Pride and Retribution

by Lyndsey Norton

  his father and certainly broader, younger and fitter.

  ‘Have I struck a chord, father? I hope to hell you never have beaten a woman to within an inch of her life and then hidden behind your title, because if you had I would lose all respect for you.’

  Wilfred’s harsh, cold words hung in the air between the two men and Roderick could see that his son meant every word. Static practically jumped between them and in the end Wilfred turned, poured two brandies from the decanter, placing one before his father, before he sipped his and resumed his stance in front of the desk.

  Slowly Roderick de Lacy, the Duke of Dovedale sat down, picked up his drink, sipped it and sighed. ‘Son? I have never, nor would I ever raise my hand to a woman. Even your sister’s discipline is handled by your mother. There are no scandals hiding behind my title, so when I finish with this mortal coil, you can be assured there won’t be suits against my estate.’ He sighed again and suddenly looked older. Wilfred had almost forgotten his father was in his late sixties and not the young man he’d been when Wilfred was a child.

  He sat down again. ‘Because of this I will accompany mother for Caroline’s season.’ Wilfred stated softly.

  ‘I wouldn’t ask it of you, Will.’ His father said in a conciliatory way.

  ‘But nevertheless I shall do it. I would not like either Caroline or Eleanor to end up with a husband like Markham and he would take a great deal of pleasure in ruining my sisters, especially now.’ He smiled wanly at his father. ‘I must have a word with Caroline anyway and warn her off Markham, because I don’t want him to be able to blindside me.’

  ‘Did Harriet Saunders mean that much to him?’

  ‘I doubt it. He’s the kind of man that uses up a woman and then discards her. I would take today’s beating as a dismissal for Harriet.’ Wilfred murmured as he rested his head back against the chair back.

  ‘Pride is a terrible thing, son, make sure you don’t fall foul of it.’ His father murmured back.

  Wilfred spent another ten minutes with his father before he went to eat his cold supper, with a nice bottle of Claret, in the dining room and then went to look for his sisters.

  He could hear their chiming laughter as he climbed the second flight of stairs to the family bedrooms. He still had a room here that he could use if he wanted to. He tapped on Caroline’s door and heard the giggles and bustle as they hid what they were doing. ‘Who is it?’ Caroline’s light voice enquired making his heart squeeze in his chest that what he had seen today could happen to her.

  ‘It’s your brother, Wilfred.’ He murmured by the door jamb.

  A squeal issued and the door was yanked open and both his beautiful sisters stood in the door way. They grabbed his arms and pulled him through the door. Both were in nightgowns and housecoats.

  ‘Will!’ Caroline nearly exploded with happiness. ‘We haven’t seen you for absolutely ages!’

  ‘Where have you been?’ demanded his youngest sibling. He stood with an indulgent smile and surveyed his siblings.

  ‘What were you giggling about when I knocked?’

  ‘We were just discussing Miss Jane Austen’s novel “Sense and Sensibility”. We thought how the Marianne character was rather stupid to throw herself into the power of Mr Willoughby, but were very glad to see that in the end she was sensible and married the Colonel.’ Eleanor supplied, but she had a very agile mind. He stroked two fingers down her cheek. She grabbed his hand before he dropped it to his side. ‘What’s the matter Will? You look as if you have had a dreadful day.’ She cupped his cheek and tilted her head sideways giving her an endearing look. Both his siblings were beautiful, but Eleanor was going to be a true beauty, with her flashing blue eyes and masses of dark hair. Eleanor, like Wilfred took after their father, while Caroline definitely took after their mother, with her golden hair, green eyes and fair skin.

  ‘Sit down, Will and maybe you can tell us why Lady Pikeston was here this evening giving Mother an earful.’ Caroline said firmly pushing her brother back until he sat on the edge of her bed.

  He looked at both his sisters. ‘I helped a woman in distress today.’ He said carefully.

  ‘Really?’ Caroline spluttered. ‘Did you lay your cloak down, like Sir Walter Raleigh did for Good Queen Bess!? Or did you rescue a Maid Marian, instead?’ She was so bright and effervescent it made his heart ache to imagine her being treated as Harriet Saunders had been.

  His smile faded and Eleanor scolded Caroline. ‘Don’t be a silly ninny. Those are gallant acts, yes, but in this modern age a cloak over a puddle wouldn’t rescue a damsel in distress!’ She looked at Wilfred firmly. ‘Tell us why you are bothered by this?’

