Free A Gallant Gamble by Jackie Williams Page A

London, but if you would care for a visit to view my stables just say the word. I’m sure that Ormond would be keen to increase his stock and I may be able to accommodate him.”
    Geoffrey inclined his head, giving neither man a positive or negative response. He didn’t like being manipulated by the two women, but their tactics had caused an excellent diversion from his lack of grace and a possible opening into the two wealthy households. Even though he was still in two minds about the close connection to the Latham family after everything that had transpired with Charlotte and Giles, he was willing to bide his time before dismissing any valuable information. He raised his glass marginally as Olivia looked at him and smiled serenely.
    Dessert was served and conversation continued about the table but he had forgotten that at formal parties the ladies left the room while the gentlemen drank port and smoked cigars. Life at Ormond never followed such strict rules of etiquette. For one thing none of them smoked, secondly it would have meant that Alexander’s wife, Lily, spent many of the evening hours alone, something that Alexander would never have allowed. And thirdly, Alexander maintained that there was nothing he had to say that his wife couldn’t listen to, if it had been possible for her to do that, of course. As Lily was totally deaf, this last objection hardly counted, but Alexander insisted that they would spend the evening hours together anyway.
    Geoffrey vowed to take only one glass of port while the men drank. He couldn’t allow alcohol to cloud his judgement or concentration while alone in this company. The swish of silk dresses faded as Olivia led the ladies from the dining room only a few moments later, and Bottomley handed Geoffrey the bottle of port. Slightly startled at the thought of now being the host at the table, he looked up, but Bottomley’s ferocious glare dared him to refuse the honour. He poured a small glass for himself and then handed the bottle along the table to Lord Latham.
    “So horsemanship is your thing then, Talbot?” Lord Latham asked as he filled his own glass and passed the bottle to Lord Armitage who poured a generous measure before giving the bottle to a slightly tipsy Hubert Carruthers.
    Geoffrey nodded slowly.
    “Ormond has been kind enough to engage my services for several years. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the old Duke’s control, the breeding stock had been much depleted while Alexander was away at war, but there is now a strong improvement. Our latest addition is less than a year old but shows fine form already. I believe that Lady Caithwell will do very well from the yearling birthed by her own mare and sired by Lightning, a fine stallion that I have brought with me to London.”
    Lord Carruthers he raised his eyebrows as he sipped his port.
    “Oh ho! Do you indeed? We’ll have to take a look at this Lightning of yours. He or his progeny might make a good prospect.” He glanced down the table towards Lord Torrington. “Are you entering Firebrand into Lord Davenport’s race this year? I hear that he’s upped the winning purse to a thousand guineas.”
    Lord Torrington eyed his friend and let out a soft belch before he answered.
    “I’ve not decided whether to go for it. Lord Tilbury lost his best horse last year. Damned thing landed badly at the fifth fence and broke a leg. Had to be shot on the course.” He turned to look directly at Geoffrey as he explained further. “The race is notoriously hard going. Last year’s course was a complete nightmare. I thought I was going to be unseated over two of the fences and our friend Kingsmill suspects that Davenport has added some new and more challenging obstacles this year. He’s not racing that prize mare of his for fear of an injury.” He narrowed his eyes at Geoffrey as if seeking to divine his mind. “Will you have anything entered? There’s still plenty of time to put your name on the register of