The next day Will found himself sitting in between Caroline and Charles in their private grandstand box. Caroline was leaning against the armrest of her chair, practically sitting on Will's lap.
"So what do you think of my horse, Will? Is she going to win?"
Will turned to Caroline to see a smirk on her face. A month ago Charles had asked Will to help him buy a horse for Caroline's birthday. Frankly, Will didn't think that Caroline should be anywhere around an expensive thoroughbred, but after Charles said that the horse would stay under his watch and in his barn he thought it was an overall good idea. Will had then mentioned to Charles that he had a nice two-year old filly that he was considering selling with decent bloodlines and if Charles agreed not to let Caroline ride her, he would get a good deal on her. Charles had readily agreed and bought the filly immediately. Today would be her first race.
"Anything can happen in a race, Caroline."
"Don't be silly. You bred her. Of course she is going to win."
Will knew he wasn't getting out of this one, so he quickly flipped through his program.
"There Caroline, it says Abigail Bird is the 5-1 favorite. Everyone else thinks she's going to win."
Caroline seemed to be satisfied with that answer and was about to make some other comment when Will decided to divert her by asking Charles about his jockey selection. Apparently Caroline had something to say about that too.
"Oh! Charles got the leading rider at Meryton! I wanted to bring someone more famous to ride her, but Charles said that we shouldn't make so much fuss over a maiden race. Apparently, he met the jockey's sister yesterday who said that he was free for this race and said that her brother would be interested in taking the mount."
"Well, the jockey isn't exactly a…" Charles tried to but in, but Darcy was quicker.
"Shouldn't we make our way down to the paddock? It's almost time for the horses to be saddled." Will knew that Caroline wouldn't go down to the paddock. She had on a new dress and couldn't afford to get it the slightest bit dirty.
Charles nodded and the two men quickly made their way down to the paddock where the horses were to be saddled and mounted.
When they reached Abigail Bird, the jockey Charles had hired was already there dressed in Netherfield, Inc's gold and red silks. His back was to them, patting the filly's neck and talking to the groom who was saddling her.
The jockey suddenly turned around, sensing their arrival and Will was surprised to see that it was actually a woman.
"You must be Elizabeth Bennet?" asked Charles as he stuck his hand out for the girl to shake, "I'm so glad we could get you on such short notice."
As Will stood silently to Charles's left, he wondered why the girl looked so familiar. She was obviously short, like any jockey should be, but she held her self well, standing squarely on both feet. Her thick, dark brown hair was in a single braid that she had resting on her left shoulder. Will's eyes moved to examine her face. She had a youthful face, with a light dusting of freckles across her short nose and dimples when we smiled. However it was not until she rested her eyes on Will that he found anything striking about her. They were a bright green, with flecks of gold that caught the sunlight and sparkled; the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
"Elizabeth, this is my good friend, Will Darcy. Uh…you two have sort of met already."
It was then that Will realized where he had seen her before, "So you're the girl who almost let that colt run over my horse," it sounded a lot harsher than he had meant and he almost flinched when the girl's eyes narrowed, the sparkles gone.
"And you're the man who insulted my riding," she shot back, "You're also the one who apparently disregarded the note on the morning workout board, which I'm guessing you didn't read."
Will had to admit, he hadn't bother to read the board that morning and was about to shoot something back, when Charles interrupted, sensing that things were off to a bad start.
"How's Jane? I haven't seen her around since I met her."
Elizabeth gave one last cool look at Will then turned back to Charles, smiling with warmth, "Oh, once you get to know Jane, you'll find out that she's always busy. She said she should be around today though, my father has one in the 6th race."
"I must say hello then!"
Before Charles could say anything more, the call for rider's up was announced. The groom started to lead Abigail Bird around the paddock and Charles gave Elizabeth a quick leg up and she gracefully landed in the saddle. When she turned to face Charles, Will saw that her countenance had changed, she was all business.
"Any instructions?"
"You know it's her first race, but I'm guessing she'll be slow out of the gate. I'd say wait at the back before the homestretch, but do whatever you feel she's up to."
Elizabeth nodded and Charles gave the chestnut filly a light pat as the groom led her toward the track.
"Nice girl, very professional," Charles commented, looking at Will "I hear she has a way with horses, especially problem ones."
Will just thoughtfully watched the horse and jockey until they were out of sight, deciding not to say anything further about her until the race was over.
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Elizabeth fumed as she and Abigail made their way onto the track. That man was insufferable, insulting her like that in front of a client, in front of a big client. Riding for Netherfield, Inc. could be her big break and Will Darcy had tried to ruin it. Will Darcy of Pemberly Farm, she grimaced, maybe she shouldn't have snapped at him.
