The Rake's Redemption (16 page)

“Is that why they sent you out to bring me back? Or was that your own idea brother?” She could see Thomas watching them and the last thing she needed was him to intervene. “Don’t worry, John, I’ll go back in and sooth the ruffled feathers. I think Theodore got what he wanted anyway.”

Why was it always she who had to face the music? She could imagine what her return to the mess would be. Theodore carefully benign and forgiving when his petty soul was anything but. Florinda Horsley cautious and calculating, biding her time to take revenge. Jane Stainford triumphant and patronising. All the family friends and neighbours watching.

Well her humiliation was complete and there was nothing for it but to go back to face it. Already the loathsome Hector Dundas had slipped out onto the mess veranda and was spying on her. Judith could just imagine the enjoyment he and his like would derive from today’s proceedings.

~

Amara Guilmor had no doubts about how foolish she had been, nor any hesitation in expressing her opinion. “You are a creature of impulse, my dear. Buffeted by your emotions and feelings. No harm in it of course, nor any shame. At least at your age. Though by my relatively late stage in life one should have learned a veneer of sophistication at least. Much more useful really. Allows one to function effectively in opposing the forces of greed and self interest.”

Judith waited for the tirade to run down. She had no other option, Amara was enjoying herself rather too much to allow her audience to interrupt her. Since the
‘incident’
as the county’s society referred to that afternoon’s events Judith’s home had become a social desert and her mood had alternated between furious and depressed by turn. Amara’s visit to Oakenhill was a rare interlude which allowed her to talk seriously to someone. If she could ever get to speak.

“A pity I hadn’t been there that day, Judith, but this is only a brief visit, Guilmor needs me in London and I return tomorrow. Which is a perfect nuisance because Thomas will have no hostess at Trefoyle and that will preclude any unaccompanied visits from ladies.” The intensity with which she stared at Judith left no doubt which lady she thought ought to be visiting Thomas Stainford.

“Amara, Thomas and I have nothing left to say to each other. I doubt we ever really did have.”

“Piffle. Just as his decision to give up society is a mistake. Means Horsley has succeeded with his scheme. Though I have to concede that with Charles and Jane loose in the county it is difficult to see what else Thomas can do. He simply cannot afford to keep running into them, it would be only a matter of time till the inevitable happened and another challenge was issued. Even if Jane didn’t provoke it there are plenty of others who’d be only too happy to stir the pot. People can be so crass.”

“Amara, Thomas’ social engagements really aren’t my concern.”

The stare she got for that would have crushed a duchess. “He will continue with the Loyal Volunteers of course, whipping them into shape. What a stupid name, as if anyone could think a regiment of volunteers would be disloyal. Your Sir Theodore has succeeded in his aim though.”

No point in retorting that he wasn’t her Sir Theodore but the epithet stung. No need to ask what Amara meant either, that would be explained anyway.

“He’s driven a wedge between you and Thomas, Judith. So he doesn’t have to be jealous anymore. What I don’t understand is how he managed to convince Charles and Jane to play his game. I know they are short of society but really, to be that desperate.”

For someone so pleased with her own perspicacity Amara made some glaring errors. If Thomas had been the man a young girl thought he was, nothing and no one could have driven a wedge between them. “Perhaps Jane didn’t need much convincing.”

“No she wouldn’t, that one flies to the honey too easily. But I’m sure that’s not all of it.”

Of course it wasn’t, the honey had to be there to provide  the bait. “Thomas followed her to Spain and then she followed him here.”

“That sounded a touch bitter Judith. For someone as unconcerned with Thomas as yourself.” Amara stopped before she said anything that would force a denial, and grew mysterious and conspiratorial in her mien. “There is much more to it than you think Judith, and you should not judge before you understand.”

“What is it I should understand?” Judith felt about five as she uttered the words. Amara had the knack of reverting you to childhood so easily.

“That is not for me to tell you. I know some of it of course, but it is Thomas with whom you must resolve matters. If that is what you wish to do.”

Thomas who had withdrawn himself from society and whom she couldn’t visit anyway once Amara left for London. Not forgetting the most important factor, that she didn’t want to see him. Let him amuse himself with Jane instead.

“How is John taking to his new duties?” Amara could skip between subjects in the most infuriating manner, long before your own interest in a topic was satisfied.

“He is furious.”

That was an understatement. The one good thing that Thomas had achieved, removing John from command of his company so that he would not be leading it to war in Spain, had led to inordinate upset. To listen to John you would think that the fate of the war hung on this one decision.

“Your father will be pleased though.”

