Wishes in the Wind by Andrea Kane

Author:Andrea Kane
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 1453265570
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 1996-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

“THAT WAS BREATHTAKING.”

Ariana shook her head in amazement, leaning back from where she’d been perched, whip-taut, on a fence near the course’s end, straining to see Stoddard and Dagger complete their final lap. “I can’t remember the last time I saw such an impressive display of horsemanship. Dustin, you’re right.” She climbed down to stand beside her brother-in-law. “The Derby is all but yours.”

“Two minutes, forty seconds,” Raggert called out from a dozen feet away, looking as astounded as Ariana.

“Two and forty,” Dustin muttered, his expression pensive. “That beats last year’s Derby winner by six seconds. Taking into account that Tyreham’s course is similar in terrain to Epsom’s, and only several lengths shorter, I’d say that’s damned good. Damned, unbelievably good.”

He loped over to his jockey. “Stoddard, you’ve outdone yourself. Do that on Derby Day and first place is ensured.”

Nicole touched the brim of her cap. “I’ll certainly try, my lord.”

A broad grin split Dustin’s face. “Do that.” He glanced at Raggert, who had just reached them. “Do you still think Dagger is hopeless?”

Nicole blinked, astonished that Raggert had openly supplied Dustin with a negative assessment of Dagger.

The trainer’s response astonished her even more.

“I owe Dagger and Stoddard an apology,” he admitted. “I was too hard on them both. Sorry about that,” he said directly to her, a note of respect in his voice. “I had no idea you could ride like that.”

“Dagger’s the one who makes it possible. But I appreciate your praise.” With that, she glanced at Dustin. “I’m going to cool him down, if that’s all right, sir. He’s tired.”

“He’s not alone in that regard,” Dustin noted aloud. “You look rather peaked yourself. You’ve been pushing pretty hard these past few days. After Dagger’s cooled down, why don’t you take a few hours off?”

“Thank you, my lord. I appreciate that.” Nicole understood at once that Dustin was giving her the afternoon not only to recoup her strength but to work things out with her father.

“Are you staying at Tyreham?” Raggert was asking.

“Temporarily, yes,” Nicole replied cautiously. “Lord Tyreham has been kind enough to let me use one of the vacant cottages while I’m training for the Derby. It allows me more practice time.”

“Do you live far from here?”

The queries were innocent enough, but Nicole felt sweat begin to trickle down her back—sweat that had nothing to do with the exertion of galloping the course. “I live in London.” She kept her tone as casual as she could. “The East End.”

“Ah, that would take some travel time.” Raggert bobbed his head sympathetically.

“Yes, too much travel time.” She was being needlessly curt, and she knew it. But, apology or not, she couldn’t shake her mistrust for this man. And his questions, well-meaning or not, were unnerving her terribly.

As if sensing his rider’s unease, Dagger snorted, kicking the dirt.

“Sorry, boy.” Nicole patted his back. “I’d best walk him, my lord. If you’ll both excuse me …” She didn’t wait to be formally dismissed. After all, her responsibility was to Dagger, who’d just reminded her he needed cooling down.

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