A Rake's Redemption

by G. L. Snodgrass

  Shrugging her shoulders, Olivia began the tale.

  “It all begins with a French merchantman bound from Alexandria back to France. The vessel was laden with Egyptian treasures. Things Napoleon’s men had bought, bribed, or stolen away. That, and a large contingent of French passengers, families of the French officers stationed in Egypt.”

  Alice nodded, enthralled by the story.

  “The ship,” Olivia continued, “was blown off course in a storm and slightly damaged. What is more important, she lost her naval escort. So alone, damaged, and overladen with goods, she turned for home. Only to be set upon by Barbary pirates.”

  Alice gasped, such a horror shouldn’t be wished upon anyone, not even the French.

  “The pirates prevailed. As they normally do against slow, defenseless merchantmen. They took the treasure and all the crew and passengers that remained alive to be sold into slavery. From what I gather, the women were ill-used, and faced an even worse life once sold in an Arab slave market.”

  Alice shuddered as she imagined what it must have been like for those women.

  “So,” Olivia continued, her face blushing slightly as she became excited about the story, “a few days later, the pirates come upon a slow English merchant, not far off the coast of Tripoli. Being pirates, they were greedy, but unfortunately for them, the Mary Caldwell out of Bristol, on a voyage from Italy back to England, was commanded by my brother.”

  Alice sat frozen as she waited for the next section of the story. “Let me guess, your mother’s name?” Referring to Nathanial’s ship.

  Olivia smiled as she nodded affirmatively.

  “When they sighted the pirates, my brother maneuvered and tried to get away, but the pirate ship was too fast, even loaded down with all of that Egyptian treasure.”

  Olivia smiled as if she had been there and was remembering the day. Alice noticed how the nautical words and expressions came so easy to her. The result of growing up in a nautical family. That and listening to her brother’s stories her entire life.

  “Finally,” Olivia continued, “when it became apparent they could not escape, my brother struck his colors and spilled his sails. To any normal seaman, he was surrendering. Better to be sold as a slave than killed fighting a battle he could not win.”

  “Unbeknownst to the pirates, my brother,” Olivia said with an evil grin, “had sacrificed cargo for cannon. He was well aware of the dangers of sailing those waters. What is more, he had rigged a false front along his sides to hide his gun ports. When the pirates came close to boarding the Mary Caldwell, my brother ordered the false fronting to be let go. Then ordered his six cannons to fire.”

  Olivia paused to let the moment sink in. “Jocko said they cleared their deck. I still remember his grin when he added, that a double load of grapeshot at that range was like a farmer cutting through wheat with a scythe.

  Alice shuddered thinking of the death and mayhem such weapons could cause.

  “Nathanial shot the pirate captain himself. And led the charge onto the pirate ship. That was where he got the scar above his left eye, a pirate’s sword. Anyway, within minutes, the fight was over, and my brother was in control of a vast treasure. In fact, more than most men will see in a lifetime.”

  Alice nodded as she took in the story. “What happened to the captives from the French merchantman.”

  Olivia smiled again. “Nathanial put them ashore in Gibraltar and gave them enough to make it home. Jocko did say, however, that there was one young French Countess who did not wish to leave. She tried everything to remain with Nathanial. But, she obviously didn’t know Nathanial.”

  Sitting back in her chair, Alice thought of the young Countess. How she must have loved Nathanial to be willing to give up everything just to stay with him.

  “Father died before Nathanial returned home. I remember that it hit Nathanial hard. He and Father had never been close. But there is something between a son and his father. A bond, a competition, something that is lost when the father dies.

  “Mother had died a few years earlier,” Olivia continued, “and I was a young girl of eight when father died. I remember being so alone until Nathanial arrived. Lost, frightened. But Nathanial solved everything. He gave up his life at sea. Made sure I felt safe, secure, took over our father’s business. Combined it with the treasure from the pirate ship. And within a few years turned it into a great fortune.”

