His Michaelmas Mistress (17 page)

“I don’t know why you’d care, Your Grace. Merriweather, here, has come up in the ranks, if he’s serving in your household. He used to be the scum of the earth, and probably still is. I’d dismiss him, posthaste, sir. He is a nasty piece of business,” Mortimer Osborne said.

“Are you mad, sir?” the Duke said incredulously. “Or are you just blind? The man you refer to as scum of the earth is my son. As you see, he looks quite a lot like me.”

“You are recognizing a bastard, Your Grace? Oh, I say, sir, you are quite liberal,” Osborne continued.

“Shut your bone box, Osborne,” Freddie growled, “Or I will shut it for you, so help me God, I will.”

“You need to learn that you’re talking to your betters, boy. You are nothing but a little gutter rat, and the Army didn’t improve you at all. You will address me as Captain, or sir, or I shall see that you rue it bitterly.”

The man sitting with Osborne had slowly put the pieces together. His eyes had widened, the colour had drained from his face, and he looked quite frightened.

“Mortimer, do be quiet,” he hissed.

Freddie supposed that the man was either Osborne’s father or his uncle…or a much older brother.

“Father, this is the little bloody bastard I told you about. He is the one that never got what was due to him.”

“Got what was due to him?” the Duke looked particularly confused now. “What is going on here?”

“Father,” Freddie said, attempting to keep the anger out of his voice, “Captain Osborne was a Lieutenant at the time that he sentenced me to be flogged. He would have seen me dead that day, had Colonel Elliot not come along and freed me from being lashed to death.”

His father’s face transformed during Freddie’s explanation. His eyes crackled with fury, cold hard fury. “I suppose I owe Colonel Elliot, a debt that can never be repaid,” his father said, emotion filling his voice.

Hamish made a noise that slightly resembled a growl, and looked as pissed off, as Freddie was.

“Colonel Elliot was a goddamn fool,” Osborne said, snorting loudly.

“No, you are a goddamn fool, Captain Osborne. This is my son…and my heir. He is not a bastard, not by birth, or by attitude. He is the Marquess of Knightwick, and he legally has the Hamilton name, he has done, since he came into this world. A series of unfortunate events separated us, and it is to my profound relief that we are now reunited. From where I am sitting, you, sir, are the bastard. And, as for any social or political aspirations, you might have, consider them dashed, because I shall use all of my considerable power to make quite certain you never amount to anything. Come along, Freddie. I tire of this scene,” he said regally, sounding more like a toff than Colonel Elliot or Lewis had ever sounded like. “Now, I realize why I stayed up in Scotland for all of those years. Some of the society here leave a lot to be desired, don’t they?”

“Oh, aye, Your Grace,” Hamish said.

“Your Grace, I do apologize for the poor behaviour of my son,” the man next to Mortimer rushed out.

“There is no possible apology that could excuse his behaviour, Septimus. Good day, to you, and I do hope that your son rots in hell, for my Freddie is a far better man than that little shite can ever hope to be. Come along, Son.”

The three of them rode away from Septimus Osborne, and as they left, Freddie’s keen hearing picked up on the outraged Septimus’s words. “I am disowning, you, Mortimer. I had set aside a tidy little sum for you, but you can kiss that goodbye. You won’t get a penny from me. Do you understand? I thank God now that you have an older brother to inherit my barony. He has none of your cruelty—none of your coldness, and thank God for that. I knew you have always been a toad-eaten little bastard, and now you have just about ruined us. You bloody goddamn fool.”

Freddie smiled.

The day was turning out splendidly, and his admiration for his father grew. Finally, he had a father he could be proud of.

Freddie had spent far too much time with his father, not that he hadn’t enjoyed it, mostly, anyway, but he missed Julia terribly. He wanted his nice warm bed, and if he was lucky, the vicar would be available, and he could have Julia with him in his nice warm bed.

He, Clarence, Cyril and the Duke sat in silence in the carriage, as it rumbled over the ruts in the road that led back to Wiltshire. Clarence and Cyril had fallen asleep, and the Duke looked as if he was going to nod off shortly as well.

