Amanda Scott (44 page)

Oliver smiled wryly and said, “No, he won’t. If you do go through with this, Melissa, I just hope you never tell him I had anything to do with it.”

“You need not trouble your head about that,” she said, lifting her chin. “Since I’m growing more and more certain that he won’t pursue me, the question won’t arise.”

“Now I wish I’d never suggested this,” he said, grimacing, “because if Nick ever does find out I had anything to do with it, he’ll murder me. Still, I’m sure Rigger’s right, and he’ll be after you in a flash. Then you’ll know exactly how he feels about you.” He paused with another frown, then said, “Look here, how do you mean him to learn that you’ve gone? I hope you don’t want me to tell him.”

“No, I don’t,” she said.

“Well, I’m glad of that, although if I were to tell him straight off when I reach Epsom, it might serve to send him dashing back to London. That would suit me down to the ground, under the circumstances. Are you sure he ain’t vexed about Vauxhall?”

“He did once say that if he learned you had taken me he’d throttle you, but I daresay he didn’t mean it, and in any case, I never actually told him that you did. Even so, Oliver, don’t say anything about this. I’ll go, because the more I think about it, the more I’m sure it’s the best thing to do, but I don’t want you to spoil the races for him. It would, you know, since other people might think he ought to follow me, and—” She broke off, unable to think of any other reason.

“Well, I won’t. It wouldn’t do you any good to be caught before you’d left London, and you’ll need time to talk Penthorpe and your mama around, I’ll wager.”

“No, for I don’t mean to ask them,” she said. “I could never persuade them to go like that, and they would either send me back here or keep me at St. Merryn House until Nicholas returns from Epsom. If I do go, I mean to go alone.”

“But, dash it, you can’t do that!”

“I’ll take Lucy,” Melissa said hastily.

“That’s all right then,” Oliver said, grinning at her. “I daresay you can be ready to leave by tomorrow, but you’d do better to wait until Friday. Nick’s bound to get back that evening, so he can be hot on your trail at once or early Saturday morning. I’ll wager he catches you before you get to York.”

In that case, Melissa decided, she would leave at once, because if she was to do the thing at all, she would do it thoroughly. She would probably learn more than she wanted to know about Nicholas’s feelings, but if people began wondering if he might be guilty of murder, the sooner she took the wind out of their sails, the better it would be. She hoped the authorities found the footpads quickly, and that Nicholas’s horses won their races. He deserved to win something after all the trouble she had given him.

When Nick arrived at Epsom Downs shortly before nine that morning, he learned that, as usual, the company the previous day had been small, consisting mostly of families from nearby country houses, and a few gentlemen of the turf with their friends.

“A good many more will come today,” Drax said, greeting him. “Speculation’s running high for the Derby, my lord.”

“Wagers are running high, too, I hope,” Nick said.

“Aye, sir. Odds are best on Reformer to take the Derby, but to my mind, it’s near impossible to say which of the seventeen running is the best. No one names the same favorite for two hours together, but most agree that the Prince ain’t even in the running. Odds against him are twenty to one right now.”

“Good,” Nick said, smiling at him. “I’m putting my blunt on Shelley’s Cedric to win, and on the Prince to place second. He’ll gain only a hundred pounds from the subscription stakes, but I’ll do much better than that in private wagers. Can Quiz take the Oaks tomorrow, do you think?”

Drax was noncommittal, so Nick decided not to put more than his subscription stake of ten sovereigns into that race. He was not disturbed, for the winning horse was to be sold on demand for one hundred fifty pounds, and he was not ready to sell Quiz. The three-year-old would be worth much more in another year.

After looking over his horses, he strolled about the grounds looking for friends and acquaintances. The number of private tents had increased this year, he noted, and, as he discovered for himself by walking to the top of the hill, a commodious stand, newly erected there, commanded an excellent view of the greater part of the course.

Epsom racecourse resembled a great amphitheater nestled in woodland at the bottom of the hill. By ten o’clock the hill was covered from top to bottom with carriages, many filled with females of elegant appearance. Customarily, Nick would have paused to flirt with more than one of them, but no such urge overcame him today.

