The upcoming third turn was a simple one from where Freddie could see it. Even he knew he could go through it at a fast clip.
He watched with fading hope as Godwin, who was still standing, cracked the whip over his team when they reached the top of the turn. His horses kicked again.
To Freddie’s shock, Godwin suddenly teetered on his feet and appeared to lose his footing. Time slowed as he leant further and further over to the left, before finally disappearing over the side of the coach. His horses continued on, taking their now driverless coach toward the finish line.
As Freddie reached the turn, he looked down and caught sight of Godwin getting to his feet on the side of the hill. He turned back and concentrated on the task at hand. Godwin did not appear to be injured; there was no need to stop and render assistance.
Closing in on the finish, Freddie passed Godwin’s coach and horses. He crossed the finish line and pulled up his team.
Relief, mixed with jubilation, coursed through his veins. Only a miracle could see Godwin reclaim the lead in the final week of the Bachelor Board challenge.
The look of anger on Osmont’s face was a fleeting one. By the time Freddie had climbed down from the coach, Osmont was once more displaying his usual emotionless countenance.
“Well done, Rosemount. Though you have to admit that Lord Godwin assisted in his own demise,” he said.
Freddie bit down on his bottom lip. As far as he was concerned he had won because Godwin had become cocky, nothing more. The points were his; he needed no ovation.
Osmont stepped back and another older gentleman stepped forward, his hand outstretched. A nod from Osmont quickly told him this was a hand he should take.
“Well, when the gods decide they are on your side you have to take all they give you. James Link is my name. Hopefully you and I shall be seeing a lot of each other shortly. If you do succeed in winning your seat on the Bachelor Board, I will be one of your first mentors. We will put up the cash for your first venture, and of course share in your rewards. You are about to have a whole new set of wealthy and powerful friends,” said Link.
“Thank you, I am looking forward to working with you. I promise I shall endeavor to be worthy of my place on the board,” replied Freddie.
With the race won and his standing in the competition almost unassailable it was encouraging he was now being introduced to the men who would be the secret to his future success.
“Bloody unlucky. That’s what I would call it,” said Godwin, jumping down from the back of the horse which had been sent to collect him.
“More like bloody foolish. You had the race won, Lord Godwin, and you threw it away,” replied Link.
He refused Godwin’s offered hand and turned back to Freddie. He placed a hand on Freddie’s back and smiled. “Soon, young Rosemount, the world will be your oyster. Soon. Good evening.”
Godwin shrugged. “Oh, well. At least I can say I gave you a good run for your money. Though the game is not yet over. I may still find a way to win.”
Freddie slapped him on the back. If he was to beat Godwin, then at least he knew there wouldn’t be any hard feelings. Now he would just have to hope Eve’s take on his non-appearance at her home this evening was as charitable.
He watched as James Link walked away and got into a gleaming black coach. Freddie noticed the horses, and from the look of them guessed at least half came from the Rosemount stables breeding program. Link had a team of six staff on his coach, all in full livery. If Freddie needed any further reminder of the wealth that would soon be within his reach, he saw it James Link’s ostentatious trappings of success.
Chapter Sixteen
With her and Freddie’s relationship now on a more formal footing, Eve was disappointed to discover her mother had decided to place rules on their meetings. They were only to meet in public with other members of her family present at all times. As Freddie had not yet asked for permission to court Eve, they were not to dance together at social functions. They couldn’t even meet for walks in Hyde Park unless both Francis and Caroline were present. At all times.
Eve would have protested, but the sudden appearance of a new young lady in Will’s life added some unexpected complications. Within a week of his arrival in London, Will had secured his own home on nearby Newport Street, and much to Adelaide’s consternation, had moved out of the family home.
Her mother’s constant tears told Eve it wouldn’t be wise to make mention of Freddie for a short time.
Miss Harriet Wright had appeared in public on Will’s arm a little more than a fortnight after his return. He had received her family’s full approval to court the young woman, and he was playing everything strictly by the rules of society. Her widower brother’s gallant behavior left little room for Eve to make her own demands when it came to Freddie.
With the Rude Rules still in place, Eve did not want to make her connection with Freddie a public matter. She was counting the days until she and Adelaide left London to stay at Rosemount Abbey. Once out of sight of the ton, she would be free to press her case with him.
Will may have been moving on with his own life but that did not mean he’d forgotten his brother and sisters. An invitation to a night of entertainment at Vauxhall Gardens was extended to them. With all of them keen to meet Will’s mystery woman, Francis, Caroline, and Eve readily accepted.
In the early evening, the Saunders’s family town carriage stopped outside a house in Newport Street, a short distance from Will’s new home. Will got out.
“Hattie lives two doors from me, but we must still respect social conventions. I won’t be a moment,” he said.
Caroline was seated on the bench opposite to Eve. “So, you know this Hattie Wright? Mama said you and she came out the same year,” asked Caroline.
“Yes, poor girl. Her father got a dose of puritan religion and pulled her out of polite society to go and work with the poor in the London slums. From what I understand, she is now living under the care of her married brother,” replied Eve.
The door of the carriage opened and Will assisted Hattie inside. She took a seat in the carriage, and Will made introductions.