  ‘I was supposed to be helping a lady friend of mine move house, but she was late and I went to her previous address to find her bloodied and battered body in amongst the torn contents of her wardrobe.’

  Caroline let out a shriek as her hands flew over her mouth. Eleanor looked at him solemnly. It always surprised him that Eleanor was younger and the more sensible of the two. He had the main characters of “Sense and Sensibility” right in front of him, with serious and sensible Eleanor and flighty and fanciful Caroline.

  ‘Do you know who perpetrated this heinous crime?’ Eleanor asked softly.

  ‘I do.’ Wilfred said softly, ‘and I can’t touch him, because he’s a Duke.’

  ‘Markham!’ Eleanor spat viciously and looked at Caroline in triumph. ‘See I told you he wasn’t to be trusted.’

  ‘When did you meet the Duke of Markham?’ he asked Caroline abruptly and then softened his expression before he put her back up and she clammed up.

  ‘We were in a modiste’s with Mother and he was there ordering some saucy French underwear for his mistress.’ Caroline said as she settled from her surprise. ‘He was pleasant to me, before Mother called us away.’

  ‘Well his pleasantness hides a beast. I want your word that the two of you will stay away from him, never be alone with him and if he becomes a nuisance tell me or father and we will deal with him.’

  ‘What did he actually do to your friend?’ Eleanor asked quietly and Wilfred shook his head.

  ‘Not for your ears. I hope you never see anything like that in your whole life and certainly never suffer from similar treatment.’ Eleanor gave him a speaking look and Wilfred shrugged. ‘Suffice it to say she has two limbs in splints, numerous fractures in her ribcage and her whole body is black and blue.’

  ‘But what about her face?’ Eleanor demanded. ‘Will she still be pretty?’

  ‘I have no idea and I won’t until the swelling goes away. But I can tell you her nose is broken.’

  ‘How can a Duke be so beastly?’ Caroline asked in horror. ‘Are all men like that?’

  ‘No we are not and most men would be offended by that comparison.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I shall be accompanying you on your season, Caroline, so I don’t want to hear any moans about it, because you don’t have any say and father has already approved.’

  She pouted a little, but didn’t complain. She was actually thrilled that she would be squired around by her handsome brother. ‘It won’t be so bad, will it?’

  ‘No.’ Replied Eleanor thoughtfully. ‘He will be able to censure the men who ask you to dance.’ She smiled brilliantly suddenly. ‘I’m going to miss you frightening off the unacceptable suitors!’ and the two girls started giggling again.

  ‘Well, let’s have a look at some of your gowns, then?’ He said to lighten the mood and they both squealed in delight and the talk turned to fashion and the fashionable venues and balls to attend. Caroline was excited about being presented to the Prince Regent at Carlton House.

  Wilfred left them after another hour, returned to his townhouse and changed for a night out. He had promised to go to Fotheringay’s Ball, but he should not have gone out at all, as he only became morose after seeing the Duke of Markham there. The Duke stood proudly in the ballroom as if nothing untoward had happened that day and laughed gaily with his attentive audienc
e of debutantes. Wilfred’s mood got blacker and blacker as the night wore on and in the end he went to the card room and managed to win a lot of money, while he guzzled down claret as if he owned shares in the vineyard, and didn’t really pay any attention to the cards. He just kept winning until somebody commented on it and Wilfred decided to leave the game with a murmured apology. It was rather unfortunate that as he stumbled out of the card room, he spied an ethereally beautiful girl sat on a bench alone. He stumbled over to her and dropped on the bench beside her without asking for permission. She looked at him haughtily. In Wilfred’s inebriated state, he didn’t think, he just leaned in close, whispered in her ear and grinned stupidly at her.

  The shock and horror on her face made him wonder if he’d done the right thing and he was convinced he hadn’t when her whole hand landed on his cheek. ‘How dare you!’ she blurted with her colour high as she stood up and walked away from him. There was a ripping sound as the lace that was trapped under his foot, tore away from the bottom of her gown. She looked down with tears trembling on her eyelids, but indomitably she continued to walk away until the lace was left crumpled up around his feet.

  ‘What on earth did you say to Lucille Hastings?’ His lifelong friend Howard Cuthbertson, Baron Nairn asked indignantly. Wilfred picked up the lace and wrapped it around his fist.