Despite an overcast sky, people continued to arrive in droves, and from the hilltop he could see the road to the Downs, thronged with vehicles of every description. Curricles and four-in-hands, pony-chaises and humble market carts formed an unbroken line as far as he could see.

He was glad he had left London at dawn, for although there had been traffic on the Epsom road, he had maintained his usual fast pace. Now, in the creeping sea of vehicles, he was able to pick out a number of friends, including Tommy and the vicar. He did not see his parents, however, and not until it was nearly time for the running of the Derby did he catch sight of his brother.

He had joined the Minley brothers before he saw Oliver. Since Lord Dorian was nearly certain that he had spied his predatory widow in the surging crowd, Nick had been helping them keep watch for her, but he did not hesitate to excuse himself. Striding toward Oliver, he caught his gaze and waved.

For a moment, Oliver looked as if he meant to turn tail and disappear in the crowd, but he evidently thought better of it.

“I want to speak to you,” Nick said when he was close enough.

“I’m looking for my friends,” Oliver said airily. “Just got here, you know. Lord, what a crush! Like this all the way from London—a damned snail’s pace.”

“All the way from London? I thought you came part way last night.”

“Oh, did you? Well, I didn’t. I decided to come down with Rigger, but at the last minute, he changed his mind.”

“Which last minute,” Nick asked gently. “Last night, when you were supposedly already on the road, or this morning, when you actually left London?”

“This morning, not that it makes any difference,” Oliver said. “I know you don’t like him much—”

“I don’t know him well enough to like or dislike him,” Nick pointed out. “I’ll admit, however, that what I do know of him, I don’t much like.”

“Well, dash it, that’s just what I mean. You say you don’t know him, then you insist you don’t think much of him, and I suppose you’ve said as much to Father. I’ll tell you to your head, Nick, Rigger’s been more help to me than anyone in my family.”

“By paying your debts, in fact,” Nick said evenly.

“I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s perfectly true. My own father said he wouldn’t help me when I got into dun territory—and through cursed bad luck, too—and I didn’t even ask you. I knew that would be futile.”

“Yes, it would. You must learn not to wager money you can’t afford to lose.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re as rich as Midas.”

“No, I merely take care to win more than I lose, and when my luck is out of vein, I don’t bet. Witness the fact that I’m risking only my stakes money tomorrow on Quiz. He’s outclassed in the Oaks, I’m afraid.”

“Well, you might have told me that before now. I bet on him to win.”

“I haven’t seen you since Sunday. If you want to hedge those bets today, put a bit on Shelley’s Cedric to win the Derby. He’s paying four and a half to one, and if the sun doesn’t come out, he should win. I’ve watched him for months. He always runs best when there is no glare on the track. He should take this field easily.”

Oliver looked shocked. “You’re betting against Prince in the Derby?”

“Oh, I’ve my subscription stake of fifty guineas on him, of course, but half of that is forfeit, no matter who wins. He’s at twenty to one, Ollie, with the same odds against his placing, so my real money’s on him to take second.”

“Dash it, I put money on him to win, too.”

“Well, I’m sorry about that, but you might have asked me what his chances were, you know. If the sun were shining, I’d back him to take Cedric, odds or no odds, but as it is …” Abruptly, he added, “You’ve been avoiding me, Ollie. Why?”

Oliver looked away, saying gruffly, “Thought you’d be angry about Vauxhall.”

“I ought to be.”

Flushing, Oliver looked back at him. “I know I shouldn’t have taken her there.”

“No, but I’ve a notion she would have gone anyway, so I’m glad that you were with her on the river at least. What I really wanted to talk to you about is these new debts of yours. You know Father is not going to be happy—”

“My debts are my concern,” Oliver said, his voice low and tightly controlled. “They are none of yours.”

“You won’t say they are not Father’s concern, however,” Nick said gently.

“Well, they’re not!”

“Yes, they are. Who do you think will be expected to pay if you cannot?”

“I’ll pay them. It’s all arranged, damn you!”

“Keep your voice down,” Nick said sternly. “No one is paying heed to us now, but they will soon enough if you begin shouting at me. I collect that Robert Yarborne has helped you arrange some way to pay your debts. Are you aware that his code of conduct is not of such a high standard as your own ought to be?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” His tone was sullen, and he looked away.

