Page 30 of Seduction of a Widow

Chapter Eight

Drucker took his leave with Lord Robert in search of Baroness Trent—or so Evan guessed. Evan half wondered if the man would try to sabotage the pistols. He wouldn’t rig Evan’s not to shoot while his own worked perfectly. Nae. He was a coward at heart. He would sabotage both pistols, if he could.

Lady Langley left on the arm of Lord Henry. The young ladies excused themselves and Evan wondered which one of them would find Leslie and tell her of the duel. There was only one way to ensure she didn’t learn of the duel: keep her busy all night. Evan started to turn toward the door.

“Drucker is a tolerable shot, you know,” Mr. Harris said.

Evan stopped and faced him.

“That is true,” Mr. Irvine said. “Still, he is a fool to have insulted Lady Carr like that. I was tempted to challenge him myself.”

Evan doubted that very much, but said, “Mr. Drucker does have that effect on a man.”

“I say he was a fool to race Lady Carr in the first place,” Harris said.

Irvine nodded. “Indeed. She is a skilled rider. Still, she is likely to kill herself one day.”

Evan forced his expression to remain neutral. “Indeed?”

“No need to take offense,” the man hurriedly added. “I only meant that she takes a great many risks when she races.”

“This is not the first race that she’s participated in,” Harris said.

“Aye, but Ares?” Irvine shook his head. “He isn’t a mare or gelding. He’s a wild beast.”

“A wild beast ridden by a master horsewoman,” Evan murmured.

“That she is,” Irvine said. “But Liam is right. Ares is a beast. She cannot help it, I suppose.”

“Really?” Evan murmured.

“Nae. It’s in the blood.”

Evan frowned. “In the blood?”

“Neil,” Harris growled.

“No need to concern yourself, Gavin. MacLaren is a man of the world. He won’t take offense. In fact, he probably knows.”

“Knows what?” Evan asked.

“Her brother died racing twelve years ago.”

Shock reverberated through him.

“Ah, you did not know.” Irvine straightened with self-importance. “She took his death hard. Even Carr couldn’t stop her when she began racing after John’s death.”

It didn’t surprise Evan one wit that her husband hadn’t been able to control her. He doubted any man could, himself included. He smiled inwardly. It was fortunate he had no wish to control her.

“Lady Carr is clearly a woman born to the saddle,” Evan said. “She has not been riding only the last five years.”

“Of course not,” Irvine said. “Her brother probably taught her to ride.”

Evan hadn’t thought of that. He was right. Leslie hadn’t said a word. But then, that didn’t surprise him. She wouldn’t.

***

The creak of the bedchambers door snapped Leslie from the drowsy state into which she’d slipped. Water sloshed in the tub where she lay and the low fire in the hearth came into focus. Had Millie returned despite Leslie having released her for the evening? She twisted in the tub and froze at sight of Evan. Eyes locked with hers, he closed the door with a soft click.