  ‘I asked her to suck my cock.’ He said innocently and Cuthbertson looked at him in horror. Wilfred looked owlishly up at his friend and put the lace to his lips. ‘I don’t think she wanted to.’

  ‘I think I should take you home, before you get into any more trouble.’ The Baron helped the Earl to his feet and together they started the stumbling dance to the door.

  *****

  A month later, Wilfred De Lacey stepped out of his carriage, sauntered up the steps and knocked on the front door of number 13 Green Street. He did not see Lucille Hastings and she did not recognise him as she walked with her maid along the opposite side of the road.

  ‘My Lord.’ Bennett said deferentially as he opened the door to the Earl.

  ‘Good afternoon, Bennett. Is your mistress receiving?’ Wilfred asked as he stripped off his gloves.

  ‘She is always happy to see you, My Lord.’ Bennett replied, closing the door quietly as Wilfred whipped off his hat, dropped his gloves in it and handed it to the butler. ‘She is in the parlour.’ Bennett handed the hat to a footman, a rather large footman with a belligerent expression and showed Wilfred into the parlour. He tapped lightly on the door, opened it and announced him efficiently.

  ‘Thank you, Bennett. Would you have Mrs. Baker join us and send up some tea, please?’ Harriet said softly as Wilfred stepped into the room, ‘unless you would like something stronger, Wilfred?’

  ‘Tea will be fine, thank you.’ Wilfred said with a smile as he approached the woman on the chaise long. He took her hand gently in his and delicately brushed his lips over her knuckles. ‘How do you feel today?’ Mrs. Baker sidled into the room, took a chair in the corner and picked up her embroidery.

  ‘I’m starting to feel much better, the pain in my leg has now reduced to a nagging ache, which I think has more to do with the wet weather.’ She smiled brightly and indicated he should sit. ‘So you can tell me how Caroline’s presentation went.’

  ‘It went like clockwork, just as every presentation goes.’ He said cheerfully as he sat on the settee. ‘The King tottered out, supported by the Queen and cast his feverish eye over the debutantes. He sat in the chair and nodded as each girl was presented and we held our breath as the Prince Regent slavered all over them.’ He snorted, contemptuously. ‘I thought that Caroline was going to swoon when the Prince asked if she wanted to be a lady in waiting!’ Harriet tittered behind her fingers. He found it an endearing habit. He’d seen her do that regularly, since her face had recovered. He was surprised just what a happy soul Harriet Saunders had, she was always finding something amusing.

  ‘Did he ask Caroline to dance?’ Wilfred shook his head slowly. ‘That’s probably just as well. I’ve heard he has two left feet!’

  They became quiet as Bennett brought in the tea and Wilfred’s mind ambled away to think about Lucille Hastings. She had been at that same ball and looked so beautiful in her white debutante’s gown. He’d managed, at some point, to get close enough to see that it had fine silver netting over a brilliant white sarsenet gown. Her décolletage had revealed a goodly portion of her creamy breasts and he had seen the Prince Regent almost try to touch one fleetingly. He had been astonished to feel his blood boil, but he had managed to keep out of her line of sight and he stood over Caroline all evening because Markham was in attendance. Lucy had been with her brothers Robert and Richard. He knew both of them from Cambridge. He only took his attention off Caroline when Baron Nairn had escorted Caroline onto the dance floor.

  ‘You seem very deep in thought, Wilfred. Is there anything wrong?’ Harriet asked softly.

  He sighed very deeply. ‘I think I’m in love.’ He said softly too.

  ‘In love!’ Harriet burst out laughing, making the Earl frown. ‘I’m sorry, My Lord, but that takes the cake!’ She laughed as if her sides would split. Wilfred sat almost stony faced, waiting for her to stop. Harriet regained control of herself when she saw that Wilfred wasn’t laughing. ‘It was a joke, Wilfred.’

  ‘I don’t feel like laughing. To feel like I do is no laughing matter and I don’t know what to do about it yet.’

  ‘You don’t know what to do?’ Harriet asked almost shrilly, her voice rising by the octave, she was so surprised. ‘My Lord, you have the reputation of a rakehell. I’m sure you know exactly what to do!’ She spluttered with more laughter.

