by Rose Pearson
She’d been so young then, hardly able to take it in, but yet she’d cried so hard and for so long for the mother she’d never see again.
And then, Mrs. Beeson had stepped in. Sometimes when Caroline closed her eyes, she could still remember the feeling of being wrapped in Mrs. Beeson’s arms as she’d rocked her in the rocking chair by the fire, letting Caroline cry out all of her pain and grief. Mrs. Beeson had cried too, over the loss of a husband she’d loved, and perhaps it was that grief that had begun to grow the strong bond that was now between them.
Mrs. Beeson had become the mother Caroline had lost, although of course, she could never truly be replaced. From that day on, Mrs. Beeson had declared that Caroline and Peter were to consider the tavern their home, promising never to throw them out on the street or to send them to the poorhouse. Caroline was still grateful to this day for Mrs. Beeson’s generosity, knowing that there was now a love between them that would never break apart. When Peter had left to join the army, Mrs. Beeson and Caroline had clung together and tried not to cry, both proud and afraid for him. Whilst Caroline’s parents had never been nobility, they had worked hard and had built up a decent fortune for their two small children, a fortune that would have been all the larger had they lived, but Peter had used his share to purchase colors for himself when he turned eighteen. He was now a lieutenant in the cavalry, and whilst Caroline had been extraordinarily proud of him, she had always had the same familiar worry lingering in her thoughts. What if she was to lose a brother as well as her parents? Then she would be all alone in the world, with no blood relatives to call her own.
And now, here he was back with her again, his broad smile and bright flashing eyes so familiar to her.
“Peter!”
She ran around the counter and threw her arms around his neck, tears spilling from her eyes as she did so. He looked almost the same as she remembered him, although she swore he was taller and broader than before. His shock of dark brown hair was, as usual, entirely in disarray and his blue eyes – so similar to her own - were sparkling with delight.
“Oh, Peter!” she heard Mrs. Beeson exclaim and stepped aside to allow the lady to wrap her arms around him, seeing her just as tearful as she. “We have missed you.”
Peter pressed a kiss to Mrs. Beeson’s cheek. “I’ve missed you as well. It’s good to be back home.”
“You look so very handsome in your military uniform,” Mrs. Beeson said, proudly. “Just imagine! My ward, a lieutenant!”
Caroline smiled as Peter wrapped one arm around her shoulders, feeling herself almost burst with happiness. He tugged at a stray curl that escaped from her bun, making her laugh. She had not seen her brother for a few years and yet now that he was here, it was as if they’d never been apart.
“Working hard as usual, are you Caro?” he asked, as they walked together towards the counter. “This place seems busier than I remember it.”
Glad to be able to get her brother a drink, Caroline laughed and made her way around to the back of the counter. “That’s because Mrs. Beeson does such a good job of making this the best tavern in all of Smithfield Market!”
Mrs. Beeson chuckled as the conversation in the tavern began to grow to a loud buzz again, now that the interest in Peter’s arrival had calmed down.
“Are you staying here tonight, Peter?” Mrs. Beeson asked, one hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head. “I’m on leave from the army for a bit – nothing serious, though. They just want us hard working men to have a bit of rest before we go back, you see, so I should be in town for a while. But I’m going to be staying with a friend.”
Caroline was surprised, looking over at her brother as she served him his ale. “A friend?” Peter had never introduced her to any of his friends before and had always stayed at the tavern when he had been home on leave.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes,” Peter said, with a broad smile. “I do hope you’ll like him, Caro. He’s a good sort.”
“Oh?” Caroline smiled as her brother drank his ale thirstily. “Can I get you another?”
He chuckled. “Please. And one for Brandeis.”
She filled two glasses. “And is Brandeis in the army too?”
Peter nodded. “He’s actually Lord Timothy Brandeis, second son to the Marquess of Fareshire.”
That made Caroline stop in her tracks, her stomach twisting itself into a sudden knot. “He’s of the nobility?” This was not a place where nobility ever came in, for it was much too below them. “I do not want him to think lowly of you, Peter, in coming here.”
