To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online

too soon for you?”
    That gave her little more than three days to prepare, but it would suffice. “Certainly, as long as it’s after one p.m., so my grandfather thinks I’m off on my afternoon ride.” Slowing her steps as they neared Pierce, she lowered her voice. “And don’t tell my cousin. He’ll go right to Poppy with it.”
    A knowing look crossed Lord Gabriel’s face. “Does that mean we’re to have a secret race? Just the two of us?”
    Something in Lord Gabriel’s lazy smile put her on her guard. And made her heart pound the teeniest bit faster.
    She scowled. “Don’t be ridiculous. Pierce has to be there. Someone must make sure you don’t cheat.”
    “For God’s sake—”
    “But I won’t tell him until the last minute. That worked well when he brought me to Turnham Green.” She lifted her chin. “I can get Pierce to do whatever I please.”
    “Except not tattle on you to your grandfather,” Lord Gabriel said dryly. “I suspect there are limits to even Devonmont’s indulgence of your whims.”
    “None that I’ve reached.”
    “Yet.”
    Lord Gabriel didn’t understand her friendship with her cousin. She was practically a sister to him.
    But as Pierce came up to them, too impatient to wait for their approach, she wondered if there were limits to his indulgence.
    “Good evening, Sharpe,” Pierce said in a cool voice. He thrust a goblet at her. “You said you were thirsty.”
    “Indeed I am. Thank you.”
    Pierce glanced at Lord Gabriel. “I was surprised to see you two dancing, Sharpe, given Virginia’s dislike of you.”
    “That’s water under the bridge,” Lord Gabriel said with a dismissive smile.
    Virginia eyed him askance. The man had an annoying tendency to believe whatever suited him.
    A gentleman sauntered up to join them who looked familiar, and both Pierce and Lord Gabriel stiffened at his approach.
    “Well, well,” the man said, taking in the little group with a gaze of keen interest, “what a surprise to see you here, Sharpe. You missed the race today.”
    Lord Gabriel shrugged. “No reason to come. I knew Jessup’s filly would win.”
    “What do you say to that, Miss Waverly?” the stranger said with oily condescension. “Too bad you didn’t consult with Sharpe. Your grandfather could have saved himself the trouble and just kept Ghost Rider home.”
    Virginia took an instant dislike to the man. “I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t believe I know you.”
    Pierce stepped in to introduce the man as Lieutenant Chetwin. “Chetwin was the one who raced his rig against Sharpe’s at Turnham Green,” he added.
    “Ah, yes, I remember.” Another reckless scoundrel willing to do anything for the thrill of it, no matter whom it might hurt. She was surprised that Pierce knew him, though. He’d never mentioned the man.
    “Tell me, Miss Waverly,” the lieutenant said with a smirk, “is Sharpe still balking at racing you?”
    “I hardly see how that is any concern of yours,” she said coldly.
    That banished his smirk. “I merely wondered if he’s as skittish about racing you as he is about racing me. I keep trying to convince him to race again at Turnham Green, but he won’t. Last time, I had to insult his mother to prod him into threading the needle.”
    “And yet I beat you,” Lord Gabriel drawled, though his eyes glittered. “If not for clipping that boulder and destroying my phaeton the first time we raced there, I would have beaten you twice.”
    “Yes, but not hitting the boulders is rather the point, old boy,” Lieutenant Chetwin sneered. “Don’t you agree, Miss Waverly?”
    Was the dreadful man referring to her brother’s death? “It seems to me that winning is the point, sir. And you lost.”
    Lieutenant Chetwin’s gaze turned frigid. “Only because one of my horses’ hooves picked up a stone, as Sharpe well knows. And because I had the good sense to pull back before I could be dashed upon the rocks.”
    She was stunned into silence at the