The Rebel Wife: Book Four in the Regency Romps Series

by Elizabeth Bramwell

  The Rebel Wife

  By

  Elizabeth Bramwell

  Also by Elizabeth Bramwell

  The Dashing Widow

  The Foolish Friend

  His Darling Belle

  Forthcoming in 2017:

  A Novel Miss

  The Penniless Peer

  © Elizabeth Bramwell – all rights reserved

  For my sisters.

  Remember, no matter what happens in life

  I will always be younger than you

  The Rebel Wife

  One

  “I hate you! I wish my brother had never met you! No wonder he hasn’t come back from the Continent yet, you would make him as miserable as the rest of us!” squealed Lady Helena, before stamping her little foot and flouncing out of the room.

  Her sister-in-law and object of hatred, Kate, the Duchess of Lexborough, wife to Alexander Weatherly, the fifth Earl of Lexborough, sat back in her chair, her eyes closed as she pinched her brow. “That went well,” she remarked.

  “She should not have said such things, truly she shouldn’t, but she is in love, my dear, and love makes you say the silliest of things. She did not mean a word of it, I am quite sure.”

  Kate forced down her immediate retort, instead taking three or four deep breaths to calm herself. She looked up, meeting the troubled gaze of her mother-in-law. “And I am quite sure, dearest, that she meant every last word of it.”

  Lady Sarah Weatherly, the Dowager Duchess, twisted her handkerchief around in her lap, over and over until it became a tangled knot balled up on her knees. “Oh my dear, do not say so! I know I have indulged her sadly, but she is my only daughter, besides being the image of her father. I have not the heart to say no to her.”

  “The result of which is that she hates anyone who refuses to let her have her own way,” muttered Kate before she could catch herself. She sighed heavily. “I am sorry for saying that, dearest! Helena is old enough to know that she should behave with more decorum; and why she got it into her head that I should be inclined to write to Lexborough advising him to approve the marriage, I have no notion! It does little to convince me that there is any sense in that head of hers.”

  Sarah coloured up, turning her face away from her daughter-in-law. Kate, catching the motion out the corner of her eye, frowned and studied the Dowager more closely. “Dearest, please tell me that it was not you that suggested it.”

  Sarah rested her forehead on her hand, refusing to meet Kate’s gaze. “It was not my intention, that I can assure you! She has been plaguing me for weeks to write to Lexborough on her behalf, and eventually, I told her it would do no good and that her brother is far more inclined to trust your judgement than mine, so she would do better to court your approval.”

  Kate barked out a laugh. “That explains so much! I did wonder why she was so keen to accompany me to the theatre and riding in the park, and to visit cousin Georgiana who she positively despises, and did not raise so much as an eyebrow when I sent back that most improper gown to Madame Chevalier. She was trying to butter me up!”

  “Oh no, Kate, I do not think she is capable of such duplicity, indeed I do not! Helena thinks the world of you, I promise, it is just that she can be a little willful at times, and does not like to be crossed.” She began to wring the handkerchief around her fingers again. “And don’t you think, my dear, that perhaps she may have a small point? Her affections to Mr Rumble have been constant.”

  Kate sighed. “I know, there is no accounting for it. She has so many admirers, too!”

  Sarah looked up, reaching her hand out to clasp that of her daughter-in-law. “She has taken the Ton by storm, hasn’t she? And I don’t care what Jane Pulford says, Helena is by far more popular than any of her insipid daughters!”

  Kate laughed despite herself.

  “Undoubtedly! Helena is everywhere admired and welcomed for she is pretty, bright and perfectly well-mannered, even when in the company of Eugenia. Thank God none of her suitors has seen what a termagant she is when in the privacy of her own home.”

  She paused, unable to prevent the smile that spread across her lips.

  “Now, there is a plan. Perhaps we should invite Mr Rumble over without telling her, so he may witness one of her distempered freaks. If we cannot convince her that he is unsuitable, perhaps we can convince him that Helena is not at all suited to being a country squire’s wife!”

