Miss George's Second Chance by Heather Boyd Page B

Peter had been a touch harsh in his tone, but his feelings hadn’t changed in any way.
    He wanted to marry Imogen.
    “Sir Peter!”
    Peter turned at the sound of Valentine Merton’s voice and found his friend rushing toward him, his arms full.
    “I need you,” Merton insisted, tossing several wrapped parcels into his arms and dragging him away from Vicar Pease and his daughter at speed. “We’re late.”
    “I know.” Peter glanced down at the parcels in his arms. “What is all this.”
    “A monstrosity. Please don’t laugh too hard when you see me in it?”
    “Merton, what the devil are you banging on about?”
    “I’m the one racing against Julia Radley today.”
    Peter stopped in his tracks. “Are you out of your mind? I thought she must have convinced her brother to race her and he was too embarrassed to say.”
    His friend hooked his arm and dragged him onward, frowning. “Radley is against the competition.”
    Peter shook his head. “Your sister has also been quite scathing of the whole idea. She has been rather harsh toward Miss Radley on the subject, or so I hear. What does she say now?”
    “Melanie has no idea and I’d like to keep it that way until the very last moment. I had to wait for her to leave the house before I could follow. Could you imagine the earache I would have gotten if I’d let slip our plans for the race?”
    Peter glanced ahead and saw Merton’s sister and cousin just ahead. “She’d be unbearable.”
    Merton spotted his sister too and jerked Peter behind a slowly moving carriage so they wouldn’t be seen, but could still proceed. “Exactly. When this is over I’m sure she’ll complain for at least a week or two solid without pause.”
    “You could always change your mind.”
    Merton shook his head decisively. “I won’t let Miss Radley down at the last moment and have her be disappointed. She has wanted a chance to prove herself for a long time and this is it.”
    Peter glanced at his friend and noticed the stubborn set of Merton’s jaw. He was committed. “Do you think a lot about Miss Radley’s happiness often?”
    Merton grinned. “There are worse ladies to be captivated by. I like her energy very much.”
    Peter gave up all attempts at seriousness and laughed at the trouble Merton was heading into with open eyes. “She’ll be the death of you. Linus is always complaining about her antics.”
    Merton shrugged. “Harmless fun. Nothing more.”
    “If you say so. However, this might not be so harmless to her reputation.”
    Merton pointed to a distant bathing machine. “I can change there. Julia will be fine. Will you stand guard and keep everyone away. The race begins at eleven o’clock. I don’t want to be seen until the very last moment.”
    Although Peter was eager to catch up to Imogen, he nodded and checked his pocket watch. “You have only a few minutes you know.”
    Merton grabbed his arm and ushered him across the open beach. “I know. Shut up and allow me to change.”
    Merton locked himself inside the little rolling cabin. Peter moved away from the door and scanned the crowd lingering on the pretty stretch of beach between them and the starting line. A goodly crowd had shown up for the sport. More than he imagined for such a scandalous turnout. He hoped they were kind to Miss Radley when she lost. It was only fun and not meant to be taken seriously.
    He spotted a few familiar faces ahead but not the one he wanted. He was about to give up when he spied Walter, standing in conversation with Linus Radley. Imogen wasn’t with him, but she must be close by. He took a few paces forward and finally saw her, standing alone far away from Walter, hands clutched together at her waist. Damn Walter .
    He tapped on the bathing chamber wall urgently. “I need to go.”
    He turned without waiting for an answer and hurried across the coarse sand. He was half way toward her when a boy of about ten ran past Imogen on his way toward the seaside gathering. As the