He was, Judith wouldn’t deny it. She just couldn’t share her father’s relief that his last son would be remaining at Oakenhill. Difficult to be thankful for that when John’s main activity was berating his sister for her shortcomings. He’d been to father as well to denounce Judith’s ingratitude, uncaring that he was burdening a sick man.

“Father is thankful. He finds any uncertainty vexing these days.” And with cause given the disarray that Oakenhill and his family had descended to.

“Is Jonathon any better, Judith? You know I should be pleased to see him, however irregular it might be. I’ve known this family long enough to be above the niceties.”

“He’s resting Amara. Hopefully dozing now, during the night he is so fitful he gets hardly any sleep.” Judith didn’t doubt the sincerity of Amara’s wish to see father and Jonathon Hampton would enjoy having such a visitor, they had known each other for a long time. She certainly didn’t care about the social niceties which precluded such a visit, that was one of the advantages of being a social pariah. But however well intentioned Amara was no one would call her a relaxing influence, and it would take only one loose word to start father fretting.

“If you’re sure, Judith, but be certain to tell him that I will come and see him as soon as he is well enough. I don’t have so many old friends now that I can spare one too easily.” Judith could tell her visitor was moving towards departure in line with the adage that visitors were like fish, they went off relatively quickly. But something was holding Amara back.

“You should make an effort to cultivate Charles, Judith. Oh I don’t mean him and Jane before you scold me. Just Charles. There’s more to him than meets the eye. And unlike his brother he is in society.”

As a piece of advice it was unexpected. Charles had always been on the periphery of her life, he didn’t enjoy riding or hounds, he didn’t play tricks as Thomas and John and Jeremy had done. It had been a huge surprise when he’d married and gone off to the army. If she’d been asked Judith would have said his weakness and insipid nature were the cause of much of this trouble. Yet Amara thought him worth cultivating.

“Opposing the forces of greed and self interest is a hard duty, Judith, and it behoves us to be sophisticated about it, my dear.”

Sophisticated was the last adjective Judith would have used to describe herself over the next few days. Run ragged trying to cope with everything that was going wrong at once; carnaptious as her temper frayed with each new crisis; ungrateful for all the sympathy Mrs Rogers and Bridges exuded for her. Any and all of these applied, but never sophisticated.

Amara Guilmor came in for her fair share of cursing too. It was easy to issue fatuous advice when everything was so easy for you. It was impossible to imagine Trefoyle in the hands of a steward who was less than competent and totally trustworthy. Amara was ruthless enough to dismiss without compunction anyone who failed her in any particular. And Trefoyle sparkled because of it, Judith could see the truth of that on her afternoon rides. Whereas Tomkin grew lazier and more evasive with every day that passed.

If only she’d managed to convince father to dismiss their steward before he fell ill. Now to broach the matter was to risk upsetting the precarious balance that kept Jonathon Hampton from falling deeper into his malaise. John didn’t help, by his account Tomkin was single handedly righting everything that was wrong or neglected at Oakenhill. Judith didn’t have the courage to tell father the truth. Timber sold at cut prices, stock straying more than ever, cottagers demanding payment for ruined gardens and orchards.

The name of Hampton was becoming tainted and despised and Judith could do nothing about it. She’d tackled John head on, told him to stop hectoring father, told him his reckless stupidity was the cause of all of this. But raging at her brother was a waste of time, he could see the open door at the end of his troubles and that door was labelled marry Judith off to Theodore Horsley. So that everything would be well for John Hampton. He didn’t care for what would be lost by his sordid little scheme, and that included his sister. John’s only concern was that she didn’t scupper his plans. When Mrs Rogers told them for the third time in one day that the noise of their rowing was upsetting father Judith knew she had to stop the useless attempt to mend her brother.

That left only one avenue of escape for her and Sherbery got plenty of exercise. She’d switched her rides to the afternoon when Thomas should be at the militia barracks to avoid him since she wanted to continue to roam over Trefoyle. Judith prided herself that she’d developed the skill of a cavalry scout, keeping off the skyline and scanning the meadows for horsemen. Once or twice she saw the glossy black horse and red coat that meant Thomas Stainford and altered her course to evade him. But mostly she saw only the keepers and workers, men she’d known since she was a child.

Not that she had any reason to fear facing him, he was the one with the apology to make. Even if Theodore had been wrong in playing his stupid prank. Though it was more than a prank, the consequences could have been horrific. Not that it was her concern, and not that she would be making any effort to cultivate Charles Stainford as Amara advised. The only thing was that no matter how righteous and justified her attitude it didn’t make her feel any better.

