“What are you doing here? Come to gloat?” asked Mona, stepping into her drawing room.
Lord Farley feigned disappointment. “You’re not very nice to me, especially when I’m doing you a favor. I’m going to a celebratory party tonight at Edward Bradley’s home, and I’m allowed to bring a guest. Would you like to come?”
“Why me?”
“Why not you? Oh, for goodness sakes, you don’t have to be suspicious all of the time, and if you show up looking as spectacular as you did at your own fete, everyone will forgive any Moon impropriety at the Derby. Besides after what happened between the jockeys of Brokers Tip and Head Play, no one will remember Melanie thrashing Wilhelmina Deatherage. The papers are calling the race “The Fighting Finish.” A chap from the Courier-Journal snapped a shot of the jockeys flailing each other with their riding crops at the finish line, and it’s on the front page of every newspaper in the country.”
“I understand the fighting continued in the jockeys’ locker room, but I can see why. I’ve never seen a race so close. Brokers Tip won by a nostril at most.”
“If he even won. This race will be argued long after both the owners of Brokers Tip and Head Play are dead. Look, everyone will be there. You must come. Do you have another dress to wear?”
“Of course, I have,” Mona snapped. “I don’t know if I should leave though. Mimi has not been located yet, but keep that under your hat.”
“My lips are sealed, but if I were a betting man, and I am, I should look across the border in Tennessee. That’s where Kentucky couples go to elope.”
“Oh, no.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven. It’s white tie tonight, so dress to the nines. I’ll see myself out.”
As soon as Lord Farley left, Mona went into the library and phoned Dexter Deatherage. “Hello, Dexter, this is Mona. Can you send some men to Jellico, Tennessee to search for Mimi? She might be in a love nest there. They must be very discreet. Very. You can? Good. Let me know if you find anything. Thank you. Goodbye.”
Mona hung up wondering if Lord Farley really wanted her as his date. He was a man full of tricks. She needed to be wary of him.
Mona couldn’t think about that now. She had to go over the month’s budget before getting ready for Mr. Bradley’s party. Mona needed to be stunning tonight. She was going to wow everyone’s socks off—including the very smug Lord Farley.