The Rake's Rebellious Lady Read online

  It was as she emerged from the library, her parcel of books held by the string the assistant had obligingly tied for her, that she almost bumped into the man she had been thinking about despite her struggle to put him from her mind. He lifted his hat to her, and she could not but admire the way he looked in his dark green riding coat and pale breeches. It would seem that he had been riding earlier, for he still carried his whip. It was impossible to avoid him, so she smiled and wished him good morning.

  ‘You are about early, Miss Holbrook.’ He glanced at her books, a flicker of amusement on his lips as he saw that she had chosen not only a book of poetry, but also a rather lurid gothic novel that was just then causing quite a stir amongst the younger ladies. ‘Ah, I see you have fallen victim to a great piece of nonsense, mistakenly described as excellent stuff.’

  ‘You do not like Ann Radcliffe’s work, sir?’

  ‘I do not find it particularly entertaining,’ Freddie said, ‘though I can see it might appeal to the female mind.’

  Caroline’s eyes glinted with anger. ‘I think you are patronising, sir. The female mind is equally capable of understanding more worthy works of literature, but a novel of this kind is meant for entertainment.’

  ‘Yes, I dare say,’ Freddie said, amused by how easily she had risen to his bait. ‘Personally, I prefer the Marquis de Sade—but that would not be fit reading for a young lady, of course. If you wish to read gothic novels, may I recommend Gregory Lewis’s novel The Monk to you?’

  ‘Had I not already read it, I would have been pleased for you to do so,’ Caroline said, lifting her chin. She suspected that he was teasing her and it brought a hint of defiance to her lovely face. ‘I thought it a little shocking, but it was very well written, did you not think so?’

  ‘Indeed, yes,’ Freddie said and laughed softly, for he had read the hint of challenge in her eyes. She looked just like an angry kitten! ‘Have you not guessed yet that I am teasing you, Miss Holbrook? It is a fault in me. My godmother often takes me to task for levity. She says that, if I were ever to conquer the need for such foolishness, I might become a better man.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Caroline said, sheathing her claws. ‘Then may I take it that you have read Mrs Radcliffe’s book The Mysteries of Udolpho?’

  ‘Indeed, I have, some years ago,’ he agreed. ‘I found it the best of her work—though I dare say others are tolerably readable.’

  ‘I have not yet found it on the shelves,’ Caroline said. ‘It seems to be popular still, even though it was published some years ago.’

  ‘Ah, then perhaps I may be of service to you,’ Freddie said. ‘I believe I still own a copy. Allow me to lend it to you, Miss Holbrook…’

  Freddie became aware that she was not attending. Her eyes seemed to be fixed on something behind him, and he turned, taking in the incident instantly, for he saw the young boy being attacked by a group of older boys. Seeing that Caroline was about to plunge recklessly into the path of an oncoming dray wagon, he took hold of her arm, restraining her so violently that she yelped with pain.

  ‘Forgive me,’ he said, ‘but I beg you, leave this to me. Stay here!’

  The instruction was given in such a severe tone that Caroline remained where she was while he crossed the road, dodging between the traffic. She watched as he spoke to the lads, sending them off about their business, and noted that he slipped a coin into the hand of the one that had been attacked.

  ‘What happened?’ she asked as he returned to her. ‘Was he much hurt?’

  ‘It was merely a spat amongst brothers,’ Freddie told her. ‘The boy had lost some money one of the others had given him to buy their supper—nothing for you to be distressed about, Miss Holbrook.’

  ‘You gave him money,’ she said. ‘That was kind of you, sir.’

  ‘It was an easy task.’ He gave her a severe look. ‘May I recommend you to be less impulsive, Miss Holbrook. You could easily have been injured just now.’

  ‘You are good to be concerned for me,’ she replied with a toss of her head. ‘I assure you that I was aware of the wagon and felt that I was quite able to avoid it. I am not one of those fragile young ladies who faint at the slightest thing, sir.’

  ‘Indeed you are not, but your behaviour is sometimes reckless in the extreme,’ he said severely. ‘If I may say so, Miss Holbrook, you are far too pretty to end your life crushed beneath the wheels of a heavy-goods wagon. But before you grow cross with me again, I believe I had just asked if I might lend you a book you wished to read?’

