Page 56 of An Unlikely Debutante

With Alex steadying her, Lina stepped down from the carriage, noticing how he pulled her close, tucking her hand into his elbow.

‘Lina, you look so well,’ Georgina gushed. ‘I hope my ghastly brother has been looking after you.’

‘I’m treating her like a queen,’ Alex said quickly.

Not quite like a queen—even Alex might balk at the idea of propositioning royalty.

‘I fear I am going to lose this wager,’ Georgina said. ‘You look like the sweetest debutante of the Season.’

‘And taste like it, too,’ Alex murmured so only Lina could hear.

She refused to blush or feel embarrassed, instead fixing Alex with a steely look.

‘You’ll be a sensation at the Wilcox ball in two weeks’ time.’

Lina’s heart sank, in spite of herself. Was it really only two weeks away? That was no time at all. Two more weeks to spend with Alex, two more weeks to live this life, then it would be back to reality—back to dancing and travelling and dancing some more.

They bought tickets and passed through to the spectators’ area, stopping every few feet for Georgina to greet an acquaintance or exchange words with a friend.

‘Perhaps I could whisk you off to the stables,’ Alex whispered in Lina’s ear whilst Georgina and Pentworthy were preoccupied speaking to an elderly couple.

‘To see the horses?’

‘Amongst other things.’

‘I’d like to see the horses.’

‘And the other things?’

‘My cousin always tells me there’s no harm in looking,’ Lina said, a mischievous grin on her face. The festival-like atmosphere here at the racecourse was infectious and Lina wanted to let all her responsibilities slide away for a few hours. What could be the harm in enjoying Alex’s attention? It wasn’t as though anything could happen between them with all these people around.

Alex almost dragged her through the crowds towards the stables, calling a quick excuse over his shoulder to Georgina as they went.

‘Good morning, my lord,’ Richardson, one of Alex’s horse trainers, greeted him.

‘Good morning, Richardson. How are Hercules and Dawnbreaker today?’

‘In good spirits, Lord Whitemore. Feisty and raring to race.’

‘This beautiful creature is Hercules,’ Alex explained as he approached the first horse. ‘Won six races in the past year. He’s a real champion.’

Lina stepped forward slowly, not wanting to spook the animal before the big race. He eyed her belligerently, but made no other move.

‘And this is Dawnbreaker. He’s young—possibly too young to race—but he’s fast and eager. It’s his first time competing today.’

‘They’re both magnificent horses,’ Lina observed, wondering how much money Alex had spent on the two beautiful animals. It was probably more than she would ever see in her life, but as a horse lover herself she couldn’t deny it looked like money well spent.

‘I’m just going to check the starting positions and times,’ Richardson said, exiting the stalls and leaving Lina and Alex by themselves with the two horses.

‘Alone at last,’ Alex said as he came up behind Lina and looped an arm around her waist.

Over the last few days after Alex had vowed to persuade her to become his mistress, he’d pursued her relentlessly. It had taken all of Lina’s strength and determination to resist him. Here in the darkness of the stable, she felt her resolve slipping. Just one kiss wouldn’t hurt, one moment of feeling his body against hers.

When she didn’t pull away she felt him drop his lips on to the back of her neck where her skin was exposed beneath the back of her bonnet. There was a jolt that shook her entire body as he trailed his lips ever so gently across the nape of her neck and Lina had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying out.

‘Thirty minutes until race time,’ Richardson announced loudly as he re-entered the stalls. Lina pulled away from Alex quickly, busying herself inspecting Dawnbreaker to hide how unsettled he had left her.

‘We’d better go and place a bet,’ Alex announced, taking her by the hand and leading her away from the stables. ‘Here, choose your winner for the first race.’ He handed her a crisp note and pointed her in the direction of the impeccably dressed men lined up in booths in front of the racetrack.