Peter waved a hand. “Brandeis is not like that, Caro, don’t worry. He’s a decent chap, really. Being in the army tends to blur the lines between nobility and the rest of us.” He chuckled. “He’ll like you, I’m sure.”
That did not sound particularly endearing to Caroline, despite the fact that her brother clearly thought it should. She knew all too well the reputation of the gentlemen in the beau monde, hoping that Peter had not become unduly influenced by this Lord Brandeis.
“And you’re to stay with him?” she asked, tentatively. “You will come and see me though, won’t you?”
Peter looked surprised, his expression softening. “Of course I will, Caro. You were the first person I came to see since I got back to London last night. Just because I’m staying in town doesn’t mean that I won’t be here. I’ll come by every night for dinner if you like.”
Feeling a little better, Caroline smiled. “You don’t have to do that, Peter. Not every night.”
“Then definitely on Sunday’s,” he said, patting her hand. “I know that’s your only day off and I do want to make sure I get to spend some time with you.”
Her smile broadened. “That would be wonderful, and I know Mrs. Beeson would appreciate it too.” She arched a brow, her expression growing a little wry. “Although imagine that, you getting to stay in a fancy townhouse! What’s become of my ragamuffin brother?” Chuckling as he grinned at her, Caroline shook her head, hardly able to believe it. “Friends with a lord,” she muttered, as Peter laughed aloud. “My goodness, Peter. How things have changed!”
Peter made to say more, only for the door to the tavern to open again and a gentleman to walk through. Caroline’s eyes went to him at once, taking in his rather overwhelming presence. He was tall with broad shoulders and a strong stance as he surveyed the tavern. His fair hair glowed in the candlelight and, as he turned his gaze onto her, Caroline felt herself grow a little weak with a strange rush of desire.
Catching herself, she dropped her gaze from the gentleman and made to pick up a few dirty glasses, warning herself not to become caught up in nothing more than appearance.
“Brandeis!”
Peter called out and got to his feet, beckoning the gentleman over. His uniform told Caroline that he was of higher rank than her brother, but that did not seem to make any difference to them given the way they greeted one another.
“Good to see you again, Peter,” the gentleman said, with a broad smile. “I confess it took me a bit of time to find this place but I’m glad I managed to do so in the end, especially when I am greeted by such a pretty face.”
Caroline felt her face flame as Lord Brandeis turned his face towards hers, clearly trying to flatter her. She did not look at him and, in fact, moved towards the man at the other end of the counter who was calling her name. Pouring him a glass of ale, she heard Peter explain to Lord Brandeis that she was, in fact, his sister and to be careful where she was concerned.
That, at least, was decent of Peter, Caroline had to admit. She was well used to batting away advances from the men who came into the tavern and was quite sure she would easily be able to do the same to a gentleman who thought to woo her with his fine words and broad smile.
It did not help, of course, that he was rather handsome, particularly in his military uniform.
“Caro?”
Putting on a bright smile, she moved back over towards Peter, who was gesturing
towards the other gentleman.
“Caro, this is Lord Timothy Brandeis, second son to the Marquess of Fareshire. Brandeis, this is my sister, Miss Caroline Devonshire.”
Caroline nodded towards the gentleman, who was now giving her something of a contemplative look with his light green eyes.
“It is very good to meet you, my lord,” she said, calmly, trying not to give thought to the way her heart was quickening just a little. “I hear you are very good friends with my brother.”
“Please, do call me ‘Brandeis,’” the gentleman said, with a slight inclination of his head. “In this present company, I do not feel it necessary to worry so much about propriety and all that.”
Bristling slightly at the remark, Caroline tried to settle her inner frustration and went to pour him an ale.
“You do look very like your brother, I must say,” Lord Brandeis murmured, gently. “The same brown hair, the same blue eyes – although your oval face holds a delicate beauty, Miss Devonshire. I did not ever expect Peter to have such a beautiful sister.”
She gave him a tight smile, sending her brother a sharp glance.