  ‘I shall have to explain everything for you to understand.’ Wilfred said calmly, trying not to let Harriet’s raucous laughter upset his pride as he poured tea for them both. ‘Now stop laughing or you will spill your tea.’ He admonished softly, making Harriet quieten down.

  ‘So who is it that you have fallen in love with?’ Harriet asked, amusement still making her lips twitch.

  ‘Miss Lucille Hastings.’

  ‘Hastings?’ Harriet frowned. ‘I know Evelyn Hastings. We are second cousins on our mother’s sides.’ She looked at him with a frown. ‘Is that who you mean, little Lucy?’ she demanded, all humour gone now.

  ‘Yes, little Lucy, who is not so very little anymore.’ Wilfred said calmly still. ‘She was in attendance at Fotheringay’s and I know I shouldn’t have gone, but I did.’ He shook his head as a slight flush crept into his cheeks as he sipped his tea.

  ‘What did you do to poor Lucy?’ Harriet whispered in horror.

  Wilfred sighed deeply again. ‘I got thoroughly drunk and propositioned her.’ Harriet raised her eyebrow quizzically as he drank more tea to stall for time. ‘I asked her to suck my cock!’ Wilfred gabbled out, trying to get it over with quickly. Harriet sucked in a huge breath in shock, slapping her fingers over her mouth.

  ‘What did she do?’ Harriet asked and he could see the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

  ‘She shrieked at me and slapped my face, before she stomped away.’ He sighed again. ‘Unfortunately, my foot had captured the lace at the bottom of her gown and when she stormed off, it unravelled.’ He shrugged his shoulders eloquently. ‘I still have the lace.’ He finished in a whisper as he stared into his empty cup.

  ‘You have indeed got a problem. Lucy will not forgive easily.’ She sniggered. ‘I’m surprised she didn’t call you out! She’s an exceptional shot for a woman. Pistols or muskets. It wouldn’t make any difference to her and what about Robert? Didn’t he call you out?’

  ‘If he did, I don’t remember it. I only remember Howard hustling me out of the ballroom. I understand from Connors that he found me on the floor of my study in the morning with an almost empty decanter of “Blood and thunder”, so I was well in my cups.’

  ‘Did you see Ernest, that night?’ Harriet asked quietly. She knew it was the night of the attack.

  ‘
I did. The bastard was laughing and flirting with the debutantes and I just got excessively drunk!’

  ‘Then you need to explain that to Lucy. Otherwise she will think you are just a drunken rake!’

  ‘I shall be lucky to see her now that the season is winding down.’ He sighed deeply, ‘and anyway, she is hardly of a high enough status for an Earl who will become a Duke!’

  ‘I shall amend my opinion of you.’ Harriet said with a frown. ‘You’re not just a rake, but an arrogant fool too!’ She smiled softly to take the offence out of her indignation. ‘Do you not realise just who she is?’ He shook his head. ‘She is the daughter of Rufus Hastings, our recently deceased Ambassador to India and her uncle is Rupert Hastings, the Earl of Bassett. Her brother Robert will inherit the title when Rupert dies, so I would say she has probably been in demand during her first season.’ She beamed a smile at him. ‘They are intimately connected with the King’s family. The Hastings’ have been connected with the House of Hanover for a couple of centuries and at least one of them always marries into the royal blood line.’ She smiled brightly. ‘You have royal blood do you not?’

  ‘We do.’ Wilfred sighed again. ‘Are you advocating that I ask her to marry me?’ he asked in shock.

  ‘Well, it’s something to think about. Doesn’t love usually lead to marriage?’ Harriet asked with her tongue firmly in her cheek.

  ‘Not for a rake of my stature.’ He sighed and poured more tea.

  Chapter One

  Early autumn 1812

  It was a very balmy day with a gentle breeze and the sunshine was warm, making it feel like spring. Miss Lucille Hastings stood at the top of The Parade and watched the bustle of people making their way down the hill towards the Pump Rooms. There was a veritable kaleidoscope of colours from the fashions on display and not all of them were women. She saw two very colourful gentlemen, one in a lavender silk jacket with white silk britches and the other in a bright blue silk jacket with white silk britches. Both had tall hats to match their jackets, black shiny shoes with diamond encrusted buckles and swung silver tipped canes in unison, as if they were on a military parade. Lucy thought they looked like a couple of strutting peacocks!