A Dash of Daring by Robyn Chalmers

Author:Robyn Chalmers [Chalmers, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 13

In which Alec Realises he has Too Much to Lose to be in this Fool’s Race

Alec turned to Diana, unsure what he’d done to appear heroic in her eyes. How was he to repeat it if he had no notion?

The strange thing was, being just as tall as Pip and dressed in his many caped greatcoat, she looked both practical and increasingly feminine at the same time. He liked it. But then, she’d look good in anything. She moved as though she’d been set free to do exactly as she pleased. Loose and athletic.

It was too bad that was a terrible idea.

Her groom rolled the curricle toward the horses, and Alec guided it into place. “What happened to Pip?” Because nothing short of an accident would make his friend drop out of the race.

“A branch fell on his head,” she replied quietly, threading the strap through the eye of the rod and buckling it. “He has a big lump on his head and is still at The Cock. Beth is looking after him, and I expect them to continue on to Brighton as soon as the doctor has cleared him. Alec, I—”

Alec went to the horses’ heads and put their bridles on, carefully placing the bits in their mouths. “I still do not see the reason you had to continue the race for him. I know I encouraged you to begin with, but you convinced me it would be a disastrous course of action. Unless you truly do not want to marry Colonel Webster.”

He couldn’t keep the hint of hope from his voice, but her eyes widened in alarm. “Colonel Webster may think it a great lark and still want to marry me. Not all men are high sticklers.”

The hand she let fall back to her side was trembling. Diana Kingsley, trembling.

Alec looked at her in alarm. He could think of nothing that would cause the level of anxiety that thrummed from her. She was always so brave. It made him want to pull her into his arms. But that was not his place.

He tried again as he threaded the reins through the bit. Daniel was doing the same to the other horse. “Please rethink this. You haven’t been discovered. You can go back to The Cock and be with Pip, nobody any the wiser.” He couldn’t bear it if she were hurt, either socially or physically, by this race. And there were definitely some below-board goings on this day.

As though divining his thoughts, she grabbed his hand.

He looked down at it as though her hand in his were the most confusing thing he had ever seen. Indeed, it caused him to lose both his breath and all coherent thought for a good few moments. “There is nothing you can say and nothing you can do that will stop me.”

The ostler brought out his horses. They had their harnesses on and were ready to be put to, thank heaven. “Move faster please, lads,” he said sharply, and his own groom took charge of them, getting the curricle hitched up to the fresh horses.

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