“Rupert,” she admonished.
He grinned. “I like the way you say my name. It arouses me beyond measure. Shall we find a place where I can show you how much?”
“I am too nervous to do that. I’ll save my energy for the race.”
“Then you will do it?” His smile faded like the sun going behind clouds. “I’ve changed my mind. It’s too dangerous. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I won’t let you risk yourself.”
She cocked her head. “You could dress up in a lady’s riding habit.”
He appeared to be considering it. Delia laughed. “I was speaking in jest. Choose my mount with your skillful eye, and at the very least, I promise you I shall not fall off. If I fear for my safety, I will stop.”
He still looked doubtful.
“I cannot say I don’t feel nervous,” Delia admitted. “Yet I’ve had a brilliant teacher. Thus, I will do my best, and I will be safe.”
Glancing around, seeing no one, Delia slid her hands up his chest.
“You also taught me some other things I would like to do again soon.”
He kissed her once more, sucking her lower lip before she pulled away.
“Mm,”she said. “Let’s go win a race.”
RUPERT DID HIS BESTto ensure Delia’s success. They had to pick horses they’d never ridden before, and he had agreed to geldings over mares.
He let Crenshaw choose first. The man made a great show of ambling down one side of the stable and up the other, sticking his head into each stall before examining the horses’ legs. Finally, he chose a slender chestnut mount.
Having examined the horses in the stable more than once during the fortnight, Rupert chose swiftly. He had the groom bring out two horses to the paddock.
“I want to see them trot.” Watching briefly, satisfied, he made a selection.
By that time, all the houseguests, the chaperones, and Lady Osbourne had heard of the race. Delia and Lady Lillian were indoors changing into riding habits.
Their hostess approached him. “I’ve learned you and Lady Delia are smitten.”
Rupert didn’t even ask how she knew already. It was undoubtedly the servants’ grapevine at work.
“I would like to think I have ruined your matchmaking intent,” he said, and he would not have been the least sorry to have thwarted her —intrusive, manipulative woman— by forsaking Lady Lillian. But he had a feeling he’d fallen into her trap, exactly as she’d hoped.
Indeed, Lady Osbourne gave a satisfied smile. “When I saw you instead of Lord Hawthorne, I was briefly concerned. Yet after considering your reputation, I predicted you would be perfect for Lady Delia. I was correct.”
His mouth fell open before he could snap it shut. “But why?”
“Horses,” she said, holding out one hand. “Plants,” she added, holding out the other.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“That’s all. A common love of being outdoors. A small commonality, but seeing you two together on the first night, I had a feeling it would work. Bringing Lady Lillian to demonstrate her unsuitability in comparison — that was cream on my trifle.”
Blind luck,Rupert decided,and nothing more.
When the ladies returned, the two teams went together in an open-air barouche to examine the course and set the finishing line.
“Let’s get on with it,” Lady Lillian said. “This will be over quickly enough.”
Rupert winked at Delia, who was pale but appeared steady. In a very few minutes, back at the stable yard, he helped her onto the saddle.
Lady Lillian trotted her horse up beside them. “If you had been nicer to me,” she informed Rupert, “I would be riding for you.”
