Chapter 18

It was amazing how quickly things could change.

Just two weeks ago, Charles was not only single and proud of it, but he was a veritable pariah among his peers. Known as a bad investment among both men and women, he had all but given up on changing his name, his status, his future because they were all intangibly linked.

And now? Well, where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with should have spoken to how far he had come in such a short time.

"... racing is a young man's game," Lord Gallagen explained sadly. "Too many variables to contend with. Too much blasted politicking – you would not believe the underbelly of this world, Your Grace. It would make your skin crawl."

"It's not enough to breed winning stock," Charles agreed. "But you have to play their game as well."

"You would think that winning as often as I do would be enough," Lord Gallagen sighed. "I've bred a dozen champion horses. Another dozen who place regularly. But no, no. Pah!" He waved his hand dismissively.

"And that's not to mention that if a sure thing -- if such a horse exists -- should lose..."

Lord Gallagen's lip curled in disgust. "I am treated as if it is my fault! I have to pay out the losses. I have to kiss arse and grease palms because I cannot afford to be on the wrong end of these people."

"The bookies, you mean?"

"Snakes in the grass, the lot of them. Oh sure, when I was younger, I used to enjoy it. It was all part of the thrill. But now..."

"What was that you said about this being a young man's game?" Charles chuckled.

"Exactly."

It had all happened so quickly. Just one hour ago, Lady Felicity had told Charles that their courtship was over and that she would marry him before the Season was through. That alone would have made his day and, indeed, for the next forty minutes or so, he was content to spend the day at the races with his betrothed and think of nothing else.

He had been happy, he realized. A strange concept made even stranger by what brought it about. But a lot had changed between the two these past few days, and despite himself, Charles was excited to see what might happen next.

It was then that Charles received a missive from Lord Gallagen, a man whom he had never met but knew a little about. Lord Gallagen was well known among the ton for the success he had found in breeding racehorses. Today, for example, there were nearly a dozen horses racing that could be traced back to his stables, many of whom were picked to win one race or the other.

The man knew horses, was the point, and his asking to see Charles could only mean one thing.

"So, you are getting out of the racing game?" Charles asked casually, not wanting to be too suggestive, even if he knew where this conversation was going.

"Alas, it is time," Lord Gallagen sighed. "You would not know it to look at me, but I am not a young man anymore."

"Neither is His Grace," Lady Felicity chimed in. "So, your timing is perfect."

"Ha!" Lord Gallagen chuckled. "Careful with this one. I find the prettier they are, the harder they are to control. She will walk all over you."

"She already does."

Lord Gallagen chuckled further. "Cannot say I blame you. Why, if I was a few years younger..." His grin was suggestive as he eyed Lady Felicity.

A spike of jealousy struck Charles in a most unexpected manner. He knew that Lord Gallagen was just joking around but even still, the way he eyed Lady Felicity had Charles wanting to reach out, grab the man by the scruff of the neck, and toss him into the dirt.

"Easy there, Lord Gallagen," he said jokingly. "That is my future wife you are ogling."

His eyes went wide with embarrassment, and he started stammering and stuttering a response. "Forgive me. I did not... sometimes I... too much time spent around horses, and I forget how to behave in public."

"It is perfectly all right," Lady Felicity assured him. "It will do to remind His Grace how lucky he is. I would hate for him to forget."

"Well said," Lord Gallagen chortled with relief. "Well said."

"So..." Charles cleared his throat. "The reason you wished to see me?"

It was just Charles, Lady Felicity, and Lord Gallagen. Asked to meet in the lord's private stables around the back of the racetrack, he walked them through the lots as he gave what amounted to a small tour. There were several horses awaiting their races, feasting on hay and drinking from troughs idly. But for all intents and purposes, this was a private meeting.

It never occurred to Charles to ask to speak with Lord Gallagen on his own. When he was called, he kept a hold of Lady Felicity"s hand the entire journey, treating her as an extension of himself. And if Lord Gallagen had found it strange that she was present, he didn't say anything.

