Caroline's ComeUppance

by Tess Quinn

  While the lady had sat thus pondering, her carriage-partner had been studying Caroline in silence. That he appreciated her beauty was indisputable; but there was more to meet the eye, he was certain, to this woman. She had a fire in her, a need and a purpose; and she had organized and directed her life to fill those. The only doubt Sir John had from his observances of her was whether what she sought was what she truly needed. Or rather, whether she could find fulfilment in redirecting her purpose elsewhere. But she certainly intrigued him, and that inner fire, when it reached and spoke through her green eyes, stirred Sir John’s blood.

  On the night he had first seen Caroline when her carriage had precipitously entered a trap meant for someone else, he had stood in the shadows for several minutes watching this society lady in some amusement as she issued complaints about the barricade and her driver’s ineffectual condition. Her ranting had not shown her in the best light, the temperament common to those of red-headed persuasion coming to the fore. Yet Sir John had been drawn to her immediately – inexplicably yet inescapably as well. He could have allowed her to continue on to her home that night without risking his mission, but something had made him act out her abduction instead. He had thought to amuse himself with her – a spoiled society girl – even as he worked on understanding his attraction to her. He had found himself ensnared by the evening’s end by this pretentious woman.

  Even now he was taking a chance to involve Caroline in his business in so much as a small way; never a good idea. She could well turn out to be his Achilles’ heel! But he knew Caroline – knew her as he had known himself to be at nearly her age: full of misdirected passion, drifting through life with little focus but to avoid a painful or somehow tainted past; unsure where he belonged. He saw these things in Caroline. His own life had changed a hundredfold when his benefactor had recognized Sir John’s youthful searching and taken the young man under his wing. Now, he felt compelled to do the same for Caroline, offer her a focus and a purpose beyond appearances.

  He told himself he did so for the lady’s good – as an especial project to offer her change in her life – but he knew as well that the change he would nudge her towards had a place for him in it. He had known it since that first night when she had wandered into his life with all her conceited arrogance. She had handled herself well in the adversity of her circumstances on the evening of her abduction and he had been impressed; not to mention she was beautiful if rather over refined for his taste – but oh that fire in her! He intended to enjoy taming this scheming wildcat.

  But he must tread with care for now; he must not rush the lady. At present, she had convinced herself that the trappings of society were her only aspiration. She was bored and unhappy without realizing why, but not yet cynical enough to give up what could ultimately bring her no joy on its own. To that end, he offered a show of trust in her tonight as a measure to display his own trustworthiness. Sir John must go carefully and ease Caroline into an appreciation of life outside the ton. In the process, he himself must take some care; for his own heart was not immune to the beguiling hidden depths of this outrageous woman.

  ~~~~~~

  Caroline emerged from her deliberations to realize that Sir John was regarding her intently, a sardonic smile just visible to her as he sat back in the recesses of the carriage seat. She was somewhat relieved that she could not see his eyes well for the shadows; their shrewd directness disconcerted her tremendously. They had not spoken a word since they had settled for their ride in the carriage.

  “Where are we?” Caroline asked, leaning to see out the window. The night was quite dark, with no moon; and little could be seen. Buildings were sparse, however, and they seemed to be travelling somewhat uphill, leaving populated London behind. “Are we going north?”

  “Very good, Caro… mostly north at any rate. We are heading towards Hampstead Heath.”

  “Hampstead Heath? But that is a wilderness at night! This is not some summer’s noon for a picnic on the mere! The Heath at night is populated with cut-throats and villains, or so the news would have us believe!” The shock Caroline felt brought that fire to her eyes.

  “You are correct, my dear, and that is precisely the company we seek tonight. For who better to watch my back while in nefarious pursuits but people upon whom I can count to be unscrupulous and greedy! My employer’s reach and purse strings will buy their assistance, or at worst their silence.”

  Caroline stiffened at the use once again of his endearment, just the latest example of his wholly inappropriate intercourse with her. “I suppose it would be too much to ask you to treat me with respect?”

