The Rake's Rebellious Lady (27 page)

‘Well, I shan’t quarrel with him,’ the Marquis said, ‘for you’ve set your heart on him and I don’t want to be at odds with you, Caroline. I’ve come here to tell you that I’m sorry and ask you to forgive me.’

‘Of course I forgive you,’ she said, and then looked at Freddie. ‘Do you think you could carry me upstairs? I am feeling a little odd…’ She was swooning as Freddie lifted her into his arms. He nodded curtly to the others and went on into the house, swiftly followed by Jenkins.

Lady Stroud turned her fearsome gaze on the Marquis. ‘You had better come in, Bollingbrook. You can tell me why you saw fit to forbid that gel to marry my godson in the first place!’

* * *

Caroline was barely conscious as Freddie gently deposited her on the bed. However, she revived under the gentle ministrations of the Marquis’ valet, her eyelids fluttering open as he finished binding her arm.

‘Thank you, Mr Jenkins,’ she said, giving him a brave smile. ‘You were very gentle and did not hurt me at all.’

‘You are a brave young lady,’ Jenkins said. ‘You’ll be as right as ninepence in a day or so, don’t you worry. And don’t worry about the Marquis, Miss Caroline. His bark is worse than his bite and he thinks the world of you.’

‘Thank you.’ Caroline looked beyond him to where Freddie still hovered, his expression grim. ‘Please do not be cross with me, Freddie. I knew he meant to shoot whatever you said and I couldn’t bear it if he had killed you.’

Freddie came to the bed as the valet moved away, discreetly leaving the room. He stood looking at Caroline for a moment, and then he smiled.

‘How do you think I should have felt if he had killed you instead? You were very foolish, Caroline…reckless…but I know that you did it because you love me, and that makes me feel humble. I did not expect to be loved that much, my dearest. I have never truly known love before this.’

‘Have you not, Freddie?’ Caroline asked. The look in his eyes made her want to hold him and never let go. ‘I do not see why you should not be loved that much. I think you are everything that is good, honest and decent—and I am very lucky that you love me.’ She drew a shaky breath. ‘If only we were sure that we could have a child…it would be my dearest wish…’

‘Did I not tell you to forget this nonsense, my love? Believe me, you are perfectly healthy, and should have no trouble in bearing a child. There is no hereditary weakness, my love.’

‘What makes you so sure?’

‘Because my uncle Southmoor told me. He knew Angelica as a child—they were neighbours—and he remembers what happened. She caught scarlet fever as a child and almost died. In the end she recovered, but it left her with a weak heart. He did try to tell your grandfather once, but they had quarrelled years before and Bollingbrook would not listen.’

‘Then it could not have been passed down to me through Papa?’

‘No, definitely not,’ Freddie said. ‘My uncle tried to tell Bollingbrook. Angelica’s brother lied to him because he wanted to prevent the marriage. It was a cruel lie, my darling, nothing more. Bollingbrook was too proud to listen.’

‘So you knew all the time…’

‘I wish I had mentioned it the last time we spoke of this,’ Freddie said. ‘But I thought I had set your mind at rest.’ He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her. ‘Remember, you are more important to me than anything else. Rest for a while now, my love. The doctor will be here soon, though I believe Jenkins has done all that need be. Your arm will be sore for a while, but no lasting harm has been done.’

‘Your men killed Farringdon after he shot me,’ Caroline said, remembering the second shot that had felled their enemy. ‘So there will be no more attempts on either my life or yours.’

‘It is over now,’ he said with a grim look of satisfaction. ‘But I must talk to your grandfather. It is time that we settled our differences.’

‘You won’t quarrel with him?’

Freddie smiled. ‘I promise not to quarrel with him, Caroline—but I cannot promise that he will not quarrel with me…’

Caroline lay back against her pillows with a smile. Her arm was very sore and she thought that she might like to sleep for a while.

* * *

Caroline was feeling much recovered when she went downstairs at just after noon the following day. Lady Stroud was concerned and asked if she felt well enough to be up, but Caroline smiled and told her that there was no need to worry.

‘My arm is a little sore,’ she said, ‘but the medicine the doctor gave me ensured that I slept and I do not care to lie abed too long.’

‘I dare say my gel is as strong as an ox,’ Bollingbrook said, looking at her with pride. It was obvious that Freddie had
passed on the good news and he was now able to face the idea of her marriage with equanimity.

