The Rake's Redemption (13 page)

Lady Margery was as indiscreet as usual, just as Judith had come to expect and Amelia to dread. “Quite the shindig, Judith. Sit with me for a while dear. There will be no civilised dancing for hours yet till the young ones have kicked up their heels sufficiently. Your father will doubtless find a hand of whist.”

Amelia was dancing with Thomas Stainford, obviously very happily, and Judith had to admit that the young officers were careful to give him and his partner a wide berth, a courtesy not accorded to many on the floor. Still she felt impelled to comment on his unsuitability. “Major Stainford is perhaps not a gentleman whom Amelia should encourage.”

Margery Forbury threw her head back and laughed. “Judith! For a moment I thought Forbury had escaped from his whist in the library. Do you mean the scandal over his sister in law, or the fact that he is now disinherited of the Penwick fortune?”

There was no answering that and Margery Forbury hadn’t even finished. “The scandal can be made too much of, Judith. Though it adds a sparkle to the ball to have such a rake amongst us. Thomas is a fine young man. I thought at one point that you would have married him my dear. Still Sir Theodore is a very solid choice.”

Typical of Amelia’s mother to leave so many trails you could follow. Did she really think Thomas suitable for Amelia? Or was she questioning Judith’s motives for wedding Theodore Horsley? Which wouldn’t stand much scrutiny.

“He fought a duel with his brother.”

“Over being discovered in some Spanish village with his very underdressed sister in law. I know, Judith.” Margery Forbury knew and appeared totally unmoved by the knowledge. Her next words reinforced that impression. “ A very one sided duel Judith since Thomas deloped. It does raise an interesting point as to what would have happened had Charles succeeded in killing his brother as he had tried to. How could he then have inherited the title and profited from what would technically have been a crime?”

Judith could feel her stomach turn cold at the clinical question, but before she could argue that Thomas’ restraint made his behaviour no less scandalous their coterie was interrupted.

“Lady Forbury, Judith, it is so crowded is it not?” Florinda Horsley had sweat trickling from her hair and appeared to be seeking a seat as much as their company.

“A result of the number of guests you have invited Lady Horsley.” Margery Forbury was an acquired taste, and one Florinda Horsley clearly hadn’t expected.

“Oh, yes. Do call me Lady Florinda, please. We are neighbours after all.” That was such a lacklustre plea that Judith dreaded what the reply would be.

“Do no such thing, my dear. You’re the widow of a baronet aren’t you. Father wasn’t an earl or suchlike by any chance? No? Then Lady Horsley it is. Nothing to be ashamed of in your rank, my dear. That’s what I say. We’re each born to our place and must fulfil it best we can.”

Judith was wondering just what she could say to sooth a thunderstruck Florinda Horsley when Sir Theodore presented himself. Her first reaction was that he was intervening to rescue his crushed parent. Until Amelia bounced up with Thomas Stainford in tow.

“Judith, Thomas knows how to waltz properly.”

Judith realised then that Sir Theodore had come to claim his dance and that her friend, overcome by the riveting discovery that there was no end to Major Stainford’s talents, had unwittingly created a confrontation that Theodore Horsley would be determined to win. Chest puffed up, he reminded her of a dog ready to fight for his bone.

“My betrothed has already promised the dance to me, Major.” Any sensible subordinate would recognise their duty from that directive and retire. Not Thomas Stainford.

“Miss Hampton?”

The sheer arrogance in his voice, the implication that he only had to ask to take her away from Sir Theodore exasperated Judith, exasperated her and made her reckless. Damn both of them for treating her as a prize to be wrestled over.

“I know from experience how well the Major waltzes, Amelia. But I must fulfil my duty to Theodore.” Short of storming away and leaving the pair of them to squabble that was the best she could do to discomfit them both. She could see that Sir Theodore was less than pleased but Margery Forbury rather spoiled her effect by rising and insisting that Thomas waltz with her.

The displeasure of Florinda Horsley was barely controlled as Thomas turned his back. “He’s far too full of himself, Theo. No other of your officers would be so forward as to speak to Judith so.” The woman’s annoyance was such that Judith could see specks of saliva fly from her mouth. Judith’s dread was that Thomas would turn around and retaliate, but he kept on going. It was Theodore Horsley who shocked her to her core with his crude response.

