The Rake's Redemption (19 page)

“What happened in that village, Thomas?” Judith decided she’d get further by open questioning than by subtle probes which he obviously took as just being her unwarranted interference in his family’s business.

“Haven’t you heard the story. You must be the only one in England who hasn’t, Judith. It goes like this: I took my sister in law to a remote village for an assignation, only to be surprised by the French. I was unable to protect Jane and the dragoons amused themselves by chasing the poor girl naked down the main street of the village for sport. Only the timely arrival of a patrol from the King’s German Legion saved her from a worse fate.” His stare was pure defiance for her to contradict him and Judith felt her resolution waver. Why did Thomas have to make everything so hard?

“Is that how it was?” She was risking his anger by questioning him, but instinct told her he was keeping something back.

“Am I not a well known rake? You yourself could attest to that Judith.” His tactless reply confirmed that he was being evasive, probably trying to alarm her into dropping her questions.

“I am aware of my frailty, Thomas.” It would be easier to drop into the froideur of the righteously offended than to continue with her purpose, but they would be at each other’s throats in seconds and she’d learn nothing. “I am quite the barque, but that does not answer my question.”

“I must apologise Judith. I had no right to say that and I regret it deeply. Please forgive me.” She didn’t doubt his sincerity, the pain in his eyes convinced her. It was too much to accept his apology but with it given she could ignore his words and press on with her questions.

“Charles considers he has let Jane down. How can that be?” This time she knew she’d hit home, Thomas did that half closed thing with his eyes he always did when he didn’t want to answer you. That at least hadn’t changed.

“If anyone let her down it was I. It was my responsibility to protect her and I failed in that. I cannot answer for what my brother may mean, Judith.”

He was lying, she was certain of that. He knew what Charles meant, he just wasn’t going to tell her. “Why was it your responsibility, Thomas? She is your brother’s wife, not yours.”

“Charles was on duty. He had asked me to look after Jane.”

There was far more to this than one brother slipping away with his sister in law while her husband was on duty. There was so much she didn’t understand, so much he wasn’t explaining to her and she didn’t know the right questions to ask to get to the truth.

“Why does it matter Judith?”

The simple question stopped her dead. All the ills that afflicted her life and she was pursuing this mystery. It was too complicated to try to explain how she thought knowing why Charles and Jane had come might help her with Horsley. It was a foolhardy hope anyhow, and she couldn’t tell Thomas why she had to marry Theodore. She couldn’t tell him either that she was a foolish weak silly girl who harked back to her first love, her only love, even when she knew how unworthy he was.

“Why didn’t you accept my offer Judith? It’s absurd that you should marry a buffoon like Horsley. How can you even bear to think of being wed with him?”

Damn him for his effrontery. “That is none of your business, Thomas.” Did he mean he wanted to marry her? Judith pushed the thought and the surge of hope that accompanied it back out of her mind. Let that blossom and before she knew it she’d be riding out to meet him in the mornings again until they were discovered and both of them disowned by their families.

It wasn’t his business any more. Thomas knew that, he’d made his offer, he’d been rejected, and a gentleman should know how to behave after that. That little episode absolved him of his responsibility for taking her innocence. If Judith wouldn’t have him for her husband there was nothing further for him to do or say. It was just that he couldn’t leave things at that.” Judith, I don’t believe Sir Theodore is a gentleman.”

He could see the scorn in her eyes before she opened her mouth to reply. Opened it and closed it again as she bit back whatever scathing retort she was about to deliver.

“I fear you will regret such a marriage.” He hadn’t the right now to take her in his arms and tell her he couldn’t bear the thought of her with another man, tell her how much he wanted her. But the formal phase he’d used instead of doing that sounded stilted and awkward and he could see the fury it caused in Judith.

“There is so much I regret, Thomas.” Instead of the explosion he expected her tone was empty and sad, leaving him no clue how to respond.

“Judith, I wish I could help you.” Not original perhaps but Thomas meant his words, however inadequate they sounded.

“Then tell me the truth. What did Charles mean? Why were you in that village?”

She was watching for his answer so closely he knew he wouldn’t be able to evade her questions. Yet he couldn’t tell her the truth she wanted. Not about Jane and her peregrinations and he certainly couldn’t tell Judith his brother’s secret.

“I cannot Judith.” There was no point in trying to fool her. He had no idea how much Judith already knew, certainly more than she should. And it would be stupid to underestimate this girl’s bright intelligence when he knew her so well. “It is not my secret to reveal.”

“Much may depend on it, Thomas. Do you not owe me something?”

