Read Online Masquerading the Marquess by Anne Mallory - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Mallory
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animals. The pack was tight down the stretch, but as they rounded the corner, three horses pulled away. Thor was third. The animals tore around the track, bodies lunging, chests heaving. The crowd mimicked them and an excited man bumped into her, his breath coming out in puffs. "Hang in there, Champion."
Her blood pounded. Thor was moving into second. Come on, Thor . Half a track remained. The rider leaned into the movement and Thor burst around the last turn, hammering toward the finish.
"Stay up there, Champion," the man was muttering.
Thor and Champion were neck and neck. Stephen was smiling. The people in the front row were jumping. Thor broke away and soared through the finish. Calliope felt like jumping too.
A man swore. A lady fainted. The crowd cheered.
"We won! We won! " .
Calliope hugged Stephen. He looked smug. "Knew we would. Always bet on James’s horse in an event race. You stay here, I’ll go pick up the winnings."
He scurried off. Calliope sighed. Was it hypocritical of her to have cheered for Angelford’s horse?
Calliope followed Stephen with her eyes and saw him join Roth and Angelford. Stella was nowhere to be seen.
People were vacating the stands and Calliope resumed her inspection of the crowd. Even learning Thor was Angelford’s horse hadn’t dimmed her elation. This setting would make a nice backdrop for a number of drawings. She wished she had her sketchpad. She noticed a scurvy-looking man staring at her, but as soon as she made eye contact he moved to the side and melted into the crowd. Strange.
"Here are your winnings." Stephen handed her thirty pounds.
"Thirty pounds? I thought you wagered it all."
"I did. But the odds aren’t the best when betting on one of James’s horses."
Calliope pocketed the money with a small measure of triumph. She had begun with two pounds, her limit on the day’s gambling. As soon as she had doubled her money she had pocketed the original two pounds and gambled her winnings. It had been hard enough to wager the original two.
"I invited some of the others to dine."
"I hope you invited Roth. I don’t believe he brought anyone with him."
Stephen nodded. "Roth has been spending most of his time alone, which is unusual. The man used to be quite social."
Calliope took Stephen’s arm and they made their way out of the stands. "I also invited James and Stella. The Pettigrews were standing close, so I was forced to extend an invitation to them as well. They accepted."
The earl had established a marked interest in Esmerelda. She had learned the Pettigrews enjoyed varied entertainments, often with other couples. They were yet another sterling example of the ton, the moral center of all Christendom. Pettigrew frequently hinted for her to attend one of their parties. Someday, when she ran out of cartoon ideas, she would accept.
Stephen would probably have a conniption. He was becoming as protective as Robert. He only left her alone in the company of Roth and Angelford.
Stephen knew of her caricatures of Angelford. Yet, he seemed pleased when she and Angelford were together. When confronted, Stephen had merely grinned and said he liked to "watch the sparks fly." Stephen could be irritating sometimes. She could never rely on him not to leave her stranded with the beast.
Stephen stranded her at dinner.
They had been the last ones to enter the dining room and she had been forced to take the last available seat. The one opposite Angelford.
The mood at the rest of the table was light. Everyone had done well at the races. The Pettigrew threesome chattered. Roth appeared entertained by their conversation. Stella and Stephen were embroiled in a lively discussion.
Only she and the man across from her were silent. Angelford sipped his scotch and observed the rest of the table. And her.
He leaned back in his chair, and she felt his boot touch the top of
Her blood pounded. Thor was moving into second. Come on, Thor . Half a track remained. The rider leaned into the movement and Thor burst around the last turn, hammering toward the finish.
"Stay up there, Champion," the man was muttering.
Thor and Champion were neck and neck. Stephen was smiling. The people in the front row were jumping. Thor broke away and soared through the finish. Calliope felt like jumping too.
A man swore. A lady fainted. The crowd cheered.
"We won! We won! " .
Calliope hugged Stephen. He looked smug. "Knew we would. Always bet on James’s horse in an event race. You stay here, I’ll go pick up the winnings."
He scurried off. Calliope sighed. Was it hypocritical of her to have cheered for Angelford’s horse?
Calliope followed Stephen with her eyes and saw him join Roth and Angelford. Stella was nowhere to be seen.
People were vacating the stands and Calliope resumed her inspection of the crowd. Even learning Thor was Angelford’s horse hadn’t dimmed her elation. This setting would make a nice backdrop for a number of drawings. She wished she had her sketchpad. She noticed a scurvy-looking man staring at her, but as soon as she made eye contact he moved to the side and melted into the crowd. Strange.
"Here are your winnings." Stephen handed her thirty pounds.
"Thirty pounds? I thought you wagered it all."
"I did. But the odds aren’t the best when betting on one of James’s horses."
Calliope pocketed the money with a small measure of triumph. She had begun with two pounds, her limit on the day’s gambling. As soon as she had doubled her money she had pocketed the original two pounds and gambled her winnings. It had been hard enough to wager the original two.
"I invited some of the others to dine."
"I hope you invited Roth. I don’t believe he brought anyone with him."
Stephen nodded. "Roth has been spending most of his time alone, which is unusual. The man used to be quite social."
Calliope took Stephen’s arm and they made their way out of the stands. "I also invited James and Stella. The Pettigrews were standing close, so I was forced to extend an invitation to them as well. They accepted."
The earl had established a marked interest in Esmerelda. She had learned the Pettigrews enjoyed varied entertainments, often with other couples. They were yet another sterling example of the ton, the moral center of all Christendom. Pettigrew frequently hinted for her to attend one of their parties. Someday, when she ran out of cartoon ideas, she would accept.
Stephen would probably have a conniption. He was becoming as protective as Robert. He only left her alone in the company of Roth and Angelford.
Stephen knew of her caricatures of Angelford. Yet, he seemed pleased when she and Angelford were together. When confronted, Stephen had merely grinned and said he liked to "watch the sparks fly." Stephen could be irritating sometimes. She could never rely on him not to leave her stranded with the beast.
Stephen stranded her at dinner.
They had been the last ones to enter the dining room and she had been forced to take the last available seat. The one opposite Angelford.
The mood at the rest of the table was light. Everyone had done well at the races. The Pettigrew threesome chattered. Roth appeared entertained by their conversation. Stella and Stephen were embroiled in a lively discussion.
Only she and the man across from her were silent. Angelford sipped his scotch and observed the rest of the table. And her.
He leaned back in his chair, and she felt his boot touch the top of
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