“It’s a pity he hasn’t brought his sister in law with him. From what I hear she’s had the benefit of his experience and might be congenial in passing it on.”

“Theodore!” Florinda Horsley’s exclamation brought her son’s invective to an end. For Judith the torment had only just begun. It didn’t matter how many times she went over his words afterwards, and she did, she couldn’t help herself, she couldn’t work out how significant his words had been. The panic in her that somehow he knew of her past with Thomas was almost unstoppable no matter how she told herself it was impossible and ridiculous. Then there was the way that maid had flinched at his anger. Judith knew real fear that marriage to a jealous and suspicious Theodore Horsley would be disastrous.

Their waltz was a rather dreary affair with Theodore demonstrating no feeling for the music at all. He seemed far more concerned with the liberty that holding a woman while you danced with her gave him.

It was still preferable to the announcement of their engagement that came before supper. Most of the guests were far more interested in supper than listening to Sir Theodore’s pompous and long winded eulogy of his betrothed. Standing there beside him was one of the most cringing experiences of Judith’s life. Florinda Horsley’s evident and ecstatic delight only served to heighten her embarrassment.

A smattering of relieved applause marked his eventual conclusion until one of the subalterns decided the occasion needed to be more fittingly marked. Judith could see appalled consternation replace boredom on the faces of the guests as the young officers began baying and cheering in rowdy delight. It would have been a relief to go into supper if the food had tasted of anything but sawdust.

The worst of it had been Thomas’ face watching her, sympathy oozing out of every pore. If there was one thing she didn’t need from the disinherited heir of Penwick it was pity. As far as she was concerned he’d be better occupied finding another of his female relatives to debauch. Instead he came to her after supper to claim his reel.

At least it was a fast dance with only the intermittent requirement to exchange polite words. Judith tried very hard with her eyes to warn him off saying anything that congratulated or commiserated on her betrothal and when she failed quickly switched the conversation to the subject of training the militia.

“Sir Theodore tells me the militia find your training awkward?”

“You surprise me, Judith. I had not thought you interested in military matters.” He managed to infuse the words with such scorn that they sounded like a reprimand. Judith could feel her temper rumble at the slight.

“Sir Theodore has concerns.” It sounded as though she was passing the blame, and she didn’t want him to think her timid enough to do that, but his response took a different tack.

“And Sir Theodore’s concerns are yours now, are they Judith?”

Did Thomas not understand the nuances of polite conversation? But of course she knew that he did, and very well too. If he made her nervous now it was quite deliberate on his part. The look that accompanied the question was level and even, without a trace of flirtation. Yet somehow she felt he was asking if she had bestowed her soul, and that absurd thought ratcheted her temper up a little more.

“Should they not be?” Goodness, she sounded coy and flirtatious and that was the last thing she meant to be. “Sir Theodore is entitled to be concerned for his regiment.” Another mistake when they both knew he intended to take the regiment away from Horsley and he must be wondering if she had switched her allegiance so far as to tell that to Sir Theodore. Not that it wasn’t an open secret already.

“Sir Theodore might be badly placed to judge, Judith. He hasn’t experience of what will be asked of the battalion.” Thomas sounded even, balanced, reasonable. An impossibly infuriating man. The only thing she could do was finish the dance, thank him and avoid him for the rest of the ball. And her life.

“Then doubtless you will be advising him, Major Stainford.” Why was it so hard to make the words sound as dismissive as she intended? Why should she have to care what Thomas Stainford thought? He was no longer part of her life, he hadn’t been for years. How could he behave so coolly at her betrothal ball? Obviously the memory of her meant nothing to him. And that was the lesson she needed to teach herself. He was merely an episode from her past. But it would be nice to find a riposte she could crush him with.

Thomas watched Judith walk back to the Forburys and nearly yielded to the temptation to run after her and ask what lunacy had prompted her to agree to a betrothal with Horsley. The man was a buffoon and a clown, unfit to be near her let alone betrothed to her. He was rich though, even the expense of the regiment by all accounts had barely put a dent in his fortune. While Oakenhill was poor. Was that why Judith had agreed to wed him?