Nor did her next visitor. Lady Florinda Horsley might be making an informal call to a young lady she regarded as nearly family but she still made a striking arrival. No outriders in the Volunteer’s scarlet this time but a full complement of driver and postillions on the coach. A coach burnished to dazzling and horses groomed to perfection. Money could buy smart. Judith nearly choked to watch Tomkin scuttle out to greet her. If only the wretched man put half as much effort into the duties they were paying him far too much to undertake.

Judith sat waiting for Florinda Horsley to be ushered in. Perhaps she should have greeted the woman who was still expected to be her relation by marriage in the hall but when you felt perfectly bloody minded that was asking too much. Still she rose with a smile she didn’t feel and came forward to greet her visitor.

“Judith, my dear.” Behind the affable words Judith could see hard eyes calculating her mood. Florinda Horsley had an agenda.

“Florinda.” Whatever it was that Florinda wanted to say let her make the running. “Won’t you sit down?”

“A horrid business the other day.” More like last week but let that go. Maybe it had taken the Horsleys this long to work out how to respond. Given Theodore’s face and lack of civility Judith wouldn’t have been surprised to receive a curt note telling her to find another funding source for her wrack and ruin family. That would have set the gossips going. Nothing like an broken betrothal to excite speculation in the county.

“Unfortunate that Theodore invited Charles and Jane without considering the consequences.” If Florinda Horsley was determined to play innocent, Judith would call her bluff. “When two brothers have fought a duel it borders on reckless to throw them together.” Just enough pause to let Florinda absorb her attitude. “Especially with the cause of the duel present.”

“I see you are a girl of character, Judith.” Florinda Horsley wasn’t put out at all. “That’s good. Theodore is a man with many advantages and quite a catch, but a mother knows a boy like no one else can. He needs a strong woman, Judith. Someone like you.”

Florinda Horsley stopped as if overcome at her own temerity in confiding so much and Judith knew it was a pause for effect. She was expected to reciprocate with some feelings of her own, maybe a half hearted reservation about Theodore or regret over her behaviour at the tea party, so that Florinda could sooth her and the two of them fall into mutual reassurance. She said nothing.

“That’s why I was so pleased when you two decided to wed.” Nothing about Sir Theodore buying himself some lineage or her ransoming her family. Florinda’s attempt to make an honest business transaction sound like a love match was repulsive. “I run the estate you know.”

Judith couldn’t help betraying her interest in this nugget, something she would never have guessed.

“Oh yes. Sir Reginald, my late husband was a man who knew the value of money.” Since Judith was to marry Theodore she really ought to be given credit for knowing who his father was. “Theodore and his father never saw eye to eye you know Judith. So Sir Reginald insisted that I managed the estate.”

And she managed Theodore too if Judith understood the message she was being given, but there was no real news there.

“I would welcome your help. I know you take an interest in Oakenhill.” Rather better informed than Judith would have given her credit for, maybe there was more to Lady Florinda Horsley than a socially climbing embarrassment.

“I know a young girl awaits her wedding with dread as well as anticipation. I can remember how I worried over what Sir Reginald would want of me. But you know Judith, that is a minor part of marriage. Oh you must breed the heir he will expect, there is no getting around that. Still Theo is not the man to trouble you unduly and you will have control of the Horsley lands as well as Oakenhill. Under my eye of course till I’m sure you can manage it.”

Judith was left cringing at this confirmation of just how much of a social embarrassment Florinda Horsley would be. The conventions were there expressly to prevent such crassness. But she understood the message well enough though she couldn’t prevent an involuntary shudder at the breeding part of the speech. If Florinda Horsley only knew.

“I see.” It wasn’t much of a response but it was all she could manage. Fortunately it was enough.

“Of course Theodore expects a certain standard.” Judith had to step down hard on herself to stop the umbrage taking hold. This parvenu had the audacity to lecture her on standards? “After all any man expects his wife to heed him in public, Judith.”

So now they got to the point of it. After all the sugar came the bite. Recanting her behaviour at the tea party would be the least of it and Judith could feel her skin crawl at arrogance all dressed up as friendly advice. She knew that it was beyond her to agree, if she had to speak she’d be bound to argue, but if she kept quiet her silence might be taken for assent.

“Thomas Stainford is to blame of course. His kind of man is only out for what he can get, Judith.” It felt like treachery to sit and listen to this, like she was betraying Thomas, but when you got to the bottom of it Florinda was right about his character. So much for starting off defiant and determined to swallow no verbiage. It hadn’t taken but five minutes for her to be talked down.