  “I thought of that,” said Sarah, oblivious to the surprise felt by Kate at this disclosure, “but they have known each other since childhood, and she has never been one to hold back amongst friends and family. Jonathan Rumble knows full well what a high-strung creature Helena is, and has kept constant.”

  “Perhaps Lexborough will give his blessing in a few years,” said Kate, “but why Helena hates me for wishing her to see a little of the world, I have no idea. She is not yet seventeen after all, and she has revelled in the attention. I simply wish for her to enjoy her time before she is shackled into a marriage.”

  “Like you were, my dearest?” asked Sarah, her voice soft.

  “Like me?” asked Kate, slightly bewildered. She coloured suddenly when she realised what her mother-in-law was getting at. “No, not at all! Lexborough has always written such nice letters to me, and really one can’t blame him for running off like he did – I was only fifteen, after all, and he probably found me a tiresome bore.”

  “Yes, well you know how I feel about his jauntering about all over the Continent and who knows where else for the last decade,” sniffed Sarah, her face twisted into an expression of distaste. “He has no cause to be off exploring when he should be here taking care of the family. In particular, you, dearest!”

  Kate laughed, touched by the indignation her mother-in-law was experiencing on her behalf. “Fudge! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and of you, and even Arthur if pushed. However, I am in perfect agreement that Helena is by far a more dangerous threat than anything in the wilder parts of the world, and believe Lexborough should come home immediately to deal with her!”

  Sarah laughed in spite of herself. She went to reply, but an almighty crash from the floor above, followed by a hysterical scream, filtered down into the parlour. She sighed. “I better go up to her before she works herself into hysterics.”

  “It may be a little late for that, but never fear: she will be fully recovered in time to attend the Loughcroft’s ball tonight, as I am quite certain that Mr Rumble was fortunate enough to secure an invite. You can even tell her that it would be perfectly proper for her to stand up with him for two dances, and I can say nothing to reproach her.”

  Sarah stood and walked to the door, but paused before opening it. “I do wish Lexborough was here,” she said wistfully.

  “Well, I for one do not,” retorted Kate. “He would never forgive us for letting Helena get so sadly out of hand. Now go and calm her down; I will send the tea tray up to you shortly so the two of you can have some privacy. I don’t hold out much hope in seeing you before we are due to leave for the ball, but promise me you won’t waste all your energy on Helena and will allow yourself plenty of time for your own toilette!”

  Sarah smiled vaguely but declined to answer, floating out of the room with her usual, ethereal grace as she followed the trail of destruction left by her daughter.

  Kate sat alone in the parlour, her head rested gently on one hand as she stared at nothing in particular.

  “Lexborough, I wish you would come home,” she sighed, before shaking herself out of melancholy and setting about the tasks for that evening.

  *

  By the
time that the carriage arrived at the front door to take them all to the Lexborough’s ball, the ladies had assembled in the hallway, ready to leave. Helena, whether of her own devices or those of her mother, had decided to act with an aloof politeness that only mildly resembled a sulk. Kate, glad only that none of them had been worn out by Helena’s histrionics that afternoon, did her best to be sunshine itself, even going so far as to compliment her sister-in-law’s appearance.

  This, it turned out, was a stroke of genius. Knowing full well that Mr Rumble would be present at the ball, Helena had agonised over her outfit for the best part of a week, doubly so since Kate had returned her original choice of gown to Madame Chevalier. One or two well-placed questions about the precise choice of trim on her shawl, or the pretty way that her hair had been dressed, and Helena appeared to have forgotten that Kate was the source of all woe in her life.

  “That reticule is very pretty, too,” said Helena, after scanning her sister-in-law from head to toe.

  “So it should be, for it was the one you chose on our shopping trip,” Kate reminded her.

  Helena smiled broadly. “Oh yes, I remember now! No wonder I thought it was pretty!” She glanced at it again. “You know I think it would go better with my dress than yours, Kate. I cannot collect why we forgot that pink is not your colour at all!”