In any event the last thing he could do was involve her in a scene here. It was bad enough that these people were impertinent enough to treat him as some sort of exhibit,
‘Roll up to see the peer who fought his brother for his wife.’
Only he wasn’t a peer any longer and he didn’t have the money to rescue Oakenhill.

What he did have was the ability to hurt those around him. The thought of the anguish Charles had suffered thinking of his wife and his brother carrying on behind his back was enough to choke on. Perhaps Judith was better off making her own way. She certainly behaved as if she intended to keep him at arm’s length and he had little choice but to accept that. For now. Yet it was inconceivable that their ways should part. Or that she should become another man’s wife so that all that was left to him was to seduce her for his amusement.

“John Hampton will go to Spain with the regiment as my adjutant. That is all there is to it. I have made my decision, Stainford.”

Theodore Horsley obviously expected his words to be final, or at least that was the impression he was trying to give. But Thomas could see behind the bluster to the nerves the colonel couldn’t hide. Even though this was an altercation Horsley had deliberately brought on himself. The man would never have the presence of mind to hold his battalion in the face of an advance by the chanting French veterans. So it was as well to deal with him now, even if that meant Sir Edmund having to fund some of the regiment’s costs before he really wanted to.

“No, Sir Theodore he will not. And you will not be taking this battalion to Spain. It is a Fencible formation formed for home defence. It would be illegal to you to take the men to Spain. So you will not. Is that clear, sir?”

“The men are listed to my regiment. They will go where I lead it.” Sir Theodore spoke slowly and distinctly, but the slight quaver in his voice completely spoiled the effect of determination he was trying for. If he only dared the Loyal East Mercian Volunteer’s colonel would be thumping the table with his fist to emphasise his words. But he didn’t dare. Just as he wouldn’t stand when the drums rolled. Did Judith know what she was getting?

But Sir Theodore wasn’t finished explaining the enormity of the matter. “The regiment is mine, Stainford d’ye see? Paid for it with my own money. They didn’t like my raising the Volunteers. Oh no. They were happy to see me pay for it, but now the men are uniformed and drilled, they want to take it away. Well, the officers are loyal to me.”

Like an overgrown child, Thomas thought, spoiled and wilful. Wanting to lash out because his wishes had been thwarted and his toy was being taken. “Nevertheless this regiment will not be transferred to the active list. And you will no longer attend its training or parades.” Thomas could feel the temptation to intimidate Horsley strong upon him: he almost wanted the man to protest against his decision.

“You cannot do that. I am colonel. I command here.”

Theodore Horsley’s lips moved but his eyes took care not to meet his tormentor’s. Thomas knew the argument was over but his dislike for the man propelled him on. That Theodore Horsley should have the gall to think himself a fit husband for Judith.

“The only thing you’re fit to command is a tea party in the officers’ mess. Now, if my conduct displeases you in some way I stand ready to give you satisfaction, Sir Theodore.” Sir Edmund and Amara’s warning against any further duels rang in his head as he spoke, but it couldn’t hold Thomas back from his cold fury.

Yet when he saw the abject terror that his challenge engendered Thomas was left feeling pity for the wretched man. If only Horsley could have the sense to understand and accept his position. “From now on you will leave the handling of this regiment to me, Sir Theodore. For the sake of the troops there cannot be any confusion over who is in control. Is that clear?”

“I raised the regiment for the good of the country, Stainford. Thought it my patriotic duty.” The righteous whine of self pity nearly had Thomas regretting his forbearance. “No one can object to that surely?”

“No, but that doesn’t give you the right to take the men to Spain and get them slaughtered. Nor to encourage fools like young Hampton.”

“John wants to go to the war, he wants the chance to revenge his brother’s death.”

Thomas bit back the retort that John Hampton had no idea what he would find in Spain, the only sensible thing to do now was bring this interview to a close. “I will tell Horseguards that you will take no further part in training this regiment, Horsley. Best you see to it that you keep yourself out of the way.”

For a moment it looked as if Sir Theodore was about to have apoplexy, then his face took on a more cunning look. “Miss Hampton will be disappointed for her brother, Stainford. For you’ll not take him to Spain, will you?”