Nick told him about Robert Yarborne’s duping of Lord Dorian, but if he had hoped to change Oliver’s opinion of his friend, he was disappointed.

“A prank, that’s all that was,” Oliver said, laughing. “I’m sure I’ve done the same sort of thing to Tommy, although nothing as clever as that. If Dory was taken in, it was his own fault. Don’t tell me he didn’t hope to get more money from the chess player for his precious church. He’d never have gone back if he didn’t.”

“No, that’s true, as he will admit himself. But it doesn’t make Robert Yarborne’s behavior any more admirable. He threatened him with a pistol, Oliver, like a highway robber. Is that what you admire? I’d thought better of you.”

“Well, I don’t believe Rigger used a gun, and if he did, I’ll wager it wasn’t loaded. As to my so-called code of conduct, it’s the first time you’ve given me credit for having one,” Oliver muttered.

“You are fast proving me wrong,” Nick said brutally. “First you introduce two innocent young women to the art of card sharping, then you incur debts you cannot afford to pay and lie about your whereabouts in order—”

“I didn’t lie!”

“Did you not?” Nick spoke coldly. “You must forgive me, Oliver. In my book, encouraging one’s servants to lie is much worse than doing so oneself. You ought to be setting a good example, not encouraging immoral behavior. How can you trust them to speak the truth to you if you’ve encouraged them to lie to others?”

“Dash it, they wouldn’t lie to me, and I don’t need lectures from you, my Lord Vexford, to know how to deal with my affairs. I’ll tell you how it is, Nick. Melissa’s right. You can’t be content with playing your own cards. You want to play everyone else’s hand as well. At least, she didn’t say it that way, but my debts are none of your damned business, and my servants even less so. Just stay out of my life!”

“Very well,” Nick said, keeping his temper with difficulty. “I’d intended to offer to stake you to a more likely wager on the Prince, but as it is your wish to deal with your affairs alone, I won’t interfere.”

“Don’t then! I won’t conceal from you that I’d hoped your nags would win their races, but I’ve already set a plan in motion to take care of things if they don’t. You are not the only one with a brain, I’ll have you know. My other plan
can’t
miss.”

“What other plan?” Nick demanded.

“I won’t tell you, because it was Rigger’s notion, and you’re bound to say something cutting, but you’ll see how he looks after me. I’ll be making my fortune, Nick. In fact, I won’t be around tomorrow, because I’m going back to London tonight. I’ve an important engagement at the Billingsgate,” he added loftily, turning on his heel.

Nick made no attempt to call him back, knowing it would be useless. He was well aware that he had handled Oliver badly. Nonetheless, much as it went against the grain, he decided to open the budget to Ulcombe when he found him. He did not doubt that the earl could speedily rein Oliver in, but that was not why he knew he must bring the matter to his attention. Certain now that someone intended Oliver to play the pigeon, Nick knew it was Ulcombe, not Oliver, who would bear the plucking if the plot succeeded.

Deciding he had better return to town that evening himself, he was surprised at how much the decision buoyed his spirits. Not until that moment did he realize he had been feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the way he had left things with Melissa.

He wished that he could leave at once, but he decided that to do so would betray his hand to his brother if to no one else. He would talk with Ulcombe, and as the day progressed he would give the appearance of a gentleman enjoying the races. Once Oliver had departed, he would follow, not on his heels but soon enough. He would get Tommy to go with him as a precaution, but heaven help any man who got in his way, especially if his name proved to be Yarborne.

M
ELISSA DEPARTED FROM LONDON
with less effort than she had expected. Despite having assured Oliver that she would take Lucy, however, she did not mention her plan to the maid. She was certain that Lucy would feel, and rightly, that her allegiance was to the Barrington family, not to its newest member. Soon after Oliver left, just before ten o’clock, she packed a change of clothing into a bandbox, donned her blue hooded cloak, slipped the money Nicholas had left her to repay Lady Ophelia into her reticule, and slipped out of the house without a word to a soul.

In Pall Mall, after allowing several hackney carriages to pass by, she waved at last to an older jarvey who she thought looked less larcenous than the others. When he drew his vehicle up beside the flagway, she paused before getting in to say, “I wonder if you can help me find a post chaise to hire for a journey to York, or possibly farther?”