then shook his head. “No. As I said, we’re acquainted and on friendly enough terms.”
“ Then I see no problem. Staying with him will make our job easier. According to Morgan’s notes, he’s one of the breeders along with Bentley who has voiced his concerns. So it’s a given they’ll both cooperate.”
“You’re right . It’s a good place to start.” Simon shrugged, feeling a little paranoid. He took a deep breath and mentally chastised himself, pushing all unease away. Parker’s reasoning was sound and made total sense. Being on Thorpe’s farm shouldn’t affect his work.
He smiled , confident that neither Giselle Franklin nor his emotions would get in the way of his objective. After all, she was only a woman. How could he even be thinking of shirking his duty because of a bit of fluff?
Simon laughed and clapped his partner on the back . “It’s not a problem.” In a more positive mood, he decided to enjoy what was left of the evening after wrapping up his business with Parker. “I’m sure Colin will be accommodating.”
“Good.” Parker offered a mollified turn of his lips. “I assume you’re planning to make the meeting about the track and the problems in Louisville tomorrow evening?”
“Yes . I’m sure Thorpe will be in attendance. I’ll gain his permission to work on his farm then.”
“That should do it.” Parker set his drink on the mantel, then gathered his papers together. “I don’t anticipate taking more than a week to do my digging. Shall we plan on meeting next Saturday in Frankfort to compare notes? It’s an easy ride for both of us. If I’m delayed, I’ll send word by telegraph.”
Simon readily agreed . “Now that we have business out of the way, I think it’s time to mingle next door before I make my departure. Would you care to join me,” he asked as he was about to leave.
“No . You go on ahead. I have some errands to catch up on before I make my train. Have a safe journey. I’ll see you next week.”
“Until next week, then. ” Simon offered his hand.
The two men shook hands, and then he turned and headed toward the music.
Upon entering the ballroom, Simon glanced around, taking note of who was in attendance . Spying several friends, he meandered in their direction, picking up a drink from a passing waiter as he went.
“Simon!” A feminine laugh accompanied the shout. “I didn’t think we’d see you tonight.”
“Hello, Constance . Where’s Charlie?” He smiled at the stunning blonde hugging him.
“Oh, he’s around .” More feminine laughter burst from her lips. “Come, let’s dance and see if we can find him along the way. It’s been much too long since I’ve had such an attractive man’s attention.”
Simon chuckled and set his glass on a nearby table . He then pulled Constance into his embrace and the two glided across the ballroom floor.
“Are you here to socialize? If so, I have a very eligible friend I’d like you to meet.”
“You never give up, do you?” He shook his head, smiling down at her.
“No . Not until I see you happily married, like my Charlie. He fought it too. But it did no good. He couldn’t resist me.”
“There’s your answer . You’re already taken,” Simon replied, letting amusement show in his eyes.
“Why are you being so stubborn?” she countered , tsk-tsking. “Ask Charlie. He loves being married. He says it’s the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“I’m not Charlie.”
“Of course you aren’t. But you still need someone. Everyone does.”
“Connie, you know I’m not in the market . So leave it alone. I like being unencumbered and have no intention of changing my status anytime soon.” He grinned at her to soften his words. “I know you mean well, but you are worse than my mother. Besides, I haven’t the time tonight, barely enough for a few drinks and a couple of dances.”
“That’s plenty of time to meet Sarah.”
“Constance.” His voice held
“ Then I see no problem. Staying with him will make our job easier. According to Morgan’s notes, he’s one of the breeders along with Bentley who has voiced his concerns. So it’s a given they’ll both cooperate.”
“You’re right . It’s a good place to start.” Simon shrugged, feeling a little paranoid. He took a deep breath and mentally chastised himself, pushing all unease away. Parker’s reasoning was sound and made total sense. Being on Thorpe’s farm shouldn’t affect his work.
He smiled , confident that neither Giselle Franklin nor his emotions would get in the way of his objective. After all, she was only a woman. How could he even be thinking of shirking his duty because of a bit of fluff?
Simon laughed and clapped his partner on the back . “It’s not a problem.” In a more positive mood, he decided to enjoy what was left of the evening after wrapping up his business with Parker. “I’m sure Colin will be accommodating.”
“Good.” Parker offered a mollified turn of his lips. “I assume you’re planning to make the meeting about the track and the problems in Louisville tomorrow evening?”
“Yes . I’m sure Thorpe will be in attendance. I’ll gain his permission to work on his farm then.”
“That should do it.” Parker set his drink on the mantel, then gathered his papers together. “I don’t anticipate taking more than a week to do my digging. Shall we plan on meeting next Saturday in Frankfort to compare notes? It’s an easy ride for both of us. If I’m delayed, I’ll send word by telegraph.”
Simon readily agreed . “Now that we have business out of the way, I think it’s time to mingle next door before I make my departure. Would you care to join me,” he asked as he was about to leave.
“No . You go on ahead. I have some errands to catch up on before I make my train. Have a safe journey. I’ll see you next week.”
“Until next week, then. ” Simon offered his hand.
The two men shook hands, and then he turned and headed toward the music.
Upon entering the ballroom, Simon glanced around, taking note of who was in attendance . Spying several friends, he meandered in their direction, picking up a drink from a passing waiter as he went.
“Simon!” A feminine laugh accompanied the shout. “I didn’t think we’d see you tonight.”
“Hello, Constance . Where’s Charlie?” He smiled at the stunning blonde hugging him.
“Oh, he’s around .” More feminine laughter burst from her lips. “Come, let’s dance and see if we can find him along the way. It’s been much too long since I’ve had such an attractive man’s attention.”
Simon chuckled and set his glass on a nearby table . He then pulled Constance into his embrace and the two glided across the ballroom floor.
“Are you here to socialize? If so, I have a very eligible friend I’d like you to meet.”
“You never give up, do you?” He shook his head, smiling down at her.
“No . Not until I see you happily married, like my Charlie. He fought it too. But it did no good. He couldn’t resist me.”
“There’s your answer . You’re already taken,” Simon replied, letting amusement show in his eyes.
“Why are you being so stubborn?” she countered , tsk-tsking. “Ask Charlie. He loves being married. He says it’s the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“I’m not Charlie.”
“Of course you aren’t. But you still need someone. Everyone does.”
“Connie, you know I’m not in the market . So leave it alone. I like being unencumbered and have no intention of changing my status anytime soon.” He grinned at her to soften his words. “I know you mean well, but you are worse than my mother. Besides, I haven’t the time tonight, barely enough for a few drinks and a couple of dances.”
“That’s plenty of time to meet Sarah.”
“Constance.” His voice held
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