“Not your business, Horsley. We’re finished here. Unless you wish to ask for that satisfaction now?” That this puffing gobble-cock felt entitled to use Judith’s name incensed Thomas. Damn whatever it might cost him he wanted the man to accept his challenge. A bullet in Theodore’s Horsley’s brain would be enough to save Judith from her mistake before it was too late.

He realised his mistake from the feral light that came on in Horsley’s eyes. The man had no honour, he was patently incapable of thinking beyond his own advantage. Sir Theodore was not about to risk his life on the path of a pistol ball. All that Thomas had done with the renewal of his challenge was to betray his regard for Judith.

“You’d better send in Captain Hampton, Colonel Horsley. On your way out.”

~

Amara Guilmor looked to her husband for support before she launched into her plea. “Charles, it is unprecedented, and by no means certain that your father will be successful. Thomas may well challenge his decision at law and force the family to submit to a public examination of the events that led to this. Lord knows what the detailed terms of the Penwick entail are, it has been in place since the Stuarts and will have been amended and altered over the years by successive earls to suit their own ideas. By now it will be simply a honey pot for the lawyers.”

“My father is quite determined that Thomas be disinherited, Amara. Understandably.” His glance at his wife sitting across the table with her eyes downcast was part reproach, part appeal.

“Amara is quite right, Charles.” Rather than Lord Guilmor supporting his wife it was Henrietta Netley who spoke up to endorse her sister in law. “If Thomas were to take action it could take years for the case to be resolved. And can you be sure of what might emerge?” Her look at Jane Stainford was entirely questioning, and that young woman had the grace to blush.

“Jane made a mistake and regrets her conduct, Lady Netley.” Charles Stainford didn’t sound too certain of his ground and obviously felt impelled to develop his argument further. “Besides I’ve already resigned my commission to come back to Penwick and learn how to run the estate.”

“Laudable, Charles, laudable. Though heirs have been inheriting all unready to succeed their fathers for centuries without great impediment. Would you not rather have stayed with the army to see the end? Wellington hopes to make great strides this coming year.” Lord Guilmor was all quiet reflection to his wife’s impetuosity, but there was little doubt of the incisiveness of his words. “It is hard on the ladies of course, campaigning.”

“I did not make Charles come back to England, Lord Guilmor.” Jane Stainford had a doe eyed docility to her that Sir Edmund Hewston had seen rip an officers’ mess into warring rivalries in a matter of days. Now he decided the cause might be best helped by smoothing her feathers.

“I am sure of that, Jane. Foreign climes can be diverting and the Spanish are keen to honour the army now that Wellington is winning. All those soirees and balls must go some way to compensate for the hardships.”

“You make it sound quite dissolute to enjoy society, Sir Edmund.” Jane Stainford’s silky tone made her comment sound like an invitation.

“It’s natural enough, my dear.” Amara Guilmor chose her moment to intervene before the conversation could grow any more intense. “That picture behind you is the Plains of Abraham. My father and Charles’ grandfather were captains together in the 48
th
. The first thing they did after Wolfe had been casqued up and Montcalm buried was to organise a ball for what was left of Quebec society. Fifty years ago now, more in fact. So you see nothing changes, Jane.”

“My father sometimes talked of the balls in Philadelphia during the American rebellion.” Charles couldn’t have jolted Amara Guilmor more if he’d fired a pistol into her ceiling. She’d always put his father’s morose outlook down to his service in the unsuccessful American war. Not exactly the Stainford family tradition to serve on the losing side. Not really anyone’s tradition come to that. Still if he was to confide in anyone after the death of his wife it would have been his mercurial younger son.

“I so look forward to seeing the Earl.” Jane Stainford might have meant what she said, but no one else around the table would have concurred. “When we finally do arrive at Penwick.”

“You’re not going directly there, Charles?” Henrietta Netley might say very little but she missed even less.

“Some visits to pay first, Lady Netley. We’ve been in Spain for so long.” Charles made his reply as casual as possible but both Amara and Henrietta were immediately calculating who would receive the couple. One of the reasons for this dinner was to alleviate the isolation Charles and Jane were enduring in London. Though little else was to be expected for a pair so mired in scandal. And it was not the main reason of course.

