The Rake's Redemption (9 page)

As she wandered away Judith noticed Thomas’ man Wright standing alone, grinning at the shambles occupying the parade ground. He turned welcomingly enough as she approached him.

“It’s not going terribly well, is it Miss?” The words were said with a relish that had her instantly grinning in tandem with him.

“Perhaps the manoeuvres were too difficult.” She faltered, uncertain how Thomas’ man should be addressed.

“It’s Wright, Miss, remember.” There was a tinge of hurt in his tone that she should have forgotten his name.

“Yes, I know, but I don’t know how you should be addressed. As sergeant or corporal or trooper.” Judith wasn’t having him think she forgot people’s names.

“Just Wright, Miss. Me and the military don’t agree too well. The Major tried to make me into a sergeant, but I couldn’t get used to ordering folk. Or taking orders. So plain Wright suits me.”

“Well, Wright, I think the manoeuvre was too ambitious for the men. It seems very complicated. Though it has provided you with some amusement.”

“Aye, it has. The Major didn’t intend the battalion to form square till next week, but Sir Theodore wanted to impress his guests.” He was looking straight at her as he spoke, and they both knew precisely which guest he meant.

“It still seems complicated to me. I don’t know how men manage to perform such manoeuvres in the middle of a battle.”

“They do, Miss. And quickly. It can be a matter of life and death for infantry to form square quickly. You see that scar the major has? Well that were because a battalion couldn’t form square proper like. At the battle of Albuera.”

“But Albuera was eighteen months ago. How could that wound bring the Major home now?” Judith couldn’t help her surprise, but the instant caution she saw appear in Wright’s face at her question made her regret that she’d asked it. “I’m sorry Wright. Please tell me what happened at Albuera?”

“Well, me and the Major shouldn’t by rights have been there at all, for the regiment wasn’t with General Beresford, but the Major was restless because things were quiet with the main army. So he went south where a battle were more likely. Anyhow, the French cavalry surprised two of our battalions, cutting one of them to bits. The Major decided he’d pull the other one into a rally square to hold off the cavalry like. While he were shouting the orders for that this dragoon cut him right across the face. Major were lucky not to lose his eye, but he just swore and grabbed the man. Plucked him right out of his saddle. An’ the colour sergeant piked the frenchie proper he did. Teach him to go cutting at officers.”

“Did the battalion form square, Wright?” Judith could feel pride and terror in equal measure filling her body.

“Aye it did, Miss. Better than this lot like. The Major saved ‘em, and no mistake.” Wright’s pride in his master was demanding she acknowledge Thomas’ skill and courage, and Judith couldn’t help but smile.

“He’s as brave as he is reckless, Wright.”

“Aye, that he is. A fine officer.” His eyes changed focus abruptly. “I think your father wants you now, Miss.” Across the square Lord Hampton was waving to his errant daughter and Judith smiled at Wright before she walked over to rejoin her party. Father and Aunt Matilde had decided to leave and Judith was grateful to be spared any further embarrassment. Sir Theodore was still howling instructions at his men, and Thomas Stainford was propped languidly against the upright of the mess veranda giving the impression of sublime unconcern.

John had chosen to remain behind and it was a silent coach that took them homeward till Matilde Sinclair finally gave way to laughter that quickly grew out of control. “I’ve never seen anything like it, Jonathon. And that fat fool’s face. He looked utterly astonished. Had no idea what to do.”

Judith was even more stunned when her father started to laugh as uninhibitedly as his sister. “Did you see them, Judith? Column of mob, indeed. The men had no more idea what they should be doing then flying in the air.”

“Sir Theodore was very annoyed.” But father and aunt took no notice of Judith’s formal protest and continued with their mirth. Judith was tempted to join them. It might be disrespectful, but after all she no reason to be mindful of the Horsleys’ pretensions. “It was ridiculous. All those poor men trying so hard.”

But though the posturing and stupidity she’d witnessed today deserved to be mocked wholeheartedly, it was the image of Thomas fighting for his life amidst the chaos of a distant battlefield that stayed in her mind.

~

Thomas Stainford provided a focus for discussion in a second coach returning somewhat later from the barracks. “He just watched the parade fall apart, Theo. You need to do something about him.”

