The Rake's Redemption (7 page)

“A magnificent team, Sir Theodore.” Lord Hampton was gazing wistfully through the full length windows as coach and horses were led away. “You did well with those.”

“Thank you, Hampton.” Theodore Horsley smiled expansively. “Appearances you know. Wouldn’t do for the colonel of the Volunteers to be less than dashing. Eh Judith?”

“No one could deny the impression you make, Sir Theodore.” She could see her aunt smile at the barbed words, so Judith went on. “Your soldiers are very smart, Sir Theodore. Such bright uniforms.”

“Theodore has spent heavily on the Volunteers, Judith. His patriotism sets a fine example.” Florinda Horsley was so caught up in lauding her son that she failed entirely to mark the half smile Judith couldn’t prevent. “You would think his sacrifice deserved gratitude.”

The hook was so obvious Judith knew she could not get round it. “I’m sure the army is grateful, Lady Horsley. And knowing the militia protects us helps many ladies, myself included, sleep more soundly.” Judith caught her father’s eye for approval.

“I regret to say that there is no such gratitude toward me, Judith. In point of fact, the reverse.” Sir Theodore paused for emphasis, with an expression on his face that Judith though more suited to the Houses of Parliament than a neighbour’s drawing room.

“Surely Horseguards can only be thankful for your endeavours, Sir Theodore?” Normally Sir Theodore was excessively staid. Today, he had had his tail truly twisted, and Judith found herself struggling to suppress mirth at his outrage.

“And yet, Judith, they sent me a training officer. A convalescent. To show the Volunteers how to soldier.” Lady Horsley’s sniff was loud enough to be audible even over her son’s own commendable effort.

“Jealousy. That’s what it is. Of my Theo.” She looked as if a restorative draft would shortly be necessary and Judith wondered fleetingly whether sherry should be offered.

“A ninny who found the engagements in the Peninsula too taxing for him. Who does not know his place.” Sir Theodore’s strident denunciation paused when he caught sight of the hardness in Judith’s face. “Judith, my dear, whatever is the matter?”

“The Viscount Alsbury came here as a friend of John’s, Sir Theodore. Before he left for his duty in the Peninsula.” Her words were the more effective for her factual tone, and Judith could see discomfort rack Sir Theodore’s face. She could see both her aunt and Lady Horsley watching her curiously too. “Where he was wounded.”

“Of course we will humour him. For John’s sake.” Sir Theodore might have intended his smile to convey the depth of his forbearance, but it only made him look desperate as if he knew he’d lost command of the room, but was uncertain how to regain it. “Even if the major is a dull dog, whose conversation turns on training drills and muskets.”

Judith could feel the flush creeping up on her, and fought desperately against the colour, which would only heighten the interest Lady Horsley was displaying so blatantly. “Do the Volunteers know their drills, Sir Theodore? After all we rely upon them for our defence.” The question might be inane, but it was preferable that the focus should be switched back to Sir Theodore instead of her.

“My dear Judith, you need have no worries. The Volunteers would make short work of any Frenchman foolish enough to land on these shores. Or any malcontents from the cities.” Sir Theodore was back to his confident and expansive best, and he wasn’t about to sell himself or the Volunteers short. “Indeed I shall arrange a review for you. To demonstrate our prowess.”

“Thank you, Sir Theodore. I’m sure that is not necessary. But it is kind of you.” It was tempting to let the bold baronet continue with his vanity, but ridiculous, quite ridiculous that it might lead to a review of the battalion. But try as she might, Judith couldn’t shake Sir Theodore’s resolve until she found herself watching the departure of the Horsley procession, committed to attending the review.

“A fine thing, Judith, for a lady to be honoured by a regimental review.” Aunt Matilde could be waspish when she wished, and Judith turned to her father instead of answering. 

“I understood the militia had not shown well in review, father?”

To her surprise her father laughed. “Not shown well? I heard their performance described as column of mob. They apparently tried to march in two different directions at the same time. Sir Theodore had to be restrained. Struck dumb with fury.”

“Did John manage his part, father?” John and maybe even father would blame her if her brother were humiliated at the forthcoming review.

“As well as the next incompetent subaltern, Judith.” Both father and aunt seemed to be deriving a great deal of amusement from what Aunt Matilde had already christened
‘Judith’s review’
.

“Isn’t extraordinary the lengths a gentleman will go to to prove himself the foremost of a lady’s suitors, Jonathon?” Aunt Matilde wasn’t just waspish but insufferable when she put her  mind to it and Judith could only curb her response by taking herself off to the garden in defiance of accepted etiquette that demanded a hostess remain in the house to receive her guests.

