by Anne Herries
‘Freddie said as much,’ Caroline said. ‘He does not care for my dowry, no more do I—but I do care for you and Tom, Nicolas.’
‘I wish that one of you would consider my feelings in all this,’ Mrs Holbrook said in a faint voice. ‘I declare that I have a headache coming on. You really are the most troublesome of children. I shall go up to my room and lie down.’
‘Sorry, puss,’ Nicolas said as the door closed behind their mother. ‘I never thought she would cut up rough like that over it.’
‘It does not matter,’ Caroline said. ‘Poor Mama. We must be such a trial to her. You will not tell her about the Jamaican business? I fear that she would be distressed by it.’
‘Lord, no!’ Nicolas ejaculated. ‘Sir Freddie said that it was not so very terrible, but it would cause rather more scandal than the fact that you took part in a race.’
‘Yes, I think it would. What Grandfather did was perhaps not so very bad, but it is best if Mama does not hear of it.’
‘She shall not from any of us.’
‘Do you think this other thing…the attempts on my life…? If indeed it was truly an attempt to kill me. It might simply have been a poacher misfiring, you know.’ Caroline sighed. ‘I do not think we should tell Mama that someone tried to kill me, Nicolas. It would upset her.’
‘We did consider that it might have been a poacher, but Sir Freddie was of the opinion that it was unlikely. As for telling Mama, I would not dream of it. I dare say she would make a run for home and keep you under lock and key. Though for myself, I think you may be safe enough for a while,’ Nicolas said. ‘Sir Freddie winged the fellow who shot at you. We cannot know if it was merely a hired assassin or the originator of these crimes himself, but it must give whoever it is pause for thought either way.’
‘Well, I shall certainly be careful not to go far alone,’ Caroline said. ‘Sir Freddie is coming to see Mama in a few days. If she gives her permission…’
‘You must consent to an engagement,’ Nicolas said. ‘You cannot give up your chance of happiness for a whim of the old gentleman. He has no right to demand it of you—and to hold such a threat over your head is wicked. I think I shall tell him he may keep his money, for the promise of it has brought nothing but trouble.’
‘Oh, Nicolas…’ She looked at him unhappily. ‘Do not burn your boats for my sake.’ He must not throw his chances away, especially as it was not yet certain that Freddie would wish to marry her once he knew she might have some dreadful hereditary illness.
‘I dare say I shall get along without it,’ he said and grinned at her. ‘I shall have to hang out for an heiress, puss.’
‘Oh, dearest,’ she said and laughed. ‘When do you return to your regiment?’
‘I shall stay with you for two days, and then I must leave,’ he told her. ‘I’ll see if I can bring Mama round this evening. I dare say she will have forgiven us by the time she has dressed for dinner.’
* * *
Caroline watched her brother leave. She sat down and waited until the maid brought the tea tray, asking her if she would carry something up to Mrs Holbrook’s room.
After the maid had gone she bit into a delicious fruity muffin, the butter dripping on to her chin as she stared at nothing in particular. What ought she to do for the best? Nicolas had been so supportive over her predicament, but she knew that her grandfather’s money would go a long way to helping both of her brothers. Could she really deprive them of their inheritance? And there was the matter of her grandmother’s weak heart. She did not think that she could bear to live without Freddie for the rest of her life. Even the thought of it brought tears to her eyes.
* * *
‘Damn you!’ the Marquis growled as Jenkins brought him a small measure of brandy. ‘What is that supposed to be?’
‘With your lordship in a state of choleric, brandy is the worst thing you can have,’ Jenkins said imperturbably. ‘And it ain’t a bit of good glaring at me that way, sir. It ain’t going to change a thing.’
‘Do you think I don’t know that?’
‘Well, you ain’t been thinking much of late, sir.’
‘Impudent rogue! I should dismiss you instantly, do you know that?’
‘That’s as may be, sir,’ Jenkins said without turning a hair. ‘And I ain’t saying as I wouldn’t mind retiring to a little cottage I’ve had my eye on for a while. My sister is a widow and has been for this year past. I dare say she would be glad to keep house for me for what years remain to us—but it don’t alter your case, sir. You’ve driven your sons away, and now you’ve seen off Miss Caroline, and I think you are going to regret that for a long time. Especially if you cut the young gentlemen out as well, sir.’