  Alice smiled at Olivia, silently thanking her for the story. What a life he had led, she thought.

  “And what about you?” Olivia asked. “Now that I have given you our family history. It is your turn.”

  Fighting to hold back a gulp, Alice froze for a second. She had not anticipated this. The girl was probing where she preferred not to go. Looking at Olivia however, she realized the girl would not let the matter rest. She wanted information, and she was determined to get it.

  “What have you heard?” Alice asked hesitantly.

  Olivia’s countenance took on a serious look as she recalled all the facts she had gathered so far.

  “Your family is poor. In rather dire straits. You were engaged to the Earl of Brookstone. A fact that was going to help your cousin, the new Earl of Weston immensely. Yet, two days before the marriage, you broke it off. Why?”

  Alice took a deep breath and held it for several seconds while she worked out exactly what she could say. How much truth could she expose to this young woman? Then the thought occurred to her. Olivia needed to hear it all. She needed to understand the world she was getting into.

  Letting her breath out slowly, Alice said, “Some men are not what they appear to be.”

  Olivia laughed. “Every woman knows that.”

  Alice shook her head. “You’d be surprised how many don’t. Especially young women who have not been around a lot of men. Women such as myself. All I had ever known was that my father would select my husband. I would bear the man’s children. We would live in a nice house, full of servants. What more did I need to know?”

  “And yet, when it came time, you chose otherwise. Why?” Olivia asked again.

  “For many reasons,” she said as she looked down. “Because I learned that one of the maids in Lord Brookstone’s resident was to have a child out of wedlock. His child.” She paused to wait and see how Olivia would take the information.

  The girl frowned for a second then said. “So? It is not that uncommon for men such as Lord Brookstone to have a bastard or two. Why was that enough to break off an engagement? A marriage, I might add, that would have greatly benefited your family.”

  Alice cringed, “I learned that the … coupling, shall we say, was not mutually desired. In fact, I learned that there were several other women who had been forced against their will. A fact that was confirmed to me when Lord Brookstone tried to … take advantage of me two days before our wedding day.”

  Olivia’s frown deepened as she said, “I am so sorry. There is no need to discuss this. I didn’t know. Please forgive me.”

  “No, no,” Alice replied with a firm shake of her head. “No, you need to learn these things. You need to understand the world you are going into. Sometimes, there is no difference between an English Lord and a Barbary pirate. Disregard the coverings. The superficial style and supposed breeding. Sometimes, women are ill-used by both Barbary pirates and English Lords. It is mine, and your brother’s responsibility to make sure that this does not happen to you.”

  The young girl across from her continued to frown as she stared off into the distance “But how do you know? I mean, you were engaged for months. If Lord Brookstone had waited but a few days, you would have been trapped in marriage to the man. How do you know?”

  Alice shrugged her shoulders. “You pray you have family and friends that will help you see the truth before it is too late. You pray you find a good man. A man that cares about you and worries about your happiness. Not a man who views you as something to be used.”

  Olivia nodded as she pondered what Alice had just tol
d her.

  Alice’s mind wandered to the man downstairs in his study. One thing she knew to her very core. Nathanial Caldwell might have the heart of a pirate when it came to business. But he had the soul of a hero when it came to women.

  Chapter Nine

  Nathanial rolled his shoulders to try and relieve some of the tension that had been building up over the last two weeks. Between Olivia’s constant prattling about dresses and Old Lady Weston’s sly comments about what was to be expected in a proper English home, his body felt as tight as an anchor chain in a stiff blow.

  To top it off, Lady Alice Weston was wearing a blue gown that made his insides shiver. The woman looked delectable, sailing across a dance floor like an American clipper before a gale. And every time a man would turn to stare, he had an overbearing desire to call the man out and face him at dawn.

  “I say,” His Grace, the Duke of Hampton said, pulling Nathanial back to the current world. “Young Bradford does not appear to be enjoying himself. I would swear the young man would rather face a French cannon than dance with your sister.”

