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Authors: Phynix De Leon
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A Great Need Arose
Bedford Estate, England 1818
The rain this afternoon was making what could have been a rather good day a dismal one. On top of that the Duke of Bedford had just been given news that he hadn’t wanted to hear. His younger brother by two years had just perished in a racing accident and had left the him with a rather large sum of debt to take care of; a debt much like their father’s that had taken the family under. However this time he was unsure if he could dig himself out a second time.
With a heavy sigh he looked to his solicitor. “Are you sure there is no other way around my brother’s foolishness?”
The tall thin man cleared his throat and started to shake his head, but stopped suddenly at a remembered reminder. “You brother had told me that grand race coming up at the end of this summer would have a pot so large it could pay off all his debt and then some. However, Your Grace, the only horse that could have won such a race…”
“Happened to be the once my brother had the accident on.” The duke slammed his hand on the desk. “Foolish boy, what had he been thinking? We have no horse to race, and to win a race such as that once we need one bred to win it.”
The tall man cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Grace, I may know of such a horse, but to obtain him would be almost impossible, he is selling for a rather large some.”
The duke grasping at straws asked, “Where is he located and what man owns him?”
“The horse, milord, is in America and the owner is a lass not a man. She and her father co-own one of the best breeding facilities in the racing world. They live in the center of horse country in Kentucky,” the man winced slightly as he said it.
“What is the price on this horse that seems worth so much?” the duke asked evenly, if he played his cards right then he might be able to afford it.
“Marriage, Your Grace, to the daughter is his price. The horse is only one part of the deal, however if you wed the girl you will own half of the property and half of his railroad rights in America. The man is a millionaire, you could be set. I know that marriage is not quiet in your mindset at the moment, but everyone within your circles already knows that thanks to your father and brother, all you shall have left is the title. Unfortunately there are not many choices for you at the moment, milord. You may use the rest of your assets to pay your brother’s debt, but you would be left with little to start over from.”
The duke leaned back in his high winged chair and looked about his office that had belonged to all forty-eight dukes before him in his father’s family. Could he trade his pride to marry for money or could he leave his younger sister to fend for herself?
Pride it must be and his brother be damned!
“Write this man right away and tell him I am offering for his daughter. If all goes as planned I shall go and retrieve her and the horse within a month’s time. Prepare the papers. How long until the loans must be paid?”
“Your brother’s loan will run out in four months, after the race, and then all must be paid. I wish you the best of luck, milord.”
‘Luck indeed,” the duke returned darkly.
A Simple Trade
Black Creek Ranch, Kentucky, America 1818
“What do you mean, you made out an offer?” I snapped at my father. “You didn’t think you could find anyone who wanted half the ranch and the railway just to marry me!?”
My father looked at me shamefaced. “You are going to be twenty-one! All the other girls you played with grew up and are
Bedford Estate, England 1818
The rain this afternoon was making what could have been a rather good day a dismal one. On top of that the Duke of Bedford had just been given news that he hadn’t wanted to hear. His younger brother by two years had just perished in a racing accident and had left the him with a rather large sum of debt to take care of; a debt much like their father’s that had taken the family under. However this time he was unsure if he could dig himself out a second time.
With a heavy sigh he looked to his solicitor. “Are you sure there is no other way around my brother’s foolishness?”
The tall thin man cleared his throat and started to shake his head, but stopped suddenly at a remembered reminder. “You brother had told me that grand race coming up at the end of this summer would have a pot so large it could pay off all his debt and then some. However, Your Grace, the only horse that could have won such a race…”
“Happened to be the once my brother had the accident on.” The duke slammed his hand on the desk. “Foolish boy, what had he been thinking? We have no horse to race, and to win a race such as that once we need one bred to win it.”
The tall man cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Grace, I may know of such a horse, but to obtain him would be almost impossible, he is selling for a rather large some.”
The duke grasping at straws asked, “Where is he located and what man owns him?”
“The horse, milord, is in America and the owner is a lass not a man. She and her father co-own one of the best breeding facilities in the racing world. They live in the center of horse country in Kentucky,” the man winced slightly as he said it.
“What is the price on this horse that seems worth so much?” the duke asked evenly, if he played his cards right then he might be able to afford it.
“Marriage, Your Grace, to the daughter is his price. The horse is only one part of the deal, however if you wed the girl you will own half of the property and half of his railroad rights in America. The man is a millionaire, you could be set. I know that marriage is not quiet in your mindset at the moment, but everyone within your circles already knows that thanks to your father and brother, all you shall have left is the title. Unfortunately there are not many choices for you at the moment, milord. You may use the rest of your assets to pay your brother’s debt, but you would be left with little to start over from.”
The duke leaned back in his high winged chair and looked about his office that had belonged to all forty-eight dukes before him in his father’s family. Could he trade his pride to marry for money or could he leave his younger sister to fend for herself?
Pride it must be and his brother be damned!
“Write this man right away and tell him I am offering for his daughter. If all goes as planned I shall go and retrieve her and the horse within a month’s time. Prepare the papers. How long until the loans must be paid?”
“Your brother’s loan will run out in four months, after the race, and then all must be paid. I wish you the best of luck, milord.”
‘Luck indeed,” the duke returned darkly.
A Simple Trade
Black Creek Ranch, Kentucky, America 1818
“What do you mean, you made out an offer?” I snapped at my father. “You didn’t think you could find anyone who wanted half the ranch and the railway just to marry me!?”
My father looked at me shamefaced. “You are going to be twenty-one! All the other girls you played with grew up and are
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