He was nearly undone by her pleading in a way he never would have been if she had raged at him. Judith was devastatingly attractive however she behaved but the entreaty and vulnerability he saw now made him want to scoop her up and keep her safe from everything. But it was still Charles’ secret and he could not in honour tell her the truth.

“Judith...” Eyes bright as stars bored into him, telling Thomas this was the time to throw his reservations aside and trust her. Except he couldn’t and in his desperation he stretched his hand out to stroke her hair and let her know how torn he was. For an instant, no longer, she let him touch her, even nuzzling her head to his touch, and then she pulled away.

“You think you can bamboozle me that way, Thomas? Never again.”

He couldn’t do anything but drop his hand and step away, the blazing anger in her face left no other choice. No point in trying to talk to her either without being willing to divulge what he couldn’t tell. Not even to her. Whatever Judith had found out she clearly didn’t know Charles’ full secret.

“I’m sorry Judith. I owe you much and care still more but I can say nothing.” That wouldn’t satisfy her and he didn’t expect it to, so he had to say more and that’s when he made his next mistake. “If I can help you with Horsley I will. Tell me what you need.”

“You will help will you Thomas. How can you do that? Has your father made a settlement on you that will let you save Oakenhill? Theodore has vowed to save the Hamptons, all you could manage was to take my honour.” Thomas had faced virulence on the battlefield when he’d fought with the guerillos of Spain against French lancers seeking vengeance for their comrades, but Judith ran them close. With nothing left to say he simply bowed and mounted Swiftsure.

Judith watched him ride away with her temper unabated. How could she have believed him a man of honour four years ago? Let alone the sensitive and caring companion she’d believed she wanted for her life? In amongst the raging torrents of acid anger some coherence slowly emerged. He hadn’t denied there was a hidden truth, Thomas had just refused to tell her what it was. So she was right, if she could just find the way to uncover what he was holding back.

The problem with society was that it just kept coming. Ironic after their recent dearth of visitors, but with father seeming better there was no impediment to receiving callers and they poured in. From Lady Felicity Crozier to Lady Margery Forbury and Amelia, to Sir Roger Duthford. Though he didn’t bring Frederick. Half the county wished to call and Judith couldn’t understand why she and Oakenhill had become so popular. There was her betrothal of course, and Amelia was full of her own impending nuptials and eager to share and compare. Still it was unusual.

Lady Margery had no difficulty in explaining it. Nor any hesitation in doing so. “Sir Edmund is coming to resolve the militia, Judith. Did you not know?”

Judith did not know and her immediate reaction was that that was a fault in her. “When will he be coming?” This could only make matters more difficult with Theodore, he could hardly be expected to take it well. Then another question occurred to her. “Why do people take it as a reason to visit Oakenhill?”

“The day after tomorrow, or so I’ve heard. Staying at Trefoyle. Well he would, it’s his sister’s house. And they come here since you are Sir Theodore’s betrothed. And more socially acceptable than he is.”

“You should remember that Judith owes Sir Theodore her loyalty, mother.” Amelia had been unable to interrupt till then in the face of her mother’s barrage of chatter. Judith wished she hadn’t been able to make that particular contribution. It was less than pleasant to be reminded how unpopular Theodore was in the county. Or how her future was ordained. Especially when Amelia herself was so sparkling, unveiling plans at which Judith could only nod and make approving noises. So far different from what awaited her.

Well Sir Edmund Hewston could make his intervention and Thomas and Theodore could quarrel over it as much as they wished. Without her letting any of it bother her. 

Her heart still fell when she recognised the Horsley coach on the drive. Father was having one of his bad days, coincidentally after Lady Margery had informed him yesterday how the militia crisis was mounting to its climax. Still John was at home, an increasingly common occurrence since he had nothing else to do. He went scuttling out to greet his patron, and Judith watched them confer heads together as they dawdled their way to the door. Theodore was agitated to the pitch that his face simply continued the red of his coat. Whatever was coming was unlikely to be pleasant.

She greeted him brightly though when John brought him to the drawing room. If there was to be a failure of manners it wouldn’t be hers. Her enquiry as to whether he wanted lunch was ignored so she sent the maid for tea and biscuits. It didn’t take long for Theodore to start his rant.

“Sir Edmund Hewston. Major General, no less. With orders for the future deployment of the Loyal East Mercian Volunteer Regiment of Fencibles.” He switched off his bluster with as suddenness that only confirmed Judith’s suspicion that much of his outrage was for effect. She didn’t care either for the way he peered at her for a reaction. This was going to be a very difficult visit.