  Nathanial laughed as he watched the pair through the intricate steps of the dance. “It is a favor I fear I will be paying for over the next few years.”

  The Duke smiled. “By the way, Warwick informed me of your wager. A rather good one, I must say. I was thinking of putting some money on Warwick to be the next to fall. But after tonight. I don’t know.”

  Nathanial watched as the Duke’s eyes traveled to Lady Alice Weston standing next to his wife. “I may wish to change my choice. Perhaps I should be placing my money on you being the one to succumb?”

  Instantly grasping his meaning, Nathanial frowned as he turned to the Duke and said, “Careful, Your Grace, don’t let your newfound wealth go to your head. A poor bet is never a good idea. And, because I owe you for attending Lord Bradford’s ball tonight. Or my sister does, you should know from me, that would be a very poor wager.”

  The Duke smiled as if he didn’t truly believe the man talking to him.

  “Regardless,” the Duke said. “As for my attending tonight. My new bride insisted. She is very interested in talking to you.”

  “Me?” Nathanial asked, unable to fathom why the Duchess of Hampton would want to talk to him of all people.

  “Yes,” the Duke continued. “She has tried to learn of my past from my closest friends, Claremont, and Sudbury. But they have been loyal and refused her. I believe her next tact is to try acquaintances. People who traveled the same path as myself. I believe that she believes you are her best option.”

  “Your past?” Nathanial said. “What is there to know?”

  “Exactly?” the Duke said with a relieved sigh.

  “I mean, other than those nights in Madam De Paul’s. Or that competition we had over the Sinclair widow. A competition I might add that you won.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure,” the Duke said. “I have often thought that you won by not being caught up in that woman’s web. Once more, the famous Caldwell luck.”

  Nathanial laughed. That was why he had never been upset at losing the attention of the Lady Sinclair to Mr. Devlin Beaumont, the future Duke of Hampton. The woman was too much trouble and not worth the effort. Besides, it appeared as if the Duke had escaped that prison and had done just fine for himself. His bride was both beautiful and charming. A governess who now made an excellent Duchess. A sweet woman who was even now bestowing her social capital on Lady Alice Weston.

  “And,” the Duke continued, “I would appreciate it if you did not inform my wife about such things as Madam De Paul’s or any of the other houses we used to frequent.”

  “What should I say?” Nathanial asked with a smile. “That you spent your evenings in quiet prayer at the local church? Or perhaps how you never gambled. You supplemented your inheritance with money you found while walking alone in the park after church?”

  The Duke gave him his best scowl. “Just tell her that I spent my time at the club where I didn’t drink too much and hardly ever gambled.”

  Nathanial barked out a laugh before he could stop himself, drawing the attention of everyone around them. “And you expect her to believe that? Your wife is too intelligent. A fact that will trouble you for years, I might add.”

  “No, I don’t expect her to believe you. You are a rake and a rogue after all. No self-respecting British Lady would believe a word you tell her. But, if you tell her about Madam De Paul’s and the others. Then she will have to ask me. And I do not wish to have to lie to my wife. So. If you will. Remain quiet on the subject. Are we agreed?”

  Nathanial laughed and nodded his head. “I will do my best.”

  “And,” the Duke said as he shot Lady Alice a significant look. “Perhaps I can return the favor someday?”

  Nathanial froze, the Duke was serious. Did he really think he would allow himself to be trapped into matrimony? And did he really think that a Lady such as Alice Weston could ever see herself as married to a commoner? A man without title or standing?

  However, before he could address the matter, the music came to a stop as the dancers bowed and curtsied to each other. Neither Olivia nor Bradford looked pleased.

  The Duchess of Hampton and Lady Weston returned to stand with the two men as they watched the young duo return to their little gathering. Both women had gotten on very well since being introduced. But then, why not, Nathanial thought. They were from the same world. Lady Alice might be poorer than a church mouse. But she belonged here.

  He on the other hand, always felt out of place and unwanted when he attended such events. A fact that up until recently had never bothered him before.

