The Rake's Rebellious Lady (9 page)

‘I dare say you attend the ball on Monday evening?’ She nodded. ‘You may oversleep and forget the fight if you wish. I should not blame you.’

‘You will not win your forfeit so easily,’ she said, her face
alight with excitement. ‘We shall talk about this again, sir—but now you must pull over, for I see some friends and we must not ignore them.’

* * *

Caroline said goodbye to Sir Frederick at the door of her aunt’s house. She asked him if he would care to come in for some refreshment, but he refused, saying that he had another appointment. She smiled at him, giving him her hand, which he kissed gallantly before returning to his curricle.

Caroline went into the house. She was still feeling pleased with herself for she had made him give her her own way, and, though she knew the escapade might cause her problems, she was excited at the idea. It was a long time since she had done anything so rebellious and at times had been feeling rather constricted at having to behave in the ladylike manner that was expected of her. Why did ladies always have to be so particular in their behaviour when gentlemen could do much as they pleased? There was so much she would have liked to do that was forbidden her. It was not fair and she was tired of being scolded by her aunt for things that were completely trivial.

‘Caroline,’ her mother’s voice called to her as she walked up the stairs. ‘Come here, my love. We have a visitor.’

Mrs Holbrook was standing in the doorway of the parlour she used most while a guest in her sister’s house. It suited her because it was small and prettily furnished, and so seldom used for entertaining by her sister that she might think it her own. She looked very pleased with herself, almost excited about something.

‘What is it, Mama?’ Caroline’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Is it Nicolas?’

‘No, it is your brother Tom,’ Mrs Holbrook said, seizing her daughter by the hands and drawing her into the room. ‘He is in his chamber changing, for he has just this minute arrived—and with good news. Bollingbrook has settled the most pressing of his debts. There—what do you think of that?’

‘I think it wonderful news,’ Caroline said, surprised and pleased. ‘I am so glad for him, Mama. Do you know why Grandfather decided to do something for him?’

‘I have no idea,’ Marianne said with a frown. ‘After the last time we visited him I thought he would not wish to see any of us again—but Tom says that he has asked particularly for you, Caroline. It would be wonderful if he were to do something for both you and Nicolas.’

‘Oh, Mama, why should he?’ Caroline said. ‘It is quite enough that he has helped Tom to recover from his debts. Besides, Nicolas has found a life for himself and we are well enough as we are, are we not?’

‘If your grandfather means to do something, you should visit him,’ her mother said, hardly listening to her daughter’s disclaimer. ‘I know you are engaged for the next three weeks or so, but after that you might go down for a few days. I would stay here, of course, and you could always return. Your brother intends to visit Bollingbrook again in three weeks. He could take you down, and perhaps your grandfather would send you back in his own carriage. Yes, that would be quite acceptable, Caroline.’

‘I have no objection to visiting Grandfather,’ Caroline said. It would be pleasant to spend a few days with the Marquis. ‘But you must not expect anything more, Mama. I dare say Grandfather thought it his duty to help Tom, but I do not need anything. I am quite content as I am.’

‘Do not be so foolish,’ Mrs Holbrook said and frowned at her. ‘Louisa tells me that there are prospects of a marriage between you and a certain gentleman—but nothing is sure, Caroline. I dare say you would receive many more offers if you had a decent dowry.’

‘From fortune hunters?’ Caroline raised her eyebrows. ‘Surely I may find someone who truly cares for me, Mama—and if I should not, it is hardly the end of the world. I may stay at home and be a help to you.’

‘Do not be ridiculous,’ her mother said and looked cross. ‘It is as Louisa told me. You are too stubborn for your own good, my girl. I cannot afford to keep you in a home of my own, and your brother will not want us once he decides to marry. Louisa has offered me a home with her once you are settled; though I am not sure that would serve. However, you must marry, Caroline. Besides, every woman wants a home, husband and children.’

‘Do they? Is there truly no other life for a woman, Mama? I have sometimes thought it unfair that we are not allowed to live as men do…’ She saw her mother’s shocked expression. ‘Well, not quite in the way some gentlemen do—but at liberty to please ourselves. Why can we not be lawyers or doctors or some such thing? Why must we limit our expectations to being wives and mothers?’

