Vying for the Viscount Read online

  The dilemmas Bianca had been pondering fell into sudden clarity. She needed to marry, she couldn’t wait on Lord Stildon, and she needed all the help she could get, even if it was less than knowledgeable.

  “Where are you and Marianne going tonight?”

  Mrs. Snowley’s eyes widened and her lips pursed. “A card party at the Wainbrights’.”

  Bianca swallowed hard and smiled. “That sounds fun.”

  Pale eyebrows arched upward. “I beg your pardon.”

  “I would like to go to a card party.”

  “You were not on the invitation.”

  It was entirely possible that was true, and there was little chance she’d be able to prove otherwise. But if her father’s opinion was influencing Mrs. Snowley as much as Bianca thought it was, she could afford to push back a bit.

  Bianca kept her smile in place. “I’m sure Father would appreciate your asking Mrs. Wainbright to extend her invitation further.”

  Mrs. Snowley’s gaze narrowed more. “Yes. I’m sure he would.”

  “What time do we leave?”

  After a tense moment during which the two women stared at each other in silence, Mrs. Snowley told Bianca when they would be departing. Bianca silently determined to be ready an hour before her stepmother had said in case she intended to use Bianca’s tardiness as a reason to leave her behind.

  Bianca nodded before ascending the stairs without looking back. She was near to shaking by the time she reached the safety of her room—the relative safety, anyway. Mrs. Snowley had just proven that even this sanctuary wasn’t out of her reach. There wasn’t a single servant who would come to Bianca’s assistance when his or her livelihood was threatened.

  She spent the afternoon going through her wardrobe, making lists of the men she knew, and trying to create a plan of some sort that would get her out of this house without landing her in an even worse position somewhere else.

  It was frightening how little she had to work with. Somehow she’d always thought marriage would just happen one day. Waiting was no longer an option.

  Dorothy wouldn’t meet Bianca’s eyes when she came to dress her for the party, not even in the mirror. In a matter of hours, Mrs. Snowley had removed Bianca’s comfortable existence.

  Bianca could probably speak to her father, but there was that small part of her that wasn’t entirely positive her father would go against his wife. From childhood he’d said it was Mrs. Snowley’s job to raise the girls. There was no question that he loved Bianca, but she couldn’t remember the last time he had truly stepped into her life.

  THE PARTY WASN’T overly large, but Mrs. Wainbright was bustling about as if she expected the entirety of Newmarket to descend upon her drawing room.

  Miss Wainbright rushed to Marianne’s side, her cheeks flushed in a way that might not be entirely natural. “He’s accepted.”

  “Who?” Bianca asked before she could stop herself.

  Marianne laughed and gave Bianca a scathing look that called into question every time Bianca had excused her actions because she’d thought the other girl simple. “Is there any other he right now?”

  Bianca certainly hoped so. She’d never taken part in the competition, preferring to stay away from the men all the girls were giggling over, but now she needed a he of her own, and she hoped there were enough to go around.

  “Lord Stildon, silly.” Miss Wainbright smirked. “I would have thought you of all people would know what a catch he is.”

  Of course Bianca knew Lord Stildon was a catch. She also knew he intended to be here. Before she’d trudged home, she’d left him with instructions to accept the invitation as well as make another trip to the tailor.

  She made a noncommittal noise that could have been agreement but was more along the lines of a strangled growl. “I believe I’ll get some punch.”

  A murmur ran through the small group behind her as she retrieved her punch from the table. On principle she didn’t look, but she had a feeling Lord Stildon had arrived.

  She made herself take two sips before turning around and verifying her suspicion. Lord Stildon greeted Mr. Wainbright and was introduced to several people as Bianca worked her way through her cup sip by sip. She was halfway done before Lord Stildon excused himself for his own refreshment.

  “I predict we have a matter of seconds before every young lady in this room becomes entirely parched.”