“And we know who is to blame for this, don’t we Judith?” As if she were involved in this tussle for dominance between him and Thomas. “Thomas Stainford, known as the Viscount Alsbury, before his father disinherited him for his lascivious abuse of his sister in law.” John was like a jackal behind him, nodding and bobbing in his eagerness to agree with his master.

“I’m sorry to hear of it, Theodore.” That at least was true, particularly since she’d heard it all before.

“Are you Judith? Are you really?” The vicious edge to his question put her on alert. Was Theodore determined to make this into her fault somehow?

“Yes I am. If only because half the county has been traipsing to my door in the hope of hearing the gritty details of what is to happen. Expecting me to know these details because we are betrothed. Details I do not have and do not want. I have no interest in the militia Theodore.” She was maybe a little sharper than she intended, but he had no business to be coming here with his complaining.

“They are going to take my regiment away. That is the detail you do not care for Judith. The regiment I have spent my money on. I shudder to think how much I have spent. Mother said I was a fool to spend so lavishly, but I thought my country would be grateful. I really did.” Judith could tell gratuitous self pity when she heard it and her first reaction was to tell him to stop whining. It didn’t need the warnings John was mouthing to make her realise what a bad idea that was.

“Are you sure that is why General Hewston is coming here, Theodore?” It was a feeble attempt at distracting him from his grievance and she paid the price almost at once.

“No, Judith. He may be coming to invite me to take up a position at Horseguards. It is the culmination of the plot that Hewston and Stainford hatched. To oust me from command of my own troops.” She decided right then that reminding him that Thomas had already managed exactly that was superfluous. And unlikely to induce any harmony to the situation.

“Have you been informed of anything officially, Theodore?”

For a minute she feared he would just resume his bluster instead of answering her, but then he turned to face her. Meanness was the only emotion she could discern in his face. She was to marry a man who was small, petty and vicious. And nothing else.

“Only an inspection by the good Sir Edmund. I have no doubt, not the slightest doubt that your friend, Mister Stainford and his friend, the Major General, will reserve their announcement for the time of greatest impact. I must just bide my impatience till they are ready. Or so they would have it. Unless I can find a means to spike their guns.”

Judith knew her face must appear as blank as her mind felt. She had no idea where this was going. Nor to judge by his vacant expression did John. “How can you do that?” The words weren’t spoken willingly, but she had to say something in the uncomfortable silence.

“By uncovering their scheme from someone in their confidence.” His black stare left no doubt that he meant her. It also left her stunned at the extent of his wrong headedness.

“Theodore, I cannot help you.” Surely he couldn’t think her party to whatever scheme Thomas and Amara’s brother were pursuing?

“Or won’t madam? You pretend you did not discuss this when you have your clandestine meetings with Major Stainford?” Hard, flat and incapable of challenge, Theodore’s reply left no doubt he had already made his mind up that she was implicated in what he saw as a dastardly plot against him.

“Theodore, I must protest. To impugn Judith’s honour is beneath you.” John had found his tongue, and his courage.

“Are you still here, Hampton? You may leave us.”

John’s hesitation lasted for all of thirty seconds, then with one apologetic look at his sister he was gone. Only for the door to immediately reopen and admit Mrs Rogers. Determination etched on her face she ignored Sir Theodore’s frown to take up a station just inside the door.

“You are not required.” Judith couldn’t believe that even Theodore would transgress so far as to give orders to someone else’s servants. But then she couldn’t believe Mrs Rogers’ response either. Anyone who moved in society had seen the cut performed with varying degrees of skill and panache. On occasion when it was deserved Judith had used the technique herself, but never as well as Mrs Rogers did now. Her gaze simply flickered over Sir Theodore’s vein strained neck and face before she settled herself and folded her hands in front of her skirt, obviously without the slightest intention of leaving.

“Judith! Tell her to get out.” Judith clearly didn’t respond quickly enough for him because he thought it necessary to clarify his instruction. “At once.”

The temptation to tell him where to go was overwhelming till Judith caught the tic that spoiled the composure of their housekeeper’s countenance. However imperturbable Mrs Rogers was being it was costing her dear. And this wasn’t her fight.

“Thank you, Mrs Rogers, that will be all.”

“If you are sure Miss Hampton.”

“I am, Mrs Rogers, quite sure. And I thank you.” For once she could be sincere in her words and Judith felt the lift of heartfelt honesty. The withering look their housekeeper cast on Theodore Horsley as she swept out of the room raised Judith’s spirit a little higher even as she girded herself for whatever was to come next.