‘Caroline, you are ridiculous,’ her mother cried, looking distressed. ‘No wonder your aunt complains of you. She says that you might have been engaged by now had you made a push.’

‘Mama, it is barely three weeks since we came up,’ Caroline said. ‘Surely you would not wish me to rush into some misalliance without consideration?’

‘No, of course not,’ Mrs Holbrook said. ‘I did tell Louisa
that I thought it too soon, but she says you will ruin your chances by being too proud—and by speaking too freely. I hope your aunt has no real cause for her fears, Caroline? You have been much indulged at home, but you must understand that you should be careful what you say in society, my dear.’

Caroline felt a pang of remorse as she saw her mother’s anxious face. What would her aunt—or her mother—think if they knew of the arrangement she had made with Sir Frederick? She knew that what she had agreed to was very shocking, but she had been driven by a wildness that now seemed very ill advised.

Perhaps it might be better if she allowed Sir Frederick to win his wager—and yet she would dislike having to do so, for she could imagine the mockery in his eyes if she did not go through with the dare.

‘Of course, Mama,’ she said. ‘And now if you will excuse me, I should like to change before nuncheon.’

* * *

‘Caroline,’ Tom accosted his sister as she came downstairs later that day. He looked her over, noting the town bronze she had acquired with approval. She had grown up quickly, and he liked what he saw. ‘You look well. Are you enjoying yourself more than you thought?’

‘Yes, it has been pleasant,’ Caroline told him truthfully. ‘I have made so many friends, Tom, and it would be altogether wonderful if…well, you know my aunt. I know I should not complain, for if it were not for her generosity I should not have had a Season at all.’

‘Well, I am not so certain of that, and I do know my aunt well enough,’ he said and smiled ruefully—he had already fallen foul of Lady Taunton’s tongue. ‘But the good news is
that Grandfather says you are not to be forced into a marriage you cannot like. He will not have it, and he has charged me to make sure that it does not happen, which I should have done anyway. But now we have his blessing. And that means that you cannot be bullied into an alliance just because Aunt Louisa wishes it.’

‘That is exceedingly good of him,’ Caroline said. ‘I would not have thought he would wish to be bothered with such trivial matters.’

‘Truth is, we don’t know him as we ought,’ Tom said and frowned. ‘Mama sets his back up, because he thinks her too timid. I believe he blames her for Papa getting into debt the way he did. It is completely unfair, of course, but she irritates him and you know his temper. He has kept himself to himself for too long and now regrets it. If you knew him better, Caroline, I think you would like him.’

‘Oh, but I do like him,’ she said, surprising him. ‘He has always been perfectly pleasant to me—I think it is just Mama he does not care for, which is unkind in him. However, she is a little milk-mannered sometimes and that is what sets him by the teeth, you know. He likes it when you stand up to him, give him back a little of his own mustard.’

‘Yes, I see you do know him better than I thought,’ Tom said. ‘He has been a bit of a dark horse, though…secrets I had never guessed. Nor would have had he not told me himself.’

‘Do tell?’ Caroline begged, but her brother shook his head. ‘Oh, that is not fair. Why am I not to know—because I am a mere female, I suppose?’

‘No, certainly that is not the reason. I was told in confidence,’ Tom said, ‘and I may not break my word, Caroline. You would not expect me to?’

‘No, not if it was in confidence,’ she admitted with a sigh. ‘Are they very dreadful, Tom? Grandfather’s dark secrets?’

‘Some of them are surprising—but one is rather dreadful,’ her brother said. ‘At least, some people would find it shocking, though I thought…’ He shook his head. ‘No, I must not say, forgive me. I ought not to have mentioned it at all, but Grandfather has asked me to do something for him, and if I agree it means that I must go abroad for a while.’

‘Go abroad?’ Caroline was startled. ‘But whatever can you mean?’

‘It is just something our grandfather wishes to put right… an old wrong, as he called it.’ He laughed and shook his head. ‘No, I have told you enough and I shall say no more, tease how you choose. Tell me, where do you go this evening, and shall I be welcome, do you think?’

The conversation was successfully turned, though Caroline’s curiosity was merely deflected for a moment. She sensed that there was something very much on her brother’s mind, and she had no doubt that she would eventually prise it out of him.

