The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (2 page)

Joan pulled on her hand. “Keep walking. I saw Lady Monroe at the edge of the crowd. I’m sure she recognized you. She’ll enjoy reporting to your mother.”

“Oh dear, she is such a gossip,” Caroline said. She hoped her bonnet had hid her face enough that most of the people gathered around hadn’t recognized her. If only Lady Monroe would not tell her mother, but that was highly unlikely.

Caroline’s parents, especially her mother, were going to be furious when they heard she had been the center of attention again. “There is no hope for it. Mother will learn of my actions, and I will receive another lecture.”

Thoughts of her mother’s anger and the resulting consequences sent a shiver of fear through Caroline. Another tremor, this one of a different sort altogether, passed through her as she considered her rescuer. He had radiated strength and self-assurance. She didn’t like the fact he’d had his way. She’d planned to bring the boy home and see he was taken care of, fed, cleaned, and given a job he could handle. What were the stranger’s plans for the child?

At her carriage she quickly said her good-byes. “I must be going. Hopefully, I can get home and freshen up before Mother sees me.” She brushed at her pelisse, but the dirt wouldn’t come off. “I’m afraid she will have a fainting spell if she sees me in such a disheveled state.”

She and Mary climbed inside and sat down. A sigh of relief ran through her when the door snapped closed behind them.

Caroline pulled off her stained gloves. It was a never-ending battle trying to rescue the helpless and abused children and women of the streets. For every child or adult she’d freed, two more poor souls filled the empty spots. Engrossed in her thoughts, she barely noticed the bumpy streets or the outside noise.

It wasn’t as though she’d planned to bring home another mistreated child when she started out today. Nevertheless, she hadn’t been able to walk away when she saw the large man beating the boy to get him back up the chimney. Caroline bit her lip and rubbed her hand across her forehead. Some days all her good deeds seemed for naught.

Her face went hot again when she thought about her rescuer. She shouldn’t have returned his gaze so pointedly and spoken back to him. If her mother heard about the incident, she’d lock her up and marry her to the first available suitor.

Caroline glanced across the carriage at her maid. “You think I should have walked on.”

“I would never criticize you, my lady, especially since you also rescued me. Although, I do worry about you. Your mother’s reactions to your previous good deeds have been unfavorable.”

“You’re right, Mary. I must curtail my activities, for now.” Caroline nodded. “I see your smile. I will do much better. Watch me.”

The busy streets gave way to less crowded ones as they turned a corner. The stately houses and trees on Park Lane came into view as she returned to her secure world. Why couldn’t she pass by and turn her face away from the injustices and cruelty that were a common occurrence in London? Other people did.

If only her nanny, Mrs. Fowler, had not had such a strong influence on her. She’d been the one to point out the inequities of the world.

“Whatever we do in our life can cause changes. So be sure, Lady Caroline, to do good deeds, then you’ll have a positive effect. No one knows how even the smallest incident may touch others in ways unknown to us.”

At the impressionable age of eight, Caroline took her nanny’s words to heart and never forgot them. Still, she doubted the little she’d been able to do for the poor and abused would have any lasting impact.

* * * *

Damon Royston watched the petite woman and her friends disappear around a corner. He and his friend had seen the crowd forming, and, being curious, they’d stopped.

Having been away from London for many years sailing the seas, he found the bustling city fascinating. He certainly hadn’t expected to find a lady in an altercation with a dirty chimney worker. The social mores couldn’t have changed that much in the past twelve years.

He’d had to hold back a chuckle when she’d hit the man with her parasol. She reminded him of Hannah’s terrier. The little dog snipped and barked at anyone, except his sister, no matter their size. This lady aroused his interest.

Damon glanced down and smiled at the young boy still standing close to his side. “Go with my driver.” Damon pointed to his man waiting by the carriage. “Ralph, I’ll be a minute.”

Then he walked across to where he’d left his best friend, Rook. Most of the crowd had moved on. Rook wore a huge grin.

“Always the hero to the ladies,” Rook said.

“I couldn’t stand by and let the man beat her. I’ve never seen such a determined young lady. Who is she?”

“The only child of the Earl of Halsford. Her name is Caroline.

His stomach clenched at Rook’s first words. He barely heard the rest. It was as though someone had punched him in the gut.

“She ignores all of us mere mortals. She’s too busy doing her good deeds.” Rook, known to be a rake and very popular with the ladies, spoke with distain about this particular debutante. “We lived close by as children. She’s changed. We call her Lady Icicle, beautiful but also reserved and haughty.”

Damon’s mystery lady was the daughter of his sworn enemy.

* * * *

The carriage stopped at the curb. Caroline wiped her face with her handkerchief and tried fruitlessly to brush the dust and dirt from her clothes. Her driver assisted her down from the carriage. With Mary at her side, Caroline cracked the front door open. When she saw the butler step forward, she put her finger across her lips. Then she tiptoed along the corridor toward the stairs. She wanted to avoid a confrontation. At least, until she was presentable. Caroline placed her foot on the bottom step to the stairs.

“Caroline.” Lady Halsford’s cool tone caught her daughter’s attention. She looked around. Lady Monroe stood behind Mama. Caroline’s heart sank and her cheeks flushed hot with anger and embarrassment.

“I must go,” Lady Monroe said. A wicked smile wreathed her face. She nodded to Caroline and bustled out the door.

Lady Halsford frowned at her daughter. She motioned with her hand. “Come into your father’s study. We wish to speak with you.” Her face showed her displeasure. “I have heard you’ve been out doing your good deeds again,” her mother remarked as they entered the study together.

“Yes, Mama,” Caroline admitted reluctantly.

