The Rake's Redemption

by Anne Millar

  So Emily Rogers’ commentary on the shortcomings of the food served at Horsley Hall was a soothing backdrop to the journey home, it nourished a comforting sense of superiority to compensate for being so powerless. Theodore was a wicked man, not simply the buffoon he appeared to be, but with a strata of evil embedded through him. Yet there was little she could do to oppose him.

  She almost missed her cue, only a sustained pause in the flow of opinion alerted her to the need to respond. “What’s that, Mrs Rogers?”

  “I expect the Viscount Alsbury will be glad to be back in England. That is the new Viscount Alsbury. He’s a nice man, not that there was much wrong with the old one.”

  “No.”

  “Not really army though. Not a man’s man. In that way anyhow.” From all the significant looks she was getting Judith knew she should be following the meaning closely, but she couldn’t find her way past the ambiguity.

  “It’s wicked mind, when folks are not allowed to follow their nature. When they’re doing no harm.” Emily Rogers with the bit between her teeth wasn’t to be interrupted so Judith sat back into her seat and waited for the next part of the diatribe.

  “Miss Jane Fox would be well advised to think on that.” It would have choked their housekeeper to give Charles’ wife her new title when it ranked above the family she’d served all her life. Judith could only admire her discretion, but using the girl’s maiden name didn’t make it any easier to understand what point the housekeeper was making. But then that seemed to be the theme for today, confusion and half stories. Leaving her to tackle Thomas Stainford if she wanted to get to the truth.

  Chapter 17

  “She wants more money?” Florinda Horsley could make her son feel small enough to crawl under the chair she was sitting on. Without trying. “What use does she think she had been till now to be asking you for even more money?”

  “She thinks.” Theodore’s pause was eloquent testimony to the realisation that he’d been placed in the wrong without realising it. “Hang it all mother, it’s up to me to decide whether to pay her or not.”

  “Quite so. And yet you bring your troubles to me. Your father made his own decisions. Not always right, but they were his.” She softened the harshness of the comparison with a wave of her hand that invited him to continue his explanation.

  There was a defeated air to Sir Theodore as he picked up his story again. “Jane thinks her husband will put her aside. With an allowance, but not what she would wish.”

  “And she wants you to make up the difference. A high price. For what exactly? The pleasure of her and her husband’s company? As far as I can see Stainford is continuing to take over your regiment just as he was before you brought them here. Or am I missing something?”

  “The family cannot afford more scandal, mother. That is my trump card.” He was trying to sound confident but not quite managing it.

  “Scandal, piffle. Families like theirs have been mired in it since the day and hour the first countess obliged her royal master to get her husband his family lands. That’s how they got where they are and they fight like demons to keep their position. If you think they care for scandal Theodore you’re a fool.”

  “The Earl will care for this particular scandal and more importantly society will too.” Her son was growing visibly in confidence and Florinda Horsley had a inkling that the boy might not be the weakling she’d always half feared.

  “Well, what else do you know Theodore, and why do you need Jane Stainford?”

  “For the simple reason that her word is my proof. The lady is in a unique position to know the truth about her husband.” His mother could see how much Theodore was enjoying his exposition and she determined to let him have his fun.

  “Which is what? And it had better be startling, Theodore. For the price you’re paying.”

  “Let’s just say that Charles Stainford will not be producing any heirs since he hasn’t consummated his marriage, mother. I don’t know if that’s what Thomas was trying to do in that Spanish village, Jane is remarkably evasive on that, but her husband is of no use to a woman. Not his cup of tea at all if you follow me.”

  For once Florinda Horsley really had nothing to say, and she didn’t need Theodore to tell her the significance of this information. Not that he was going to let that stop him.

  “So the mighty Earl of Penwick has effectively put an end to his line by disinheriting his eldest son. But I think any of the Stainfords will still go to some length to save Charles from exposure. Thomas Stainford is curiously fond of his brother, fond enough to delope in their duel anyway. This type of scandal has made many a man put a pistol to his temple. I wonder if Master Thomas will be willing to risk that.”

  His mother was nodding approvingly and Theodore basked in the rare display of maternal appreciation.

  “And while I’m about it I’m going to make sure that Miss Hampton understands who holds the master’s cards round here. I’m going to enjoy dismissing that tight faced bitch of a housekeeper she drags around with her.”

