His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance) by Victoria Chatham

face when Kellen rode out of the yard. He fingered the coins in his pocket. Enough for two tankards of ale or one game of cards. There really was only one option.
    “This could be your lucky day, Hooper,” he said softly. “I think I might be able to employ your services in another direction. What say you? Will you join me for a tankard of ale?”
    Hooper considered the offer for a moment, then nodded his agreement.
    Peregrine directed him to The Bunch of Grapes.
    If he played his cards right, Hooper would be in his pocket by morning.
     
    ***
     
    Peregrine glowed with a sense of well-being as he trotted his job horse along Rotten Row. Not only did he now have Hooper exactly where he wanted him, he also had a tidy sum of money in his pocket.
    After leaving The Bunch of Grapes, he had the extreme good fortune to run into the two young bucks from Almack’s. They were more than willing to accompany him to the same gaming hell where he nursed them along as on their first meeting.
    Win some, lose some, win a little more, then congratulate them on their skill and leave them the winners. He had their direction and knew they would cross paths again. If anyone suspected him of cheating, they kept their mouths shut. Peregrine was so sure of his skill he was positive no one would be able to spot when he palmed a card, or drew one from his sleeve.
    His horse tossed its head at an approaching group of riders. As they were only grooms Peregrine ignored them but as they passed him he realized what ideal cover they would be. His riding clothes were buff breeches and a sombre brown jacket. Clothing that, while of a little better quality, was not much a cut above what the grooms were wearing.
    Some were in their household’s livery, worn to show off their status and quality of the horse they rode, but most were simply dressed.
    Peregrine crossed the track and fell in behind the group. A sardonic grin split his face as he listened to one groom bemoaning to another the indignity of having to ride his mistress’s horse side-saddle. He continued to listen, but kept his eyes open, warily glancing from side to side so he would not miss Avondale’s party.
    They had almost reached the Hyde Park gate when one of the leading grooms spoke up.
    “There she is. You watch this.”
    The groom guided his horse to the shade of some trees. Everyone followed and turned to watch the group now trotting smartly along the row.
    Emmaline was in the lead. Even at this distance Peregrine caught her excitement, evident in her posture and her horse’s pricked ears and arched neck. The little brown horse surged forward, leaving a scatter of gravel and tan flying up in its wake. The rest of the group, Juliana, Beamish, Avondale and his old groom, followed on at a steadier pace.
    “She’s a cracking little rider, ain’t she?” the groom beside him said. “Never seen anyone like that afor. Think you could do as well, young Cotter?”
    Young Cotter, the side-saddle groom, muttered something under his breath that Peregrine didn’t catch but was sure was entirely uncomplimentary. Having watched Emmaline gallop away, the group now began to disperse.
    Peregrine rode on with a few of them but gradually fell behind until he was sure nobody paid him any attention. He was just one rider among several as he made his way back to the shelter of the trees
    After a good half hour, he spotted Avondale’s party on their return journey. Avondale rode alongside Emmaline, Beamish beside Juliana and the groom a respectable distance behind.
    Peregrine watched them pass and then slowly followed them. His job horse was pleasantly obedient, even mildly lazy so it was easy for him to keep his distance. He thought about from where he might watch the front door of Avondale’s Berkeley Square house and a frown of concentration furrowed his brow.
    He couldn’t yet return his hack to the stables as his intent was to follow whatever conveyance took Emmaline home. It was with some relief