  Caroline hesitated, for he had seemed critical, but her desire to read the novel overcame her pique. ‘Thank you, I should like to read it for it has been recommended to me by a friend.’

  ‘I shall send it round to your aunt’s house,’ Freddie said. ‘In the meantime, may I walk you home?’

  ‘You are kind, sir,’ Caroline replied, ‘but I am but two streets from my home and I dare say you have other things to occupy you.’

  ‘Then perhaps we shall meet again soon.’

  Freddie tipped his hat to her and set off down the street.

  * * *

  Caroline successfully managed to slip back into the house without being discovered by her aunt, though Mrs Holbrook had been to her room to inquire for her and was a little upset that she had been out alone that morning, even though it was merely to the lending library.

  ‘It will not do for you to visit these places alone in town, my dear,’ she scolded her daughter, though without malice. ‘I am not sure it is safe, for who can tell what might happen to you, dearest? You might be snatched from the street and then I should never see you again.’

  ‘Oh, Mama!’ Caroline laughed. ‘I do assure you that I was quite safe, and the only person I met was Sir Frederick, who had been out riding.’

  ‘Oh, well, I suppose it was perfectly respectable,’ her mother said. ‘But I know that your aunt would not approve, my dear.’

  ‘Aunt Louisa does not approve of anything I do.’

  ‘Caroline!’ Marianne reproved her daughter with a shake of her head, and then sighed. ‘But do you know, I do not believe Louisa approves of much I do either.’

  ‘Oh, Mama!’ Caroline said and went into a fit of giggles for she had never expected to hear her mother say such a thing. ‘Do be careful or she will give us both the most frightful scold.’

  ‘I dare say she may,’ Marianne said. ‘Do you know, I think I shall accompany you this afternoon. You are going to visit some friends, I believe?’

  ‘Yes, Mama. Mr Bellingham has asked me to take tea with his sister, Mrs Fairchild, and her daughter, Julia, and I have agreed. If you come with me, Aunt Louisa need not, and I know she had another appointment for she spoke of my going with just my maid.’

  ‘If I come with you, there will be no need for a maid to accompany us,’ Marianne said. ‘Now, my dearest. The reason I came to look for you was that I have received some silk I ordered from the merchant a few days ago, and the seamstress is coming later this morning to discuss styles and fashions. Do come and look at the fashion plates she left for me to peruse. I need your advice.’

  Caroline followed her mother obediently to her bedchamber, where various bales of silk were spread out on the bed. She was delighted to find that her mother had purchased some colours as well as grey, and there was not even a black ribbon to be seen.

  During the next hour before the seamstress arrived, they had a pleasurable time discussing the styles that would most suit Marianne, and the colours she ought to choose for each ensemble.

  Caroline left her mother when the seamstress arrived, retiring to one of the small parlours overlooking the garden at the back of the house to read her book. She returned to her bedchamber before the bell sounded for nuncheon and she was joined by her aunt and her mother, to partake of a cold meal.

  After they had eaten, Caroline went up to change into an afternoon gown of pale green. She put on a bonnet tied with matching ribbons and a pelisse of creamy white, adding a pair o
f white gloves and a green reticule. She had hardly reached the bottom of the stairs when Mrs Holbrook joined her and they went out to the carriage.

  ‘Well, this is nice, my dear, just the two of us,’ Marianne said. ‘Perhaps we should do this more often.’

  Caroline forbore to answer that they might do it as often as she chose. It was nice to see her mother looking better and to know that she seemed to have begun to throw off her grief at last.

  * * *

  Mrs Fairchild welcomed them to her At Home, and invited Mrs Holbrook to sit opposite her, while Caroline shared a small sofa with Julia. There were only three other guests: Mr Bellingham, Mr Milbank, a gentleman of mature years, and also a gentleman Caroline had not particularly noticed before this day. She was introduced to him as Mr Farringdon, a man of some thirty-odd years, attractive but not as gentlemanly in his manners as Mr Bellingham in Caroline’s opinion. He seemed to her to be ill at ease, and she disliked the way he spoke to her, as though trying to claim an intimacy that did not exist.

