He laughed and bowed. “Only one when I let you win again, my lady.”
“I’d much prefer to beat you fair and square,” Carenza said. “I mean, if you are so sure you’ll win, it wouldn’t hurt to prove your point, would it?”
Aragon considered her. “But you’ll cry, and I don’t know how to deal with crying ladies.” He turned to Julian, who had come up alongside them. “Tell Lady Carenza that I’m not one of those poetic types.”
“Poetic types?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“One of those poets who write love sonnets for ladies.”
“Like Shakespeare?”
“That’s the chap.” Aragon slapped his thigh. “Met him at Eton. Such a bore. I’d much rather talk to my horse.”
With that, he bowed again and went to speak to his groom, leaving Carenza staring up at Julian.
“Your brother …”
“Yes, I know,” Julian said. “He’s delightfully single-minded. Horses are his passion, and he doesn’t care who knows it.”
“He is very nice, though,” Carenza added, to be fair. “But not the sort of man I wish to marry.”
“Don’t worry. My mother will decide whom Aragon marries, and he’ll oblige her. As long as the lady likes horses and doesn’t mind being referred to as his favorite filly, his wife will be remarkably happy.”
“You like him, don’t you?” Carenza said.
“He’s my brother. Of course I like him.” He paused. “Despite my mother’s attempts to keep him away from me.”
“Have you ever asked your mother why she treats you as she does?” Carenza asked.
“No, why would I?” He smiled at her. “We’re not the sort of family who indulge in that kind of emotional nonsense.”
“I think if I were you, I’d like to know.” Carenza held his gaze.
“Well, I do not,” he said firmly. “What if I’m illegitimate or something? Why on earth would I wish to know that? May we speak of something else?”
“Of course.”
“I’ve found a safe place for us to meet.” He took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. “Direct your coachman, or the hackney cab if you’re being discreet, to drive around to the back of the establishment. Come to the kitchen door and ask for Mrs. Mountjoy.”
“And who might she be?”
“I promise I’ll tell you all about her when we meet. Would tomorrow at eleven be convenient?”
“I’ll have to check my appointment diary,” Carenza said. “I’ll send you a note.”
Julian bowed. “Excellent.” He glanced over his shoulder. “My brother is glowering at me. I suppose we should mount up and go home.”
After Carenza changed into a morning dress, she went down to the drawing room and found Allegra with Olivia. One look at her sister’s face told her that Allegra had been talking far too freely with their friend.
“You’re bedding Julian Laurent,” Olivia said.
Carenza looked at Allegra, who went red. “I’m sorry! It just slipped out.”
Carenza sat down. “While Olivia was torturing you?”
“She didn’t need to do that. My shock over seeingthat mankissing you was too big to contain within my person,” Allegra vigorously defended herself. “And Olivia said she’d guessed anyway.”
“Of course she did.” Carenza sighed. “Goodness me, Allegra, you are worse at keeping a secret than I am.”