  “Oh but I do, if not by your defining it.” Caroline afforded Sir John a look of disbelief as he continued. “I respect you more than you know, Caro. I simply have no time for social follies except as necessary in the conduct of my work. I would rather have open honesty in my friends than sycophantic adherence to meaningless strictures. You should feel honoured that I do not treat you as I do others. It is a measure of my respect that I do not.”

  “Has your arrogance no limits?” the lady cried.

  “Ha! What is more arrogant – an honest and direct assessment of oneself and one’s acquaintance, or the deceitful marketing for gain which is the hallmark of your precious society?”

  Caroline leaned forward and studied Sir John Ravensby as best she could in the dim light. He obliged by leaning forward himself, so that they were only inches from each other. She caught the inflection of gold in his eyes. “Who are you?” she breathed, with a mixture of audacity and alarum.

  “Ha ha!” he replied, and for a moment simply gazed at Caroline, chuckling to himself. Finally, he said to her: “I could ask the same of you, Caro. Some sorceress who has muddled my senses as well as my defences. Which God put you in my path that fateful night of our first meeting? Or what devil?”

  “If I recall your own words, Sir, I believe it was a ‘pigeon’!”

  Sir John’s laughter filled the carriage. He nodded his head to her in tribute to her retort, but then turned serious once again, his voice low and dramatic.

  “You wish to know who I am? I will make you a bargain, madam. All it requires of you is to sit back and resolve to enjoy the time spent in my company.” Caroline looked about to speak, but Sir John continued with a raised voice. “I am well aware that you are asking yourself how you come to be here; and you are worried that all your careful connections could be undone by the merest hint of word about your night-time rendezvous with ‘a gentleman rogue.’ I could see it all in your expression as you sat there so deeply pensive.”

  “Can you blame me for such thoughts? I have far more to lose, Sir, than you, should word of this be made public. You, you would enjoy a bawdy laugh with the men at your club, endure the sidelong glances of ladies as you pass by them – half outraged condescension and half outright desire – and it is marked as simply another of a rake’s conquests, and forgotten in a month, if that!

  “But I should be ruined. I would no longer be welcome in society, shunned; and where else should I go? No, you are far too cavalier with my reputation for my welfare. I am not a man who can call some one out to restore my honour. Once it is lost, it is lost forever.”

  “But place some small trust in me… for it little serves my purposes to have my activities publicly bandied about as well. Perhaps I myself would not be banned from society’s favours, but my work could be destroyed. A network of people who operate for the good of this kingdom, indeed for the good of that very society whose censure you fear, would be compromised.”

  He leaned forward in earnestness to press his point. “Your escapades with me will never be spoken of, by me or any of my men who know of them. Had I not known how to live with secrets, I would not have survived this long; and I have every intent to live an inordinately lengthy life.”

  He sat back again. “But to return to your original question of me – in return for your trust, I assure you my character will reveal itself. Perhaps in time even tho
se details of my life that you deem most salient. You will know more – indeed at this moment already you do – of my character than any one else of your acquaintance and most of mine.

  Do you want to know who I am, Caro? Then give yourself leave to find out. I make you that bargain… along with the promise that one day, you may have the pleasure of besting all those counterfeit friends you seem so eager to impress, by revealing my faults to them all! Who am I, indeed? A simple man, my dear, I assure you, -- when once you have learnt how to see me.” And with that elusive comment, he sat back again.

  Throughout this speech, Caroline wavered between curiosity and annoyance. Truly, this man could be infuriating. His casual familiarity with her was unforgivable impertinence. His refusal to clearly tell her who he was she found truly frustrating; and even more so was the way he seemed to know her so well without effort. But she had to admit that he aroused her inquisitiveness, and that there was some excitement to be found in the risk of taking actions which, were they known, could ruin her reputation.