~

The man who considered himself the most eligible of Judith Hampton’s suitors was favouring his mother with his opinion of Judith at that moment. “Good lineage, mother. The family has lived in that house for four centuries. And she’s pretty. Fine figure. That matters to a chap, but I don’t think I’d be disappointed, mother. Seems biddable too. Papa wanted me to wed well.”

“You can marry who you will, Theodore. Any of these families will be proud to match with us. Blunt is what drives them.” His mother smiled disparagingly at her foolish son.

“Didn’t think you even knew the term, mama.”

“Your father was no fool, Theodore. He might have been a merchant, a cit as these lords and ladies would have it, but he knew the value of money. A lesson you have still to learn. Don’t mistake their easy ways. The Hamptons haven’t the cash to buy their footmen new britches.” Her smile this time was nothing more than a smirk, and Theodore wondered, not for the first time, whether his father had really been the master in his parents’ marriage. That was one mistake he wasn’t going to make.

But Judith Hampton was a suitable bride, no mistaking that. If she came at the cost of her brother’s debts that would be leverage to make her all the more amenable. An amenable woman meant a pleasant life for a man. Though he hadn’t cared for her reaction to his discourse on Thomas Stainford. The Loyal Volunteers were his men, bought and paid for, and no mere major was going to interfere with that, or anything else he wanted.

In the event it wasn’t guests calling who forced Judith’s recall from her garden retreat but the youngest of the Hampton footmen running full pelt across the terrace towards her.

“Perkinson, whatever is it?” Judith felt a cold hand on her heart; such urgency was never needed to bring good news.

“It’s Master Hampton, Miss. He’s been attacked.” Perkinson’s shock was evident in his white face.

“Is he badly hurt? Where is he? Where was he attacked?” As she spoke Judith was picking up her skirts to start running back to the house, Perkinson at her side. By the time she’d rounded the side of the house she’d learned all he knew, which was that John had arrived back at the house, Bridges had sent Perkinson to fetch her, and he had run as quickly as he could to do so.

The landau on the gravel wasn’t one she recognised, though even in her confusion she could see that it was rakish, built in the latest style with long low springs to provide a ride that would yield both speed and comfort. It wasn’t till her eye took in the sword and unicorn of the Penwick arms on the door that she realised who had brought John home. If Perkinson thought it odd that his mistress hesitated for a second before she took off for the front door he didn’t show it. Pragmatic to a fault, he simply sloped off before anybody could give him further orders.

John looked terrible. Held up between Thomas and another man in the hall he was sagging at the knees and obviously incapable of standing by himself. Blood had run down his face and soaked his clothes to leave him a terrifying sight. Bridges obviously thought so, for he was positively dancing with indecision.

Thomas Stainford looked exasperated at the hold up, and Judith’s horror at the sight of her brother disappeared as she took in what needed to be done. “We need to lie him down, Bridges. Now.”

There was no reaction from the butler and with no other option Judith addressed herself to Thomas Stainford. “Can you take him upstairs, Thomas?”

A nod.

“Then follow me. Bridges, send Mrs Rogers up with hot water and cloths. And send Perkinson for Doctor Bradley. At once tell him.” Even in the blur of her fear and panic, she could see the approval with which Thomas marked her actions. Just let him think she cared for anything at all besides her brother.

The three men were deadly slow climbing the stairs behind her, and Judith’s racing mind had time to recall who the second man was. Wright: Thomas’ valet and groom. With the recollection came a wave of shame. Was there anyone who didn’t know of her folly? Wright was obviously taking the lion’s share of John’s weight and Judith gave a guilty start as she remembered Thomas’ wound. A look at his clenched face was enough to confirm both that he was suffering and to dissuade her from offering help to relieve him of his burden.

By the time they reached John’s room Mrs Rogers and two of the maids had attached themselves to the little procession and John was beginning to show signs of lucidity. As the groaning heir to Oakenhill was deposited onto his bed, Judith couldn’t hold back her questions. “Thank you, Major. What on earth happened to him?” Behind her Mrs Rogers and her assistants were setting to work to cleanse and revive the battered scion of Hampton.

“We found him being set upon by three footpads, Judith. And brought him here.” As an explanation it fell short of comprehensive, and Judith had to bite back her instinctive demand to be told more.