“And yes, I am very good friends with your brother Peter, as you say,” Lord Brandeis continued, as she set the glass of ale down in front of him. “One cannot help but be appreciative towards the man who saved my life.”
Caroline gasped, looking towards Peter who ducked his head, not looking at either of them.
“Tis quite true, Miss Devonshire,” Lord Brandeis continued, slapping Peter hard on the back. “I was knocked unconscious by a sudden blow to the back of the head from one of our enemies. I think he must have struck me hard with the butt of his pistol. However, as I lay there dazed and about to slip into blackness, I saw a figure approaching who managed to shoot dead the man who was, by this point, pulling out his sword with which to finish me off. I disappeared into unconsciousness just as that occurred and when I came to, I found myself back at the camp entirely uninjured save for a rather sore head.”
Caroline reached for Peter’s hand, pride bubbling up in her chest. “And you did this, Peter?”
He looked up at her, clearly a little embarrassed. “Of course I did. I’d do it for anyone, if I had to,” he said, with a small shrug. “It’s what you do in the army. You look out for one another.”
“But that took a great deal of courage, to come after me in such a way when the enemy was approaching on every side,” Lord Brandeis said, firmly. “You mustn’t pretend as though it was no great feat, Devonshire.”
Peter shook his head. “You’re doing it too brown, Brandeis. I’m sure you would have done the same for me.”
There was a short pause and Caroline squeezed her brother’s hand, overwhelmed by what she had heard. “Just wait until I tell Mrs. Beeson,” she said, quietly, her emotions rising up to swirl around her. “She will be just as proud of you as I am, Peter. I cannot tell you just how glad I am to have you back home.”
His eyes warmed, a smile on his lips. “And I am glad to be back home with you, Caroline. War can make a man rather weary.” For a moment, there was a haunted look in his eyes, a look that made her grow rather concerned about her brother, only for him to shrug and smile at Lord Brandeis.
“I quite agree,” Lord Brandeis said, quietly, with a sad smile. “So what do you say to forgetting all that and having ourselves a rather jolly evening?”
Peter grinned, just as Caroline rolled her eyes. She had no need to ask what Lord Brandeis meant by ‘a jolly evening’, quite sure it would involve a large amount of liquor.
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Peter said, with a broad grin. “More ale if you please, Caroline.”
Three hours later and the only two gentlemen left in the tavern were Peter and Lord Brandeis. The rest of the patrons had left, or had been muscled out by Martin and Mrs. Beeson, but they had left Peter and Lord Brandeis alone, although by now Caroline was refusing to serve them any more alcohol. As much as she was pleased to see her brother home again, she was growing incredibly weary and, as she finished drying the last few glasses, let her eyes linger on Lord Brandeis.
He was guffawing loudly at something Peter had said, slapping him hard on the back. Already, he’d tried to take her hand in his own as she’d brought them another round of drinks, and once he’d settled his hand on her thigh. She had made short work of that attempt to grow close to her, grasping his hand tightly in her own and slamming it back down, hard, onto the table. To her frustration, Lord Brandeis had done nothing more than chuckle, shaking his head at her as though she were the one in the wrong for refusing him.
“Do you recall,” she heard Peter say, in a loud voice that seemed to echo around the tavern, “how we got ourselves into that mess with Lord Henderson? When he found that you’d tried to seduce his daughter?”
Caroline felt a slow rising revulsion grow in her chest as Lord Brandeis guffawed, throwing himself back in his chair as though it were all a great joke and nothing more.
“And how you helped us get away from Madame Beauford’s establishment without paying for what we’d.... enjoyed?” Peter continued, making Caroline want to press her hands over her ears so that she couldn’t hear him any longer. “That was an excellent evening, I must say!”
Lord Brandeis chuckled. “It was just as well we were due to sail home that evening, else we should not have been able to do so!”
“I am sure Madame Beauford would have come after us if we had not left for England,” Peter grinned, slapping his knee hard. “After all, I had more than a few of her girls, and I’m sure you were the same.”