  Kate caught the pleading look from her mother-in-law and managed to stifle the giggle threatening to erupt. “Indeed, how stupid of me to have purchased it! Would you mind awfully if we traded, dearest? I think your little bag would go tolerably with this shade of green, do you not agree?”

  Helena smiled broadly. “What a good idea!” she exclaimed, and her mood lightened considerably once the pink reticule was in her possession.

  They continued down the steps in pleasant small talk and were about to enter the carriage when a voice called out to them from a few steps away. Lord Arthur Weatherly, never known to do something so uncouth as hurry, strolled towards them, his natty little cane tapping onto the paving stones as he approached.

  “Hello, my dears!” he said with a grin, he reached out to take the Dowager’s hand. “You look divine, Mama! Pretty as a picture! My dear Katie, that shawl is as perfect on you as I said it would be. Helena, as dashing as al- good God! What is that thing on your wrist?”

  Helena stopped, mid-preen. She held up her hand. “My reticule,” she responded. “We purchased it at a fascinating little shop only last week.”

  Arthur Weatherly shuddered, turning his face away. “Do not bring that offending item to my attention any further! Every nerve is irritated by it!”

  Helena scowled. “It is Kate’s. If she was wearing it, I bet you would say it was ambrosia itself.”

  “I assure you, little sister, nothing would be further from my lips. I rather think I would demand that she cast it into the fire, and explain to me how she came to lose all the taste and finesse she is renowned for.”

  “Arthur, don’t be so foolish,” said Kate, warily eyeing her sister-in-law. Helena showed every sign of succumbing to one of her fits of pique, and the last place they needed that to happen was the street outside of their home. “Do you come to the Loughcroft’s ball? There is room for you also in the carriage if you wish to join us.”

  “I was rather hoping to catch you alone before you reached the ball, darling Katie! Can you spare me a few moments before you go?”

  “I am not waiting around whilst you and she have a chinwag,” snapped Helena, her suspicious eyes flitting between Kate and the offending reticule.

  “I would not ask you to,” said Kate. “Can it wait, Arthur?”

  “I am afraid it cannot, my dear! Mother and my sister can go on ahead; it is not far to the Loughcroft’s, and by the time the coach has returned here to pick us up, I am quite sure this little matter will be concluded.” He bowed gracefully to his mother and Helena before linking his arm through that of Kate, half pushing her back up into the house.

  “That was badly done, Arthur!” laughed Kate. “I tried so hard to coax Helena out of the sullens by carrying that horrid little bag she loves so much, then you had to go and ruin it by pointing out how vulgar it is! And as for abandoning your mother and sister instead of escorting them – well, it is outside of the enough.”

  Arthur rolled his eyes. “What Helena needs is a good hard slap, my dear! She has been cosseted and spoilt since the day my father died, and look what has come of it. First mother, then my brother through his letters; really, the only reason she’s bearable in public is down to you, and don’t think I don’t know it!”

  “Hush,” murmured Kate, glancing at the footmen as they entered the study.

  Arthur snorted. “Pooh! As if there is a servant here who doesn’t know what a horrid little baggage Helena is! Why you could shoot her dead in front of them all, and they’d swear to a man that she died of influenza.”

  “Arthur, don’t say such things, it is unbecoming,” retorted Kate, but her voice betrayed her amusement. Her brother-in-law grinned at her.

  “That’s better, I need you in a good mood.”

  Kate groaned. “oh dear, what is it this time?”

  He looked at her guiltily, but the smile in his eyes betrayed his belief that she was already on his side. Kate sighed as he passed her a sheet of paper.

  “Only a loan!” he said with false brightness.

  Kate held the bill tightly in her slim hand, staring at the numbers scrawled in her brother-in-law’s handwriting for what felt like an eternity. It didn’t help; a nought did not magically disappear, nor the eight miraculously shrink down into a one, or even a three. She glanced up, studying the uncomfortable looking young dandy with increasing disbelief.

