose?”
“I don’t know. I must think about it, though we can’t be certain I will have a choice.”
Rose grinned. “Oh, you will. We must talk tonight. I’ll come to your room.”
“I would like that.” Having Rose not only welcome her, but support her was a boon she hadn’t expected, and she was far more than grateful. Could she truly have a choice of husband? She tried to imagine herself sitting at the end of a long table of guests with Lord Dearling at the other end. It wasn’t as difficult as she thought. She changed the scene in her mind to Lord Manning entertaining their guests in a parlor. That was fairly easy to do as well.
But what would it be like when they were alone? She imagined getting ready to sleep, her maid brushing her long hair before braiding it then leaving. As she sat at her dressing table a man’s hands rested on her shoulders and bent to kiss the side of her neck. A tiny trill of excitement filled her as she let her eyelids close and tipped her head to allow him easier access. He eased her shift off her shoulder to kiss that very spot before his hand moved lower to cup her breast. Her breath caught in her chest and her eyes flew open to stare at him in the mirror.
Lord Harewood smiled seductively back at her.
Her heart raced with anticipation when a gunshot startled her. She blinked to see four horses racing across the field, the thunder of their hooves vibrating beneath her own feet.
Confused by her imagination, she squeezed Rose’s hand in hers.
“Isn’t it exciting?” Rose turned to her and smiled. “Watch. I’m sure my brother on Nyx will place. That black devil will do anything to show he’s the best. After talking to Lord Manning today, I’m going to guess he will place as well. He did mention his horse and its speed.”
Dory forced herself to focus across the field where the horses ran. The black horse called Nyx was nearest them, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at the rider. The horse remained with two others, another pulling ahead slightly. As they reached the halfway marker, or rather Lord Sommerset, the black horse began to move ahead of the others. When they raced to the end of the course, which was watched closely by Lord and Lady Enderly and Lady Sommerset, it was obvious who had won. Rose was correct. Lord Harewood and Lord Manning claimed first and second places respectively.
As the next group of men mounted and trotted their horses to the starting line, she forced herself to take deep breaths. Her imagination was far too strong. She needed to focus on what was real, which could very well be two good men interested in her. To that end, she looked for Lord Dearling in the next set to race. Though she was grateful to Lord Harewood for helping her, he’d made it very clear that he was not ready for a wife yet. She wished she truly knew how to read palms. What if the line that intersected his head and his heart was indicative of this very moment in time? What if she actually had three men to choose from?
Her body heated at such a wonderful predicament when her words not an hour past came back to her.She told me I would have my choice of husbands, but to choose wisely and look beneath appearances, as only one was the right one.She shivered. Was the fortuneteller’s look into the future true?
“Dory, are you cold?” Rose’s lips pressed together in her concern.
“No. I’m just excited to see who will win this next race.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but if given the opportunity, she’d have been happy to crawl into a coach and hide to be alone with her thoughts until the festivities were done.
“I know. This is more exciting than the puzzles the men will have to solve tonight. I prefer to see their physical prowess.” Rose giggled, a slight blush heating her cheek.
It hadn’t occurred to her that Rose had knowledge of men’s physiques. She wanted to tease her, but her thoughts were a muddle at the moment. Instead, she asked the first question that came to mind, but in a whisper. “Do you know what men do with women then?”
Rose looked around before wiggling her eyebrows. “I do.”
A gunshot went off, and Rose immediately turned back to watch the race.
The younger Ambroses seemed intent on confusing her. They weren’t what she’d expected. In fact, she liked them because of that. Now she worried that Rose would talk of nothing but the men’s physical prowess tonight, which would hardly help her current dilemma.
“Look.” Rose pointed.
She forced herself to watch the second race. Lord Dearling was a full horse length ahead of the others, but Mr. Retfield gained ground. The two men finished first and second. As everyone clapped, she determined to enjoy the moment. “This is far more exciting than I imagined.”