  “I feel like I’m being paraded about like Sir David Ochterlony’s wives on their nightly elephant ride,” he grumbled before taking a large gulp of punch. His face immediately scrunched up. “This may be worse than the drink on Saturday.”

  Bianca hid her grin by taking another sip. “What card games do you know? I didn’t think to ask you earlier.”

  “I know how to play cards,” he grumbled. “Shall we find a whist table?”

  Was it wise to partner him in whist? She could see how he interacted with others and give him appropriate advice, but already people were associating her with him because of her time at Hawksworth. Would a potentially interested man assume her attentions were already engaged?

  Then again, if people associated them together, perhaps he would as well.

  She shook her head. Either she tried to capture Lord Stildon’s attentions, or she looked for another potential husband. She couldn’t continue doing both.

  “I think you’d be better off asking someone else. Lady Rebecca may be your goal, but until she begins making appearances in Newmarket, you should make a point to mingle.”

  “So I don’t look mercenary when she arrives?”

  “You said it, not me.”

  “I’m not being mercenary, though I can see where others might call it so. Should the lady be completely unsuitable, I will form a new plan, but I must marry sometime, and it may as well be advantageous.”

  Bianca couldn’t fault a single piece of his statement. More to the point, no one was going to find anything objectionable about Lady Rebecca unless they had something against perfection.

  She took a breath to utter her agreement, but the first of the guests descended upon them.

  As she settled down to games of cards, she did her best to split her attention between watching Lord Stildon’s interactions, which were excellent, if somewhat stilted and awkward, and examining the men around her for their potential suitability.

  Most of these men she’d known for years, and though she tried to smile more, simper more, bat her lashes more, and generally do everything she’d seen other women do, her interactions with them seemed the same as they’d always been—polite and meaningless, with a hint of utter boredom.

  Those were still better qualities than a life with Mr. Mead would garner, but she’d always hoped for something more.

  A peek in Lord Stildon’s direction proved that boredom was not something he was currently risking. He played game after game and partnered many different women, but still managed not to anger the men who also sat at his card table, conversing with them as much, if not more than, the ladies.

  If Lady Rebecca wasn’t taken by his pleasant manners and mess of dark curls framing bright blue eyes, Bianca would volunteer to eat these cards. There wasn’t a man in the room who could compare.

  And he was the one man she couldn’t even attempt to set her cap for.

  Fifteen

  I’ve another stable to manage, you know, and preparing two slates of horses for the next racing season is somewhat time consuming. My answer is no. It’s bad enough that you’re taking up my morning with this ride when I could be looking in on the training.”

  Hudson didn’t bother restraining his chuckle as he pulled Hades to a halt and turned his mount so the view of Aaron and Miss Snowley facing off was unobstructed. She was on Midas this morning, while Aaron rode Poseidon. The grey thoroughbred was at least two hands taller than the chestnut horse, putting Aaron’s head well over a foot above Miss Snowley’s.

  That didn’t prevent her from glaring up at him from beneath the brim of her riding
hat.

  While he certainly understood Miss Snowley’s suggestion that Aaron attend the next assembly with them so he could point out which men he thought she would find suitable, he could also comprehend the man’s stern rejection.

  Miss Snowley turned her glare on Hudson, her mouth pressed into a thin line, and he tried, or at least tried to appear like he was trying, to stem his mirth.

  With a huff, she turned back to Aaron. “Don’t be a child, Mr. Whitworth. I’m not asking you to attend a private dinner party or even a ball. These are public assemblies. I’ll even front you the money for the subscription.”

  Hudson couldn’t stop his laugh from sputtering out, and he tried to mask it by coughing into his hand. He knew how much Aaron was getting paid to hire trainers, schedule races, care for the horses, and research prospective breeding opportunities. A subscription fee for the season of public assemblies was not the issue.

  “I don’t need your money,” Aaron growled through gritted teeth before prodding his grey stallion back into a walk.

  Miss Snowley nudged her chestnut into motion alongside him, while Hudson regained his composure enough to steer his horse into the group so that Miss Snowley was positioned between the two men.