“That woman will have to be sacked.” One look at Theodore’s face was enough to confirm that he was in earnest.

“It is not for you to decide such matters in my father’s house, Theodore.” This had to be met head on. If he forced his will on this he would think he could do just as liked. Judith knew she was trembling as she answered him, and just prayed that it didn’t show.

“Just to pay for it. Is that it Judith?” He couldn’t expect her to answer such an outrageous slur. Without John’s gambling debts there would be no crisis for him to exploit. Yet he made it sound as though the Hamptons were feckless as a family. Yet her failure to answer didn’t stop Theodore making his contempt clear. “Perhaps I should have let her remain, Judith. So that your shame could become the talk of the servants’ hall.”

“My shame?” It was really hard to avoid sounding like an idiot when you were completely taken by surprise.

“Your shame, Judith. Shall I call your Mrs Rogers back? Perhaps she would enjoy the salacious details.” His very certainty was daunting and Judith knew she was at a loss. Whatever he meant to confront her with she was on the back foot. That didn’t mean she had to let him have it all his own way.

“I have no shame to be baited with.” That was an outright lie of course, but defiance was the only refuge she had.

“Are you pleased to lie to me, madam? Is that how a lady behaves?”

Judith knew her panic was swelling, rising to the level where she would say or do something stupid. But he couldn’t know she’d been with Thomas before he went to Spain. No one knew but them.

“Nothing to say, Judith.” The note of anger in his voice was growing with every taunt, leaving Judith desperate to bring this to a head. Not so Sir Theodore. “You thought you’d play me false did you? Betray me and help your lover to take away my regiment?”

He meant her meeting with Thomas, not her real shame. Though heaven knew one was as damning as the other in the eyes of society and a prospective husband. No one would care that their last meeting had been as chaste as their meetings four years ago had been ruinous.

“I have not conspired with your enemy, Theodore. I give you my word on that.” It didn’t matter that she could say the words truthfully, that she truly was guiltless of any scheming over the militia regiment. But Judith felt the need to cling to something in face of the anger Theodore Horsley wasn’t troubling to hide.

“So you deny meeting with the lecher Stainford, do you Judith? To feed him information you learned from me.” He was fairly spitting the words now, the foam coating the corners of his lips as he worked his way up through the scale of righteous indignation.

“Theodore, please.” There was nothing to say, no point in explaining that she knew nothing of the militia to betray to Thomas. Theodore Horsley was beyond rationality, infuriated by his paranoia. No denial would serve to convince him, and besides his accusation was deserved. It might be untrue but it was deserved. She had accomplished the ruin of her family with her thoughtlessness and recklessness. Her character was running true even after a four year hiatus.

“No please, Judith. Did you meet him or not?” The terse question only confirmed that the violence in him was just below the surface. Judith could see it quite clearly and she knew it would take very little to provoke Theodore into striking her.

“Yes, I met him.” Damn Theodore and his self righteous bullying. “But I never conspired over your regiment.”

“I thank you for your truth, madam. Do you know your mistake?” There was a cruelty in the pompous formality it pleased him to assume, and it scared her. Deep down Judith realised this man was far worse than the clown and buffoon she’d taken him for. “You don’t? Well I shall tell you.”

She considered walking out and rejected the option as cowardly. Sooner or later she had to face this, it might as well be now.

“Sending a footman as your go between was not clever Judith, but your real mistake was to use the term ‘poaching’ as your code word to Stainford. Servants talk and Tomkins heard about your sudden interest in the loss of game. Well he would, as the steward it falls within his purlieu. Good man, Tomkins. He will be remaining in his post.”

If his anger had been disturbing, his self satisfaction was stomach turning. Judith wanted to shake herself free of this nightmare, but Sir Theodore hadn’t finished yet.

“There is no question of our marriage proceeding, Judith. Which is a pity since I had looked forward to the pleasures of the matrimonial bed, my dear. But I could never be content with Stainford’s leavings. You must see that Judith.”

It wasn’t a question that needed an answer, and she knew the wisest course would be to listen to whatever came next, but the protest came to her lips, and like a fool she voiced it.

“You would break our betrothal?”

“Are you heartbroken, Judith? I am a far better prospect than Stainford I agree. Disinherited, limited funds and a social disgrace. Yes I think that I top him in every category.” Theodore Horsley had a evil smile that told Judith how much he was enjoying playing with her.” Or is it the social shame of being rejected by me that worries you?”