The Rake's Redemption

by Anne Millar

  He waited long enough to give her time to respond, then resorted to formality. “Please allow me to express my felicitations for your betrothal.” She could either simper like a mewling miss and accept his congratulations or turn on him for his insincerity and make the most appalling scene. If it was insincerity, nothing he had done or said could be construed as a true wish to marry her. Maybe it was a matter of complete indifference to Thomas Stainford that she was to marry Sir Theodore.

  “Judith?” Amelia never had been able to sustain self control so Judith knew she shouldn’t be surprised to find her friend drawn back to her side.

  Even in the midst of her confusion Judith could see the frank interest Amelia was taking in Thomas. Florinda Horsley too appeared engrossed, though in her case much less impressed. “You will remember Miss Forbury, Viscount Alsbury?

  “It is a fine delight to see you again, Miss Forbury.” Thomas had the most infuriating way of drawling out his speech so make his listeners concentrate on what he was saying. It made it look as though they were hanging on his every word. At least it did for Amelia Forbury. And she’d made a mutton of the introduction, Thomas was no longer the Viscount Alsbury, but how did you retrieve a mistake like that?

  “I’m sure Mister Stainford never forgets a pretty face.” Judith heard a sharp intake of breath from Amelia at Florinda Horsley’s gratuitous correction. She knew her own hackles were rising at such rudeness and her first instinct was to turn and put the woman in her place. Only that would be a rare delight for Thomas Stainford and an unedifying position for her. And after all the Hamptons were beholden to the Horsley guineas. So Judith checked herself on the basis that needs must when the devil drives and looked round for some escape. Only to have her flight interrupted when Thomas plucked the dance card from her hand and smiled at Amelia.

  “Miss Forbury, may I trouble you for your card?” His tone of sweet light and reason and the way Amelia smiled at his gracious request made Judith regret the inadequacy of the lady’s fan as a weapon. She raised her eyes to demand the return of her card, only to fall prey to a maddening smile that implied shared understanding where none existed. “Miss Hampton, it appears the third cotillion is free. If you would oblige me?”

  “It appears I have little choice, Major. When you hold my card.”

  “Thank you, ladies.” A simultaneous return of cards let one recipient simpering and the other simmering. Thomas Stainford affected to notice neither reaction as he strode across to the ballroom. Despite herself Judith couldn’t miss the impression he created. Amongst the bulging uniform jackets of the officers his spare frame was unique, and she could detect an undercurrent of hostility from the officers following his progress. There was a very different reaction from the opposite sex with at least two mammas with attendant daughters waylaying him for a marking of cards. At least he didn’t have the gall to glance back to see if she’d noticed his success.

  Judith heard the caller, a crony of Florinda Horsley, naming the first dance before she could settle her thoughts and sure enough Sir Theodore materialised at her side. She could see pride in his face as he led her onto the dance floor and a little part of her felt flattered at the evidence of his respect for her. The hall was still over full and the dance stuttered with too many couples squeezed onto the floor. Theodore Horsley was a competent dancer however and managed to guide her away from the worst of the bumping. “Many of these will find their energy diminishes as the night wears on, Judith. For now they are just a nuisance.”

  He was uncomplicated, she decided, if pompous. Perhaps not a romantic ideal but he made an acceptable partner, and she wondered if Thomas Stainford were watching them. If so he would see her enjoying her ball. Even if it were a little boisterous. “Your officers comprise a fair number of the more excitable, Sir Theodore.” Just for a moment she wondered if he would bridle at the comment, and why she felt such a need to risk offence.

  “My fellows are just a little spunky, Judith. That fellow Stainford’s been making a nuisance of himself. ‘March here, quick time there, shots per minute.’ But if they transgress I’ll soon calm them, no need for you to worry.” The words were certainly delivered with a confidence that verged on the absolute, but for all his assurance Judith noted that when the dance came to its end he made no effort to reprimand any of the subalterns.

  “I see Lady Forbury on her own, Sir Theodore. If you will excuse me I will speak with her. I shall look forward to our engagements.” Not even her father could have faulted her half curtsey as she disengaged. Judith wended across the hall carefully to avoid the high spirits of the younger set, but feeling contented. With her card stuffed with names who would never emerge from their whist in the library and the overcrowding as excuse for any gentleman who came to claim his dance she felt quite entitled to settle herself beside Amelia’s mother and watch the caperings in comfort.