Freddie had the special licence, and all was finally well in his world. Hamish was riding with the rest of the outriders, and Freddie was relieved for it. As long as Hamish wasn’t nervous, he could understand the man, but if his nerves were rattled, no one except for the Duke could understand a thing he said, if that was how everyone spoke where the Duke came from, he might as well go and live in France.

From what the Duke told him, and from what he could actually understand, Hamish was a loyal retainer to the Hamilton family for the rest of his life. Basically, Freddie couldn’t get rid of the man even if he’d wanted to.

The Duke started snoring, and he sighed. Now, he was the only one left awake. The carriage hit a particular large bump, and rattled. Clarence’s eyes whipped wide open, and he let out a disgruntled sigh.

“Ugh, I hate long carriage rides,” he said mournfully, and looking out the window. “’Course with the way the rain is pissing down outside, I don’t think I would want to be out there on horseback,” he shuddered. “I hope we shall have some hot chocolate and some goodies waiting for us when we arrive.”

Freddie laughed. Clarence rarely thought about anything else but food, and upon reflection, Freddie supposed that Lady Ann was probably the only other thing that occupied Clarence’s thoughts. “I could have my Cook make you some hot chocolate, but don’t hold your breath about the scones…I’m not sure if she would know how to make them. And I’m certain she won’t know how to make shortbread, now plum cake, she will probably have already made.”

Clarence sighed. “I suppose…I suppose not everyone has a Mrs. Macintosh.”

“Indeed, not,” he answered.

“Scones? Did someone say, scones?” the Duke asked sleepily, waking up from his short nap.

“Aye, Freddie and I were talking about them, Your Grace,” Clarence said.

“I didn’t think I’d find any in England, but your Mrs. Macintosh made some splendid ones. I shan’t hold my breath about getting any in Wiltshire,” he said.

“Fortunately, we should be home soon,” Freddie said. “I can’t wait to be able to stretch my legs. I hate feeling so cooped up. I usually prefer riding horseback.”

Lucky and Tiny were riding horseback, along with Hamish and the Duke’s other outriders. They were certainly not lacking for guards…not that the Duke needed anyone else, but Freddie, Tiny and Lucky.

“You should have done, Freddie, if that’s what you like,” Clarence said. “I suppose…even though it is kind of wet out there, I could have done the same. It’s supposed to be manly, isn’t it? I mean, a man who can put up with the elements and all that sort of thing, is a rugged sort, right? And ladies, they like that, right?”

“I don’t like riding for long journeys on horseback. Long rides always make me so sleepy,” the Duke said. “I suppose it is a sign of my age. Although, even when I was a young buck, I didn’t much care for horseback riding for long distances. It used to make me awfully sore.”

“I suppose when you’ve walked across most of Europe, riding a horse even in the drizzle, is better than having no horse at all,” Freddie said ruefully. “I had some good times in the Wars, but I don’t miss the days when we had to walk through mud, and snow, cross rushing waters…and everything else that came our way. No…this is the life of ease.”

“Oh, but you do have some riveting tales to tell. Like that one time where you and Lucky almost didn’t make it off that bridge before it blew,” Clarence said excitedly.

“You…you were almost blown to kingdom come?” the Duke asked shakily.

“Oh aye. I had a few incidents like that, and if that one makes your hair stand on end, I won’t tell you about the others. I’ve been shot and stabbed, and you know about the flogging, and yet, here I am. I wasn’t worried, that day. I had Lucky by my side. That man can avoid disaster like nobody’s business. ‘Course he was more careful measuring his fuses after that. Ah, those were good times. We took down a jolly good amount of Frogs with that blast. Wellington commended us for that day.”

“My son…the hero,” the Duke said proudly.

“Oh, aye,” Clarence said. “If I had been in your boots, I would have had to change my drawers after that close of a brush with death.”

Freddie laughed. “Tiny had to. He said he nearly died, watching it all.”

