Page 20 of Seduction of a Widow

The young man gave a slight bow. “My lord.”

“I hope Apollo is to your liking, Lord Barnton,” the baroness said.

“He is magnificent,” he replied. “Thank you for allowing me to ride him.”

“He will love the workout,” she said. “It is rare that these beasts have the opportunity to challenge their strength.”

“Have you laid out a course for us, Baroness?” Leslie asked.

“Matthew was kind enough to do the honors.” She smiled at the stablemaster.

All eyes turned onto him, and he said, “The east road winds around through the estate and ends at the gardener’s cottage near the pond. You will circle the pond and take the road back.”

“How long is the road?” Evan asked.

“A little under three miles,” Matthew replied.

“Six miles round trip,” the earl said. “The race will last no longer than ten minutes.”

“I wager no more than seven minutes,” Baroness Trent said.

“Aye,” Matthew agreed. “If you push the animals to their best, seven minutes.”

“Is there anyone at the pond to observe them as they make the turn?” Evan asked.

Leslie noted the earl stiffening.

“Lord Henry graciously agreed to observe from the pond,” Sir Stirling said. “You will see half a dozen other observers along the way.”

Lord Barnton smiled, but Leslie recognized the strain behind the action. “We shall do our best to entertain them.” He looked at Leslie. “Are you ready, my lady?”

“If you are, sir.”

Evan stepped up beside her and clasped his hands together in invitation to give her a leg up. The horse was so tall, she could never have lifted her leg high enough to fit her boot into the stirrup. She nodded thanks to Evan—who, blast his soul—seemed to look straight through her eyes into her soul—and grasped the pommel. Leslie braced her left boot on his hands and stepped upward. He lifted her easily and she swung her other foot over the horse’s rump and dropped onto the saddle.

“No sidesaddle, darling?” Alice said.

Leslie grasped the reins Matthew handed her and looked left, where she met her friend’s laughing eyes. “You know I abhor riding sidesaddle.”

Alice walked on the arm of a handsome gentleman. A dozen other guests followed.

“You despise it with a passion,” Alice said with a laugh. “But you should be sporting and give Lord Barnton some sort of advantage.”

“No need to worry about me,” the earl said, an edge to his words. “Lady Carr would be well advised to race Ares as hard as she can.”

“You have five stone on her.” Alice and her gentleman stopped a few feet away. “You are already at a disadvantage.”

He gave her a thin smile. “As I am a gentleman, that is as it should be.”

Alice’s eyes glinted with mischief. “I say she will beat your time by—” she looked at her companion “—what say you, Liam, seven seconds?”

“That is quite a lead,” he replied.

Alice locked gazes with the earl. “Aye, it is. Fifty pounds. Who will take my bet?”

“I will take that bet,” a gentleman from the group said. Mr. Adderton.

Alice gave him a nod, then addressed Lord Barnton. “Will you take my bet as well, sir?”