Winning the Gentleman (Hearts on the Heath #2) - Kristi Ann Hunter Page 0,52

should he tell her? It was common knowledge in Newmarket, indeed throughout most of England’s upper class, that Aaron was illegitimate. It had been a defining quality of his life, and for the most part, he’d come to terms with it.

If she considered him an outcast, like she was, she might think they had something in common. She might think they had a connection. She might even start thinking he wanted to keep her around.

He didn’t. He wanted her gone. Safe, of course, but most definitely gone.

“Horses were the only subject I liked in school.” He’d enjoyed riding and learning about horses from the grooms and instructors far more than he had the classes with their smirking students and ostracizing teachers. “I took care of the horses when my friends and I traveled.”

More to the point, he had made sure Oliver and Graham properly cared for their horses. He’d enjoyed his role of equine caretaker, telling the others what to do. Both of his friends were going to be peers one day, with seats in the House of Lords and positions of societal power. Aaron, whose highest possible rank was that of somewhat disreputable gentleman, had taken the opportunity to be in charge when it had arisen.

“One of those friends was Oliver—er, Lord Farnsworth. That’s who you’re riding for.” Aaron shifted his reins to one hand so he could wipe his suddenly sweaty palm on his breeches. “His father gave me the job of managing his horses a few years ago. I’ve done well enough with it that I was entrusted with another stable.”

Miss Fitzroy nodded. “A younger son having to make his way in the world, I take it.”

A burning sensation crawled up Aaron’s throat. He was the eldest, but it didn’t matter. He was still the one making his own way in the world without even the advantages younger sons could claim.

“I’m afraid my, er, father didn’t have much to leave me in the way of a fortune.” The misleading words scraped across his tongue.

Why did he feel the need to revert to subtle statements and veiled remarks, implying something other than the truth without telling an outright lie? He’d been boldly claiming his true condition for months now and enjoying the freedom it brought. Was he trying to prevent a connection with this woman or trying to impress her? His muscles tightened at the implications, sending the well-trained Shadow leaping into a sudden short run.

The house on the portion of land came into view, so Aaron steered them down the other side and back toward the Heath. His only job was to determine the potential of the land. “We’ll go this way and show you the duke’s course. That’s the four miles you’ll be running tomorrow.”

A leisurely tour through the countryside had been a bad idea. It was time to change the course of both their ride and their conversation. He needed a plan to get Miss Fitzroy out of his life, and for that he needed information. “Were you raised a traveling performer?”

She shook her head. “My father was a horse trainer. I lived at his side, learning his tricks and how to read a horse. That was all I wanted to do with my life. When he died, my brother and I tried to keep the business going, but no one trusted us. We were too young, not even eighteen. They didn’t think we could do what my father had done.” She gave a short shrug of one shoulder. “Like you, I took the skills I had and made the best of them.”

The woman had found a commonality between them after all. That she had a brother was news, though. How could a man worth the name allow his sister to join a traveling company, no matter how dire the circumstances? “Where is your brother now?”

She glanced away from him, looking over the expanse of Heath that was emptying as the strings of racehorses returned to their yards. “The last time I saw him he was sleeping in an abandoned cottage that was half fallen in.”

Well. Perhaps the traveling company had been the best option. Aaron couldn’t imagine being that desperate. His life had been hard, yes, but he’d never had to worry about shelter or food. The allowance his father gave him could easily see to his needs. It had been in a meager fashion, but he’d been taken care of.

Some would say he wasn’t living much above meager now, but he was doing