  As Bradford escorted Olivia back to them, Nathanial noticed the young man frown at something Olivia said to him. The boy looked as if he was biting his tongue in half to stop himself from replying. Once he had delivered her back, Bradford gave a quick bow and departed to the other side of the room without saying a word.

  “What did you say to him?” Nathanial asked.

  “Who?” Olivia asked as if he were talking about someone of no significance.

  “Lord Bradford,” Nathanial said between clenched teeth. He hated when Olivia did that, pretended not to know what he was talking about when she knew perfectly well.

  “Oh, I gave him a compliment,” she said as she continued to stare out over the dance floor, her eyes taking in every detail. But also refusing to meet his.

  “Such as?” Nathanial asked.

  Lady Alice shot him a quick look. Reminding him that they did not want a scene here, especially on Olivia’s first party.

  “Oh,” the young girl said with a casual air. “I told him how amazed I was that he had gone the entire dance without stepping on my feet. Saying that a man amazed you is a compliment, right?”

  Nathanial’s chin sunk to his chest. Perhaps he had made a mistake asking Bradford to host this event just so Olivia could gain some experience. At the same time, he caught Lady Weston rolling her eyes, and the Duke of Hampton having to fight not to laugh.

  “Miss Caldwell,” the Duke said as he stepped in front of her and held out a hand. “May I have this dance. And an opportunity to amaze you. I may not be able to live up to young Lord Bradford’s skill. But I will do my best.”

  Olivia smiled up at the Duke and gave a quick curtsy. “I would be honored,” she said as she let the Duke lead her onto the dance floor.

  The Duchess of Hampton smiled as she leaned over to say. “I wouldn’t worry about that one. I would wager that within weeks she will have the entire ton eating out of her hand.”

  “Not if she doesn’t know what she can and cannot say to gentleman,” Nathanial said with a shake of his head.

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure she knew exactly what she was saying to Lord Bradford,” Lady Alice said with a smile.

  .o0o.

  On the carriage ride home. Lady Alice quietly examined Olivia. The girl had done well tonight. True to his word. Nathanial had delivered enough Lord’s and
Ladies that the night would be talked about for weeks. Lady Bradford, the Earl’s mother, had been overjoyed. And Miss Olivia Caldwell had been the brightest star in the night’s sky. Her beauty, her charm, her maturity had won over both the men and the ladies in attendance.

  Word would go out. Miss Caldwell was acceptable company.

  Now to build on that, Alice thought. To find the right man for her. Someone she could fall in love with. More than a few young men had shown interest tonight. In fact, almost every eligible bachelor in attendance had asked her to dance. Many more than once.

  Alice secretly smiled to herself as she remembered putting her foot down and refusing permission for Olivia to dance with anyone more than once.

  “But why?” Olivia had whispered to her when she was denied the opportunity to dance with Lord Eastbrook. The handsome young Earl who was sweeping through society like a whirlwind.

  “Because,” she whispered back, “if you dance more than once with a man, the old biddies of the ton will have you engaged tomorrow.”

  “Would that be such a bad thing?” Olivia said. “I mean look at him. He reminds me of a Greek God.”

  “Yes, well, he also drinks heavily and gambles excessively.”

  “So does my brother.” Olivia had replied.

  Alice’s heart stopped for a brief moment then she said, “Yes, but Eastbrook is not your brother. In fact, I doubt any man is. Besides, your brother is not in search of a wife. A young man who hopes to get a bride should not be carousing through the underbelly of London most nights.”

  Olivia looked at her strangely for a moment then changed the subject to the dress being worn by young Lady Elizabeth Waterstone.

  Alice had sighed with relief internally. The unplanned words about Nathanial Caldwell had surprised her. She hadn’t known that she thought that way until the words had left her mouth. But it was true. Very few men could compare to Nathanial Caldwell.

  Now, after the party, riding back to the Caldwell home, Alice continued to review the night. It was her best hope of ignoring the man sitting across from her.