The Risky Wager of a Masked Lady by Hanna Hamilton

Author:Hanna Hamilton [Hamilton, Hanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

T hat evening, the races went as well as anyone could have hoped, especially Evan. His heart beat with trepidation during the third event, knowing that Lady Marjorie was to ride. He would never live it down if she was to be discovered, and how she’d let him convince her, he’d never know. Nonetheless, he watched proudly as all three of his riders won their initial events, then waited for them to compete in the final race.

“That’s an impressive showing from your lot, Lanercost,” a member of the peerage said as he passed. He laughed heartily then added, “I’ll have to stop by your stables and discover all of your secrets! But first, I’m off to place my bets on that brown stallion of yours. It’s a wonder anyone knows how to decide, what with the fine showing your riders have posted lately!”

Evan beamed with pride. Everything his father had worked for, everything he’d managed to add to his father’s holding and increase his inheritance, only made him swell with pride. He only wished his father could have seen the name that his years of meticulous planning and hard work had become.

As his three riders lined up at the gates with the others for the final race, Evan moved to his seat. He was too excited to sit down, though, and suddenly was filled with an inexplicable sense of dread. He stared intently at the ring, blocking all other sounds and sights from his awareness.

Ding! The heavy iron bell suddenly sounded, jolting Evan from his worry and causing him to flinch. The horses tore out of the gate, and though all mattered a great deal, Evan could only watch one.

Ride! he thought urgently, silently spurring her on. Move ahead, stay away from the fray of the pack!

Somewhere after the last turn of the first lap, Evan was blindly struck by a new thought: why did it matter so much to him? Three of the seven riders were from his stables, he was all but guaranteed a victory. And why would one rider on his mounts matter more than the others?

Is it because of… her? he wondered, holding his breath as he watched the horses form two packs, each taking the start of the second lap. It is… it’s Lady Marjorie. That’s who I fear for, but why? Why does she matter more?

Still fighting to make sense of this strange, new feeling, Evan was lost in thought when he heard someone close to him call out in horror. His eyes went immediately to the lead pack, where Lady Marjorie, Jacobs, and another rider were all but tangled for first position. He watched, sickened, as his rider fell to the side, clutching the horse’s mane in desperation to break his fall.

No… to break her fall, he thought.

Evan vaulted from the viewing stand, launching himself over the low rail to sprint towards the track. He paid the other horses no mind as he scrambled over the fences that stood between him and the fallen rider.

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