“Milk and sugar, please.”
After fixing his tea and handing it to him, she finally sipped hers. At least that act consumed a few minutes.
“Will you attend the opera this evening?”
“My mother has another engagement.”
As he fell silent again, Emma stared down at her tea. Her mother had taught her that it was imperative to help a gentleman with the conversation if he was quiet. “The weather has been unusually pleasant for April, has it not?”
He nodded. “Yes, quite pleasant.”
Another long silence filled the room. “Will you be racing your carriage again this year?”
He looked over at her with brows raised as a smile lifted his lips. “You know about that?”
Emma laughed softly. “I saw you all last year. I happened to be returning from visiting a sick friend and noticed you and the other gentlemen racing toward St. Albans. It looked like great fun.”
“Oh, it is, but it’s not without danger, Miss Drake. The horses travel with great speed. Sometimes you hit a rut and lose a wheel. Many of us have been injured because of racing.”
“Then why do you continue?”
“Most women wouldn’t understand, but it’s the thrill of it. Putting your life in danger and surviving is exhilarating.”
“I am not certain I agree with your statement that women wouldn’t understand. I believe it would be exciting to ride at such great speeds.” She paused and sipped her tea. “So, will you race this year? I should love to watch you all depart if possible.”
“Yes, I will race.” He leaned closer. “On the last Saturday of May, we start at the west side of Hyde Park at dawn.”
She smiled fully. “I shall do my best to get there and watch then.”
He glanced at the clock and rose. “I must take my leave now, Miss Drake. Thank you for an enjoyable conversation.”
“You are most welcome, my lord.”
And now that she knew when the carriage races would start, she needed to devise a way of racing with them. It would be a most challenging plan since it appeared to be only a few select gentlemen. Unless she commandeered one of their curricles, she wouldn’t be able to race. Considering she only knew two of the men who competed, it would have to be one of theirs. She assumed Ainsley would be an easier mark than Kingsley. Thankfully, she had over a few weeks to contemplate and formulate a suitable strategy.
Chapter 4
A loud rapped interrupted Simon’s concentration as he added the winnings from last night. It was his third attempt, and each time he calculated a different number.
“What is it?” he asked roughly.
“King, I think we have a problem on the floor.”
Simon rose from his large oak desk and opened the door to his second in command. “What now, Riley?”
Riley walked to the window overlooking the gaming room. “Watch the man in the brown jacket at the faro table.”
Simon watched as the man played the card game. He already seemed to have won a substantial amount of blunt, which wasn’t unusual since Simon refused to let the dealers cheat. Another reason he had only one faro table since the odds were not the best for the house.
“Watch the dealer box.”
Simon stared down at the table, but for several moments noticed nothing amiss until a commotion at another table turned everyone’s attention, except the man in the brown jacket. In a swift movement, the man’s copper moved to another card.
“Dammit, he cheated,” Simon said harshly.
“Yes, and I’m quite certain the man in black at the other table is working with him.”
“I agree. Take them out, discover their names, and put them on the list.” Simon despised cheaters, and the moment he caught one, they were on the record at the entrance. No one on that list was ever allowed in again.