"Rich, pompous ass," she muttered as she signaled the filly to canter, "Guess I'll never get hired by him."
As they neared the starting gate and an outrider grabbed Abigail Bird's bridle, Elizabeth smiled and soon thoughts of the race pushed thoughts of Will Darcy out of her mind. So far the filly had been extremely easy to handle and hadn't even given the crowd in the grandstand a second look. If the she acted like this in the race, perhaps they would have a very good chance of winning.
It was their turn to load, and a gate attendant led them into the fifth slot. There Elizabeth and Abigail Bird waited quietly for the other horses to load and the race to start.
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"Charles, is that a woman on Abby? I thought you said you had the best rider at Meryton," Caroline was using her binoculars to watch the horses being loaded.
"Yes, Caroline. That's Elizabeth Bennet, leading rider at Meryton for the past three years. She comes highly recommended."
Caroline pouted, but didn't say anything further.
The announcer's voice came over the speakers, "They're in the gate," a second's pause, "AND THEY'RE OFF!"
From what Will saw, all the horses broke sharply. A few seconds later he spotted the gold and red silks Elizabeth was wearing. They were at the back of the pack, second to last with ten horses in front of them.
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No jockey liked being behind a wall of horses, but Elizabeth stayed calm. Charles had been right, the filly had made a good, but slow start. Hopefully, her speed would kick in at the end but until then they had to keep a good position. Elizabeth moved up beside the horse in front of them, but soon had to check her filly as another horse bared over in their path. The half mile pole flashed by and Elizabeth knew that she had to formulate a plan; either go for the inside rail or swing to the outside of the field. Elizabeth went for the inside. She expertly guided in between two bays and asked for a little speed from Abigail Bird who responded immediately. They then moved to the inside only to be blocked as another horse moved in front of them. Elizabeth didn't panic, knowing that she still had a lot of horse underneath her. Approaching the quarter pole, there was a slight opening in between horses to her right which she quickly steered toward. They were in between horses again and with a quick flick of her whip, Abegail accelerated and they were in the open. Now only one horse was in front of them, about two lengths up. Elizabeth asked the filly for everything she had and Abegail responded, finding another gear as they bounded toward the wire. They pulled up alongside the last horse, running neck and neck. In the last few strides, they passed the other horse at the wire.
Elizabeth stood up in her stirrups, all smiles, and gave Abigail Bird a good pat as the filly slowed to a light canter. Take that Mr. Darcy.
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Will Darcy had watched the last half of the race in awe. He had been wrong. Elizabeth Bennet was a fantastic jockey, probably had potential to be one of the best. She had sat calmly until the last possible moment and then expertly weaved through the field to win by a neck. It took a good jockey to win, but a great jockey got his or her mount through the race without asking to much of the horse and Abigail Bird looked as fresh as ever, tossing her head about as they trotted back to the gap.
Charles, Caroline, and Will quickly made their way to the winner's circle to meet horse and rider. Caroline gloated and mentioned that Abigail Bird was Netherfield's next champion, but was promptly ignored by Charles and Will. It took more than one race to make a horse a champion.
They reached the circle where Abegail Bird and Elizabeth were waiting to take the winner's picture.
"Elizabeth! Fantastic race! You must ride for us in the next one," Charles shook Elizabeth's hand vigorously.
Elizabeth smiled down at Charles, "Oh, it was my pleasure Mr. Bingley. It was all Abigail; she's a very nice filly…"
Elizabeth was interrupted by a tall woman appearing at Charles's side.
"Oh this is my sister Caroline, Elizabeth, she actually is the rightful owner of the horse."
Elizabeth smiled and reached down to shake Caroline's hand, but Caroline took one look at the dust covered, rough outstretched hand and sniffed, "Pleasure," she said without raising her own.
Elizabeth frowned and quickly retracted her hand and Will cringed at Caroline's bad manners. This girl had won for Caroline and she would hardly acknowledge her.
After some quick rearranging, the photo was taken and Elizabeth jumped to the ground from the filly's back. Charles thanked her again and said he would be giving her a call soon then he and Caroline started walking to back to their box. Will stood there watching Elizabeth unbuckle the girth of the saddle and slide it off the horse's back. Feeling Will's eyes on her, Elizabeth turned around with the saddle on her arm, looked at Will and raised an eyebrow. A small smile crept onto her face and then she turned around and marched back toward the jockey locker rooms without once looking back. Will couldn't help but grin at her retreating back.