  He grinned at Aaron over Miss Snowley’s head. The other man scowled at him, but that only made Hudson grin wider. Had he ever had this much fun before? He couldn’t remember anyone back in India with whom he’d been comfortable enough to tease, but perhaps the upheaval of his life had allowed him to open himself up to relationships he’d have overlooked before.

  Or perhaps he simply recognized the camaraderie of a man who knew as much as he did about horses—possibly even more. Whatever it was, Hudson was enjoying it immensely, and he couldn’t resist teasing the man an iota more. “Not to worry, Aaron, I’ll give you the coin if you don’t wish to take it from a female.”

  Miss Snowley’s mount was suddenly pulled to a halt, and she fell behind the men for a few paces before trotting back up into position. She looked from one man to the other and back again, eyes wide.

  A tinge of exasperation joined the irritation in Aaron’s frown. Hudson had agreed to call him Whitworth around other people, but it just didn’t seem like Miss Snowley really counted. She was a co-conspirator.

  Aaron shook his head. “It’s not the money that bothers me, Hudson, it’s the wolves this termagant wants to throw me to.”

  “I say, are men always so quick to become such intimate friends?” Miss Snowley asked, still looking back and forth between Hudson and Aaron. “Miss Wainbright is my sister’s dearest friend, and I’m not even certain I know what her Christian name is. Is it different for men? It’s a wonder the assemblies aren’t littered with Johns and Williams instead of Lords and Misters.”

  “Speed is contingent upon extenuating circumstances,” Aaron said with the briefest of glances in Miss Snowley’s direction. “I spent more than a few hours sweating in his library, teaching him card games.”

  “That’s how he knew all the games at the party last night.” She bit her lip as she stared at Aaron, the reins limp in her hands as she depended upon Midas’s contentment to keep her plodding along with them. “Why were you sweating? Wait, no. That doesn’t matter, although I suppose I can see how that would make you friends rather quickly. I feel rather on the outside of our little team now, but no, that doesn’t signify at the moment either. I suppose I should thank you. While I can attend a card party, the cardroom at assemblies is somewhere I can’t go. I don’t even know if they play the same games in there. All the more reason you should attend on Saturday.”

  “I’m not an imbecile,” Hudson grumbled, finding a little less humor in the discussion. “I’ve been carrying conversations with men for years.” He frowned down at Miss Snowley. “It’s the addition of women that seems to be giving me trouble.”

  “Don’t they always?” Aaron smirked in her direction.

  Miss Snowley did not find them amusing. “Perhaps I should simply leave you two to muddle through without me, then.”

  Hudson leaned down to better see Miss Snowley’s face, as if her countenance would help him assess the sudden tension that seemed to fill the situation. She was blinking a great deal, far more than he would have thought necessary. They hadn’t even made it to the Heath yet, so the wind couldn’t be irritating her eyes. Had she picked up a piece of dust somewhere?

  Aaron did not appear to share Hudson’s concern. He sighed. “Save me from such easily miffed women. If it will ease your feathers, you can call me Aaron in private.”

  Miss Snowley blinked several more times while considering the offer. He didn’t blame her for hesitating. There had been a certain grudging tone to the offer, but Hudson already knew—as the earlier conversation about assemblies could attest—that Aaron didn’t do anything he didn’t want to do.

  “Does that mean you would call me Bianca?”

  “I suppose I might.”

  Hudson didn’t think he’d ever met a Bianca before. It suited her, the individuality and uniqueness. He wanted to test it out for himself, but his father hadn’t been entirely remiss in Hudson’s societal education. While he and Aaron could claim some sort of extenuating circumstances, it was a far different situation with a lady.

  He liked thinking of her as Bianca, though. It gave him a connection in his mind that made her helping him more palatable. “Bianca is a pretty name.”

  She snapped her head in his direction, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes for several moments before smiling and saying in a voice far tighter and higher pitched than it had been a moment before, “Thank you, Lord Stildon.”

