“And you knew,” Catherine murmured, as Dinah nodded fervently. “I am sorry to have hidden myself from you all, but I had to do this. I had to try and achieve what has long captured my heart. The agony of not being able to do so was more than I could bear.” She turned to Merry, seeing how her sister was blinking back tears. “I am sorry to have caused so much pain and worry. That was not my intention.”
“I know.” Merry reached out and took Catherine’s hand, squeezing it gently as she tried her best to keep her composure. “But you gave us all a very great fright, Catherine.” She let out a long breath, evidently blowing away her anger and allowing her relief to flood her. “Mother will be so very glad.”
Catherine smiled and reached for Merry, giving her a long hug that spoke of both healing and understanding. “I shall be glad to see her again,” she said honestly. “I will apologize, of course, but I must also tell her the news that I am no longer to be an unmarried spinster with a penchant for the races.” Stepping back, she laughed at the matching looks of astonishment in her sister and cousin’s eyes. “I have not accepted as yet but have no doubt that I shall!”
Dinah’s voice was soft, her eyes still as big as saucers. “The duke,” she breathed, as Catherine nodded. “He knows you are Lady Wells then?”
“He discovered it, yes,” Catherine admitted. “And thereafter, we have found ourselves to be quite taken with one another.” Her smile spread as Merry began to cry with evident happiness, pulling out a handkerchief from her sleeve. “I was to refuse him, believing that I was not suitable for a gentleman such as he, but he has convinced me that I need not fear such a thing.”
“No,” said a voice from just behind Merry. “No, you need not.”
Catherine let out a long breath as the duke came inside, his expression gentle as his eyes fixed upon hers.
“My sister and my cousin have discovered me, as you can see,” she said, gesturing to Merry and Dinah. “I believe you have met my cousin before but–”
“I know Lady Weston, of course,” the duke murmured, bowing quickly towards Merry, who only managed the smallest of curtsies given her current emotional state. “And Miss Shepherd, of course. How are you this day?”
“Much better for seeing Catherine,” Dinah replied, surprising Catherine with her firmness. “I thank you, Your Grace.”
“What has been decided, Blackwell?” Catherine asked, moving towards the duke and seeing how he smiled at her. Was it because he had been permitted to have her race? Or was it merely because he was glad to see her safe?
“I have spoken at length with the officials,” he began, reaching out to take her hand and pressing it lightly. “The rules, such as they are, state that anyone is permitted to race. Anyone. That includes women, of course.”
“But they did not agree,” Catherine said, knowing what was coming. “They believe me to be entirely unsuitable for the race.”
The duke’s smile softened. “They were quite adamant that a woman could not do so, of course. However, the rules are quite clear, and it is to the rules that they must abide, being the officials of Ascot Heath.”
A sudden curl of excitement tore through Catherine’s belly. “You do not mean to say that–”
“Indeed I do, my love,” he interrupted, now grinning broadly. “They could find no way to remove your right to race from the rules. Therefore, this year, you are permitted to race – although, I fear that the rules shall be swiftly changed thereafter!”
Catherine could hardly breathe, staring up at the duke as though she expected him to then shake his head and say that, in fact, she was not to be permitted after all, but no such words were spoken. Instead, he simply smiled at her, his hand tight in hers, waiting for her to respond.
“I am to race,” Catherine breathed, her heart beginning to beat furiously in her chest. “I am to be permitted to race.”
“You are,” the duke murmured, coming closer and putting one arm about her waist, pulling her a little closer. “And whether you win or whether you come at the very end, we shall have a celebration of your success thereafter.”
Hardly able to believe it, Catherine let out a small, shaky laugh feeling as though she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Her hand went to her mouth, her eyes shining as she held the duke’s gaze, her excitement growing to a crescendo. She was to be able to race, not disguised as Mr. Leighton but as herself. She was going to be able to prove that she was able to race and compete just as well as any gentleman; she was going to be able to show that she had as much mettle and skill as they. She could hardly believe it.
“I should inform Mama as quickly as possible,” Merry interrupted, not quite managing a smile. “The news of your ride will go all through London within minutes, I am quite certain.”
That took some of the joy from Catherine, knowing that this might very well affect her cousin’s reputation. “I shall make sure to cover my face as best I can, although I shall let my hair free so that there can be no doubt as to who I am,” Catherine told Merry, aware of how her sister’s relief was immediately apparent. “I would not bring shame nor mortification down upon anyone.”
“Are you quite certain?” Dinah asked, taking a step forward and looking at Catherine with concern. “You know very well how I feel about the ton and the Season, so you need not do so on my account.”
Catherine smiled at her cousin. “I believe that I too felt the very same way as you as regarded the ton, marriage, and the like, Dinah. However, now I must admit that I feel very differently. Things can change, my dear cousin, and it is with that awareness that I shall choose to hide my features from the world. I shall still be able to prove to those watching that a woman can compete just as well as any gentleman, all without showing my face.” She reached out and pressed Dinah’s hand. “Trust me. This is for the best.”
“Most considerate of you, Lady Wells,” said Lord Brighton, who was, much to Catherine’s surprise, looking at Dinah with interest. “Come now, shall I take you back?” He offered his arm to Dinah, who stared at him as though she did not quite understand what he was offering. Catherine hid her smile as Dinah, eventually, reached out and accepted it, clearly quite uncertain as to what she was doing.
“I wish you the very best of luck, dear sister,” Merry murmured, putting one hand on Catherine’s shoulder for a moment. “Have no fear about what Mama will say. I will speak to her at length on your behalf.”
“Thank you,” Catherine replied gratefully. “Just reassure her that I am well and that I am content – and that I shall be home again by this evening.”
“I will, of course.” Merry smiled, let go of Catherine’s arm, and left, swiftly followed by Lord Richardson.
Catherine felt the air grow thick about her as she looked up into the duke’s face, seeing how his gaze had become tender, how his eyes were filled with the affection he had for her. His arm was still about her waist, and as she held his gaze, she saw him shift so that he was standing closer to her still.
“I have every faith in you, my love,” he told her, his head lowering just a little. “Know that I will be cheering you on, glad that you are finally being given the chance to ride and race as you have long dreamed of.”