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“I think you’d better explain.”
“All right.” Nicole paused only to take a fortifying gulp of coffee. “Do you recall what I told you about the last night in London when I went searching for a copy of the Gazette?”
“You said you became dizzy from dashing up and down the streets. I remember.”
A semblance of a smile. “Actually, I think it was more the fault of my strangling undergarments. In any case, I found a private bench along the river walk, where I sat waiting for my lightheadedness to subside. During that time, a gentleman wandered by and offered his assistance.” Nicole met her father’s gaze. “The man was the marquis of Tyreham.”
“Bloody hell.” Nick blinked. “You never mentioned this. Why?”
“At the time, it didn’t seem important.”
“Not important? Nickie, it’s not like you to be so shortsighted. If you’d already met Tyreham—if Nicole had already met Tyreham—how on earth did you hope to fool him during your interview?”
“Simple. I had no idea that the gentleman who offered me aid—and who introduced himself only as Dustin—and the renowned marquis of Tyreham were one and the same person.”
“I need something stronger than coffee.” Nick shoved aside his cup but made no move to fetch the spirits he’d alluded to. Instead, he froze, waylaid by a sudden, unpleasant possibility. “When, during this interview of yours, did the marquis recognize Stoddard as Nicole Aldridge?”
The very question she’d most dreaded. Bracing herself, Nicole replied, “At the onset.”
“Dammit.” The very reaction she’d expected. Fiercely, Nick’s fist struck the table. “You’re telling me Lord Tyreham hired you knowing you were a girl?”
“Yes. He didn’t proclaim me an imposter until after he’d engaged Stoddard’s services. He wanted to make certain there was no connection between my arrival at Tyreham and the unexpected appearance of those hoodlums, but, yes, Lord Tyreham knew who I was the instant he saw me.”
A muscle worked in Nick’s jaw. “You knew how I’d react, didn’t you? That’s why you conveniently neglected to tell me all this.”
“I rather suspected, yes. I hated keeping it from you, Papa, but …”
“Well.” Nick was lost in his own reasoning. “This certainly clears up the mystery of why the marquis hired you on the spot, no questions asked. I’d be willing to bet, given the marquis’s notorious reputation with women, that he’d have offered you the job without benefit of my glowing letter of recommendation.”
Nicole flinched. “That’s not fair, Papa. Be angry with me for not telling you everything. Be concerned about how I’ll keep up my pretense now that Lord Tyreham knows the truth. But don’t cheapen me or my abilities by suggesting that the marquis offered me this job simply so he could seduce me. I’m far from stupid, and he is far from desperate.”
The quaver in her voice offset Nick’s anger. “Elf, this is no reflection on you, not your character or your skill. Your horsemanship is outstanding, your character impeccable.” He broke off, grappling to find the right words. “But, as for Tyreham’s intentions—well, frankly, Nickie, I’m not sure you’d recognize seduction if it clubbed you over the head.”
“I grew up in the stables, Papa. I have eyes and I have ears. I know the minds of men better than I do those of women.”
“Growing up amid an army of jockeys who regard you as their surrogate child does nothing to prepare you for …” Again, he paused. “What I’m saying is, despite your experience with men, you have no experience with men. Least of all with those as accomplished as the marquis of Tyreham.”
Nicole felt a stab of unreasonable jealousy. “For all we know, Lord Tyreham’s conquests are no more than rumor. You told me yourself your description was based on hearsay.”
“No, what I told you was that I’d heard Tyreham has quite a reputation with the ladies. By ‘I heard,’ I didn’t mean through idle chatter. You know me better than that. My sources are men who’ve worked with the marquis—jockeys, grooms, even some of his own colleagues. Like the earl of Lanston. Surely you recall his name?”
“I recall,” Nicole replied flatly. “You rode his mare in last summer’s meeting at Goodwood.”
“Exactly. Well, the earl and his friends nearly brought me to blushing with their constant jabber about Tyreham and his women. They spent more time and money wagering on who Tyreham’s next paramour would be than they did on the upcoming races. I’d repeat some of their banter, were it appropriate for your ears. Suffice it to say that Tyreham’s status—and his popularity—among women is common knowledge. Need I elaborate further?”
“No.” Nicole was suddenly and inexplicably furious. “I don’t want to hear anymore. Moreover, I don’t know, or care, how Lord Tyreham behaves with his paramours. But in my case, he’s been positively heroic. He came to my rescue on the river walk, then again in his study when he offered me the job. Papa, you can’t deny that he’s putting himself, and his reputation, at risk in order to protect us. His reputation with thoroughbreds, not women,” she clarified quickly. “He could be disqualified by allowing me to race, or harmed if those criminals uncover the fact that he’s helping you. Yet, he listened to the details of our dilemma, then insisted upon hiring me and upon my moving to Tyreham—with you.” Her brows rose. “Perhaps I’m being naive, but if all the marquis wanted were to seduce me, wouldn’t he be undermining his own plan by boarding me amid scores of tenants, accompanied by my father, no less?” She gestured about the tiny cottage. “In quarters as small as these, I think he’d find it difficult to avoid discovery while conducting a private tryst.”
“All right, Nickie, you’ve made your point.” Nick rubbed his forehead. “I’m not proud of my thoughts. But I’m also not ashamed of wanting to shield you. From everything.”
Nicole’s fingers caught her father’s, wrapped around his calloused palm. “And I’m not proud of having kept this from you. It was cowardly, and for that I apologize. But Papa—” Her gaze grew fervent, silently begging him to understand. “I was so afraid you’d forbid me to race. This opportunity means more to me than anything, save you. It’s the only chance I’ll ever have to run the Derby. So, please, don’t say no. I’m aware you have every right to, and if you do, I’ll march out to the stables this instant and tell Lord Tyreham I must resign. But I’m asking you to give me this chance. Please, Papa, I’ve wished for it forever.”
A tender smile. “Is this one of the dreams kept tight in your wishing locket?”
“One of my first.”
With a hard squeeze, Nick released her fingers, intuition whispering that he was yielding far more than his authority. He was, in some unfathomable way, relinquishing his little girl to become all he had raised her to be.
Roughly, he cleared his throat. “I want to meet with Tyreham.” Holding up his hand, he checked Nicole’s mortified protest. “Don’t worry, Elf. I won’t blurt out my qualms about his reasons for hiring you. If he’s the kind of man you say he is, I won’t need to—he’ll assuage them on his own. Moreover, my concern for you is only part of what I want to discuss with the marquis. Given the fact that he’s now been thrust into this whole shady blackmail scheme, I want to mull over our best course of action.”
