“We have.Will you be jealous of Lady Victoria?”
“Would you be jealous if I kissed her maid?”
Maurice crossed his arms over his chest as his heart burned.“Damn it.Yes I would.”
“Then you understand how I feel.”
He stepped closer to Sebastian, who glanced over his shoulder but held his ground.“It’s all for show, Sebastian.A distraction from the truth.”
“And what is the truth?”
“You are the only person for me.The love of my life.”
Sebastian’s smile was sweet, a victory of sorts.“Good, because I wouldn’t go to all this trouble for anyone else.”
Maurice chuckled, loving the way Sebastian’s gaze dropped to his mouth as he smiled.“Bollocks.You’d do anything to have a Derby winner in your paddock.”
“Oh, Duke, you know me too well.”Sebastian lifted his hand and brushed his thumb over Maurice’s bottom lip.“Until later, Maurice.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise.”He was staying with Lord Horden who had a property near the Doncaster track, while Sebastian had been staying on course with the zebras for the last two weeks.“Lord Horden has promised a dinner to celebrate, or commiserate, after today’s antics.”
“It will be a celebration.”Sebastian frowned.“Please don’t tell me Earnest has been invited?”Sir Pashley and the Earl of Horden had an on-again, off-again relationship that was currently in an off phase, or at least that’s what Sebastian had said.Maurice enjoyed listening to Sebastian talk about his friends but he couldn’t quite keep track of all the dramas in Sir Pashley’s life.
“I am unaware of the details of Lord Horden’s guest list.What time are you planning to parade the zebras?”All he wanted to do was drag Sebastian back to his bed.Two weeks was far too long to be apart from each other; Maurice missed Sebastian terribly.
“When the Prince Regent arrives.The stewards would prefer the timing to be just after the third race, but it depends on His Royal Highness’ schedule.”
“I will see what I can find out.”He glanced around, and thankfully, all the stable lads were busy, so he quickly grabbed Sebastian’s hand and kissed his knuckles.“Until later, my love.”
Sebastian’s brown eyes softened.“Until later, Maurice.”
***
Sebastian bit backa smile as he drove the four zebras along the course proper and into the birdcage.They’d chosen a smaller carriage for the parade, only big enough for himself as the driver and two passengers; the Duke and Duchess of Edenwick.They made quite a sight, and there was only one hairy moment when Wibbles thought about lying down, but Dungeon nudged him before Sebastian had a chance to give him a reminder, and everything went smoothly from there.He pulled them to a halt in the birdcage, hooked up the reins, and jumped down to hold Wibbles by the head.The zebra gave him a small head-butt, and Sebastian focused on giving him a good scratch just above the wither where he liked it.
“It’s quite a sight, Edenwick.”The Prince Regent was decked out for the races, wearing more jewels than Sebastian could have imagined existed in the world.
“I believe I have fulfilled my end of the wager.When will you deliver Smolensk?”
“Imagine doing all of this just for a horse.”
Sebastian held his tongue.Smolensk wasn’t just any old hack.He was a stunningly athletic black colt with a high well-formed neck, excellent shoulders and withers, and that swagger in his back end that all good horses had.
“There is no need to imagine.You have witnessed the achievement with your own eyes, your Highness.”
The Prince Regent rolled his eyes, his jowls wobbling.“Fine.Have the bloody horse.A wager is a wager, and never let it be said that I don’t pay my gaming debts.”
Maurice nodded, then walked calmly back to the carriage.“Wildgoose.We are done here.”
Sebastian didn’t enjoy the reminder of his place in the world and tried not to flinch.Wibble noticed—of course—and stomped his near fore hoof.“Yes, yes, I’m impatient to be out of here too.”He gave the zebra one last pat, then climbed back into the driver’s seat and guided the team of four zebras out of the birdcage, back to the stabling area, leaving the Duke and his bride to entertain the Prince Regent.
Ten minutes later, Sebastian was hanging up the traces in the tack shed, only to hear the door slammed shut.Maurice pushed him against the wall, surrounding him as he kissed him.Sebastian shoved him on the chest.
“We are done here?What was that?”
“It was for show.I’ll never be done with you.”
Sebastian hissed as Maurice slid his hands under Sebastian’s shirt.“I don’t like it when you sound so convincing.”