Lord Brandeis shook his head, his eyes dancing. “I do not recall but yet, certainly more than a few.”
Caroline drew in a long breath, feeling herself growing angry with her instant attraction to Lord Brandeis. She had thought him handsome, her heart had quickened just a little and now, here she was, hearing that he was nothing more than a rogue. And what was worse, her brother now appeared to be quite mixed up in that kind of life also! That was not like Peter, was it? That was not the brother she knew?
“How he lives his life is nothing to do with you, Caroline,” she warned herself, frowning. “Leave him be.”
But the more that she heard from her brother and Lord Brandeis, the more she wanted to distance herself from them. Finally, unable to stand no more, she walked towards them both, her intent resolute.
“Peter, it is time you left,” she said firmly, ignoring Lord Brandeis altogether. “I am tired, and Mrs. Beeson has already gone to bed.”
Her brother smiled up at her, his expression a little vacant. “Oh, I’m sorry, Caro. Are we keeping you from your bed?”
She planted her hands on her hips as he made no effort to move. “Yes, you are. Do get a move on, Peter. I want to retire.”
Finally, her brother tried to get to his feet, only for Lord Brandeis to wrap one arm around her hips in an attempt to drag her onto his lap.
“I could always join you in your bed,” he said, his words stumbling over each other. “I’m very good at keeping ladies like you warm at night.”
Caroline felt herself grow cold all over, glancing down into the handsome face of Lord Brandeis and feeling herself nothing more than disgusted with him.
“I think not, Brandeis,” she said firmly. “Kindly unhand me.”
He did not do as she had asked, but instead simply smiled up at her, his hand still tight about her hips. Peter, of course, was too drunk to be of any use. He was now on his way towards the door, not so much as looking over his shoulder at her. Closing her eyes for a moment, Caroline put one hand onto Lord Brandeis’s shoulder, and gave it a good, hard shove.
“You are to leave my establishment now, Lord Brandeis,” she said sternly, as his hand slipped down a notch but still did not leave her person. “I have no wish to be in your company any longer.”
Lord Brandeis drew in a long breath, his lips turning downwards. “How very sad,” he said, softly. “For you are truly
very beautiful, Miss Devonshire, and I am quite certain that I could make you inordinately happy.”
Grimacing, Caroline twisted away from him, feeling his grip on her growing weak. Finally free, she came around to stand behind Lord Brandeis chair, tugging it away from him just as soon as he made to rise. Keeping it between herself and him, she arched one eyebrow and pointed towards the door, hating that her heart was thudding in her chest. She had been afraid there for a moment and she did not like being afraid.
“My apologies, Miss Devonshire,” Lord Brandeis slurred, leaning heavily on the table. “I should take my leave of you now. I am quite sure I will find more willing young ladies at our next establishment.”
Her stomach turned over. “I am quite sure you will, Lord Brandeis,” she said firmly, growing almost desperate for him to leave her company. “Good night.”
Slowly, he began to make his way towards the door, only for Peter to reappear, having apparently realized that his friend was not with him.
“I will see you tomorrow, Caro,” Peter said, waving a hand at her. “We’ll be back tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night,” Lord Brandeis agreed, looking quite delighted at the prospect. “Until then, Miss Devonshire. Until then.”
Chapter Three
Meandering through the bookshop, Caroline smiled to herself as she ran a finger over the spines. She loved coming here. Here she could find a whole new world, a whole new life, where she might lose herself for a time. It was only books, of course, only novels and stories, but still, she had a thirst for them that was never satisfied. Caroline read everything she could get her hands on, from history, to sermons, to even ‘A Hand-Book of Etiquette for Ladies’ which was not, of course, meant for her ilk but rather for those in the nobility. That book, however, had given her the greatest insight into what life must be like for those fortunate enough to be a part of the beau monde. She did think that it must be rather trying to be a lady who struggled to keep her behavior in check at all times. Laughing softly to herself at the thought, Caroline continued to meander through the bookshop, wondering what she might pick up this time.