They all laughed again, and Cyril started mumbling as he woke up. He rubbed at his eyes, looked over at Freddie and asked, “Are we there yet?”

*****

Wilton Park beckoned to Julia. She had left a few frocks there that she wanted to wear, and one that would work well, should she decide to marry Freddie outside of the church. She had expressed her need to regain those frocks, so Ruby had agreed to accompany her to the grand house, so she could take them back with her to Castleton Court.

They rode by barouche this time. She hadn’t the heart to take the curricle, as she was still bemoaning not being able to race anymore.

It wasn’t that Freddie had told her to stop, she’d merely decided that it wasn’t something a respectable married woman should do, and now, she was rueing her decision quite bitterly. Freddie never told her to do anything—he would have asked…but he hadn’t even broached the subject with her.

They drove up the long gravel drive, and a footman came round to help them alight. She loved this house, and couldn’t wait to make it her home.

“You are going to live here once you marry Freddie?” Ruby asked.

“Aye…I think we’ll make a lovely life in this big old house,” Julia sighed happily. “I can’t wait to move in, and have Freddie chasing me through the house.”

“Chasing you through the house?” Ruby asked, blushing.

“Never mind, dear,” Julia said. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, it is breathtaking. I would love for you to take me on a tour of the house,” Ruby said.

Julia nodded her head, hooked her arm through hers, and was about to knock when the butler opened the door for her. They must have seen them pulling up.

“I shall have to take you to see the manly rooms, as Freddie calls them,” Julia laughed, “and the grounds are awe inspiring as well. Once we take a tour of the house, you shall have to see them.”

As they walked into the grand entryway that was flanked with marble statues, and boasted a beautiful chandelier, Ruby’s appreciative sigh made Julia smile. The house had been built to be a showpiece of the last lord’s grandfather’s wealth, and though the last lord had lost all of his money, his family had once been one of the wealthiest in the County. Lord Lumley’s gambling addiction had completely ruined that.

A scruffy looking terrier barked happily, and ran toward them.

“Well, what do we have here?” Julia asked, bending to scratch the dog’s head. “You must be Alfie,” she mused. “Freddie told me all about you, and it sounds as if you’ve come up a far bit in the world, my wee man.” The terrier wagged his tail happily, and stood up on his hind legs in a plea to be picked up. She picked him up, and he snuggled into her arms. “I do hope that Freddie made certain you had a good bath. Come along, Ruby, I’ll show you the Billiards Room first. It is one of Freddie’s favourite places.”

“Oh, that sounds splendid, Julia.”

Ruby smiled, and walked with her, as she led her through the house. The butler shadowed them, and she turned around to confront the older man. “Is there something amiss, Mr. Hargreaves?”

“I…uh, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, as you’re not married to Lord Knightwick yet, but the Duke of Stoneleigh, and his friend, Lord Charles Tempest have called upon the Marquess several times in his absence. They have showed up every day for the last three days, in an effort, I suppose, to see him before he marries you.”

Julia sighed heavily. “Nothing they can say or do, will stop the wedding this time around. I have told Lord Charles as much. It is a fruitless endeavor on his behalf.”

“I gathered as much, my lady. I entreated upon them to call upon you, and to leave the Marquess alone, but I don’t think they shall listen to me.”

She pursed her lips. “And let me guess…they call right around this time, don’t they?”

“Aye, your ladyship…and then, and then, there is the matter of more poaching incidents. The gamekeeper up and left…he was so scared. And with the Marquess and his mates away, I do not think it is safe for anyone to walk the grounds, until they return. I was quite surprised by how lily-livered Mr. Browne was…he never showed any of these traits, whilst Lord Lumley was master.”

She sighed. “Well, he wasn’t much of a gamekeeper, was he? Freddie shall have to hire someone made of sterner stuff.”

The butler nodded his head. “He told me before he up and left that he suspected there was a gang of them loose on the grounds, and he said they had London accents. He said, he wouldn’t mess around with that sort. So I would advise against going out there for a stroll, my lady.”

