As decided earlier, on the way home from their aunt’s house, the party paused to take a ride around the very popular Hyde Park. It didn’t escape the duke’s attention that his sister’s whole intent of this diversion was not to be seen as the most fine ladies did, but instead to peek her own glance at the notorious activity.
“Come now, let your sister have some enjoyment,” Isabella said to her husband when he seemed to be steering their open carriage completely clear of the route de rio.
What had once been the King's private road was now more commonly used by daring gentlemen in gigs with fast horses.
“It is not as if she is asking to witness dueling. You, yourself, told me that on occasion you drove your witnessed races along that course. Do not deprive her of a small amount of fun.”
The duke seemed to roll this over in his mind, before finally turning down the desired path. With any luck, no one would be there. It was, after all, just starting to be the fashionable time for turns around the park. More often, races occurred toward the end of night.
Much to the duke’s disappointment, and his sister’s excitement, there was, in fact, a group of gentlemen preparing for a friendly race.
Lady Abigail sat up immediately in her spot to scan the crowd for familiar faces. She was acquainted with several of the ladies who stood off to the side as the gentlemen prepared their steeds.
Lady Abigail was happy to see that the race at that moment would be between three men on horseback. She found this to be far more exciting than gig races.
Without hesitation, she hopped down from the carriage and made her way over to some familiar ladies’ faces.
“This seems like it will be quite the exciting event,” Miss Mary Johansson said after Lady Abigail made her introductions and inquiries to friends since last they met.
Miss Mary was the daughter of a Baron that had not much more than the title to his name. She was, however, a beauty in the extreme and Lady Abigail did not doubt that she would marry up in life.
Though they were not entirely close friends, they were, however, acquaintances that often frequented the same groups and less than desirable events for ladies such as this.
Lady Abigail looked over the riders. Two she knew well. They were usual contestants here on the king's private road. Though they had long since outgrown the age of young pups, they still seemed to wish to prove themselves.
The third rider was a man she had never seen before. She couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on him as he checked his saddle and the condition of his horse.
He was dressed very finely in a velvet riding jacket and matching brown trousers. His high boots looked to be of excellent black leather, and the crop in his hand was held with an air of confidence.
“Who is that gentleman in the middle? I don’t think I have ever made his acquaintance.”
“Why, that is Lord Franklin Stuartson, Earl of Heshing, Lady Abigail,” Miss Mary instructed, happy to have a bit of information to dole out.
“Heshing,” Lady Abigail thought the name over. It did have a bit of familiarity to it.
“I believe this is one of his first seasons in town. He has just taken his father’s seat in the House of Lords this year.”
Lady Abigail figured the name was only familiar to her by way of passing word from her father or brother. She took a mental note to perhaps ask the duke about the gentleman when he was slightly less of a vexing older brother.
The riders were placed in saddles and prepared for the long stretch of road ahead of them. The small crowd clapped in excitement.
“Have you placed a bet?” Miss Mary asked, motioning to Lord Fenton, who was the usual orchestrator of such events.
Lady Abigail looked over at her brother. He had just finished helping Isabella down from the carriage and together they were making their way over. Had she been here without him, she would have happily placed a sixpence on Lord Heshing.
It was not at all proper for ladies to witness such events, let alone bet on them. She decided it was best, with her brother present, not to do so.
Lady Abigail couldn’t help but notice the gasp and whispers that surrounded her brother as he escorted his wife over to witness the race. It made more sense to her now why he had been so uptight over the course of their trip. Things were undoubtedly expected differently of him now that he was the Duke of Wintercrest.
“I have never seen one of these before,” the duchess said, coming to Lady Abigail’s side. “It does seem rather exciting.”
She leaned closer to Lady Abigail’s ear, “Don’t tell Christian, but I put a bet on the chestnut mare.”
Lady Abigail looked at her sister-in-law with shock. The Duchess of Wintercrest, for the most part, was a very proper lady. It was no surprise that this was her first race, but slightly scandalous that she had placed a bet.
Lady Abigail looked over the chestnut mare and rider. It was Lord Heshing, spoken of before. She certainly hoped he won and told herself it was for the sole reason of the duchess’ money spent.
Within a flash, the race was on, and the three men went speeding down the road. The goal of the trip was to travel the whole length, turning just before Kensington Gardens, and making the full length back. The first rider to cross the line drawn at the start would be the winner.