If anything, he might have preferred that she was there. Proof that the rumor he had heard, the reason he had asked to speak with Charles in the first place, was true.

"I heard that you are planning on starting a stud farm," Lord Gallagen started, more serious now. He came to a stop by one of the stalls, leaning against it. A portly man, the heat was getting to him, and he wiped his brow from the sweat as he took a few shallow breaths. "And that you are looking for investors."

"And where did you hear this?" Charles asked.

Lord Gallagen grinned. "I have my ear to the ground in all things horse related, Your Grace. And I will say no more than that."

It was more than Charles could have dared hope. The exact reason he had wished to marry in the first place! A partner for his stud farm. A known entity that would ensure its success. A first step taken in the rehabilitation of his name and the assurance of his future.

"You're right," Charles said simply, choosing to play coy because it would not do to show too much enthusiasm. "I am starting a stud farm. Several, in fact. And more to that point, I am currently seeking investors."

"It is a good thing I came along when I did."

"But I am still in the early stages," Charles continued, giving a vague wave of his hand as if this was all so very expected. "Meeting with possible investors and interested parties. Sourcing land. That sort of thing."

"Of course, of course."

"Which means that for now, all I can do is thank you for the interest shown. It is enough to know that you are that."

"Very much so, Your Grace."

"I will be making more concrete decisions in the coming weeks, however. And..." He smirked just a little, just to suggest that he was in control of the situation. "When I do, I will make sure to keep your name in mind."

"And that is all that I ask."

Charles extended his hand for Lord Gallagen to shake, which he did do with much enthusiasm. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord Gallagen. And a pleasure to be shown some of your stock..." He indicated the stables.

"The pleasure was all mine! And speaking of..." Lord Gallagen clicked his tongue in thought. "I have to run – one of my fillies is about to race and I need to double check a few things. But please, take your time, inspect my mounts, see for yourself the quality of horse that has made my name what it is today."

"I would be delighted to."

Lord Gallagen offered Charles a deep bow. Then he took Lady Felicity"s hand and gave the back of it a wet kiss. "And congratulations on the engagement too. I must say, the two of you make a handsome couple."

"And least one of us does," Lady Felicity joked.

"Ha!" Lord Gallagen chortled and shook his head. "Watch this one, Your Grace. Watch this one..." Another chortle, another deep bow, and he hurried from the stable.

It was only once they were alone that Charles allowed himself to show how excited he was, for he'd been keeping his emotions under wraps for the sake of good business.

"Can you believe it!" He lifted Lady Felicity from the ground and spun her about. "Can you believe it!"

"Of course I can," she said with absolute sincerity.

"Lord Gallagen!" Charles exhaled and put his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disbelief. "The man's name is synonymous with horses. If I have him as a partner..." He let go a low whistle.

"Which you will do," she said rightly. "He seemed very interested."

"He did, didn't he?" Charles chuckled. "You know, I never even thought to reach out to him before. I suppose it wouldn't have made much difference until now but..." Another shake of the head.

"You are welcome, by the way."

"Excuse me?"

Lady Felicity stood with her arms folded and an eyebrow raised. "I said, you are welcome. All of this... I cannot help but think that I had something to do with it."

He grinned. "More than something."

"So..." Her eyebrow raised further. "What are you going to give me? As a thank you."

"Is a marriage to me not enough?"

She snorted. "Not even close."

"Well..." Charles glanced about the stables, taking note of how empty it was... how isolated and alone they were. Beyond them, he could hear the humdrum of the crowd as they readied for the next race. But that was far off, not a concern, not likely to disturb them in any way.

His eyes flashed suggestively as he looked Lady Felicity over. She was dressed in a light blue frock with white frills, not too tight as it was hot, and that would be uncomfortable. But her curves were evident beneath the dress, her porcelain skin glistened from the heat, and her lips almost seemed swollen from the same.

"... I can think of something." Charles swept into Lady Felicity and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her body close. "A celebration, as it is."