  When Julia got up to help her mother by serving tea and cakes, Mr Farringdon came to sit beside Caroline. He began by being very complimentary to her, remarking on her dress and asking if she was enjoying her stay in town. Caroline replied politely, but did not smile or allow her tongue to run away with her as she so often did. She was glad when Julia looked at him expectantly, and he was obliged to relinquish his place to her. He took his leave soon after, and Caroline was pleased that he had gone. The tea party now became more intimate, and she was entertained by Mr Bellingham, who was relating a saucy tale that was going the rounds of London’s drawing rooms.

  ‘Well, you can imagine what Prinny made of that,’ George said. ‘He asked the lady to remove herself if she could not control her excess wind and she went off with her cheeks the colour of puce.’

  ‘Oh, how embarrassing for her,’ Caroline said. ‘We should not laugh, for it must have been awful for her.’

  ‘Think of poor Prinny. He was seated next to her, you know. I think it must have been just a little unpleasant for him.’

  ‘Oh, my dear,’ Mrs Fairchild said. ‘I am not sure you should repeat that tale in mixed company. You may have offended Mrs Holbrook.’

  ‘Not offended,’ Marianne said. ‘Surprised might be a better word—for I had not thought the Regent would mind his words to that extent…’

  Silence greeted her sally, and then they all laughed. It was unlike Marianne to make a jest, but she had certainly attempted it and was given generous approval for her efforts.

  ‘There, you see, it was quite acceptable,’ George said and turned his attention to his niece. ‘I am glad that you did not encourage Farringdon, Julia. I have every reason to believe that he is hanging out for a rich wife. From what I hear, he is all but done up.’

  ‘Oh, I need no warning against that gentleman,’ Julia declared. ‘He asked me if I would take the air with him at Mrs Peterson’s musical evening, but naturally I refused.’ She laughed, a look of unusual naughtiness in her eyes. ‘In any case, I believe he has turned his attention to Caroline—so I shall not receive a proposal after all.’

  ‘Oh, dear, I do hope not,’ Caroline said and gurgled with laughter. ‘If he has hopes of me, I fear he will be sadly disappointed on two counts. I do not care for his manner so very much—and I am not the heiress he needs.’

  ‘Caroline, my love,’ her mother reproved. ‘You are from a good family, and you have a small trust fund from your father. And your grandfather may give you something when you marry.’

  ‘He might if he chose,’ Caroline said. ‘But I do not expect it.’

  ‘I dare say your face is your fortune,’ Julia said and looked at her admiringly. ‘I wish I were as beautiful as you, Caroline.’

  ‘Oh, I am not beautiful,’ Caroline said, ‘and you are very pretty, Julia. You must know that you are?’

  ‘Pretty is not beautiful—is it, Uncle George? Caroline is beautiful, do you not think so?’

  ‘Oh, most certainly,’ he replied obligingly. ‘But Caroline is right, Julia. You are very pretty, and you have your share of beaux so you do not need to pull caps with each other.’

  ‘Oh, we shan’t do that,’ Julia said. ‘I like Caroline best of all my new friends, and I intend to see a lot of her while she is in town.’

  ‘Do you intend to stay in London long, ma’am?’ Mr Milbank asked of Marianne. ‘I myself have come only for a short visit. I find Bath suits me better and I have only come up to visit my tailor—there is no one to rival a London tailor, you know.’

  The conversation immediately turned to the merits of various tailors of note, and the time passed quickly. Indeed, they stayed for much longer than the polite twenty minutes, and Julia was reluctant to let Caroline leave.

  ‘You are coming to my dance tomorrow evening, are you not?’ she asked. ‘Please, you must say yes, for if you do not I shall be so disappointed.’

  ‘Yes, of course we are coming,’ Marianne said before her daughter could answer. ‘We are looking forward to it very much—but now we must go. Lady Taunton has arranged a dinner party this evening, and we must not be late.’

  She stood up and Caroline followed her, Mr Bellingham coming out into the hall to say goodbye to them.