  “Good. Theodore you need to keep an eye on that one. She’s too high and mighty by far. And watch her with Stainford. The elder doesn’t share his brother’s disposition and Judith Hampton is too fond of showing her tail to him. You bring her to heel Theo.”

  ~

  Deciding to tackle Thomas Stainford was easy, there really wasn’t any other option after Charles had disclosed so much and revealed so little. Working out how to do it was more difficult, she couldn’t just turn up unaccompanied at the militia camp to see him and John was unlikely to volunteer to escort her. Father of course was too unwell still, which was a partial blessing in that it prevented him questioning what she was up to. It also left her free to chastise their steward for his failings, secure in the knowledge that Mrs Rogers would have the footmen restrain Tomkins before she’d allow him to disturb father’s rest.

  Visiting Trefoyle would have done it, and she cared little enough for convention to dare it, except that Thomas was likely to be away early and back late. So for her to escape Oakenhill at the right times would be difficult without causing comment. And however much she might disregard convention it would be easier not to have father or John agitating. It would only create friction which would find its way back to Theodore.

  The stakes were too high to play lightly. It wasn’t just herself but the rest of the family as well who would be affected by any action which upset Theodore. Besides if she was to manage his appalling behaviour it was wiser not to hand him ammunition. Similarly it would be wrong to draw Mrs Rogers into this, however willing she might be to assist, so no coach or chaperone, she would go to Trefoyle on horseback.

  Easier to avoid attention that way, but this was no repetition of their trysts of years ago. This time her only purpose was to resolve the mystery of what had really happened in Spain and uncover whether in any way the truth of that could help her avoid the sad fate of becoming Lady Horsley. For that she’d meet Thomas Stainford and force herself to be civil to him, but for that and only for that.

  Then the notion hit her. She didn’t need to see Thomas himself. His man Wright was likely to be privy to what had gone on in Spain. That gave her the chance to arrange this without incurring so much risk. As chatelaine of Oakenhill it would be natural to confer with a neighbouring estate over poachers. Stretching matters somewhat to pick on a visitor’s servant but that would only leave more confusion if anyone unearthed what she was about. Theodore could hardly be jealous of her arranging to meet a servant.

  That left only the arrangements. Perkinson could take a note to Wright to arrange a meeting tomorrow. Wright had been marvellously discreet before, and he had always been very pleasant to her. Perkinson was a bright and obliging lad who would be told only that she was concerned over the loss of game.

  Riding to the arranged meeting place this morning, yesterday’s idea didn’t seem quite so clever anymore. Wright might well be unwilling to divulge what he knew for she had no legitimate interes
t in his master’s business. He might not know the truth of the matter at all. Or he might just keep silent to protect his master’s adulterous behaviour. At least he would turn up for she could see a man and a horse waiting at the foot of Sporley rise.

  And he was pleased to see her for his smile split his face as he strode forward to take her reins. “Good morning Miss Judith. It’s a lovely day to be out riding.”

  “It is, Wright. Very pleasant.” The day was calm and sunny, though without real warmth. In fact ideal weather for a good long ride across the countryside. If she weren’t so weighed down with scheming and worrying that made it impossible for her to enjoy an innocent pastime.

  “Not so good for the poaching though, visibility is far too good.”

  “No.” This was her time to explain why she’d really arranged the meeting and instead she was totally tongue tied. That’s what came of rushing into things without thinking them through.

  “I spoke with Murchison when your note came Miss. He says the extra drills at the militia camp have cut down the losses. Some of the worst offenders are too busy to get up to their tricks.” If anyone should know it would be Trefoyle’s head keeper. It was an old magistrate’s trick to insist that convicted poachers enlist in the fencibles to cut down their opportunities for mischief. So Thomas Stainford had already reduced the poaching problem without needing her help.

  “That’s good, Wright. It’s a nasty business, poaching.” Tongue tied and pathetic. Why couldn’t she think of something intelligent to say?

  “It is, Miss. Was it something in particular that’s giving Oakenhill a problem? I’m sure Lord Guilmor would be happy to help if you need to borrow some keepers. Or if you need a specific individual dissuaded from his ways I could arrange for him to have a change of heart myself.”

  Judith had to smile at the delicate phrasing of his offer. She could only imagine how effective Wright would be at dissuading some hapless poacher from preying on Oakenhill game. “I thank you, but there is no specific problem in that sense.” That wasn’t nearly enough of an answer and she could see him waiting for her to go on.