‘Know everything, do you?’ the Marquis said and muttered furiously to himself. ‘Well, I ain’t such a fool as you think. I know that girl. She won’t see her brothers disinherited. She’ll come back and say she’s sorry.’
‘Give you pleasure, will it, sir—to see her wretched? She loves the man. Stands to reason.’ Sides, I saw her woebegone face, poor little lass.’
‘How dare you speak of my granddaughter so familiarly?’
‘Well, seeing as you’re about to set me off, it don’t make much difference, does it, sir? I might as well say my piece while I’m at it. You ain’t been exactly an angel, sir.’
‘Are you threatening me?’
‘I wouldn’t dare, sir,’ Jenkins said with an air of innocence. ‘It strikes me that you ought to do something about all this trouble. You wouldn’t want Miss Caroline’s death laid at your door?’
‘And what do you mean by that?’ The Marquis started up out of his chair.
‘Stands to reason, sir. Someone knows you changed your will and, whoever that may be, he doesn’t much like it.’
‘Claude or Sebastian?’ the Marquis demanded.
‘I should doubt it, sir. Mr Sebastian wouldn’t stir himself, and Mr Claude would think it beneath his touch. It may be that Jamaican business…’
‘Yes, I dare say you are right. I shall have to think about this carefully.’ Bollingbrook held out his glass. ‘Now fill that up and have done lecturing me, man. I’ll not have harm come to Caroline, but she must come to me and apologise before I change my mind about that damned fellow!’
‘Hell will freeze over first,’ Jenkins said, ignoring his master’s scowl as he took the glass and filled it with a more generous measure. ‘Not that it makes much difference what you do. I dare say you’ll finish yourself off before you have time to change anything.’
He walked to the door, leaving Bollingbrook to scowl into the glass before setting it to one side. The man was an impudent rascal, but the devil of it was he was right…
Chapter Eleven
Caroline accompanied her mother to the Pump Room the following morning. She was feeling easier in her mind, because Marianne had mellowed towards her children. She had been suffering a little irritation of the nerves lest they should not approve of Mr Milbank on closer acquaintance with him. However, Nicolas had charmed all her fears away, and she was now happily describing her plans for her wedding, which was to take place the following week. For, as she had told her children, there was no point in delaying it at her time of life.
‘Mr Milbank is to take me on honeymoon to Italy,’ she had told her daughter before they retired to bed the previous evening. ‘You have a choice, Caroline my love. You may come with us or…I had thought you might stay with your grandfather, but you might prefer to return to your aunt?’
‘Perhaps I could simply go home, Mama? I should be quite happy there by myself.’
‘I am not sure that that would serve,’ Marianne said. ‘However, we might find another alternative. I could write to my cousin and ask her if you may visit with her for a few weeks. We do not intend to stay longer than six weeks or so abroad. Mr Milbank is having some work done at his country house, and of course you will join us there as soon as we are in residence.’
‘Unless I were to m
arry, Mama.’
‘Well, yes, I suppose.’ Her mother sighed. ‘If you do wish to marry Sir Frederick, it might be arranged before I leave. But you were quite against it at one time, Caroline. And I am not at all sure that he is the right husband for you.’
‘I know he is the one,’ Caroline said. ‘I love him, Mama, but as I told you yesterday, Grandfather is against it.’
‘Bollingbrook may be the head of the family,’ Marianne said, her feathers ruffling indignantly, ‘but I am your mother, Caroline. I think I may be trusted to decide your future. Besides, Nicolas told me that Tom has given you his blessing. Bollingbrook cannot lawfully forbid the marriage.’
‘I know that, Mama,’ Caroline agreed. ‘But would it be fair of me to take my happiness at the expense of my brothers?’
‘As to that…’ Marianne smiled her satisfaction. She had been at the mercy of her father-in-law for too long, and he had done little for her. Now at last she was about to become truly independent of him. ‘Mr Milbank is possessed of an adequate fortune. He has already offered to set some of it aside for your brothers—and to give you five thousand pounds when you marry.’