  That she found him appealing she was also willing to allow reluctantly; though she would not act upon the attraction. This man, for all his brash charm, was not Caroline’s idea of a match of suitability, and she would not be tempted from her life’s purpose by the distractions of a few evenings spent in alleviating her boredom.

  Sir John maintained that Caroline already knew him better than most others. Were that truly the case, then this man was indeed inscrutable. For what could he possibly think she knew of him? She had no idea of his worth; the home she had seen spoke of wealth and taste but belonged to Sir John’s brother. She had no notion of their sibling relationship nor of whether that could allow one to make an assumption of Sir John’s assets. He could easily be penniless and living off the tolerance of his brother.

  She knew he was a knight – all of society knew this – but that signalled nothing. The prince was known to sprinkle knighthoods about on a whim when he was in a mood of largesse. Ravensby may have procured his for any small act. Caroline had only to consider that Hertfordshire man near Netherfield, Sir William Lucas that was so annoyingly mundane, to know that knighthood alone was no measure of a man’s acceptability… or strength of character… or his position. For that matter, no guarantee of honour.

  Granted, the man was handsome and, when not in disguise as now to participate in nefarious schemes, his grooming and attire were flawless. And his public manners for the most part as displayed at Lady Parkhurst’s ball could not be faulted. But this as well could signify nothing other than the man was a natural actor, hardly an admirable quality. In her private moments with Sir John, tonight being an example, he certainly dispensed with formal courtesies quickly enough. She could trust nothing she gleaned from his outward public presentation. Indeed, all manner of rakes came in nice clothes and pretty speech. She would not ruin her life by falling prey to one of the most accomplished of their lot.

  If she could only determine why she seemed to lose all power of will and all good sense when she looked into those gold-tinged bronze eyes; when she felt his strong arms about her in embrace; when his lips descended to her own and met them with a fervour that drew all her warmth to that contact, leaving all else in her body trembling with chills. Caroline laughed ruefully to herself at this, suffering a slight chill just to think on it and shifting her gaze to avoid looking at Sir John. No, she knew nothing of him; certainly nothing that would speak to him being worthy of a match. She would not succumb to this particular rake.

  Chapter Fifteen:

  Rendezvous

  T

  he carriage slowed, and then stopped, interrupting Caroline’s thoughts. Joss knocked on the roof of the carriage, three sharp raps followed by a pause, then two raps more. With that, Sir John opened the door and began to descend. When he had alighted, he turned to her. “Stay in the carriage, Caro.” She stiffened and took breath to argue, and he added, “Please. I will return in a moment. This is only a way station, not our final destination.” With that, he spoke a muffled word to Joss, and strode off in the direction of a large tree nearby with a swagger that spoke of his certainty of being obeyed.

  Caroline was tempted to follow him if only in defiance of his thinking to command her in any way, but some thing made her stay in her seat. She sensed that he was quite serious in his instruction, and she was not desirous to try her fortune in stirring his temper at such a time.

  She followed his progress with her eyes instead, and could only just see his silhouette in the dark as he gained the tree. He appeared to reach up into its trunk and then immediately returned. He read some numbers from a scrap of parchment in his hand to Joss, who then repeated them as confirmation. Sir John nodded sharply and entered the coach again.

  “We will arrive at our next rendezvous shortly, Caro. When we have done so, you must follow my instructions in all things. I cannot impress upon you enough how important that will be. Should there be any perception at all of duplicity on my part, of not complying with our established plan… well, these are not gentlemen we deal with. They will suspend our business in an instant; lives could be risked. You see, I am placing my trust in you as well tonight.” From the bench where he sat, he lifted a cloth and gave it to her, smiling with chagrin. “I do so hate to cover that beautiful fire of yours, but needs must. Put on this cap, with your hair tucked into it securely. Do you understand?”