Not only would he have the pride of winning the race, but he would also get to take home his companions’ steeds.
For many gentlemen, the time-consuming act of training, purchasing well-bred horses, and racing was merely to pass the time. For a select few, such as Mr. Shawn James, second son to Viscount Sheffield, who now pressed his horse with every ounce of strength, the gamble of a race was a chance to make something more of oneself.
The crowd quietly chatted together as the riders disappeared from view. Each member had their own opinion of who was in the lead and the prospect of the return trip.
It wasn’t long before the loud sound of hoofs reverberated once again on the gravel road. All eyes watched and bodies leaned, to get the first glimpse of the rider first to come into view.
Lady Abigail held in her cheer when seeing that it was Lord Heshing in the lead. Mr. James was quickly gaining on the earl and Abigail was torn with nerves. She knew it would be more right for her to wish Mr. James to win the race, as he was sure to need the win more than an earl, but she couldn’t help but wish the champion to be the intriguing new lord.
Finally, the last seconds of the race were upon them. Some in the crowd began to shout or cheer in the final moments. It was just barely by a nose of the horse that Lord Heshing won the race.
Lady Abigail couldn’t help but cheer along with her sister-in-law who had won the bet, but with no prior experience, had no idea what that meant, exactly.
“Your Grace,” Lord Fenton said, coming up to the duke, having not yet been introduced to his wife, “here are your winnings. Congratulations.”
“I thank you, Fenton,” the duke said, “but I did not place any bets.”
Lord Fenton looked between the duke and the rest of the trio, a little unsure what to do.
“Was this your doing?” the duke turned on Lady Abigail.
“It was mine, actually,” Isabella said with an upturned chin. “I’ve always wanted to bet on a horse race. I must be very good at it as well, seeing how I won on my first try.”
She promptly removed the money from Lord Fenton’s hands as they were introduced to each other by way of her husband.
The duke smiled softly at his wife and, with a shaking of his head, laughed.
“I believe my sister has been a bad influence on you,” he said.
“Not at all. If anything, my love, it is you that has been the influence. In fact, you seemed to know Lord Fenton very well for someone shaming his sister for attending such adventures.”
“It is one thing for a man to be present at races, entirely different for a lady.”
“And what of a duke and duchess?” she retorted with a smile on her lips.
“I suppose we will discover that tomorrow in the gossip column. Come, you two. Let us be off before we are noticed any more than we have already been.”
“Oh, please may I go congratulate the rider first? You said you know him,” the duchess asked her husband in her sweet way.
Lady Abigail’s heart did a little leap at the thought of meeting this handsome man who seemed to be the champion of the hour.
The duke led the two ladies over to Lord Heshing. He was gratefully taking the congratulations from others as he stroked his beautiful steed.
“Your Grace,” he said, with a bow to the duke.
“Please let me have the pleasure of introducing my wife, the Duchess of Wintercrest, and younger sister, Lady Abigail Grant.”
Lord Heshing politely bowed and greeted both ladies.
“It was fortunate you happened to stop by today,” Lord Heshing said to the duke. “I would have hated to lose a race in front of Your Grace.”
“If I heard correctly the rumors swirling around the crowd of onlookers, losing doesn’t happen too often for you,” the duke retorted.
“Though I suspect that would not be the case if it were still your day of horse races.”
Both Lady Abigail and the duchess looked at the duke in utter shock.
“His Grace was quite a legend,” Lord Heshing said in answer to their expression.
“And here you were giving me such a hard time,” Lady Abigail said. “And you used to actually race horses yourself?”
“It was a very long time ago, when I was just a young pup without a dukedom to consider.”
“Still, you teased me all morning long,” Lady Abigail said with hands on her hips.
“Unfortunately, Lord Heshing, I may never speak to you again as you have just ruined my image in front of my wife and given my sister sufficient cause to vex me for many days to come,” the duke said in a teasing fashion.
“Oh, absolutely not. I think I rather like Lord Heshing’s honesty about your youthful years. I think we must have him over for dinner soon to hear more of your galivanting tales,” the duchess retorted.
“I would be most honored by such an invitation, Your Grace,” Heshing said with a slight bow.
Lady Abigail couldn’t help but notice that though he spoke the words to Isabella, he did it with eyes on her. It sent little chills of excitement up and down her spine as his soft brown eyes seemed to see deep inside her inner self and find it of interest.