“Thank you for that kindness, Major.” No doubt the infuriating Major Stainford wanted her to ask her question again. Instead Judith set herself to assert her authority. “If you will return downstairs, Bridges will arrange refreshments. I will come down as soon as I’ve seen to my brother.” Instructions issued, she turned her back until she heard the door close behind him.

“John, what happened?” John Hampton looked truly awful, both eyes swollen shut and the whole of his face a mass of bloodied and pulpy flesh. Unsurprisingly no answer was forthcoming, and Judith turned her eyes in mute appeal to Mrs Rogers.

“He’ll be all right, Miss. It’s bad, but not so he’ll die. It’ll be a while before he’s up again though. And best t’doctor sees him too. You’ve sent for him?” The housekeeper gave the impression that the only thing preventing her tending to John Hampton was his sister, and Judith took the hint.

“I’ll be in the drawing room, Mrs Rogers. Will you come and tell me how he is?”

“Aye, Miss. Best you go now. The Major should not be left unreceived. And we’ll need to undress Master John to see how he ails.” The giggle from Sally Forcett at those words marked her down for a reprimand from both mistress and housekeeper.

Mrs Rogers was correct of course, though Judith couldn’t imagine where her aunt and father had gone. Another secret confab in the library no doubt, too important to be interrupted. Thomas’ man was waiting in the hall when she came down stairs, and showed no hesitation in speaking to her. “It’s Wright, Miss. Do you remember me? How is your brother, Miss? He took a rare pasting before the Major arrived.”

“Mrs Rogers thinks he’ll be alright in time. Why did this happen?” She knew it was a foolish question before she’d finished speaking. How could she expect Thomas’ servant to know why this had happened.

“I don’t rightly know, Miss. They were right determined to mark him. And they didn’t run when we arrived either. Most thieves would have. But not these. One of them took a shot at the Major.” Judith felt a thud in her chest at the words. There had been no sign of a fresh wound on Thomas, and she hadn’t given him a thought, but now it seemed he might have been killed. Her thoughts must have been too transparent for Wright went on quickly. “The Major’s fine, Miss. The fellow missed. But the Major didn’t. He was out of the landau and chopped the pistol from his hand before I could stop the horses. Cut another one too, and then they ran.” His pride was obvious, and Judith felt a temptation to share in his satisfaction. Which she sternly repressed.

“Thank you, Wright. And well done. I’m very grateful to you and Major Stainford for rescuing my brother. Bridges here will see to your comfort. Bridges, please.” The butler had stopped shaking and looked a little put out at being asked to attend to a servant’s comfort, but he made no protest at his mistress’s command. Judith could hear voices from the drawing room and raised an eyebrow at Bridges.

“Her ladyship and the Major are in the drawing room, Miss.” No word of her father’s whereabouts, and by the sound of chatter from the drawing room her aunt had not been too put out. Thomas rose to greet her when she opened the door and Matilde smiled a welcome. “How is John, my dear? The Major thinks he has suffered no serious hurt though he will show the effects of his beating for a while. Such a terrible thing.”

“He looks dreadful, but Mrs Rodgers is attending to him and I have sent for Doctor Bradley.” To Judith’s immense irritation Aunt Matilde and Thomas seemed to be getting on famously. “I must thank you, Major for saving my brother. I cannot think why footpads should pick on a young officer. It seems peculiar.”

“Most. The men behaved oddly, and seem to have made no attempt to rob John.” Thomas Stainford looked at his ease, and apart from a smear of blood across his jacket there was nothing to show he had recently been engaged in a life and death struggle.

“Jonathon will be most put out to learn of this. He will want to thank you himself when he returns, Major Stainford.” Aunt Matilde had a way of making the most commonplace remark seem sensual by the intonation she gave it. Judith had noticed her way before, but it had never irritated quite as much as it did now. It was out of place while John was lying bleeding upstairs, even if Thomas showed no unease at the flirtatiousness of it.

“Your father went for a walk, Judith.” That contained a note of censure as if Judith’s abrupt departure from the drawing room after the Horsleys’ visit was responsible for breaking up their afternoon cabal.

“I’m sure my father will want to thank you for your assistance, Major.” She could say nothing less no matter how distasteful it was to echo her aunt’s simpering ways.

“He can do so at the review, Judith.” If Matilde Sinclair had clapped her hands together with glee she could not have better impersonated a silly debutante. It was ridiculous in a woman of her age and experience, and Judith felt a strong desire to tell her aunt so.

