The Rake's Rebellious Lady (19 page)

‘Was that why you hesitated to speak?’ Caroline asked, her eyes intent on his face.

‘No, it was not. If I seemed reserved with you at any time, it was because I was not perfectly sure I wished to marry. I
had become accustomed to living in my own way and knew that if I married I must make changes.’

‘And are you sure that you wish to marry now? You must not think yourself obliged in any way, sir. I know why you came to Almack’s that evening, but it cannot signify. I need never go back to London unless I wish, and in the country no one will bother about what I did there.’

He smiled at her. ‘Believe me, I should not allow the gossips to drive me into making an offer I did not choose to make, Caroline. I do truly wish to marry you.’

Caroline felt a weight lift from her shoulders, but persisted. ‘You must speak to Grandfather, listen to what he has to tell you about my grandmother and then ask me again if you still wish it.’

‘Nothing he or anyone else could say would change my mind.’

‘But—’

Before she could finish, she felt Freddie’s hands on her shoulders. He turned her round to face him, and she trembled as she saw the look in his eyes. The next moment, he bent his head, taking her lips with a kiss that was soft and gentle at the start, but became more intense, hungry, as he felt her response. Swept away on a tide of feeling she had never experienced before, Caroline melted into his body, wanting this wonderful feeling to go on and on. It seemed to her that the kiss was endless, but when at last he withdrew, she felt herself sway and might have fallen had he not held her.

‘Oh…’ she said in a bewildered tone. ‘I did not expect to feel like that…’

‘No?’ Freddie laughed huskily. ‘You are a sweet innocent, my dear one, and I adore you for it—but I must admit I have
not felt quite this way before.’ His eyes quizzed her. ‘So what are we to do, Caroline, my love? You are reluctant to marry me because your family may become the centre of a scandal—and yet we clearly have an uncontrollable passion for one another. Will it suit you better to become my mistress?’

‘Sir! You are outrageous,’ she said, stung by the suggestion. As she saw the laughter in his eyes, she realised that he had merely been teasing her. ‘Oh, Freddie, I do love you. I think I should die if anything came between us…but is it really fair to you?’

‘What is this foolishness, my love?’ He questioned with his eyes.

‘You must speak to Grandfather. I am not sure it would be right if I accepted your very generous offer. I wish you to think very carefully about what he has to say to you—and then ask me again.’

‘This is very mysterious. Do you think I care for a little scandal? I have not been exactly without blame in my life, Caroline. Some would think that you were the one who had cause for complaint, not I.’

‘It is not just the Jamaican business…though there is that, too.’

‘Surely it cannot be so very terrible?’

‘Oh, Freddie, it might be worse than you imagine,’ she said, her mouth soft with love. She longed to accept his offer, but her sense of fairness held her back.

He took her hand, caressing the palm with his finger. The stroking movement was delicate but it brought her close to swooning with what she knew must be desire. She melted against him as he put his arms about her, gazing up at him
longingly. ‘I feel so strange and not at all as I ought. I think if you do not marry me, I might end by taking up your very disobliging offer to become your mistress…’

‘Well, it must be one or the other,’ he told her as he stroked her cheek with the tips of his fingers, making her shiver with excitement. ‘I confess that I cannot live without you, my darling. If you refuse me, I may very well—’

They were interrupted by a knock at the door, which opened as they moved apart, to allow Jenkins to enter. ‘Excuse me, Miss Holbrook—Sir Frederick. My master requests that you visit him for a moment or two before dinner, sir.’

‘Very well, I shall come in one moment,’ Freddie said, and as the door closed behind him, ‘You know that I adore you, Caroline. What is your answer, before I speak to Lord Bollingbrook?’

‘You know that it must be yes—if you feel the same,’ she said, swept away on a tide of recklessness. ‘I would marry you even if I had to elope with you, Freddie. My hesitation was for your sake, not mine—I shall be happy to be your wife.’

‘Very well, that is settled,’ Freddie said and there was laughter in his eyes as he looked down at her. ‘We shall marry against all opposition and be damned to the tabbies!’

‘Oh, Freddie!’ Caroline cried, laughing as he dropped a light kiss on her forehead. ‘I am so glad that we met.’

Freddie kissed his fingers to her as he left the room. Jenkins was waiting for him at the top of the main staircase and he was conducted along the passage to the Marquis’ suite of rooms.