‘Mama!’ Caroline was astonished. ‘That is too generous. I cannot accept so much. It is kind, but—’
‘Nonsense, my dear.’ Marianne looked extremely pleased with herself. ‘Mr Milbank suggested it without a hint from me. As I told you, he has no family of his own, and he is delighted with mine. I am sure we shall all go on very well together.’
Caroline kissed her cheek. ‘Thank you, Mama. You have relieved my mind, for I do not need to feel so very guilty if I disobey Grandfather’s wishes.’
‘You have yet to gain my permission, Caroline. Sir Frederick may call upon me when he chooses. If I am satisfied that he can be trusted to take proper care of you, I may allow it—or perhaps an engagement. Yes, that would be much better. The wedding may wait upon my return.’
Caroline kept her thoughts on the matter to herself. Lord Bollingbrook was fond of calling his son’s wife a peagoose, but Marianne could be stubborn when she chose. If she decided that Caroline must be content with an engagement until her return from Italy, there would be no changing her.
If she had known that her decision might place Caroline in danger, Marianne would have been horrified. However, her children had agreed to keep her in ignorance of the truth, and she was quite justified in thinking that if her daughter waited for a while it could do no harm. Given time to think, Bollingbrook might come to his senses and seek reconciliation.
‘Yes, I think that will do very well,’ Marianne said, believing that she had settled things nicely. ‘If you do not wish to accompany us, you may stay with your Aunt Louisa or Cousin Amelia. And perhaps you may marry at Christmas.’
Caroline had thought about her mother’s decision for much of the night, but she could see no way of changing things. With the wedding so close, something must be arranged for her, and she thought, of the two alternatives open to her, she would prefer to stay with Cousin Amelia.
Amelia Postlewaithe was the unmarried daughter of a bishop and lived with her companion and servants in an old and crumbling country house, together with her cats, dogs and a rather rude parrot that someone had taught to swear. Caroline suspected that that someone was her brother Nicolas, and the parrot had been a source of much amusement when they visited—though not shared by Cousin Amelia.
Although life would undoubtedly be rather dull with her mother’s cousin, who seldom entertained, Caroline thought that she would prefer it to another stay in London with her aunt. She had no interest in continuing her Season, and wished that she might look forward to a settled future with Freddie. However, her mother’s wedding must take precedence and therefore she would just have to wait.
Venturing to the Pump Room with her mother the next morning, Caroline looked around her with interest, for it was her first visit. Several ladies and gentlemen were drinking from small cups of the spa water, which was said to be beneficial for health. When Caroline took a sip, she pulled a wry face, for it did not taste as pleasant as it might.
Marianne Holbrook did not venture as far as the baths themselves. She was not in need of their healing properties and would have thought it most improper to bathe in mixed company. She knew that ladies of unimpeachable reputation did so, but she had already made it clear to Caroline that neither of them would bathe.
‘For you know the water makes one’s bathing dress cling to the form and is shockingly revealing,’ she had confided to her daughter in the carriage earlier. ‘No, Caroline. Mr Milbank does not approve and nor do I.’
Caroline was fast discovering that her mother’s conversation was liberally punctuated by references to Mr Milbank. His likes and dislikes, his manners and goodwill, were all dwelled upon and examined with too much regularity for Caroline’s taste. She was grateful to him for delivering her mother from the sad decline into which she had fallen, but thought that she would not care to accompany them on their honeymoon trip.
They saw nothing of Freddie at the Pump Room and Caroline was feeling low in spirits when they returned home. They were to dine with some of her mother’s friends that evening, and the only entertainment offered would probably be a hand of whist.
* * *
The evening was worse than Caroline could have imagined, for it seemed that one of the ladies had heard something she thought a little odd concerning her. As yet there was no talk of the race, but Caroline had been observed arriving in Bath with Sir Frederick.