“I am very pleased to have finally met you all. Will has told me so much about your family, I feel like I already know you,” she said.
“I remember you from the year we both came out,” replied Eve.
“Yes, you had the most wonderful dress at the official Royal ball. I must confess, I was so jealous,” replied Hattie.
Eve nodded and leant over, taking Hattie’s hand. “My mother had the fabric smuggled in from France; my father was livid. Caroline and I both got new gowns from that cloth.”
Eve and Caroline smiled at one another. They had been the best-dressed girls at several parties that year in their illicit gowns.
“Will tells us you run a soup kitchen that feeds the poor of St Giles. How ever do you manage such a thing?” asked Caroline.
“Yes, I’ve been in charge of the soup kitchen for a number of years now. You find that after a while you develop the skills to ensure that over a hundred people get fed every day. I’m very good at making a penny stretch a long way when it comes to haggling with the shop keepers at Covent Garden Market,” replied Hattie.
It didn’t take long for Eve to understand why Will was moving forward with such haste in courting Hattie. She was the right mix of intelligence and caring soul he sorely needed in his life. She was pretty and possessed a warmth that immediately made Eve want to welcome her into the family.
“It’s been a long time since I visited Vauxhall. I am really looking forward to this evening,” said Hattie, settling into her seat.
Eve ran a fashion-conscious gaze over Hattie’s attire. Her gown, while simply cut, was still of the latest season colors. Her matching slippers met with Eve’s silent approval.
Will had adopted his social face at this point, but he couldn’t hide the glint of happiness in his eyes. There would be wedding bells ringing very soon if her brother had his way.
&
nbsp; Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens was situated near the River Thames, not far from the newly built Waterloo Bridge. A long line of carriages slowly snaked its way along the road, gradually depositing the elegant members of London society at the entrance to the gardens.
Vauxhall at night was the destination for the cream of London society. The famous pleasure gardens were full of various entertainments. Food and drink stands were dotted throughout the gardens with all manner of delights for patrons to purchase. A full orchestra played in the center of the gardens where a raised dance floor was situated.
Anyone who could afford the entrance fee could attend. That anyone also included the second son of Viscount Rosemount who, by no matter of chance, happened to be standing outside the main entrance to the gardens as the Saunders family and Hattie Wright finally alighted from their carriage.
Eve hadn’t seen Freddie since Will’s welcome home function. The long days apart were quickly forgotten as Eve tossed aside all efforts at decorum and leapt with joy into his arms. Her exuberance was rewarded with a deep passionate kiss. She ignored the rest of her family.
When Freddie finally ended the kiss, Eve searched his face, looking for an echo of the joy she felt in her heart. The briefest of smiles came and went.
“Rude Rules I am afraid tonight, my love. As you and I have not been out together for some time we have some catching up to do. Lord Godwin insulted Christopher Smith, the lord mayor of London this morning, and Osmont gave him extra points for bravery. We are still ahead, but the gap is closing. This battle is going to go to the very end, I am afraid,” he whispered.
Eve tried to dampen down her initial disappointment. She had hoped the Rude Rules were a thing of the past. Instead, she focused on his other words. Once more he had called her my love.
“Of course. Though Will has a guest who I am not sure will take kindly to being mocked. She is from a family of missionaries, so we may need to tread carefully,” replied Eve.
The raising of Freddie’s left eyebrow told her exactly what Freddie thought of that piece of news. Hattie Wright was going to be fair game tonight, and Eve was going to have to back him all the way.
His gaze moved from her face to over her shoulder. “I see you dragged the rest of your family out tonight,” he said, loudly.
The Rude Rules were in play. She hurriedly turned to the rest of the group. “Sorry, I forgot to mention Freddie was going to join us. I am sure he is welcome as one of our party,” she announced.
She tried her best to ignore the tension within the group. Caroline looked away.
“Oh, and who is this?” said Freddie, rudely pointing at Hattie.
Will stepped forward. The look on his face was a hard-set social mask. Eve feared the moment when he let his mask drop and Freddie got a taste of Will’s wrath.
“Miss Harriet Wright, may I introduce the Honorable Frederick Rosemount. Frederick is the second son of Viscount Rosemount.”
Freddie looked down with undisguised disgust at Hattie’s outstretched hand. “You work with the dirty poor, don’t you? How very noble of you,” he sneered. He turned away.
“I think we should go inside now,” said a clearly unimpressed Will.
Eve and Freddie trailed behind the rest of the group. Freddie took a hold of her arm and placed it within his, but quickly removed it when Will turned and gave him a steely glare. Eve returned his look. It was unfair he was allowed to walk with Hattie on his arm, yet she was not allowed to be accompanied by Freddie.
They made their way through the crowd, eventually reaching a large, grassy clearing, which was ringed with elegantly set out supper boxes. Will had reserved one for their party. Within minutes, a servant appeared with champagne and glasses. Eve eagerly downed her first glass; grateful brandy was not on offer. She called for a second and made short work of it.
Francis leant over and said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Take it slowly, Eve. You are supposed to sip champagne, not drink it like beer.”
