Dead Heat by Glenis Wilson

Author:Glenis Wilson [Glenis Wilson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2018-12-05T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

Lady Branshawe’s lips had drawn tightly together.

I threw Rawlson a ‘back off’ look that he ignored. His whole attitude was one of self-importance as he stood there, smirking.

Tally intervened, Lady Branshawe’s disapproval not having gone unnoticed; she called him to order. ‘Yes, Duncan, as you say, we are ladies. I suggest you save that sort of comment for the weighing room or the stables, OK?’

‘Certainly,’ Rawlson smirked. ‘You’re the boss.’

There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched. The ease and enjoyment of only a few moments ago had totally disappeared. I felt my anger start to rise. Lady Branshawe had paid out a hefty sum to get us over here and, on top of that, footed the accommodation costs. She didn’t deserve to be irritated by Duncan Rawlson and his big mouth. But no one else seemed about to speak, so I needed to kickstart the conversation. In the flurry of attending to necessary arrangements before coming to Switzerland, I’d been very remiss and not checked up on the racing details.

‘You’re here to ride, I take it?’

‘Got it in one.’ His smirk was pure Cheshire cat. ‘And, I take it, you’re not.’

‘Harry is here as my guest,’ Lady Branshawe said imperiously, ‘not as my employee.’

The smirk abruptly left Rawlson’s face and he glared daggers at me.

Georgia, trying to defuse the tension, said generously, ‘I hope you win tomorrow.’

He swung round and stared at her, no longer glaring, but appraising.

‘You’re Radcliffe’s girlfriend, yes?’

Georgia, seeing his interest rising almost to a leer, reddened and nodded.

‘Very nice.’ He peeled his gaze away. Then sneered at me. ‘You’ve got taste, I’ll give you that. Still, when you get back with your wife – and you can’t deny you want to – I’ll be here to step in.’

At his words, the colour drained from Georgia’s face, leaving her white and strained.

‘I think you’d better leave, Duncan.’ Tally had stood up, emphasizing her authority. ‘I’ll speak to you tomorrow, before you race.’

He inclined his head. ‘Whatever.’

There was a distinct lightening of the atmosphere as we watched him walk away through the marquee entrance.

‘Sorry about that, Georgia.’ I reached for her hand. ‘Take no notice. He’s just being vindictive. It’s nothing personal against you. It’s me he’s gunning for.’

She smiled wryly. ‘Let’s hope he rides a winner. That will massage his ego.’

‘We’re all hoping for a winner,’ Lady Branshawe said. She leaned forward towards Georgia and added, ‘What I said in the plane on the way here is what really matters. The most important thing is to enjoy the experience.’

‘And I’m sure all of us have,’ Tally said. ‘So far we’ve had a wonderful time and the racing tomorrow will be totally different to anything you’ve seen before. It will blow you away. Please excuse the jockey’s mean-spiritedness.’ She turned to me. ‘It’s really only jealousy.’

‘Don’t apologize for him, Tally. He’s a grown man. If he chooses to act like an idiot, that’s his affair.’

We opted for a further round of drinks and settled back, people-watching and simply soaking up the happy, relaxed atmosphere.

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