‘Grandfather—’ she began when the sound of a doorknocker and voices in the hall was heard. The next moment the parlour door opened and Mrs Milbank came in, shortly to be followed by her husband.

‘Mama…’ Caroline was astonished as she saw her, for she had imagined her on board a ship bound for Italy. ‘Why are you here? I don’t understand…’

Mrs Milbank was looking decidedly young and fashionable in her green silk gown. ‘Caroline, my love,’ she cried and opened her arms as Caroline went to embrace her. ‘I could not rest for thinking of you, and so Mr Milbank said we should come and see if you were all right for ourselves before we leave for our honeymoon.’ She suddenly realised that Caroline’s arm was in a sling and gasped. ‘But you are hurt! What has happened to you?’

‘Stop fussing, woman,’ Bollingbrook said, glaring at her. ‘She is quite able to take care of herself without you mewing over her like a broody tabby. If you must know, my girl is a heroine and saved Sir Frederick’s life!’

‘I think I know my own daughter, sir. And I shall thank you to keep your opinions to yourself!’ Mrs Milbank gave him a furious look, which startled him and then made him chuckle with laughter. ‘I do not see what is so funny, sir, when my poor daughter is injured…’

‘Damn me, Mrs Milbank, but it seems you suddenly acquired the spirit of a lion. I shall have to revise my opinion of you.’

‘Caroline?’ Marianne ignored Bollingbrook’s sally, her anxious eyes on her daughter.

‘It is nothing much, Mama,’ Caroline said. ‘Please, come up to my room where we can be private and I shall explain everything to you.’

Mrs Milbank stared at her in silence for a moment, and then sighed. ‘It seems that I was wrong to delay your wedding, Caroline. You are not a little girl any longer, and I dare say you know your own mind. Yes, I shall come with you and you may tell me everything…’

* * *

‘I was beginning to despair of ever having you to myself,’ Freddie said to Caroline as they walked in the garden that evening. ‘But perhaps it is as well that Bollingbrook and your mama are both here. They have finally settled it between them that we are to be married without more delay.’

‘Now they are falling out over who is to pay for the reception,’ Caroline said and gurgled with laughter. ‘But Mama is no longer afraid of him and I think that they are secretly enjoying the battle. Indeed, they may even end up liking each other!’

‘I am sure they already do,’ Freddie said. ‘I have invited my uncle to come for the wedding. I dare say there may be fireworks when he and Bollingbrook meet, but I believe we shall weather it.’

‘Oh, I do not fear any of them,’ Caroline said, gazing up into his eyes. ‘I have nothing to fear now, dearest Freddie.’

Freddie reached out for her, gathering her into his arms, careful to avoid touching her right arm, which he knew to be a little sore. ‘I love you so much, my darling girl. You do know that I would have married you even if you had inherited a weakness that prevented us having children, don’t you?’ he said, a growl of passion in his voice. ‘You mean everything to me, Caroline. I want your children, but more than anything
I want you…’ He kissed her hungrily, the desire flaring between them. ‘Oh, God, I want you so much…’

Caroline melted into him, her body seeming to dissolve in the heat of their desire. She let herself drift on the pleasure of his caress, which was more intimate and passionate than anything that had passed between them before that night, his fingers lightly brushing her breasts.

‘I love you…’ she whispered, knowing that if he asked she would give herself to him now this night. Indeed, her body was clamouring for his touch.

With a groan of resignation, Freddie moved away. He had been swept to the brink, but drew back at the last. ‘You are a sweet, wicked minx,’ he muttered hoarsely. ‘But torment me as you will, I shall wait for our wedding night.’

* * *

The sun was showering its blessing on them as they came out of church that morning. The bells rang out and a small crowd had gathered to wish the bride well, throwing handfuls of rose petals at her and Freddie as they walked to the carriage waiting to take them back to Lady Stroud’s house, where it had been decided the wedding would be held to save more delay.

Freddie leaned forward to kiss Caroline on the mouth as the horses started forwards. ‘Did it please you to have most of your family there for the wedding?’

‘Oh, yes, very much,’ Caroline said, smiling up at him. He looked so very handsome and she was so much in love. ‘I was glad to hear that Tom doesn’t have to go to Jamaica just yet after all—and the news that he is to marry Julia is wonderful! It has all worked out very well, has it not?’