Eve ignored him and called for a third glass. Will stepped in at that point and took the glass out of her hand. “The night is still young,” he said.
Eve pouted. No one questioned Francis when he drank to excess. “You are not the only one who changed while you were away, William. I am no longer a child. I shall decide if I want another glass of champagne, not you.”
On cue, Freddie stepped in to intervene. He put a hand on Will’s arm, ignoring the heated glare that Will was sending him. “Now, Will, my good chap, how about I take Eve for a turn around the gardens? The fresh air might return her to good humor. Rest assured we shall remain in full public sight on the main paths.”
Eve could have clapped her hands at his words. He was offering to diffuse the situation, but it came with a price. Will was going to have to allow Freddie and Eve time alone at Vauxhall. Everyone who attended the gardens knew all manner of wicked behavior went on in the bushes and secret paths around the gardens. Will, the master strategist, was being beaten at his own game. He wouldn’t dare risk an ugly scene in front of the woman he was intending to marry. Freddie had Will exactly where Eve wanted him.
Eve rose quickly from her seat and seized the moment. Taking a firm grip of Freddie’s hand, she quickly led him out of the supper box and away from the group, before Will had a chance to fully protest.
As they cleared a nearby corner and disappeared into the crowds, Eve slipped her arm into Freddie’s. “That was rather well done. Will didn’t want to look like an overbearing brother in front of Hattie, so he had to agree. Now we have some time alone,” she said.
Freddie turned to her, and she saw the questioning look on his face. She huffed. Why did men have to be so dull at times? Here she was, free and available to him. “Alright, but not too long. I have to get to a card game in Duke Street later tonight. There are several members of the Bachelor Board whom Osmont wishes me to meet,” he replied.
Eve said nothing, but his words stung. Apart from the unexpected kiss and a few words of endearment, Freddie had not made much of an effort to woo her. She yearned for stronger signs of affection from him.
“Through here. There are some nice private spaces at the end of this path,” she said. If Freddie wasn’t going to take the lead in the area of romance, then she would.
At the end of the path was a hedge with several gaps through which a body would easily fit. They tried the first gap, but another amorous couple had beaten them to it. The second spot was similarly taken. They finally had luck with the third.
As soon as they passed through the gap in the hedge, they entered a different world. The light from the path disappeared, leaving them in near darkness. She turned to him, intent on making her position clear. He pulled her roughly to him.
“Come here, you naughty little minx. You need to be kissed thoroughly,” Freddie said, gruffly.
His lips and hers met in a hungry exchange. He wasted no time in opening the folds of her cloak and fumbling with the laces of her gown. She felt the kiss of the cold night air on her breasts and exalted in the knowledge he did indeed want her. He was everything she yearned for in a man. Her love for him shone brightly in her heart.
He bent down and took one of her breasts into his mouth. When he suckled on her hardened nipple, heat pooled between her legs. This was the passion and desire she so desperately craved.
“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he murmured.
With her back hard against the hedge, Eve let her head fall back as she closed her eyes. She felt her skirts being lifted and told herself to remain calm. If he was going to ruin her this night, she would let it happen.
His hand glided up the inside of her leg. His knee gently pushed her legs apart. She swallowed and held her breath.
“Are you ready for me to begin your education in the art of sexual pleasure?” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes,” she murmured.
His fingers reached the thatch of hair between her legs. Her whole body silently screamed for him to go further. She
felt the tip of his thumb enter her womanhood. She groaned.
“Through here, lads! I’m sure that bloody dog came this way,” bellowed a voice.
Two burly men crashed through the gap in the hedge and broke the private moment. Freddie immediately dropped Eve’s skirts and stood over her, shielding her naked breasts from sight.
The interlopers held a lantern high enough that the dark, private space was now well lit. The man with the lantern caught sight of them. “Oh. Sorry. We didn’t see you there. Have you seen a hound come through here?”
Freddie shook his head but kept his back to them. Putting a hand to her gown, he pulled the folds back into place. A frustrated Eve took her cue and began to lace the gown back up. By the time the dog hunters had searched the immediate area, her gown and cloak were set back to right.
“We had better get back to the others. I don’t want to test too much of Will’s patience, and I must leave soon,” said Freddie.
She reluctantly took his offered hand and allowed him to take her back out to the main garden path. The mix of champagne and disappointment made her feel sick.
By the time they reached the supper box, she was ready to go home. Every step forward with Freddie felt like she was wading through thick mud. She was constantly struggling to gain traction.
Chapter Seventeen
Eve was up early. She sat in front of her dresser and watched as her hair was set high in an elaborate and elegant chignon. Today, Will and Hattie would become man and wife.
Having watched the betrothed couple over the past few weeks, it was clear Will had met his match in Hattie. She was as stubborn as he, but they both brought out the caring and tender sides of each other. Will loved Hattie, and Hattie made no secret of the affection she felt for her future husband.
Eve smiled, remembering when she’d caught the two of them kissing in the garden the night they arrived to announce their betrothal. The kiss had not been a gentle social kiss between two innocents. Rather, it had been one of passion between two people who couldn’t wait to share the marriage bed.
Lord of Mischief Page 8
