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fellow who brought her into the syndicate, not me.”
    This enraged Lady Tansy even more. “You are both unspeakable cads.”
    Saxton managed a drunken smile. “All is fair in love, war, and horse racing.”
    Lady Tansy slapped him so hard across the face, his hat flew off. While everyone gasped, she stormed into the crowd.
    As Eliza stood speechless, Higgins appeared beside her. “What the devil is going on?”
    â€œI don’t know exactly.”
    Lord Saxton picked up his top hat and waved it at the onlookers. “Nothing to worry about. My wife had too much champagne.”
    Stony silence greeted his words.
    Instead of going after his wife, Lord Saxton bowed to the young woman in the turban.
    â€œWhy is Diana Price wearing the horse’s racing colors?” Higgins asked in a low voice.
    Eliza realized he was right. The woman in the turban was Diana Price, a popular musical hall singer and former Gaiety Girl. “She owns a share in the Donegal Dancer.”
    â€œI can’t keep track of who owns that horse. I’m afraid I’ll wake up one morning to discover I’ve become an owner, too.”
    â€œI’m amazed you even know who Diana Price is,” Eliza said. “I thought you only went to Oscar Wilde plays.”
    â€œProves how little you know me. I never miss a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. Miss Price sang Casilda in a production of The Gondoliers a year ago. Decent soprano voice, albeit a little ragged in the higher registers.”
    Saxton took Diana by the arm, his head bent close to hers.
    Eliza frowned. “Even a drunk seaman at the Speckled Pig wouldn’t flaunt his fancy lady in front of his wife. The Colonel was right about Lord Saxton. He is a boor. I wonder why Miss Price bothers with him. He has no class at all.”
    â€œShe doesn’t have much class either. The fellow standing off to the side is her husband.” He gestured at a somber young man in a top hat.
    Eliza gave Higgins a playful shove. “How in the world do you know all this gossip? I’m beginning to think you’re writing down people’s secrets, not their speech patterns.”
    â€œI know Gordon Longhurst because he works for a stockbroker firm in the City. In the past, I conducted business with his late father, who worked at the same firm.” Higgins stared at Longhurst, who was clean-shaven and of middling height. “I always wondered how he got Miss Price to marry him. He’s just an ordinary chap with a decent income.”
    â€œAnd an indecent wife,” Eliza murmured as the wife, her lover, and her husband now headed their way.
    Higgins sighed. “I told you we should have left the parade ring a long time ago.”
    â€œDiana, this is Miss Eliza Doolittle. Eliza, this is Diana Longhurst, better known by her stage name, Diana Price.” Saxton leaned even closer to Diana. “Eliza’s father is the chap who joined our syndicate in March.”
    Diana clapped her hands. “How delightful. Do you know I haven’t even met your father? I’ve been touring the provinces this spring and missed all the racing fun. But now I can see my lovely horse again. Where is the precious animal who won us so much money?”
    â€œHe’s back in the stables,” Eliza said.
    Diana tossed her head in a theatrical gesture. “Then I am off to the stables this instant to visit our darling colt. I wish now I had thought to bring him flowers.”
    Her husband leaned in. “Best to wait, my dear. Last year’s champion Prince Palatine will soon be running against Tracery, the favorite.”
    â€œHow large a bet did we place on him?”
    Longhurst seemed puzzled. “You never said you wanted to bet on the Gold Cup.”
    â€œBut we can’t come to Ascot and not bet on the favorite.” Diana stroked her husband’s cheek. “My sweet, place a bet for me. Please.”
    He took a deep breath.