“Jane has explained to me much of what happened in Spain. She was misled and bitterly regrets it now.” The characterisation of Jane Stainford as a naive innocent abroad was patently absurd and Judith almost choked on it. It almost moved her to protest, until she thought of John’s desperation and her father’s vulnerability.

“Of course, Florinda.”

She knew she hadn’t been quite convincing enough by the glance the older woman shot her, but Florinda Horsley chose to carry on with her charade, perhaps recognising that she’d achieved what she set out to.

“Theodore thought we should chat Judith, and I’m glad we have. Now, you and John must come to dinner tomorrow. Charles and Jane need more company than just Theo and I.”

Judith had to accept of course, she’d been ambivalent enough about the rest of Florinda’s performance to have no leeway left. So the perfectly gruesome dinner would just have to be faced, no doubt the first of many in her life as Lady Horsley.

If her departing visitor left Judith with her spirits depressed her next two cheered her inordinately. Amelia Forbury and her mother were like a breath of fresh air.

“We were in London, Judith or we would have come before. You are quite the talk of the county, though the good Lord knows they have little enough to occupy their prittle prattling little lives.” Lady Margery never would learn discretion but her transgressions lacked the intention to upset. At least to Judith. Words that coming from Florinda Horsley would have been a barbed attack came as sympathy from her.

“Mother! Judith, I have no idea what Theodore was thinking of bringing Thomas and Charles together. It sounds as though you and Thomas were the only ones to keep your heads.”

“That sounds as if you’re angling for a first hand account to see if what you’ve already heard matches up.” Judith had no compunction in challenging her friend. It made a blessed relief to be able to speak as she wished.

“I have no need for you have not heard my news.” Amelia gave that toss of the head she used when she was sure certain she held all the trumps.

“You know Rosemary’s boy Jerome don’t you Judith?” Margery Forbury didn’t so much steal her daughter’s thunder as enhance it, for Judith looked from mother to daughter with delighted realisation dawning in her eyes.

“I was at the ball his mother gave to celebrate his return. Amelia, you mean?”

“He was always obnoxious when he was a boy. Pulling the wings off butterflies, that sort of thing but he’s been changed by the wars. Much more thoughtful. And he still has his father’s earldom to inherit.” Amelia Forbury realised her mistake too late and promptly dived in deeper.

“I didn’t mean Thomas, Judith. I meant losing his arm. Not that that matters.” She finished lamely. “Oh dear.”

“I think what my daughter means is that Jerome as well as being rich and titled and besotted with her is a thoroughly nice and honourable man. With the right girl to revive his spirits he can be made much of. My daughter has no doubts of her ability to fulfil that role.”

“Mother, you make me sound like a scheming hussy.”

“Well Judith has known you too long to be deceived, dear. So why trouble to pretend?”

As the banter went on Judith’s thoughts drifted. If anyone was truly a schemer it was her. Not for her own advantage certainly, but still guilty of cold blooded calculation. Was she any better than Jane? But did she have any choice? And no matter how friendly Amelia and her mother were, irrespective that she’d known them all her life she could no more admit to them how trapped she was than she could fly. You could despise the conventions as much as you liked but they still gripped you in an embrace you couldn’t break.

Judith tried, she really tried to rejoice in Amelia’s news, wishing her friend joy and meaning it, but it came over too lacklustre to convince. So she listened attentively to Lady Forbury’s insistent advice as her visitors took their early leave.

“Give your father my best wishes, my dear. I do hope he is well soon. You were right to do what you did and defy Sir Theodore at the tea party. Don’t ever be ashamed of that, you’d do it again if you had to. You’re the brave one Judith.”

“I’ll expect you to drop everything and come to my wedding, Judith. No excuses, promise?”

She promised of course, and answered the opaque questioning from Margery Forbury about Sir Theodore as briefly as she could. The way each question reinforced the impression that Amelia’s mother thought she was making a massive mistake she ignored resolutely. For Lady Margery was quite wrong: she wasn’t the brave one at all.

~

“If you dare to make a fuss tonight Judith, you’ll regret it.” John had polished off most of a bottle of wine before they set off, justifying it as the only way to keep the cold out on their coach journey. “It’s damnable enough that I have to spend the evening at Theo’s as your escort without you causing another upset.”

“I thought you and Theo were friends.” Of late John’s references to Theodore had been less favourable though Judith had no idea why.

“We are. I can’t stand being bored is all. Old lady Horsley can be deadly dull and she puts the mockers on Theo. Charles Stainford is a flat fish, though his wife is a prime stepper. At least Hector will be there to raise some kind of breeze.”