  “Actually there was a matter I wanted to ask you about.” She sensed rather than saw him throw a glance over his shoulder back towards the copse of trees that decorated the slope above them. The crusty old oaks fostered a tangle of nettles and brambles and Judith realised they made an ideal hiding place, from which every word of their conversation would be clearly audible. She was a fool. A fool to concoct such a half baked plan, and a bigger fool to imagine Wright would fall in with it without telling his master.

  “I wanted to ask you how the Viscount Alsbury, I mean the former Viscount, managed to find enough time to spare from his duties to go hunting trollops in the Spanish hinterland.” The disappointment she saw in Wright’s eyes made her regret her harsh words, and when no one emerged from hiding Judith wished she could take them back. She could see Wright struggling to think of some answer and his plight made her curse the impulse that had led her to denounce his master.

  Then a chuckle came from the trees and she knew she’d been right. His stallion was impossibly glossy and Thomas unfeasibly tall in the saddle as he let the animal pick its own way down the slope. Judith could hear her heart thump at the impact of him. But then that was his stock in trade, all the glamour it needed to turn the head of the unwary.

  She could see Thomas blinking as he came out of the shadows into the sunlight and Judith seized her chance to loose an arrow. “Some unsavoury characters skulking in the undergrowth today, Wright.”

  “Quite so, Miss Judith. I expect the Major will be able to help you with your poaching problem?” He said it with a sweetness that made Judith’s guilt over her subterfuge so much worse and to her consternation the unstoppable blush started making its way up her neck toward her face. She had no option but to cast her glance down.

  “Yes, thank you Wright. You’ve been most helpful.” Judith knew the man was looking to make his escape so she shouldn’t have surprised to see him mount his beast and turn its head away. Just that the fond smile as he departed took her back four years to all the times he’d nodded and led her groom away.

  “Judith?” Sitting his horse not six feet from her Thomas Stainford had the gall to smile. As if he weren’t the cause of most of the problems she had to deal with. “What do you want to ask me about? Besides my dereliction of duty.”

  Impossible to answer him truthfully when he sat there defying her to repeat her previous comment. Impossible too to pretend she wanted nothing. “I wanted to ask Wright about poaching.”

  “Most of the landowners round here are very tough on it Judith, I wouldn’t recommend you take it up.” He was enjoying himself, it showed in the ease of him, sitting on Swiftsure as if he owned the world. Even the facetious advice that so amused him didn’t take away from the impression of strength he gave off. The man had it in his power to be an oasis of calm in all the fraught uncertainty her life had become. Or he might have had that power once, before she realised how completely undependable he was.

  “Shall we dismount, Judith? Not fair on the beasts to just sit them here. Unless you’d prefer to ride?”

  Was she supposed to slide down from her horse into his arms and lose herself and all sense in a resumption of their youthful passion? As it was she nearly tripped herself when her skirt snagged on the horn of her saddle but she managed the dismount somehow without his help.

  “I want to know why you deloped in your duel with Charles.” It felt much better to make the bald statement. Let him decide how he would respond. With the truth or evasion as he chose.

  “Is that all, Judith?” Just why I chose not to shoot my own brother?” He made the question sound scathing a though it were the most normal thing in the world to stand as a target while someone tried to shoot you without making any effort to defend yourself.

  “Charles regrets it now, but he was trying to kill you then. He nearly succeeded.” Judith saw the calculation in the look he gave her and that impelled her to push home her question. “Why didn’t you defend yourself?”

  “A duel’s not about defending yourself, Judith. It’s a matter of honour, to have the courage to stand your ground. To settle your differences, finally.” She could have taken against his patronising but there was a weariness in his words that made it sound as though he’d put up with a minor irritation unavoidably foisted upon him, not a near fatal duel for stealing his brother’s wife.

  “Did it?”

  “Did it what, Judith?” The man could take languid to extremes, baiting her with his deliberate obtuseness.

  “Settle your differences. Because your father disinherited you, and Charles thinks you should still be the heir.” A flicker of interest at something he hadn’t known, then the eyes hooded again.

  “It’s not up to Charles though, is it? My father has acted as he saw fit and that’s an end to it.” he said the words in a tone that defied her to continue. “You have spoken with Charles about this. I am surprised.” Again the tone of disapproval as if she’d been engaged in something less than salubrious.

  “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.