Page 2 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“I don’t think I can watch this.” Philip turned away from the window.
“Are you mad?” Amelia cried and turned to her husband, taking his shoulders and forcing him back around to watch the race again. “This has been the culmination of months of work.”
“Try years,” Robert muttered.
“Exactly.” Philip agreed with him. “It’s so close, I cannot watch.”
Suddenly, Midnight Dancer started to edge in front. It was by the smallest amount, his nose just stretching in front of the others. The jockey rode him harder, raising himself with his knees, taking the brunt of the force of riding so fast. The stallion responded and started to reach out in front of Shadow.
“Ah, it’s over.” Philip suddenly laughed. “Give my friend his money and his commission. He deserves it.”
“The race isn’t over yet,” Cecily reminded him.
Just as she said the words, they seemed to be an omen. The jockey shifted in the saddle as if he had nearly been thrown off, and then Midnight Dancer bucked.
“Woah, what was that?” Robert muttered, starting to breathe again in short, shallow breaths.
Abruptly, the horse pulled up. Shadow struck out in front, riding ahead, and Midnight Dancer bucked and danced about the course so much that those watching at the sides of the fences scurried back, taking refuge behind the betting stalls.
“He’s never done this before,” Cecily murmured. “What is wrong with him? He looks almost … possessed.”
Robert was not a superstitious fellow, but on this occasion, he was tempted to agree with his wife.
“What …” He didn’t finish the question. The horse rose back on its hind hooves and tipped the jockey clean out of his saddle. “Thompson!” Robert cried in a sudden panic about the jockey’s safety.
Thompson was wise enough to roll away under the cover of the banner as Midnight Dancer struck out wildly in the air with his front hooves. The other horses flew past him, galloping away after Shadow, and then the horse dropped down its hooves and did a slow lope back in the wrong direction towards the stalls. He loped away, almost as if he was injured.
“Oh.” A breath escaped Cecily.
He knew what she was suffering. It was speechlessness, for he suffered the same thing.
As a roar went up from the crowd, Robert turned to see Philip and Amelia at his side. Neither one of them was celebrating, but both were looking at Robert and Cecily.
“I’m so sorry,” Philip said, frowning. “I do not understand. He looked great around the parade ring just now.”
“Do not worry about it, my friend.” Robert cleared his throat and pushed away any grumblings he had about what had just taken place. “You won the race, fair and square, and remember what we agreed.” He offered his hand to Philip. “I shall be delighted for you. You will have the royal commission, and it will be going to no better man.”
“Thank you, Robert. That is very gracious of you indeed,” Philip said as he shook his hand.
Robert continued to smile, quite determined to be happy for his friend, even if the strange behaviour of his horse still niggled at the back of his mind.
The moment they were done with the congratulations and Philip had to go and collect the prize for his horse, Robert left the box, with Cecily hurrying behind him.
“Where are you going?” she cried, struggling to keep up with her hands reaching for the back of his waistcoat.
He ran to the stables as quickly as he could, where he found poor Thompson sitting against the wall of the stable yard. He looked winded and repeatedly rubbed his back as he kicked off his riding boots.
“Are you all right? Shall I send for a physician?” Robert asked, hurrying to his jockey’s side.
“It is not me you should be concerned for, My Lord,” Thompson said with a heavy sigh. “I am quite well, but that …” He jerked a thumb, pointing back into the stable. “I have never seen anything like it in all these years. Lady Clarence,” he addressed Cecily directly. “I know your love for animals. I plead with you not to go in there now. It will only upset you.”
Yet Robert knew his wife. Her love for animals was only outweighed by a wish to do what was right. She ran into the stable even before Robert could, and the gasp that escaped her made his heart tremble in his chest.
As he rounded the corner to his horse’s stalls, he saw Midnight Dancer on the floor, struggling on his side. He’d been tied with his reins to a post, for a horse attendant was trying to still him to examine what appeared to be bloodied spots across his back.
“Wh-what is this?” Robert managed to stammer, his hands starting to shake with anger when he saw the pain his poor horse was in.
The stable hand looked up, a grimace on his face as he wiped the sweat from his cheeks.