  “Of course I do not understand!” she started. “I have not understood anything about this night, and you do little to clarify it with your subterfuge.” Caroline’s lower lip jutted out in an angry pout. Sir John began to speak, but she cut him off. “But I will trust in you this one time, since I was more the fool in agreeing to come with you…”

  “Thank you. I can tell you this much. We will be travelling to another location on the heath, a short way only from here.” He held out the piece of parchment to Caroline that he had removed from the tree. Though it was dark, she could just make out the writing – it was a series of numbers, apparently those that Sir John and Joss had shared. It must provide some coded direction as to the location they sought. And just above the numbers was a symbol of some kind. The dim light was not enough for her to make it out; it appeared to be a bird of a sort. Caroline stifled an urge to ask if it was a pigeon.

  Just as she squinted to try to see it more clearly, Joss started up the horses, the movement snapping Caroline back sharply against the carriage wall. When she regained her balance and looked again, Sir John had concealed the scrap in his shirt.

  While they rode to their destination, Caroline wound her hair around her head and, with a slight grimace, pulled the youth’s cap down low over it. Her first inclination on doing so was to wrinkle her nose at the horrid odour of her head covering. Wherever had the man procured it, to have it smell so of rancid food, ale and sewage? She thought with resentment that after wearing the cap tonight for any time, she would be obliged to wash her hair tomorrow, though it was not her usual day for it. Sir John had sat back while she performed her transformation to a boy, watching the process with a smile that broadened as she tucked several stray coils up beneath the offending disguise.

  After about five minutes, the carriage stopped once more. Sir John exited and, this time, turned to invite Caroline to descend with him. Once free of the carriage, however, he whispered to her, “Listen carefully. In this light and in that garb, you will be taken for a lad… my confederate… and this is desirable. To maintain the deception, you must not speak. The gentleman we will meet is such that you could encounter him at another time and in different guise. Do not give yourself away to him now. He will join us in the carriage for a short distance. You must… I cannot stress it enough… you must appear to him as a boy.”

  She was growing somewhat alarmed now, without quite knowing why or the import of this “gentleman” they would meet. But she did not speak, only nodded her acquiescence with a nervous smile. Looking at him more studiously, she noted his solemn countenance, and nodded a
gain, the smile gone. For all Sir John’s devil-may-care demeanour in their acquaintance to date, she had never seen him so focused. The realization came to Caroline on seeing his serious intent that this was his life’s work; he neither took it lightly nor allowed others to do so. It was important to him. She had no doubt he was good at it. One last thing she realized as well: the risk he took in including her in this rendezvous. Caroline felt a surge of good feeling, despite the danger in the situation, to recognize the trust he placed in her.

  “Ready?” he asked. She nodded solemnly yet once more.

  “Good,” he said. Sir John smiled as if to relieve the concern he saw on her countenance. He looked for an instant as if he would reach up to touch her, but then thought better of it. He settled for saying, “You learn quickly, ‘lad’. Let us go. Stay close by me, remain silent, and all will go well.”

  Sir John began to move off. After a second of delay, Caroline took a deep breath and followed him, torn between fear and intrigue. A short distance along, they approached yet another tree, with a trunk easily the width of three men and low, full branches. As they neared it, two men came from behind and stood silent sentinel on either side. They were rough looking men – large and unshaven, wearing coarse clothes, and scarves around their necks, partially raised to obscure their mouths and noses from view. Caroline experienced a stab of fear looking on them; they were as far from her customarily safe world as she could imagine or would wish.

  Sir John stopped about ten paces from the tree; Caroline halted just behind and cautiously peered around him. He directed his attention to the men at the tree, but Caroline noticed that he surreptitiously turned his head slightly to each side to check his surroundings further. From the flickering of his eyes noted as she kept hers on Sir John, Caroline determined there were others stationed around them who would keep themselves hidden unless required to act.

  Sir John raised an arm in greeting to the men by the tree; the ruffian to his left responded by casually asking for the time of night. Sir John answered by reciting yet again the numbers that had been on his scrap of foolscap. When he finished, the ruffians looked to one another, nodded in affirmation of what they had heard, and one of them produced a shrill, quick whistle.