He saw the look of excitement in her eyes. And he felt it in the way her body quivered. "Oh?"

"And not just for what happened with Lord Gallagen..." Slowly, he kissed down her neck, taking pleasure in the sound of her gasping each time his lips touched her skin. "But the engagement too."

"And what..." She moaned as he kissed further down her neck to her collarbone. And she gasped as his grip on her waist tightened. "What did you have in mind?"

"I think you can guess..." Still holding her by the waist, he pushed her back a few short steps so that her back was pressed against a wooden beam. "Unless you need some tips?"

She chuckled, eyes closed, head back as he continued on her neck. "Your Grace, that is positively scandalous."

"Lady Felicity, you have no idea," he growled.

He was an animal around her. After the other day, when they were alone at his stables, all Charles had been able to think about was what he might do if he had her to himself again. And what she would let him do.

When they were still courting, he had been at pains to control himself. And where some might say he had failed, Charles liked to think of it as a success. If Lady Felicity was just some woman he was trying to sleep with, he would have surely done that already. That day at his stables, he wouldn't have stopped where he did because he would not have cared for the consequences.

Now that they were engaged, however, Charles realized he did not need to control himself anymore. And from the way that Lady Felicity purred and moaned at his touch, he sensed that she was of the same mind.

Without hesitating, he wrapped his hands around her buttocks and lifted her. She gasped as her legs wrapped around his waist, and she groaned as he pushed her harder into the beam for support.

"Your Grace..." She moaned as he pushed the skirt of her dress back.

"Think of it as your engagement present," he growled as he squeezed her thighs while pushing her skirt all the way back, grinding his pelvis into her.

"I am not... are you sure..."

"Trust me..." He said in a whisper as one hand moved to the front of his pants, hastily undoing the latch to release his manhood.

"I..." Her body shuddered as he pulled himself out and ran his tip against the inside of her thigh.

"You want this," he commanded of her. "I want this." He had one hand under her for support. The other was wrapped around his member as he gently guided it toward her --

"Wait!" Her eyes shot open, and she shoved a hand into his chest.

"Wh -- what?" he stammered, lurching back.

"I think we should wait."

He frowned. "Wait? What do you mean?"

She grimaced. "For this..." Her look was apologetic, even embarrassed. "It is not that I do not wish to. I do. Only..." She sucked through her teeth, and he could see how hard this was for her to say. "If we are to marry soon, why not wait until then?"

"I don't..." He frowned and leaned back as he studied her, almost as if she might be joking. But when he met her eyes and saw the look in them, he knew right away that this was no joke. "Are you sure?"

"Please." Slowly, she peeled herself out of his grasp and stood. "It will only be a few weeks. So surely, that is not too long to wait?"

It was the weirdest thing. In times past, Charles might have been angry at being denied like this. He might have tried to talk her around, to convince her that she was being silly, to say anything he needed to, to finish what he had started. He was still hard in his hand, he still wanted her more than he could fathom, but... the idea of upsetting her, or making her do something she did not want, was enough to temper his more amorous desire.

"You wish to wait?" he asked softly.

"I do."

A smile for her. "Then we will wait."

"You are sure?" she asked quickly, almost sounding regretful. "You are not mad?"

"Mad?" He reached up and cupped a hand under her cheek. "No, I am not mad. Turned on, maybe," he chuckled. "But not mad."

She nodded, her smile reaching her eyes because Charles could see that she believed it. That she knew he was telling the truth. "Shall we go back?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea," he agreed. "By the sounds of it, we're missing all the fun. Here..." He took a step back and, after putting himself back in his pants, he held out his hand. "Shall we?"

She took his hand, relief flooding her face. "Thank you."

"For you? Anything." He gave the back of her hand a kiss and together they left the stables and returned to the race.

Was Charles angry that Lady Felicity had denied him? Not even a little. Surprised, maybe. But certainly not angry. If anything, he was excited. Excited for this marriage. Excited for this new business venture. And, most of all, excited to see what the future might bring.