* * *

Over the next few days Caroline attended several functions with her aunt and sometimes her brother, at which Sir Frederick was for some reason present. Her determination to accompany him to the prize fight had wavered on several occasions. However, each time she saw him, he asked her if she had changed her mind with a look in his eyes that immediately renewed her courage. She knew that he was expecting her to default and that was the very thing needed to be certain that she did not draw back.

* * *

On the Monday morning, her maid, Mary, brought a bundle to her room, which had been handed to her by Sir Frederick’s groom. Caroline had been obliged to take the girl into her confidence, and to give her a handsome shawl, which she had known Mary coveted. It was not the first time she had taken one of the servants into her confidence, and she had no reason to think that Mary would betray her. She had arranged that the girl would open a door at the back of the house and then lock it again, so that Caroline could escape through the mews, to where Sir Frederick would be waiting.

* * *

The ball that evening was a serious crush. Caroline was much in demand, dancing twice with Sir Freddie, and twice with Mr Bellingham, also once with her brother as well as many others. However, she took care to keep several of the dances after supper free, and complained frequently to her aunt of the heat, telling her when the clock struck eleven that she had the most dreadful headache and asking if her aunt would mind their leaving early.

‘You do look a bit flushed,’ Lady Taunton observed. ‘You have been racketing around town these past few days. It may be best if you have a lie in tomorrow, Caroline. We do not want you taking sickly.’

‘No, Aunt, I am sure I shall not—but I may sleep in if you think it sensible.’

Lady Taunton looked at her suspiciously, for it was not often that Caroline answered her so meekly. However, she put it down to her niece feeling unwell, and, having sent for the carriage, escorted her home an hour sooner than they would normally have left.

‘Do you wish for a tisane to help you sleep?’ she asked as they parted at the top of the stairs. ‘We do not want you taking sickly—that would blight your chances of making a good match.’

‘Thank you, but I am sure I shall sleep once I can put my head down.’

Caroline’s heart was racing wildly as she went up to her room. Her maid had hidden the youth’s clothing in a trunk, but Caroline took it out after locking her door, and tried it on. It fitted her remarkably well. She looked at herself in the mirror, twisting her hair up into a flat pleat that would not be seen beneath the cap, and pulling it tight over her head. She pinned it securely, for she did not want it to come down and betray her. Looking at herself in the mirror, she decided that she made an excellent youth. Anyone looking at her closely might think her features a little fine for a boy, but most people hardly glanced at a groom, and she thought she might get away with it, providing she did not speak.

She decided to keep the clothes on, pulling a light cover over her as she lay down. She was afraid of sleeping late, though Mary had promised to wake her if she did.

In the eventuality, however, she was awake and ready when her maid came to her room with a tray bearing a pastry and a glass of milk.

‘I thought you might wish to eat something before you went, miss,’ she said. ‘If something is bothering you, a full stomach is better than an empty one.’

‘Thank you,’ Caroline said and took a bite of the pastry and two swallows of milk. ‘If anyone should inquire for me, I am sleeping in this morning.’

‘Yes, miss,’ Mary said, looking at her doubtfully. ‘Until
later, when you’ve gone out driving with Sir Frederick—is that it?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ Caroline saw the concern in the girl’s eyes and pulled a wry face. ‘There is not the least need to look like that, Mary. It is just a lark—the same kind of thing as I used to get up to with my brother Nicolas.’

‘Begging your pardon, miss, but it ain’t the same.’

‘No, well, perhaps not,’ Caroline agreed. Her stomach was tying itself in knots and she had no idea why she had thought it such a capital notion in the first place. Had it not been for the challenge in Sir Frederick’s eyes each time she saw him, she would probably have withdrawn long before this. However, her pride had kept her courage high and even though she was feeling scared at this moment, she was determined to go through with it. After all, she reasoned uneasily, there was nothing so very terrible about going to a prize fight with a gentleman she knew well, was there?

She lifted her head and went out of the room, her maid hurrying after her. Mary unlocked the door for her and then Caroline reminded her to lock it again so that no one would guess that anyone had gone out early. Mary gave her an odd look as she slipped out, and it crossed her mind that the girl might be thinking she was going to meet a lover—which was so foolish it did not bear thinking of! As if she would do such a thing!