‘I was told that she was with a gentleman and that they had neither a maid nor a groom with them,’ Mrs Selwyn said to Marianne. ‘I was sure that that could not be the case, for I know Caroline to be a properly behaved young lady. To arrive looking a little windblown and in a phaeton…I thought that some mistake must have been made?’
‘Oh, she was with Sir Frederick Rathbone,’ Mrs Holbrook said airily as if it were no great matter. ‘You must know that he is a great friend and…’ She looked coy. ‘Well, I must not say more at the moment, but I assure you that it was quite proper for her to be with him. Besides, her brother was not far behind her. They met on the way to Bath, and Sir Frederick took Caroline up with him for a short distance.’
‘Ah, I thought there must be some explanation,’ Mrs Selwyn said, nodding at Caroline in a satisfied way. ‘You are to be congratulated, Miss Holbrook. I believe Rathbone is quite a catch.’
‘Well, as to that…’ Marianne put a finger to her lips. ‘We must wait and see, must we not? I am sure I can rely on your discretion, Susan.’
‘Yes, of course. Absolutely!’
‘And that means she will tell everyone that I am to marry Freddie,’ Caroline said as they were driven home later. ‘How could you do it, Mama? When Freddie has not even spoken to you.’
‘I was left with little choice,’ Marianne said. ‘You will have no reputation left if the gossips hear of that infamous race, Caroline.’
Caroline crossed her fingers. She placed no reliance on her brother’s keeping mum concerning the race, and it could not be long before it was noted that she had been with Freddie when he drove into Bath, her brother following shortly behind. The gossips would put two and two together, and she would be labelled as being shockingly fast, if nothing worse.
She spent another uncomfortable night, dwelling on her thoughts.
In the morning, just before they were about to set out for the Pump Room once more, the knocker sounded and Sir Frederick Rathbone was announced. He was shown into the small parlour where Caroline sat with her mother. Her heart leaped as she saw him, looking particularly handsome in his blue coat and cream pantaloons. His cravat had been tied in what was called the Waterfall style, and he looked very much the gentleman of fashion.
‘I am glad to have found you at home, Mrs Holbrook,’ he said and smiled at her. ‘I was afraid you might have gone out.’
‘We were to leave in a few minutes,’ Marianne said, ‘but no matter. I have no pressing appoi
ntments and we are pleased to see you, sir.’
She indicated a chair, but Freddie preferred to stand. He glanced at Caroline. ‘I trust you are well? Would you wish to remain—or returnin a few minutes? You know the reason for my call, I believe?’
‘I shall stay, if you do not mind,’ Caroline said. ‘I have told Mama of the situation with Grandfather.’
Freddie inclined his head, turning to her mother. ‘Then you know my purpose, Mrs Holbrook. I applied to Bollingbrook as the head of the family, but was refused on grounds which I do not think valid. Tom was good enough to say that I had his blessing, but I think Caroline will wish to have yours, ma’am.’
‘I dare say,’ Marianne said, but did not smile. ‘However, I must pull caps with you, sir. I cannot approve of Caroline’s being with you during the race you and my reckless son took part in. Not only is it shocking, and may well harm Caroline’s reputation, but it could have been dangerous.’
‘I assure you that at no time was Caroline’s life or wellbeing in danger,’ Freddie said. ‘Forgive me if it distresses you, but I took care to do nothing that would risk her. She is far too precious to me.’
‘Yes, well, that may be the case,’ Marianne said. ‘But it makes me a little uneasy. Can I trust you to take care of her? You may love her—and I believe that she loves you—but love is a fleeting thing. I believed myself loved when I married Mr Holbrook and was sadly disappointed in later life. I do not wish my daughter to suffer as I did. Her husband must be a man of character and responsibility, sir.’
‘Oh, Mama, there was never any danger,’ Caroline said. ‘And it was I who teased Freddie into letting me be a part of the race.’
‘Caroline dearest, do not,’ Freddie told her gently. ‘Your mama is perfectly right to make these inquiries. I understand that she may feel a little uneasy, but you know, ma’am…a young lady of Caroline’s nature may fall into more trouble if her spirits are denied. Had I not taken her up with me, I dare say her brother might have been persuaded.’