‘Please go in, sir,’ Jenkins said. ‘His lordship is waiting for you.’

‘Thank you,’ Freddie said. ‘Is his lordship well?’

‘Yes, sir, better than might have been expected. The doctor said that he was not to be upset, but I have no fear that you will come to blows.’

Freddie smiled and nodded, going into the room that was indicated. He discovered that Lord Bollingbrook was sitting in a wing chair next to the fireplace, where a small blaze cheered the room. He was a man of some seventy years, his hair silvery white, as were his brows, but there was strength in his features, and he was clearly in possession of his wits, for his eyes blazed with a fierce vitality.

‘Good evening, sir,’ Freddie said. ‘I am Sir Frederick Rathbone. I believe you asked to see me?’

The Marquis looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Humph,’ he said in a tone that boded very little good will. ‘So you’re the one, are you? What have you to say to me?’

‘I hope you are feeling better, sir,’ Freddie said. ‘There is much I would wish to say to you at another time, but this may not be the right occasion.’

‘Don’t pass me off with that flummery,’ Bollingbrook muttered sourly. ‘What are your intentions towards my girl?’

‘Ah…’ Freddie nodded pleasantly. ‘It is my intention to make Caroline my wife quite soon.’

‘Not without my permission you won’t,’ Bollingbrook said and glared at him. ‘I shall want to know a lot more about you before I give it. Who are you and what are your prospects?’

‘My fortune is adequate, I believe—and in the fullness of time I shall inherit my uncle’s title and at least as much of the estate as is entailed. For although we have our disagreements, he cannot avoid it.’

‘Damnedentails!’ Bollingbrook growled. ‘I’minthesame
boat meself—bound to leave this place to me eldest son, but he won’t get a penny more, I can tell you. I’ll leave most of the money where I please.’

‘That is your prerogative, sir.’

‘Well, go on then, sir—who is this uncle you mentioned?’

‘The Marquis of Southmoor. He knows you very well, I believe?’

‘Southmoor? I thought the fellow was dead—as he ought to be by rights! We fell out years ago over your mother. Selina would have married me had he not forbidden her. He had no right to do it, for I cared for her and should have treated her well. I married badly that time—and that was his fault.’ Bollingbrook glared at Freddie. ‘I demanded satisfaction when Selina turned me down, and we fought a duel. Not that it gave me much satisfaction.’ He looked at Freddie, his expression harsh with dislike. ‘Well, that’s it then, sir. You can take yourself off and never darken my door again. I shan’t give you my girl—not if you went down on your knees and begged for it. I won’t have Southmoor’s breed in my family! You can forget Caroline.’

‘That I shall not do for you or any man,’ Freddie said. ‘Pray tell me why a quarrel between you and my uncle should prevent my marriage to Caroline? Surely it happened too long ago to matter now?’

‘Insolent pup,’ Bollingbrook snapped. ‘This conversation is at an end. Please have the goodness to leave.’

‘Certainly, sir. This is your house and I shall not enter it again without an invitation, but my intention remains the same. You are the head of the family, but not Caroline’s guardian. There are others I might apply to for permission, and you may be sure that I shall do so.’

‘I am the head of this family…’

‘As you say,’ Freddie said, a glint of steel in his eyes. ‘I shall not say more at this time, but Caroline has a mother and brother who may think differently.’ Bowing his head, he turned and walked to the door.

‘Damn you, sir! What do you mean by that?’

Freddie glanced back at him, a slight smile on his lips. ‘If you should reconsider, please feel free to let me know that you would like me to visit you again.’

‘Never! Damn you!’

Freddie looked grim as the curse was flung after him. He walked along the hall and down the main staircase. At the bottom Nicolas was standing speaking to one of the footmen. He turned as Freddie came up to him, extending his hand.

‘I believe I am to wish you happy?’

‘You may do so, for I intend to be,’ Freddie said and took his hand in a firm grip. ‘However, you should know that Lord Bollingbrook has forbidden me to marry Caroline.’

‘Why in God’s name should he do that?’

‘He once wished to marry my mother, but my uncle forbade it and they fought a duel over it,’ Freddie said, his tone dangerous. ‘I believe there is no love lost on either side, for my uncle tried to dissuade me from making Caroline an offer—but I have and Bollingbrook shall not stop me. I think I have your blessing and Tom’s—and I shall apply to Mrs Holbrook.’

