A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World Read Online Free PDF

travel in fast vehicles.
     
    Dracy liked his comforts when he had the chance of them, but avoid risk? Risk added spice to life, and in that respect life had been bland since he’d inherited his cousin’s barony and left the navy. Perhaps that was why he’d accepted this mad challenge.
     
    He and Knowlton were standing in the shade of anelm tree on the estate of the Earl of Hernescroft, where a private thoroughbred race would soon take place. The earl’s famous bay mare, Fancy Free, was to race against the Dracy black, Cartagena, winner take all. If Fancy Free won, the earl would own both horses, which would be a pleasant addition to his famous string of racehorses. If Carta won, Dracy would own two fine thoroughbred mares instead of just one, which might be the beginning of the revival of the Dracy stud. If he lost, he lost all and would have no option other than return to the navy.
     
    The unusual stakes had drawn some lions of the racing world to join the local spectators. The Dukes of Portland, Beaufort, and Grafton were here, plus the Earls of Rockingham, Harthorne, and Waveney.
     
    Going on the betting, none of them expected Cartagena to win, but that was to the good. If—when—Carta won, Dracy’s cash winnings would pay for the essential repairs to his stable block.
     
    Cartagena was a four-year-old new to the racing world, but she’d scored two startling triumphs at recent meetings. After the second, Lord Hernescroft had scoffed to Dracy’s face that she wouldn’t beat Fancy Free if they met.
     
    There’d been no easy escape, but Dracy hadn’t wanted one. The do or die was irresistible.
     
    “I grant you Cartagena’s successes,” Knowlton said, still fretting, “but devil only knows why you couldn’t be satisfied with ’em. Handsome prize money and more to come. Why risk everything this way?”
     
    “Because Carta alone can’t restore the Dracy fortunes,” Dracy said, adding, “as you know,” for Knowlton had trampled over these arguments for days.
     
    “You’ll have the place in shape in time.”
     
    “A decade or so.”
     
    “Took years for your cousin to run it down.”
     
    “I’m not that patient a man.”
     
    “No,you’re a rash one. What’s to gain that’s worth the risk?”
     
    Tired of the debate, Dracy glanced around to be sure no one was in earshot.
     
    The spectators—on foot, on horse, and a few on the seats of open carriages—had arranged themselves on either side of the beginning of the race, which would also be the end.
     
    No one was too close, but Dracy spoke quietly anyway. “My inquiries tell me Hernescroft is particularly fond of Fancy Free. Born in his own stud and named by one of his daughters. The daughter’s particularly fond of the horse as well. When he’s recovered from losing the race, he’ll negotiate.”
     
    “Stap me! You’re playing for money? Now, that makes sense.”
     
    “I’m playing for a stud. Herne can keep Fancy Free in exchange for Gosling-go.”
     
    “What?” Knowlton exclaimed, attracting attention just as Dracy had feared. But then, flushing, he dropped his voice. “He might do it, mightn’t he? He has two prime stallions and Gosling-go’s the older.”
     
    “And a vicious devil, I hear, but it’s not in the blood.”
     
    “You’ve checked his get?”
     
    “I always plot a course carefully.”
     
    “Stap me,” Knowlton muttered. “No wonder you draped yourself in glory in the navy.”
     
    “No more than most men, and none of it was careful navigation. Just blood and guts on the day.”
     
    Knowlton shuddered. “Why not buy…But a stud like Gosling-go would be pricey, even if Hernescroft was willing to sell. Sired some winners. Eight hundred at the least. All the same, you’ve only the one mare. Why not just pay stud fees?”
     
    “I’d rather get stud fees, and there are three older thoroughbred mares at Dracy that Ceddie hadn’t bothered to sell. They might be able to drop a foal or two.