Julia shivered, as foreboding rushed through her. She had so looked forward to showing Ruby the beautiful grounds and yet…if there was danger lurking on the grounds, she didn’t feel like tempting fate. She would heed the butler’s advice. After the trials that Rose had Iris had been through, she was loathe to put herself into such a situation, especially when Freddie was still away.

“Mayhap, we should fetch your frocks, and away. I don’t know why you didn’t just send your abigail to collect them.”

“She hardly saw them. She wouldn’t know which ones I wanted, and besides, I don’t always require my maid to do things for me. I am spoiled, but not that spoiled,” she laughed nervously. “I trust the house is safe, Mr. Hargreaves?”

“Aye, we keep it locked up, my lady.”

“Then, let us collect what we came for, and then we shall return to Castleton Court. I think there is a lovely red frock in there that would suit you well, Ruby. I shall gift it to you. I plan on having Freddie take me to London shortly after we are married, so I can buy another trousseau…not that I don’t already have enough. It is a good thing he is full of juice. I can marry a man without a title…but I do not think I could marry a poor man. No, even I am not that saintly.”

Ruby laughed. “I have little choice in the matter. I think I shall have to marry a man that is cucumberish because the only man that would take me would be a man with no money.”

“Why would you think that, Ruby? Lord Charles looked at you with a favourable eye. He could probably be persuaded to marry you, if you gave him enough of an inclination, and he is not exactly without means. His father has a vast estate, and he had bequeathed a good amount of his fortune to Charles. Charles told me that in his father’s will, his fortune was split evenly between his three sons. It is not something that is usually done…although my Grandfather did do that with my Uncle Edward, and my Papa.”

They walked up the sweeping oak staircase to the rooms above. She went into the bedchamber that she would share with Freddie, and placed Alfie down so he could run around the room. Then, she took a blessed moment to enjoy the lingering essence of Freddie. Some would think she was mad, but Freddie’s personality seeped into this room, and now clung to it, in his absence. She sighed, and sat down on the edge of the bed. Taking her glove off, she smoothed her hand over the bedclothes.

“This dramatic scarlet hue was it your choice, or Freddie’s?” Ruby asked.

Julia shrugged her shoulders. “Ruby, Freddie likes red. I don’t mind it, so I made certain that I decorated as much as possible with it. It keeps him happy, and if he is happy, I am happy. You could also set your sights on Lucky or Tiny, they are both good men. Some of the rooms I didn’t have to decorate at all, so we were able to get it all done in a short amount of time. I do think that Tiny or Lucky would be good choices for you, Ruby.”

“Tiny?” Ruby asked, in a small voice. “Lord Spaulding? Oh, no. He scares me more than Freddie does. I can’t even call him by his Christian name, let alone call him Tiny. As for Lord Prescott, there is a dangerously daring quality to him that wouldn’t suit me. No, he seems like he likes to live life on the edge, and I like a humdrum existence. I like predictability, and I don’t think Lord Prescott does. And he is a handsome devil. I never thought anyone who looked like him would give me a second glance. I’d probably have better luck trying for Tiny. Men who look like Lord Prescott, usually don’t go for ordinary girls like me. And there is that dangerous quality to him…”

“I haven’t sensed that dangerously daring quality that you speak of. Lucky is a gentleman, and from what I have seen, he is quite a mild mannered fellow. He is patient, and very little seems to ruffle him. He might have lived a dangerous life during the war, but he is as harmless as a…well, he is perfectly harmless, anyway. And I keep telling you, you are a pretty girl. Never forget that. As for Lucky being dangerous, he would never hurt a woman, so you mustn’t worry.”

“Perhaps, you are right. I don’t mean that I find him threatening. I merely meant he looks like the sort who craves a certain amount of excitement in their life. I suppose with so many eligible men to choose from I should attempt to ensnare one of them, eh? And yet, I am not that type of a girl. I confess, I have never known how to use my womanly wiles on men. They always seem to make me want to hide, or flee in terror. It is true. I am hopeless when it comes to them.”