“What do you suggest, mother? It’s all very well to pontificate but Horseguards want him to train the Volunteers.” His testy response bore witness to the toll the failure of the review had taken of Sir Theodore’s temper.

“You’re not devoid of influence, Theo. Use it. Your father would have never have allowed that man to make a fool of him. And that Hampton chit favours him. Mark that, Theo. Mark it well.”

“Judith is no chit, mother. And she does not favour Stainford. She barely spoke to him.”

Lady Horsley didn’t even trouble to answer her son’s bluster. Her knowing silence was stronger reproof than any words could have been.

“I’ll have Stainford investigated, mother. See what there is to know about him.”

“First wise thing you’ve done today, Theo. There’ll be plenty, I’m sure. Yon’s not a man to be without secrets.” She sat back in quiet triumph. Reginald could never have guessed how much Theo had to learn. Or was that why the old devil had left her to cope with their son alone?

She’d known he would come, it was inevitable after the review and she’d been dreading it. Aunt Matilde cut and ran without compunction at the first crunch of his landau wheels on the drive. “I really must check how that maid of mine is Judith. Too bad of her to be unreliable enough to go down with a cold just when I need her to mend my walking dress.” Since the maid in question had served Matilde Sinclair ever since Judith could remember and probably before, was discharging her duties as well as ever, and had only a minor case of the sniffles, Matilde’s excuse rang thin.

“You must ask Mrs Rogers to chaperone you, Judith.” Their dour housekeeper could be relied upon to observe the proprieties and would not dream of contributing to the conversation with a visitor. So Judith would carry the full burden of the visit. If the wretched man had chosen to restrict his visit to the conventional time none of this would be necessary. She wouldn’t need a chaperone in her own home and could restrict the conversation to inane pleasantries. But he had to presume that he was as welcome at Oakenhill. The conventions were there for a reason, to stop people making a nuisance of themselves. This visit had caught her when she would normally sit down to the estate’s business after her ride.

At least she could postpone her inquest into what had been done with the Haslet spinney. For two days after the review internecine warfare had raged after Judith discovered that the timber from the spinney had been sold. The wood was immature and should have been grown on for another three years, but it was father’s refusal to tell her what the money was for that incensed her. The estate had far better uses for that money than rescuing John from his latest scrape.

Matters had come to a head yesterday in the coach. For once John had joined the rest of the family in paying a call. Judith surmised he was there only to curry favour with father and Aunt Matilde. She’d tried and tried to find out the extent of her brother’s stupidity only to be brushed off repeatedly by her father and aunt. So small wonder she’d reacted when John wouldn’t stop moaning about the draught he had to put up with.

‘Perhaps we should use the proceeds from the Haslet timber to have the windows of the coach repaired, father. If John feels the cold so.’
She knew she was taking a risk but she hadn’t expected the vehemence of father’s reaction as he demanded decorum from both his offspring.
‘That is enough. There will be no further hasty words on this. I will not be embarrassed in front of my neighbours. Whatever your differences, they remain within the family’
For father that was extraordinary and he then lapsed into a silence that left Judith and her aunt to make all the effort to sparkle on their visit. Or at least try to keep the conversation from stuttering to a halt.

His silence lasted all the return journey too and it didn’t need Aunt Matilde’s reproving eye to let Judith know it would have to be her who tackled the problem. So she did, cornering John in the library when he slumped down in a chair to wait for dinner.
‘Father is upset, John.’

‘And whose fault is that? Little miss gabster. Can’t leave well enough alone can you, Judith?’
She could see his foot tapping as he raged at her and realised that without a rapid change of tack their conversation would be coming to an abrupt end. Without her learning anything of value.

‘I’m worried for him, John. He’s not a young man and all this worry...’

‘Then stop your nagging, can’t you?’

Judith swallowed hard and tried again.
‘If you told me what the matter is?’

‘I’m cleaned out. Pockets to let. On the rocks. Satisfied?’
She could see the belligerence in him ready to lash out at the first sign of condemnation. And yet she couldn’t let him get away with it.

‘Not for the first time, John. Gambling again?’
Judith stepped back ready fro the explosion. But John had to face his stupidity if he wasn’t to be the ruin of the family.

