very quickly.”
“I see that you know the law a bit yourself. But you should know that I wouldn’t take a case without being able to prove intent.” He dipped his head toward her and dropped his voice to a seductive murmur. “My first piece of evidence is that you dressed to entice me this morning, in a gown that shows your fetching figure to best advantage. You’re wearing rouge on your cheeks, which you never do. Nor do you ever wear jewelry, yet your ears are adorned with pearl earrings that accentuate your creamy skin, and gold bracelets that draw the eye to your slender wrists. All of it is quite weighty evidence that you deliberately set out to disturb my peace.”
A blush brightened her cheeks. “You are very observant.”
“I always have been.” The talent had served him well as an informant for the government. And it was going to serve him very well in dealing with the sly Minerva. “That’s why I’ve noticed that you’re clearly bent on going somewhere in particular, probably somewhere you know I won’t want to go. Are we far enough away from Halstead Hall for you to feel comfortable springing our new destination on me? Or must I wait until we drive halfway to London?”
He had the distinct satisfaction of seeing her start. Did she think him an idiot?
She stared at him a long moment, as if weighing her choices. Then she said, “Actually, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to hear our destination. Gabe is racing this morning at teno’clock. I want to watch the race. Undoubtedly you do, too.”
That caught him off guard. How had he missed that bit of news? Ah, but he knew how. He’d been busy trying to corral a certain skittish female yesterday. “To be honest, I had no idea he was racing today.”
She snorted. “Stop bamming me.”
“I’m telling you the God’s honest truth. In closing ranks around you, your brothers have clearly decided not to trust me with their secrets.”
Her lips tightened into a line. “It doesn’t matter. I know where they’re racing. And I want you to take me there.”
“It’s no place for a woman.”
“Exactly. When Gran hears that you took me to one of Gabe’s private races and exposed me to the unsavory sorts who run in his fast set, she’ll be appalled at the very idea of your marrying me and adding more scandal to the family name.”
God, he hoped not. “If you say so.”
“So hurry it up, will you? I don’t have to arrive for the very beginning, but my brothers must at least see me there for this to work.”
Damn. “You’re determined to watch them thrash me, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t let them thrash you. What use would you be to me then?”
He gritted his teeth. What use indeed? He began to think Minerva was enjoying her new game. Apparently she was tired of using him for a whipping boy in her books and had decided to use him as one in real life.
“Where exactly is this race?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Would I be asking if I did?” he bit out.
“You don’t have to be so snippy.” She settled herself into the seat. “According to Freddy, it’s near some inn in Turnham.”
A cold chill went down his spine. “Gabe is threading the needle again?”
“Well, I can’t see how he’d be threading a needle and racing at the same—”
“Not
a
needle, Minerva.
The
needle. That’s the only reason he’d be racing near Turnham.” Giles reined in the horses to stare at her. “Did Freddy say whom he was racing?”
“No. And why are you stopping?”
“Because I’m taking you home.”
As he began to turn the rig, she jumped down. “You are
not
! I want to see Gabe race!”
He halted the horses to jump down, too, but motioned to his tiger to stay put. “You don’t want to see
this
race, my dear. The last time Gabe threaded the needle, he broke his arm. This time, God only knows . . .”
The blood drained from Minerva’s face. “Oh, Lord.”
The course ran between two boulders on the
“I see that you know the law a bit yourself. But you should know that I wouldn’t take a case without being able to prove intent.” He dipped his head toward her and dropped his voice to a seductive murmur. “My first piece of evidence is that you dressed to entice me this morning, in a gown that shows your fetching figure to best advantage. You’re wearing rouge on your cheeks, which you never do. Nor do you ever wear jewelry, yet your ears are adorned with pearl earrings that accentuate your creamy skin, and gold bracelets that draw the eye to your slender wrists. All of it is quite weighty evidence that you deliberately set out to disturb my peace.”
A blush brightened her cheeks. “You are very observant.”
“I always have been.” The talent had served him well as an informant for the government. And it was going to serve him very well in dealing with the sly Minerva. “That’s why I’ve noticed that you’re clearly bent on going somewhere in particular, probably somewhere you know I won’t want to go. Are we far enough away from Halstead Hall for you to feel comfortable springing our new destination on me? Or must I wait until we drive halfway to London?”
He had the distinct satisfaction of seeing her start. Did she think him an idiot?
She stared at him a long moment, as if weighing her choices. Then she said, “Actually, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to hear our destination. Gabe is racing this morning at teno’clock. I want to watch the race. Undoubtedly you do, too.”
That caught him off guard. How had he missed that bit of news? Ah, but he knew how. He’d been busy trying to corral a certain skittish female yesterday. “To be honest, I had no idea he was racing today.”
She snorted. “Stop bamming me.”
“I’m telling you the God’s honest truth. In closing ranks around you, your brothers have clearly decided not to trust me with their secrets.”
Her lips tightened into a line. “It doesn’t matter. I know where they’re racing. And I want you to take me there.”
“It’s no place for a woman.”
“Exactly. When Gran hears that you took me to one of Gabe’s private races and exposed me to the unsavory sorts who run in his fast set, she’ll be appalled at the very idea of your marrying me and adding more scandal to the family name.”
God, he hoped not. “If you say so.”
“So hurry it up, will you? I don’t have to arrive for the very beginning, but my brothers must at least see me there for this to work.”
Damn. “You’re determined to watch them thrash me, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t let them thrash you. What use would you be to me then?”
He gritted his teeth. What use indeed? He began to think Minerva was enjoying her new game. Apparently she was tired of using him for a whipping boy in her books and had decided to use him as one in real life.
“Where exactly is this race?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Would I be asking if I did?” he bit out.
“You don’t have to be so snippy.” She settled herself into the seat. “According to Freddy, it’s near some inn in Turnham.”
A cold chill went down his spine. “Gabe is threading the needle again?”
“Well, I can’t see how he’d be threading a needle and racing at the same—”
“Not
a
needle, Minerva.
The
needle. That’s the only reason he’d be racing near Turnham.” Giles reined in the horses to stare at her. “Did Freddy say whom he was racing?”
“No. And why are you stopping?”
“Because I’m taking you home.”
As he began to turn the rig, she jumped down. “You are
not
! I want to see Gabe race!”
He halted the horses to jump down, too, but motioned to his tiger to stay put. “You don’t want to see
this
race, my dear. The last time Gabe threaded the needle, he broke his arm. This time, God only knows . . .”
The blood drained from Minerva’s face. “Oh, Lord.”
The course ran between two boulders on the
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