“The Earl might be swayed if you were to tell him you did not want to replace your brother as heir, Charles.” Amara could feel her nerves shred as she put the metal to the grinder. If Charles retorted that Thomas deserved to be disinherited there was an end to it.

“Why do you think my husband should renounce his inheritance for the sake of your godson, Lady Guilmor? Thomas has behaved quite disgracefully.”

If anyone had the right to ask that question it was Charles, but he only looked embarrassed by his wife’s forthright demand.

“My dear it was the merest accident that George and Charlotte asked me to be Thomas’ godmother and not Charles’. I’ve watched the two of them grow up and I regret anything that comes between them. So unnecessary you know. And I’m a traditionalist. The eldest inherits, simple as that. George Stainford has acted far too precipitately and for too little cause.” Her husband had seen Amara settle herself back in her seat in that peremptory fashion too many times to give much for anyone’s chance of winning the argument. Jane didn’t even try. Her defiance shot she suddenly found her sorbet to be fascinating.

“Thomas is doing rather well with training the Loyal East Mercians, Amara. Most of them are close to the required standard. It should be relatively simple to find enough volunteers from their ranks.” Sir Edmund smiled before he went on. “Upset Horsley rather. The wretched man was at Horseguards complaining to all and sundry that his patriotism is being abused. Expected to take the regiment to Spain himself when the only gun he’s ever fired was at some grouse.”

“I’m pleased to hear it. Thomas has let himself down badly though over Judith. How the girl can think to wed Horsley I cannot imagine.” If Amara had been fierce with Jane Stainford she was despondent now, shaking her head over such ridiculous misjudgement in someone normally so reliable.

“I think Judith Hampton has landed herself a very advantageous match. When her family have never a feather to fly with she’s lucky Sir Theodore is prepared to overlook her lack of connection.” Jane Stainford was impervious to the warning looks of all three men at table. “Thomas was lucky to escape to Spain when she set her cap at him.”

“There’s a difference between connections and money, Jane.” Charles beat Amara to the reprimand by a fraction, and there was nothing feigned about the irritation in his reproach to his wife.

Still Amara Guilmor wasn’t about to let his rebuke stand in the way of the more comprehensive set down she felt was merited. “I thought Thomas went to Spain at his father’s behest, Jane.”

Charles lifted his head at the ice in that question but Jane still tried to work her way out. “All I meant was that it ended their connection.”

“And why do you think that was a good thing?” Even Guilmor shifted in his seat at the tone of that, and the sense of unease was palpable around the table. But it was Charles that Amara was watching. For a man who had shot his brother for dallying with his wife he was exhibiting no signs of jealousy at Jane’s attitude.

“Judith has found herself a comfortable match in Sir Theodore. He may not be prepossessing, but he is wealthy. And he still holds his title.” Jane Stainford was picking her words carefully to steer a line between defiance and compliance. She was clearly resentful of her interrogation and her mute appeals to her husband for help were going unanswered.

“I had not realised Sir Theodore was known to you, Jane?”

It was Charles who answered, perhaps tired of seeing his wife flounder. “We met Sir Theodore in London, Amara. He was both hospitable and amenable when few others were.”

Amara didn’t press him further to intervene with his father. She devoted the rest of the evening to smoothing matters instead, aware that Edmund had said rather more than was wise about his intentions for the fencibles. Though little more than Horsley must already have guessed. What interest Horsley could have in Charles and Jane wasn’t clear, any more than their interest in him. As his father’s heir Charles should have no need for funds and Sir Theodore could be no help in smoothing their path with the ton. Still it presented a potential new difficulty. Perhaps there was nothing for it but to take herself back to the country. Matters were certainly not progressing as they should.

~

Visits of the Horsley entourage to Oakenhill no longer engendered the same malicious glee in that household. For one they had become more frequent, for another only Sir Theodore came now and with no great escort. Most critically instead of being harmless entertainment the visits had become harbingers of change, and change that many had come to dread. Judith’s almost fatalistic resignation to the calls of her betrothed did nothing to quell the speculation.