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some thought, she remembered one.
    “How about this? I call it ‘Another Day at the Races.’”
     
    Horses flash past,
    all brown and frothy,
    thunderous hooves and slaps of whips
    kicking up clods of dirt.
     
    Cheering crowds surround me
    as the winner is announced.
    No surprise,
    as it is once again
    a Horsham mount.
     
    She was delighted when the women laughed.
    “Too true! I didn’t know you had such talent, Nivea,” Abby said.
    Before she could respond, Caroline said, “I used to love when our governess assigned writing projects. My attempts were always dreadful, but your poems, Niv, were always so imaginative. It has been so long since I’d heard them. Have you written anything lately?”
    Nivea shook her head. While relating silly poems from her youth was fine, she didn’t wish to express her deeper thoughts with this crowd. Especially since most of them referred to her desperate yearnings for a certain black-haired rake.
    “Nothing of importance. We’ll save my ramblings for another time.”
    Seeing the children were beginning to drift off, she used them as an excuse to change the subject. “It appears Colin is not as fascinated with my poems as all of you. He’s fast asleep. Would you like me to carry him in for a nap?”
    “Yes, please. I think it’s time for everyone to rest,” answered Colin’s mama.
    Despite protests from the children, the mothers gathered up their drowsy darlings and escorted them inside.
     

Chapter 9
    Dare had left for the hunt in high spirits, happy to enjoy the day with close friends and fine horseflesh. He was disappointed to find the earl had included his future son-in-law, as though he were a true member of the family, not only providing him with a superior mount, but including him in the conversation.
    “Nicholas, my boy, I expect you will have a little more luck today. I remember the last time we went out for a hunt, you nearly got yourself killed. Surprising, since I’d always heard you were a steady sort of fellow.”
    Nicholas went red around the ears. “Truth be told, sir, I was pretty damn intimidated riding with you. Never thought I’d be able to keep up, not on my little horse. Next to your stallion, he looked like a pony for criminy’s sake!”
    “Nonsense. No need to be intimidated. We’re always happy to have new blood joining us. William here could never keep up with me, and Landis, well, he’s a moody sort. Not much for conversation, unless the fairer sex is around. I’m happy to have you with us.”
    Dare ignored that comment, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the path. He could never quite accept the earl’s jovial manner around his family, even after all these years. It seemed unnatural, and Dare had maintained a wary distance. If the man saw that as moody, well, there was no help for it.
    Nicholas did not display a similar affliction. With a wide smile, he gushed, “I appreciate that. This horse I’m riding is an absolute marvel. It’s almost like he knows where to go before I tell him.”
    “So you like him, do you? Good. Consider him a wedding present.”
    “What?” Nicholas’s jaw dropped, and he pulled the horse up short. “Oh, no, sir, I could not accept that. Just having your daughter is generous enough.”
    “Don’t be silly. Can’t have you traipsing around the countryside on a half-breed. How would that look?”
    “Besides,” William added, “it will give us a chance to spread the bloodline out and ensure our dominance in the county.”
    “By the time my grandsons can ride, you’ll have your own mini-dynasty,” chortled the earl.
    Dare snorted. The best thing about hunting with the Horshams had always been their complete focus on the pleasures at hand…horses and hunting. Now, he was forced into listening to all this inane babble about family.
    In the hopes of salvaging the day, Dare decided to issue a challenge. “Now that the young pup has a proper mount, what say we have a contest? William and me against