Anne Herries - The Rake's Rebellious Lady

‘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.’

‘I assure you that I have never thought you empty-headed, Miss Holbrook,’ Freddie said, a gleam in his eyes; he knew that she was being deliberately provoking. ‘A little reckless, perhaps? Or is that simply a disguise to fool us all?’ His manner was decidedly provocative and received the answer it deserved.

‘Oh, you are unkind, sir,’ Caroline came back at him challengingly. ‘What makes you think that I would pretend to be other than I am?’

‘It was simply a thought that popped into my head,’ he murmured, attempting innocence. ‘I dare say I was wrong?’ Caroline was silent and he raised his brows. ‘Have I offended you, Miss Holbrook?’

‘Oh, no, not at all,’ she said and looked up at him. ‘Please continue what you were saying.’

‘I think I meant to ask if you will come driving with me one morning, Miss Holbrook,’ Freddie said. ‘I was hoping that you might say yes…if you are not otherwise engaged?’