Chapter 14

“Perhaps you and I could visit somewhere next week,” Nick offered. “There are other places to go besides Vauxhall.”

“There’s someplace I’d like to see—if you’d take me.”

She sounded a little tooinnocent. “Where do you want to go?” Nick asked warily.

“Tattersall’s.”

“Tattersall’s?” Nick repeated, feeling a jolt in the pit of his stomach. Another sister who wanted more than he could give. They couldn’t afford a regular hack, let alone the high-quality horses that went for auction at Tattersall’s. He knew how much Lucy had always loved horses, though. She’d had a pony of her own from the age of four until their entire stables were sold off when she was eight. Nick tried to explain as gently as possible. “Lucy, I know it looks like I’ve been spending a good deal more money than usual—I havebeen spending a good deal more money than usual,” he admitted. “But buying a horse is out of the question.”