  “Eight hundred pounds, Arthur?” she asked for the third time.

  Arthur shifted in his seat. His hand crept up to adjust his neckcloth, but at the last minute he remembered himself, so instead gripped onto one of the numerous fobs dangling from his watch chain. “Dash it, Katie, it’s not like I make a habit of it!”

  “Thank Heaven for small mercies, then, for you must have quite shocking luck! How on earth did you run up so much in one go?”

  “I simply could not lose, Katie, it was a done deal, I swear it. Only, we didn’t account for the pigeon, you see-”

  Katie held up her hand to silence him as she closed her eyes for a moment. “Spare me the details; I think it is best that I remain ignorant in this. That way, when you brother writes to me asking why I have been so shockingly expensive this quarter, I will not be forced to lie to him about the source of this expenditure. Again.”

  Arthur smiled hesitantly, keen to steer conversation down safer channels. “Have you heard from Alex recently, then?”

  Kate frowned before she could help it, then forced her face to an expression of calm indifference. “No; at least, not for a month or so. I suppose he is kept busy with the new excavation he is sponsoring. I do not expect to hear from him for another few weeks yet.”

  “Ah. I see,” Arthur said, but his tone betrayed him. “No news on his return, then.”

  Kate stiffened, raising her chin a little in defiance. “Certainly not! Your brother is a leading light in the college of antiquarians, and cannot be expected to leave a site at such a crucial time.”

  Arthur snorted. “Quoting from his letters, are you? No, don’t blow up at me! My brother has the title and his priority should be taking care of the estates, the family and the finances, not leave it to you while he’s off gallivanting around the Continent, my dear.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at that. “You are quite right, of course; as a mere female, I am far from equipped to manage even the most trifling of my husband’s affairs! I shall instead attend parties and entertainments with your mother, not worry my pretty little head about anything so uncouth as the astonishing bills from your tailor, and instead, leave everything in your capable hands.”

  “Yes, and within a fortnight I’d have gambled the lot on a sweet goer at Ascot that fe
ll at the first fence,” said Arthur candidly, and was rewarded with a crow of laughter from Kate. “Don’t try to gammon me, my dear. I know full well that it is your guidance that has kept this family above water for the seven years since father died, even if my brother doesn't know it. It’s about time that Alex grew up and accepted his responsibilities.”

  “So sayeth the man of four-and-twenty, who lost eight hundred pounds because of a pigeon.”

  Arthur laughed. “It wasn’t just any old pigeon, my dear, but I must refrain from telling you the details.”

  “Admit it, you prefer things with me at the head rather than your brother! He would never lend you the money to pay off a gambling debt.”

  “Untrue, dearest! Don’t you know it ain’t the done thing to borrow from a female? Alex is the one lending me the money to cover my debts, only using you as a proxy!”

  “Oh, is he indeed? Well as his proxy I am quite sure that I am yet to agree to anything of the sort!”

  Arthur froze for a second, searching Kate’s pretty face for some trace of emotion. “Now Katie, you wouldn’t want to see your brother-in-law clapped into a debtor’s prison, would you? Think of my mother’s nerves, the ensuing scandal! Why Helena would never live down the shame, what with a brother so wholly given over to the evils of gambling. People would start to suspect our blood was tainted, and you would be unable to marry my sister off. Imagine, having to live with Helena for the rest of your life!”

  Kate gave a theatrical shudder. “How terrible!”

  “Indeed, dearest! But you would deserve no sympathy, you see, for I would be rotting away in a prison cell, and it would all be due to the fact that you were too hard hearted to lend me my brother’s money.”

  “Would it not, in fact, all be due to a pigeon?” inquired Kate, her face a picture of innocence.

  Arthur flashed her a relieved smile. “I always knew you were too good for this family, my dear,” he said, before throwing his arms around her and planting his lips firmly on her cheek.