  Hudson gave her a nod and a smile. “I’m still not accustomed to hearing the title said aloud. Lord Stildon doesn’t feel natural yet.”

  It also looked strange when he signed it to paper. He’d seen the title in his grandfather’s handwriting for so many years that it looked strange when written by his own hand. Hearing it was even stranger. Hudson’s father had never referred to the old man by his title, simply calling him Father or your grandfather.

  The discussion of names dropped a heavy weight onto the conversation that had been teasing and open only moments before. They fell silent, apart from the clop of horses’ hooves and the creak of leather saddles.

  Hudson spotted the final hedge of his property with great relief. Beyond that hedge lay the open expanse of the Heath and freedom from whatever had just entered his life. England might be bland and boring when it came to the weather, clothes, and certainly the food, but he was finding the interactions with the people to be more uncertain than anything he’d encountered in India.

  Aaron seemed to be as uncomfortable as Hudson because he heaved a sigh as they passed the boundary. “Wonderful. Now, can we run? If you want me to look into some of those other breeding options, I’m going to have to leave for London tomorrow. It would be nice to go somewhat faster than I can in Hyde Park.”

  Hudson scrunched up his brows in momentary confusion before his thoughts cleared and he looked over the Heath. Aaron’s departure would mean he and Bianca were on their own, a prospect that seemed daunting enough for him to choose to ignore it for the time being. “A race, then. Would you care to name the marker?”

  Bianca pouted as Aaron described the markers and paths to Hudson. “Don’t mind me,” she sighed. “I’m sure I’ll catch up eventually.”

  “Good.” Hudson grinned. “We’ll run it again when you’ve earned the right to ride on Hades here.”

  The grooms and Aaron might have been horrified by Hudson’s deal, but she was a good rider. He didn’t have the qualms the others seemed to have, especially if it maintained her assistance with Lady Rebecca.

  “Very well,” she said, running a knowledgeable eye over the sleek black coat of Hudson’s horse and then setting her mouth into a determined line. “As I will have no reason to cry foul, I’ll indicate the start.”

  To Hudson’s surprise, when he and Aaron lined up at their determined
starting point, Bianca put Midas right in line with them. Despite the fact that they all knew what her place in the race was going to be, she refused to be left behind. She was certainly a stubborn one.

  He shook his head and shifted his grip on Hades’s reins, more than ready for the thrill of a race to pound away the tension.

  BIANCA WANTED TO BASH THEM both as she started the race and gave Midas a hearty kick. She wasn’t going to beat them on her horse, but she would gladly beat them both with her boot.

  She closed her eyes and gave Midas his head for the first few paces, as the brief flurry of dust kicked up by the thoroughbreds filled the air. Soon their pounding hooves were enough in front of her that she felt safe enough to open her eyes.

  There was no way she could keep them from pulling farther and farther away from her, but she couldn’t be mad about it. Watching two glorious animals, one just out of his prime and the other a few years past it, power over the grassy expanse was worth being left behind. Hades’s sleek black mane and tail streamed behind him as he took the lead, and Bianca gave Midas another kick. She’d never catch the men, but she could enjoy feeling the wind in her face and the steady rhythm of her horse’s gait.

  Both men had pulled their horses to a stop beside each other when Bianca finally passed the marker, but they and the animals were still catching their breath, so she’d count that as a win, even if they did laugh at her determination to cross the set finish line.

  “Whitworth!”

  Bianca looked over her shoulder as she slowed her horse to a walk. Another horse had ridden over to Lord Stildon and Aaron. The deep brown former racehorse had a white stocking on each leg and a scattering of lather that indicated he’d already had at least one good ride on the Heath this morning. The horse pranced in a circle until the rider could face Aaron and Lord Stildon.

  A sudden tightness looped around Bianca’s throat as she turned Midas to walk back toward the group. It was Lord Brimsbane. She’d never interacted with him much, but she knew who he was. If he was back in town, it meant Lady Rebecca likely was too.