“The review promises to be a fine spectacle, ladies.” Thomas said the words with an edge that promised trouble for someone, and Judith felt her gratitude for John’s rescue begin to recede. Why did he have to be so belligerent?

“Do you not approve of the review, Major? I had thought it beneficial for the troops to attend such parades.” It was wrong to bait Thomas when he’d done such a signal service, but Judith couldn’t let his pompous words go unchallenged.

“I do believe Sir Theodore is only holding it to impress Judith, Major.” Matilde Sinclair was much closer to a dire set down than she realised, but fortunately for her Judith’s ire was about to acquire a new target.

“Some ladies do seem to enjoy military pomp, Countess Tresham.” Thomas’ implication took a moment to sink in. He thought she could be impressed by a parade, or worse still that she’d asked for the review. A fine opinion he must have of her: empty headed and swayed by the tawdry glamour of uniform.

“It will be educational to see what difference your instruction has made to the Volunteers, Major.” Then just in case that wasn’t barbed enough for him. “I am sure their drill will have improved markedly under your expert direction. Perhaps Colonel Horsley will explain your orders for me. Military terms can be so confusing for a lady.” If he wanted empty headed he could have it. “The Colonel is so very considerate.”

The knock at the door interrupted what Matilde Sinclair at least considered to be a very promising situation. Mrs Rogers was brief, precise and encouraging. For what was a brutal beating John Hampton had sustained only minor damage, though she insisted that Doctor Bradley should be the final arbiter of that conclusion.

“Odd. For ruffians who showed fight and had John at their mercy, they seem to have inflicted a great deal of pain without serious injury.” Thomas spoke reflectively, almost musing aloud, but both his listeners were fascinated enough to wait for a conclusion that wasn’t going to come. But whereas Matilde Sinclair was open enough to ask what she wanted to know, Judith kept her thoughts to herself.

“My nephew’s attackers weren’t robbers, Major Stainford?”

“They made no attempt to rob him, Lady Tresham. Though they had ample time. And they were prepared to fight us when we stumbled upon them. Not typical of highwaymen.”

“You make a mystery of what was a nasty attack, Major. It would be more to the point if the militia were to make the roads safe.” Judith could see reproof in her aunt’s face for her words, and she knew she deserved it. Stubbornness alone prevented her apology.

“If you will excuse me, Lady Tresham, Judith. I have taken enough of your time. I will not expect to see John at barracks till he is fully recovered. He might wish to be take a groom with him in future. At least till these men are caught. As should you Judith when you ride out. You may not be safe alone.”

“My arrangements are not your business, Major. Oakenhill has never been unsafe for me. At least not for years now.” It was vexing to rise to so obvious a bait, but she was flushed and ready to cry.

“My niece is upset for her brother, Major. We thank you for your service today. My brother will be grateful too.” Lady Tresham took over the duties of hostess so smoothly Judith didn’t even feel displaced. In truth she was grateful to sit quietly while Thomas took his leave.

“A fine young man, Judith. Well mannered in the face of provocation.” Matilde Sinclair was untroubled by her niece’s glare. “Handsome too. And the heir to an earldom. A fine match, as the mammas of the ton would say. Your friend Amelia Forbury, Judith. Would she consider him, do you think?”

Unperturbed by the absence of a reply she continued placidly. “I thought to stay a week or so Judith, so I shall be sure to see the review. When I return to London you might like to come with me, my dear. To shop. If there is nothing to hold you here?”

~

The next few days provided a raft of visitors to hold Judith back from anything but acting the hostess. Most of the militia officers and half the society of the county were aghast to see the victim. Aghast but fascinated. Which was quite understandable when John’s bruises purpled in so spectacular a fashion. Less forgivable was the utter tripe most of the visitors spouted.

Judith suffered daily, from the young men anxious to impress her with how they would take revenge for John or would have beaten off the assailants had they been attacked in his place, to the puffing pompous who had developed an impervious hide from which any hint of boredom simply bounced off. All keen to hear the gruesome detail of John’s injuries, and eager to outdo each other in the expression of their outrage and the depth of their indignation.

If Judith had any lingering sympathy for her brother it was the first casualty of his convalescence. John played the brave, noble victim to the limit, particularly the limit of Judith’s patience. Aunt Matilde soon tired of him and reverted to the acid tongue Judith and her brothers had suffered for childhood transgressions, but father was more forbearing. Judith knew he could see through John’s game no less clearly than his sister, and just in case he couldn’t she laid it out for him just how calculating and self serving John was being.