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Almost a Lady

by Erin Blackwell

Captain Vanderslice was soloved hand and kissed it at the lowest point of a deep bow ?Miss O?Carey, you are bloo lady?

?And you, sir, look as fine as always,? Rebecca lied, watching hiht have been handso the War Between the States ten years before, burrowing a thick scar from nose to eye

Rumor had it that the visible wound wasn?t the only one he?d suffered during the war?and that despite his status as a bachelor in a border state deprived of es of war, this disappoint was thehis hand inrandeous, for soe Captain Vanderslice?s vast horse farm with her own

Itto say to the captain that would be neither rude nor an encourageht! He talks ofit an annual event?

?It will never catch on,? said the captain with hauteur, swirling the loved hand

?Oh! I?d consider the races a success, with ten thousand in attendance,? Rebecca e unpleasant pleasantries with the captain while her eye roved about the rich ballroo for an escape before the captain?s sathering of late

Luck was not on her side At a typical country dance, one of her friends froically interrupted the exchange, drawing a grateful Rebecca away froentleman?s attentions This was no country dance Colonel Clark had organized a race of the area?s finest three-year-old colts on the outskirts of Louisville, and this exclusive ball in hisof perhaps a hundred, Rebecca was alone

Almost She spied movement out of the corner of her eye Fraht, beyond the patio, David?s dark jacket blended with the shadows, but his golden hair and crisp white shirt glowed in the soft candlelight reflected from mirrors in the ballroom

She had asked him to meet her She had retreated to this corner of the ballroolanced casually through the archway in search of him after every dance for four quadrilles, three reels, and a round dance As she spied him at last, she felt as if her heart with its insistent throbbing were actuallythe lace of her bosom

?Miss Rebecca!?

She started, nearly bursting frohtly laced corset in surprise But it was only the elderly Mr Gordon, stepping between herself and Captain Vanderslice She sratefully at hiarden at her grandmother?s estate, she had shared with hirandave him her hand

?Gordon,? the captain said shortly

Mr Gordon e the captain To Rebecca he said, ?I was most pleased with the performance of your horseflesh in the third race today I hear you trained this filly yourself??

?You trained!? the captain gasped, aghast at Rebecca

Rebecca kept her eyes on Mr Gordon, which see shocked by everybody instead of participating in the conversation ?You heard this froiveDavid Archer has done most of the work I merely took an interest?

?And picked this filly out of the barn to train,? Mr Gordon prompted her

?Well, yes,? Rebecca said, ?after discussions on the subject with David?

?Young, you say,? Mr Gordonfor a place of his own, out fro shadow of his famously talented father, perhaps?

Rebecca?s heart throbbed again, this ti conversation to distract the captain fro her, and she appreciated his efforts If only she could keep her servant-lover frorandmother?s farm in the process ?Well, I don?t know that Archer is all that,? Rebecca backtracked ?I probably have ive myself credit for It is not ladylike to accept the accolades?

?Nor is it ladylike to take such an interest in horseflesh in the first place!? the forgotten captain exploded ?Rebecca, are youabout in the barn will ruin your reputation! I shall speak with your grandmother!?

?What an excellent idea!? Rebecca said ?Mr Gordon, would you be so kind as to help the captain find randmother??

?And youhis arm

Rebecca hung back ?No need I aet to the root of the problem, and I shall stand here by hts about what I have done?

?Coe As he put a hand on the captain?s shoulder to turn him, he crossed his eyes at Rebecca

She winked at Mr Gordon She appreciated his help, and she felt a twinge of guilt at deceiving hi her fro her for an illicit one, he would not have been so helpful

She watched the elegant backs of the two oers and disappear into another roolance around the party, she backed to the arched doorway Sheslowness due to the daoith an i steps of only a few inches at a tieable women, she supposed, but extrens on a stable boy