‘Yes, very well,’ Freddie said. ‘Now, tell me, my love—
do you wish to give a ball for our friends or travel abroad immediately?’

‘I think perhaps I should like to spend a little time alone with you at your estate, Freddie,’ Caroline said. ‘And then we may give a ball before we go travelling—if it pleases you?’

He reached out to touch her cheek, trailing one finger down to her throat and sending little shivers of delight down her spine. ‘You must know, my beloved, that for the rest of my life I want only to please you. I told you that I should probably never say no to you again, Caroline, and I meant it.’

‘Oh, no, you will spoil me,’ she said. ‘Besides, you have said many things to me, Freddie. I seem to recall that you have several times promised to spank me.’

His eyes danced with amusement, for she was teasing him more often these days, and he liked it. ‘Ah, yes, so I did,’ he said, ‘but do you know, my love, I think that must wait for a while. Our guests are expecting us at the reception my godmother has given for us, and, much as I shall look forward to the prospect, I do not think that we should keep them waiting—do you?’

Caroline smiled. They had reached the house now and all their guests were waiting to greet them. They had invited only their closest friends, most of whom had been in Bath and not forced to travel too far.

Caroline passed from one to the other, receiving congratulations and gifts. It was not until just before she was about to go up and change into her travelling gown that Julia asked to speak to her.

‘You look so happy,’ Julia said and there were shadows in her eyes that made Caroline reach out to take her hand. ‘I am so happy for you, dearest Caroline.’

Caroline leaned forward to kiss her cheek. ‘I am so glad that we are to be sisters, Julia.’

Julia blushed. ‘I had almost given up hope. I could not believe it when Mama told me he had asked for me.’

‘I knew he loved you, but he had such a hard struggle with the estate after Papa died. I suppose he needed to be sure he could support a wife before he dared think of approaching you.’

‘I would have married him even had your grandfather not given him such a generous gift,’ Julia said. ‘I love him.’

‘I know.’ Caroline embraced her. ‘I am so pleased for you both.’ She kissed her cheek again and then saw her mother coming towards her. ‘I must go and change, Julia. It will be your wedding soon…’

* * *

Caroline woke and yawned, a smile forming on her lips as she realised how good she felt. Freddie’s passionate lovemaking had kept them both awake for much of the previous night. She stretched, remembering the sweetness of being loved by a man who had taken every care to please her. She had never realised how delightful the pleasures of loving could be.

The bed was cold beside her, and, glancing at the small enamelled clock on the chest beside the bed, she realised that she had slept long after her normal hour. Freddie must have left her to sleep on, which was very considerate of him in the circumstances.

Looking about her, Caroline saw that her maid had been in earlier and left a tray on the table near the window, but when she got up to investigate, she discovered that the chocolate pot had gone cold. She was about to ring for someone to come when she glanced out of the window, and what she saw
there sent all thoughts of breakfast from her mind. Freddie was talking to some men on the lawn and they were preparing a balloon for flight.

She gave a shout of glee, flinging off her nightgown and hurrying behind the dressing screen to wash and dress in one of her simplest gowns, for which she needed no help from her maid. Within a few minutes she was running down the stairs and out of the front door, which the footman opened for his popular young mistress with a smile. Her hair was flying about her face, for she had not bothered to tie it up. She looked much younger than her years, the glow of excitement in her eyes as she ran across the smooth lawns towards the small group of men. And then Freddie turned and saw her.

‘Ah, there you are, my love,’ he said, smiling at her, a gleam of amusement in his dark eyes as he recognised that she had dressed hurriedly. ‘I was about to come in search of you. We are almost ready for flight. I take it that you wish to go up?’

‘Oh yes, please,’ she said, her eyes bright with pleasure. ‘You know that I do. It is so good of you to arrange this for me.’

‘You were disappointed the last time,’ Freddie said, ‘which was possibly my fault for arranging such a public display. But you know this is a hobby of mine, and you will be able to go up quite often should you wish it. We are always trying new things—are we not, Mr Jackson?’

‘Yes, sir,’ the balloon master said and smiled at his sponsor’s lady. Sir Frederick had some ideas for flight, which had not yet been thought of, and one day they would no doubt put the theory to the test. ‘We have a fine day for it, Lady Rathbone. The wind is in the right quarter and we should be able to stay up for some time—if you wish it?’