She smiled at her father. He sat behind his desk. She sat on one of the chairs in front of him and clenched her hands tightly in her lap. She’d learned it was best to be silent and let her parents speak first.

“Anyone glancing at you would think you were brought up to be a refined young lady until they noticed the dusty hair and soiled clothes,” Mama said. “You appear to have wallowed in the dirt.”

“The boy I tried to rescue was frightened and threw himself against me.” Caroline tried to keep her irritation from creeping into her voice. “I could hardly push him away.”

“You would not have been in that predicament if you’d passed by and ignored the situation as other proper ladies do.”

“How can you say such a thing, Mother? Surely you wouldn’t want me to be so uncaring.”

“I want you to behave as a proper lady. People are beginning to speak of you as a troublemaker. I shudder to think who may have seen you today in such an outrageous position. To have drawn the attentions of a crowd!” Her mother’s voice rose, and she shook her head in dismay. “Is it any wonder no suitor has offered for you since your first year out?”

“Caroline, dear.” Her father spoke up. His deep tones were much warmer than her mother’s. “I am running out of positions for the children and women you have brought home from the streets. I suppose you brought the chimney boy with you today.”

“No, Papa.”

“That’s a relief.” Her mother put her hand over her heart.

“I would have,” Caroline added. “If this man hadn’t interfered.”

“What man?” Lady Halsford’s eyes widened.

Caroline had made a big mistake. In Lady Monroe’s rush to tell her parents about the incident, she must have left before the man stepped forward.

“What man?” Her mother repeated the question, a look of horror in her eyes.

“A gentleman came to my side, to help me. He paid for the child and took him into his care.” Caroline decided it was best not to mention she’d hit the sweeper. From her mother’s expression, she feared she might have a fit of apoplexy.

“Say something, James. Tell your daughter she can’t continue to behave in this manner. She obviously doesn’t listen to me.”

Lord Halsford smiled at Caroline and shook his head. “What are we to do with you, my dear? You should be married and have your own children, instead of collecting them off the streets. At twenty-one you will soon be considered on the shelf, if not by some already.”

“There will always be a man who wants to marry me for my dowry and the money I will inherit from Grandmamma when I’m twenty-five. Besides, Papa, I don’t want a husband.”

“Whether you want one or not, marriage is the only choice for well-bred young ladies,” her mother said. “Only widows are allowed the right to manage their own affairs. And they are encouraged to remarry.”

Caroline had heard similar lectures. Lately her parents had become more insistent. They were obviously out of patience. She chewed on the edge of her lower lip.

“Mother, you know most of the available young men are much fonder of their horses, gambling, and going to races than on finding a wife. Not one has any real interest until their family insists,” Caroline said, and ignored the tension growing in the room. “Wives are necessary for one main purpose, to produce an heir. Oh, and keep the home running smoothly. I refuse to be treated in such a cavalier manner.”

She seemed unable to stop herself from talking. Her anger and frustration had worn away her usual restraints. Taking a deep breath, she added, “I actually overheard several of the men who had been courting me talk about my good deeds. One of them remarked that I needed a husband and babies to keep me busy, and then I wouldn’t have time for such foolishness.” She stopped and sat back in her chair from where she had leaned forward to make her point. Silence followed her outpouring.

“I’m sorry to hear you reduce my relationship with your mother to such a stark and crude description. Not all men marry simply to beget an heir, although that is an important motivation.”

Her father’s soft but stern words were like daggers hitting Caroline’s heart. She loved him and had not meant to hurt his feelings.

“Your mother and I have always had a warm regard for each other, a loving relationship. Many other couples have the same. We have only wished for you to find happiness. I fear we must step in and decide for you, unless you make a decision this season.”

“It is quite useless talking to her, James. I never expected to have such a disobedient daughter.

“Be properly attired for the White’s dinner this evening.” Her mother ran her eyes over Caroline’s ruined outfit. “Throw those clothes out. Your new gown arrived for the Sylvester Ball next week. You are to do nothing to create further gossip between now and then.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll try to not embarrass you. Excuse me.” Caroline rubbed her temples as she walked away.

“And do quit that habit you have of rubbing your head and biting your lip when I talk to you. It is quite annoying.”

* * * *

“You’re too hard on her, Margaret,” the Earl of Halsford said.

“You have been much too easy, James. I want to see our daughter married with a family of her own. I only want what is best for her.”

He chewed on the end of his pipe and leaned back in his chair. “She must decide on someone before word gets out of my impending financial woes. She has her grandmother’s money, but she will not invite as advantageous a match if word of my difficulties leak out.”

“I don’t understand. You have always been successful in your investments,” Margaret said.

“I agree, but everything I’ve done lately has gone awry. I’ve enlisted a new man to help me with my future transactions. Don’t worry, my dear, things will come around.”

“I hope so.” She stood, straightened her skirts, and walked to the door. “It is time to dress for the upcoming evening.”

“I’ll be along in a minute, after I finish smoking my pipe.” He watched his wife leave. She had retained much of her good looks. Her tongue was sharper than when they married twenty-five years ago, but overall they were comfortable together. He loved his daughter. He only wished they also had a son to be his heir.

He sat and thought about his investments that had recently gone sour. A good deal of money had been lost. More than he wanted his wife or daughter to know. If the losses continued, he would have to tell them.

Caroline needed to choose someone before he had to cut back his expenses and return to their country estate. She wouldn’t mind leaving London. Caroline didn’t care for town life. His daughter needed the right man, a strong man, to manage her. Nevertheless, she’d still be a challenge to a husband.

Perhaps he could he arrange his finances to provide a competency for his wife and daughter. But how? The way things were headed there was little likelihood of his having enough to cover more than the bare necessities. And if Caroline didn’t marry, even with the money from her grandmother, she would be little more than a penniless spinster.