The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

Epilogue

ASCOT, JUNE 1883

Hooves pounded on the track, mud flying, jockeys bent over brown and black and gray backs.

Ainsley whooped and flung her fists in the air as Night- Blooming Jasmine pulled ahead in the last furlong and romped home well ahead of the pack.

The Mackenzie box went insane. Daniel stood on top of the rail and screamed; Beth, Isabella, and Mac cheered at the tops of their voices.

The well-bred crowd in other boxes looked at them askance, and Ainsley hoped that Lord Pierson was among them. His own fault. The man did not understand horses.

Hart added his voice to the cheer. “Eat that, Pierson.”

Mac laughed at him. “You must not need his vote.”

“Shut it, Mac,” Hart said.

Ian didn’t join in with the cheering, but he pressed his fists into the rail in front of him and watched as Jasmine pranced about, proud of her victory. Beth planted a happy kiss on Ian’s cheek, and Ian smiled down at her, far more interested in Beth than the horses.

Only Cameron had not said a word or done a thing. He simply watched, unsurprised, as the horse he’d lavished attention on all spring performed exactly as he expected.

Daniel jumped down from the rail. “I’ve just won a bundle. That will teach the bookmakers to do odds against on Dad’s horses.”

“They knew about Jasmine’s past,” Ainsley said. “They must not have believed Cameron could turn her around. More fool they.”

Cameron held out his arm to Ainsley. “Time to go down.”

“Before you do,” Hart said, “I have something to say.”

Cameron paused, not really interested, but Mac seemed to catch something in Hart’s tone. “What?” he asked sharply.

“Nothing disastrous,” Hart said. “But now that I have you lot married off, I’m contemplating taking a wife.”

The silence was instant, stunned, and heavy. Ian looked at Hart and kept looking at him, straight into Hart’s eyes.

And then everyone started talking at once. “Do you mean Eleanor?” Ainsley asked over the clamor.

Hart broke his gaze from Ian’s and flicked it to Ainsley. “I’ve not said I’ve chosen a possibility.”

“Yes, he has,” Daniel shouted. “He just don’t want to say, in case she turns him down again.”

“Cameron,” Hart said. “Cuff your son.”

“Why?” Cameron shrugged. “Danny’s right. Sort it out yourself, Hart, my horse is waiting. Come on, Daniel. This is your victory too.”

Daniel took Ainsley’s arm on her the other side, and sandwiched between father and son, Ainsley exited the box.

“What do you think, Step-mama?” Daniel asked. “A tanner on Lady Eleanor? For or against? I say she gives him the boot.”

“No, indeed, Danny, my boy,” Ainsley said. “Twenty says she accepts.”

“Done. Dad?”

Cameron shook his head. “I never bet on Mackenzies. Way too risky, and Hart can be underhanded.”

“Still, I think Eleanor will win, no matter what,” Ainsley said. “Now, let’s go see Jasmine.”

Daniel dropped Ainsley’s arm and ran ahead, bounding down the stairs. Behind them, the remaining Mackenzies continued their noise, also flinging about wagers on Hart’s intended. Ian’s voice rose above them all. “Thirty on Eleanor,” he said. “She’ll say yes.”

Ainsley laughed. “Poor Hart.”

“His own fault. He dropped the news on purpose when everyone was excited about Jasmine. He meant for us to treat it in fun, not something deadly serious. But Hart’s deadly serious.”

Ainsley knew he was. “I’m tempted to warn Eleanor,” she said. “But no, they need to work it out for themselves.”

“As we have.”

“Hmm.” Ainsley looked at her broad-shouldered, handsome husband, in black coat and Mackenzie kilt, and craved him with a bright suddenness.

“Cam,” she said. “They’ll wait for us in the paddock, won’t they?”

“Probably. Unless Danny grabs the trophy.”

“Good.” Ainsley side-stepped and tugged Cameron with her under the shadow of the grandstand.

“What is it, vixen?” Cameron asked as they ducked out of sight. “Do you want to tell me a secret?”

“Ask you a question, rather.” Ainsley touched the top button of her placket. “How many buttons can you open, my lord, before we have to go and rescue the trophy?”

His eyes darkened. “Little devil.”

Ainsley laughed as Cameron swept her against him, mouth hard on hers, while his agile fingers began to unbutton her dress.