‘Tom would not deny you, though he has recently had reason to be grateful to Bollingbrook.’

‘Whether I have Tom’s blessing or not, I intend to marry her.’

‘Good for you!’ Nicolas said. ‘You may count on me, and as for the rest…I leave the details to you.’ Nicolas frowned
as Freddie picked up his hat, gloves and driving whip from the hallstand. ‘You are leaving?’

‘Your grandfather threw me out, figuratively speaking.’

‘But what shall I say to Caroline?’

‘Say that I was called away, but shall see her tomorrow.’

‘Nothing else?’

‘Only if the subject is causing her distress. If Lord Bollingbrook should upset her—then you may tell her that nothing is changed between us.’

‘Oh…’ Nicolas grinned. ‘Like that is it? He will kick up a fine dust, I dare say. He’s had his own way for years. It may do him good to discover that at last he has met his match.’

‘He would already have discovered it had he not been so recently ill,’ Freddie replied grimly. ‘But one thing you may be certain of, Nicolas—I do not intend to give her up.’

Nicolas inclined his head. Had he been wearing a hat, he would have taken it off to the man he was beginning to like very much. Freddie nodded in return and then went out, leaving Nicolas to stare thoughtfully after him.

* * *

‘But why did he leave?’ Caroline asked. ‘It seems strange that Freddie should go without a word to me.’ Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her brother. ‘You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you? It is something to do with Grandfather, isn’t it?’ Had he decided that it would not suit him to marry her knowing that she might not be able to give him an heir? For a moment her heart contracted with pain and she thought that she would not be able to bear it if he withdrew. Yet she must do so. Indeed, she ought to have expected it in the circumstances.

‘Sir Freddie told me to tell you that he would explain tomorrow, Caroline.’

‘Explain what? Has Grandfather made him angry?’

‘He wasn’t angry, merely determined. Oh, if you must have it—Grandfather refused permission, but Sir Freddie says that nothing is changed. He intends to apply to Mama, and of course both Tom and I like him.’

‘But Grandfather is the head of the family…’ Caroline was confused, upset by the news that the Marquis had refused his permission. She had expected something quite different. ‘Why did he say we might not marry, Nicolas?’ Caroline was very pale, for she suspected her grandfather’s true reasons, whatever excuse he might have made to Freddie.

‘Some tale of a quarrel between Rathbone’s uncle and Grandfather,’ Nicolas said. ‘But you should not let it weigh with you, Caroline. He does not have the power to prevent you, though it would have been better to have his permission. I think he had promised that he would give you a substantial dowry.’ Caroline made an impatient movement of her head. ‘Well, I dare say it doesn’t matter. Sir Freddie isn’t short of the readies.’

‘I do not care for the money,’ Caroline said, ‘but I feel hurt that Grandfather should wish to deny me this happiness.’ Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears, but she lifted her head proudly, refusing to let anyone see how distressed she felt. Perhaps her grandfather had done the right thing. Oh, she did not know what she ought to do!

‘Do not let it upset you,’ Nicolas said, guessing at how she felt. ‘Tom and I will support you and I dare say Mama will be glad if you are happy.’

Caroline heard a little cough behind her and turned to see
her grandfather’s valet. ‘If you would care to step up to his lordship’s rooms, miss?’

‘Miss Holbrook is about to dine, Jenkins. Say that she will come up later.’

‘No, Nicolas, I shall go,’ Caroline said. ‘You and Tom must not wait. I shall come later, but I am not hungry.’

Nicolas cursed as he watched her run up the stairs. He had always liked his grandfather despite his testy ways and his faults, but he was damned if he would let the old devil ruin Caroline’s life!

* * *

Caroline knocked at the door and went in, finding her grandfather sitting in his favourite chair. She was pleased to see that he was feeling well enough to leave his bed, but her heart was heavy as she saw his forbidding expression.

‘I dare say you have heard the news?’

‘Yes, sir. I do not understand why you have done this to me. It made me happy when Sir Freddie asked me to marry him—why could you not just accept that he was my choice?’ She looked at him, feeling close to tears.

Bollingbrook did his best to ignore the signs of distress. ‘There are plenty more fish in the sea, girl. He isn’t good enough for you. Besides, he needs an heir and I told you that you might not be able to have a child.’