  ‘It was a pleasure to have your company,’ George told her. ‘It is seldom that one gets the chance to talk as we have this afternoon. I do not dine with Lady Taunton this evening, but I shall look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening. May I beg that you will reserve two dances for me, Miss Holbrook?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ she said. ‘I shall be honoured, sir.’

  She followed her mother into the carriage, accepting Mr Bellingham’s hand as he came to assist her. She sat forwards and waved, and then relaxed against the squabs as they were driven away.

  ‘Well, that was very pleasant, was it not?’ Marianne said. ‘I thought I should be quite tired, but do you know, I feel very well. I think the air in London must agree with me. It is not as damp as the air at home, I believe.’

  Caroline thought that it was perhaps being out in company that had helped her mother recover her spirits, but she said nothing. It was too soon to be sure of anything, and she would not embarrass her mother for the world.

  * * *

  When they arrived home, Caroline found a package waiting for her on the hall table. She knew immediately that it was the book Sir Frederick had promised her, and picked it up with a pleased smile. He had brought it as promised, which was kind of him, and improved her opinion of his character even more.

  She was a little sorry that she had not been at home to thank him personally, but decided that she would send a polite note of thanks to the address on his card, which was tucked inside the package. As she went upstairs to rest before changing for dinner, she wondered if she would see Sir Freddie at Julia’s dance…

  * * *

  Lady Taunton was somewhat indisposed the following morning, and announced that she would not be able to attend the dance that evening.

  ‘Something must have disagreed with me last night,’ she said, rubbing at her chest. ‘I am sorry to disappoint you, Caroline, but I believe you must prepare yourself for an evening at home.’

  ‘I am very sorry that you are feeling uncomfortable, Aunt,’ Caroline said. ‘However, Mama is to accompany me. She had already decided on it, and I believe she is looking forward to wearing her new gown.’

  ‘Very well,’ her aunt said, looking sour. ‘It is all this junketing about I have been doing on your behalf, miss. It does not suit me. Your mama may do her duty by you for once and we must hope that she is not prone upon her bed in the morning.’

  ‘I do sincerely hope she will not be,’ Caroline said. ‘And I hope that a rest this evening will cure your indigestion, Aunt.’

  ‘If it is merely indigestion,’ Lady Taunton said, looking much as a martyr might being led to the stake. ‘I think I shall send for my doctor just to be on the safe side.’

  * * *

>   However, nothing untoward happened, and Caroline set out with her mother at the appointed time. It was just a small dance, not one of the important affairs of the Season. Julia was greeting her guests, looking delightful in a white dress with spangles embroidered over the skirt. She stood with her mother to welcome everyone, but once Caroline arrived she was released and soon after the dancing began.

  Despite it being a small affair, there were several gentlemen present, most of whom Caroline was beginning to know quite well, for she had met them at most of the affairs she had attended. She was, however, a little surprised when she saw Mr Farringdon walk in a little later, and asked Julia about it.

  ‘Mama invited him before George told us that he was in financial difficulty. I wish she had not, for I do not like him. I had hoped that he might not attend, but it seems that he does not know when he is not welcome. I just hope he does not try to get me to go outside with him.’

  ‘If he does, you must simply refuse,’ Caroline said. ‘Isyour card full yet?’

  ‘Almost,’ Julia said. ‘Oh, look, here comes Sir Frederick. I shall ask him if he will dance with me twice. That will leave no space for Mr Farringdon.’

  She smiled beguilingly as Sir Frederick came up to them and offered him her card, asking if he would write his name in the only two spaces available. He did so and returned it to her, turning to bow to Caroline as Julia’s next partner came to claim her.

  ‘May I hope that you have a space left for me, Miss Holbrook?’

  ‘Yes, I do have two, as it happens,’ Caroline said. She had left them deliberately, but she was not going to admit it. ‘One is just about to begin—and the other is just before supper.’

  ‘Then I shall claim them both,’ Freddie said and held out his hand to her. ‘I hope you found the book you took from the library as enthralling as you hoped?’

  ‘I have managed to read only one chapter as yet,’ Caroline said, ‘but I am sure I shall enjoy it. Mama says that she wants to read it when I have finished—so you see, I am not the only empty-headed female to be seduced by the delights of Mrs Radcliffe’s work.’