‘It’s different this time, sis.’
That much, and no more. No explanation why this time his gambling debts were worse than all the times before.

‘Why should that be, John?’

‘It was a run of bad luck, Judes. But Theo was good enough to cover my notes for me.’
His voice was small, but it still held the arrogance that characterised her remaining brother. Something in that combination of penitence and conceit rang a huge warning.

‘How much, John? How much this time?’
If she sounded shrill, Judith didn’t care. And if John wanted to fight he’d find himself knocked him out of his chair. But instead of fighting the story came tumbling out. The sale of the Haslet timber had been only a stopgap to prevent another beating like the one Thomas had stopped. John hadn’t stopped gambling once Theodore Horsley had covered his notes of hand, he’d gone on to try and win back his losses.

‘Theo’s well inlaid Judith. Nothing wrong with hanging onto his sleeve a bit.’
Except that John hadn’t won anything back, and the amount of money he now admitted he owed dwarfed the value of Oakenhill even if it hadn’t already been encumbered with a mortgage from an earlier indiscretion.
‘You know Theo’s very impressed by you, Judes.’
His tone told her it wasn’t her advantage he was concerned with, but his own.

And that’s his price is it, John? Your sister? Is that it?’

‘No, Judes it’s not like that. But it would solve your future.’
He stopped and looked for help in her face that he should have known would not be there.
‘But you cannot tell father how much I owe, Judith.’

So now Theodore Horsley was being shown into the drawing room by Bridges and Judith had no idea what to expect. Had John led him to believe that she favoured him? At least Mrs Rogers was sitting there, hands folded neatly in her lap, as a link to the safer world Oakenhill had been when they were children.

“Miss Hampton, how kind of you to let me call at this time.” As if she were going to refuse to be at home when he held the purse strings to which her brother was in thrall. Judith noted the
‘Miss Hampton’
though. Previously he had been so eager to use her Christian name for the intimacy he thought that conferred. Sir Theodore was either nervous now or scheming. So Judith nodded and smiled and said all the right sounds, aware of Mrs Rogers monitoring her performance just as she had when a young Judith learned the art of the hostess under the housekeeper’s eye.

Judith might be occupied with saying all the right things, but she still couldn’t help being fascinated by the baronet’s swollen cheeks, far more suited to a rodent than a man. Finally Sir Theodore drew to his purpose.

“The rain rather spoiled the review, Judith.” So we were back to the faux intimacy.

”Indeed, Sir Theodore. And forming square is such a difficult manoeuvre. Perhaps with more training?” She couldn’t help wanting to bait him, but that would only antagonise John, and father would be upset. This was about as far as it was safe to go.

“Of course with John indisposed I lacked my most able officer.” Sir Theodore had the most annoying way of nodding his head. Was he trying to lend gravitas to his pronouncements? Or just trying to convince himself there was some value in his words? “I can rely on none of the others as I do on John.”

Her brother was many things but John as the exemplar of an infantry officer was difficult to swallow. Theodore Horsley was in dire need of a set down. Was this what a lady was supposed to endure in the hope of landing a husband?

“Major Stainford will no doubt have a view on how to improve the manoeuvre, Sir Theodore.” So why not go and ask him instead of coming here? Of course she couldn’t say that.

“A difficult officer, Judith. Far too wedded to drill and practice, so forgets the importance of spirit in the men.”

“Surely drill and practice matter, colonel?” For father’s sake she ought not to antagonise the man, so giving him his rank was a small matter. As soon as she’d done it Judith regretted her action. The toad was back, inflating itself in a crass demonstration of self importance.

“Of course Judith. The men need a drill master to learn their work, but in the heat of battle they follow an officer for the trust and respect they bear him.” Something in her face when he paused must have betrayed how unconvinced she was by his verdict for Sir Theodore felt the need to press his point. “These are my men, Judith. I’ve raised the regiment, paid for it and the men will follow me. The French will learn respect for the East Mercian Volunteers, by Jove they will.”

Judith couldn’t help being stuck by the conviction that sustained Sir Theodore in his beliefs. Anything said against his point of view was only going to fuel further proclamations. Still she couldn’t hold back. “The French have succeeded against most of Europe’s armies.”

