Page 27 of Winning Her Duke

“Then show them.”

*

Gia was quiet as they set up in a field outside of the city for Godspell’s first training session. Other riders were testing their horses in the same field as it was a popular place to train. There were even seats along the edge of the field for the owners to assess their investments.

Hale wasn’t one to sit and watch. He preferred to be involved in how his horse performed. He wouldn’t be the one riding him in the race, he had an experienced jockey for that, but he would see to the stallion’s training.

“Is something bothering you?” he asked Gia when the silence had gone on too long for his liking. If he’d done something to offend her, he wanted to address it so it didn’t affect their progress.

She seemed startled by his voice as if she were so intent on her thoughts, she’d forgotten he was there.

“I’m sorry, I am thinking of other things.”

Obviously. He wasn’t sure why it bothered him that he couldn’t capture her attention. It was a ridiculous thought. Especially when she could be distracted by something very serious.

“Do you wish to discuss what is bothering you?”

“No.” Her answer came quick, but the way she bit her bottom lip made him think she wished she’d answered in a different way.

“Is it a matter for women’s ears only?” he pressed. He knew little about a woman’s courses but knew they could cause discomfort and irritability. He needed to tread carefully.

She laughed.

“Fear not, Your Grace. I shall not speak of such things as shifts and corsets in your hearing. We wouldn’t want your sensibilities to bring on a faint.”

He shook his head at her teasing. It seemed she was already improved. He would gladly take her insults so long as he could avoid the dreaded silence.

Silence bothered him. He’d dealt with too much of it in his youth.

“I should have known I would be punished for asking after your well-being. The indestructible Gia Landon doesn’t need anyone’s assistance or concern.”

She sobered at his words and tilted her head to look up at him.

“Do you think it’s possible to be accepted by the ton if I simply ignore the rumors and face their disapproval straight on? If I were to follow their rules and try to fit in?”

He squinted at her. Then waved a hand over him.

“This may come as a surprise to you, but I am not truly accepted by English society. I’m referred to as a savage when they assume I’m out of hearing and often ask me to repeat words I say differently than they do. I may not be the best person to ask.”

“But you don’t wish to fit in.”

“And you do?” He squinted from the sun.

She shrugged. “Perhaps. It would be easier.”

“You would prefer to spend your days with embroidery and discussions on the weather as opposed to this?” He gestured to the field beyond them where Owen was moving Godspell into position for his first run.

He couldn’t imagine Gia as one of the society types. She would never fit in with them. She was so much better. He couldn’t imagine why she would even want to try, and he said so. Not the part about her being better, but the latter.

“As I said, I thought it might be easier.”

“Easier for whom?” He didn’t know what had distressed her into thinking she should try harder to impress the foolish people who judged her. “Is this about the ball and the gossip?”

“Perhaps.”

He reached toward her, wanting to offer reassurance, but pulled his hand back when he realized he wasn’t quite sure how to do such a thing.

“After the failure of my come out, I retreated to Elmhurst and have been there ever since. I’m wondering now if that was the coward’s way. Should I have stayed and fought for my place?”