“Indeed they have, Judith.” Judith had never been so comprehensively condescended to in her entire life. “They are not fools, my dear. Worthy opponents. But I have made a study of Marlborough’s battles, a close study. Both the tactics which led him to victory and the strategy he pursued. So I will be able to influence the engagements now proceeding in Spain.”

She had to deflate such insufferable pomposity and Judith chose to fall back on legalities to do so. “The regiment are fencibles, Sir Theodore. Raised to defend this country, not to soldier overseas.” At that moment Judith shared all of her father’s horror at the thought of losing John as they had lost Jeremy. If the fencibles were to go overseas he would surely go with them, both for the adventure and to prove he did not lack courage.

“Of course I must change their name Judith, you’re right to point that out, and I thank you for it my dear. Perhaps the Loyal East Mercian Fusiliers. I like the sound of
‘the fusiliers’
. Traditional, historic, and heroic. Such a shame the old custom of naming the regiment for their colonel has passed.”

Judith could feel the panic rising in her. What could she say that would puncture this man’s conceit and make his vainglorious fantasy less attractive to him. “Is the strategy in Spain not already decided by General Wellesley?”

“He has been trying to drive the French out for years, Judith. Irish peerage you know, not quite the thing. Doubtless he will welcome my advice as much as the reinforcements I bring. The Volunteers are a prime battalion. Smart, well trained, loyal. And when they transfer to the regular army the government will take over the expense of paying them.”

Was Sir Theodore feeling the pinch? Judith wasn’t sure if that was something to wish for or not. John certainly was dependent on his colonel’s charity. What would become of him and his debts if Theodore Horsley drew in his purse strings?

“It must be a colossal expense to raise and equip the regiment, Sir Theodore. Your patriotism does you credit.” Would he expand on the expense of the regiment if she flattered him?

“Noblesse oblige, Judith. My father and grandfather worked to make the family fortune and there are those who sneer at me for it. I may not be a Viscount but I know my duty, and I shall lead my men with honour. Character will always win the day before any drill manoeuvre.”

She couldn’t help blurting out her objection. The image of Thomas desperately trying to rally the scattered redcoats at Albuera into some form of square as the French cavalry slashed at them, at him, the dragoon cutting at his face to give him his scar, wouldn’t let her keep quiet. “War isn’t some game. Men die.”

“It is a desperate business my dear. I am flattered to hope that your concern is for me, Judith. But I must do my duty.” In amongst the bluster and the sheepish agreement with what she had said there was a shrewdness carried in his eyes. Judith wasn’t surprised at the cunning way he framed a question back at her disguised as a statement. “Major Stainford may think otherwise but the volunteers are my men and I will lead them.”

“Of course, Sir Theodore.” Faced with his suspicion she could do nothing but deny the sense of what Thomas stood for, training and discipline that would save lives on the battlefield. Damn John for putting her in this position. “I am sure the Volunteers will fulfil your trust in them.”

“You may be sure of it, Judith. My men will demonstrate their courage, no matter what the Major thinks.” He was watching her far too closely for a reaction and Judith was aware of Mrs Rogers losing any semblance of interest in her needlework.

“Yet courage is not enough.” She couldn’t give in to his stupidity and vanity even if John’s very existence depended on it. “It wasn’t enough to save Jeremy.” 

“Your brother’s death was a tragedy indeed. I can only hope that the passage of time will numb the pain of your loss, Judith.” The challenge had all but vanished from Sir Theodore’s tone but Judith’s relief that she didn’t have to fend off his suspicions was marred by the feeling that she had tainted Jeremy’s memory by using him thus.

“Such sadness, Judith. Maybe the matter which brought me here this morning may serve to remove some of that hurt. I intend to hold a ball to celebrate the Regiment’s completion of training. Since John has been so unsparing in his efforts I wanted to ask you to be my guest of honour. My mother concurs in this, Judith.”

If ever there were a less appealing invitation Judith had not heard it. The silence stretched out as she thought desperately how to answer him. The trap to deny that he had the right to decide whether training was completed she saw clearly. But she didn’t care what Thomas Stainford thought. It was just that being paraded as Sir Theodore’s trophy was deeply unappealing. And father might think that she approved of the plan to take the regiment to war in Spain. He would never forgive her if they were to lose John.