  Lady Margery was as indiscreet as usual, just as Judith had come to expect and Amelia to dread. “Quite the shindig, Judith. Sit with me for a while dear. There will be no civilised dancing for hours yet till the young ones have kicked up their heels sufficiently. Your father will doubtless find a hand of whist.”

  Amelia was dancing with Thomas Stainford, obviously very happily, and Judith had to admit that the young officers were careful to give him and his partner a wide berth, a courtesy not accorded to many on the floor. Still she felt impelled to comment on his unsuitability. “Major Stainford is perhaps not a gentleman whom Amelia should encourage.”

  Margery Forbury threw her head back and laughed. “Judith! For a moment I thought Forbury had escaped from his whist in the library. Do you mean the scandal over his sister in law, or the fact that he is now disinherited of the Penwick fortune?”

  There was no answering that and Margery Forbury hadn’t even finished. “The scandal can be made too much of, Judith. Though it adds a sparkle to the ball to have such a rake amongst us. Thomas is a fine young man. I thought at one point that you would have married him my dear. Still Sir Theodore is a very solid choice.”

  Typical of Amelia’s mother to leave so many trails you could follow. Did she really think Thomas suitable for Amelia? Or was she questioning Judith’s motives for wedding Theodore Horsley? Which wouldn’t stand much scrutiny.

  “He fought a duel with his brother.”

  “Over being discovered in some Spanish village with his very underdressed sister in law. I know, Judith.” Margery Forbury knew and appeared totally unmoved by the knowledge. Her next words reinforced that impression. “ A very one sided duel Judith since Thomas deloped. It does raise an interesting point as to what would have happened had Charles succeeded in killing his brother as he had tried to. How could he then have inherited the title and profited from what would technically have been a crime?”

  Judith could feel her stomach turn cold at the clinical question, but before she could argue that Thomas’ restraint made his behaviour no less scandalous their coterie was interrupted.

  “Lady Forbury, Judith, it is so crowded is it not?” Florinda Horsley had sweat trickling from her hair and appeared to be seeking a seat as much as their company.

  “A result of the number of guests you have invited Lady Horsley.” Margery Forbury was an acquired taste, and one Florinda Horsley clearly hadn’t expected.

  “Oh, yes. Do call me Lady Florinda, please. We are neighbours after all.” That was such a lacklustre plea that Judith dreaded what the reply would be.

  “Do no such thing, my dear. You’re the widow of a baronet aren’t you. Father wasn’t an earl or suchlike by any chance? No? Then Lady Horsley it is. Nothing to be ashamed of in your rank, my dear. That’s what I say. We’re each born to our place and must fulfil it best we can.”

  Judith was wondering just what she could say to sooth a thunderstruck Florinda Horsley when Sir Theodore presented himself. Her first reaction was that he was intervening to rescue his crushed parent. Until Amelia bounced up with Thomas Stainford in tow.

  “Judith,
Thomas knows how to waltz properly.”

  Judith realised then that Sir Theodore had come to claim his dance and that her friend, overcome by the riveting discovery that there was no end to Major Stainford’s talents, had unwittingly created a confrontation that Theodore Horsley would be determined to win. Chest puffed up, he reminded her of a dog ready to fight for his bone.

  “My betrothed has already promised the dance to me, Major.” Any sensible subordinate would recognise their duty from that directive and retire. Not Thomas Stainford.

  “Miss Hampton?”

  The sheer arrogance in his voice, the implication that he only had to ask to take her away from Sir Theodore exasperated Judith, exasperated her and made her reckless. Damn both of them for treating her as a prize to be wrestled over.

  “I know from experience how well the Major waltzes, Amelia. But I must fulfil my duty to Theodore.” Short of storming away and leaving the pair of them to squabble that was the best she could do to discomfit them both. She could see that Sir Theodore was less than pleased but Margery Forbury rather spoiled her effect by rising and insisting that Thomas waltz with her.

  The displeasure of Florinda Horsley was barely controlled as Thomas turned his back. “He’s far too full of himself, Theo. No other of your officers would be so forward as to speak to Judith so.” The woman’s annoyance was such that Judith could see specks of saliva fly from her mouth. Judith’s dread was that Thomas would turn around and retaliate, but he kept on going. It was Theodore Horsley who shocked her to her core with his crude response.

  “It’s a pity he hasn’t brought his sister in law with him. From what I hear she’s had the benefit of his experience and might be congenial in passing it on.”

  “Theodore!” Florinda Horsley’s exclamation brought her son’s invective to an end. For Judith the torment had only just begun. It didn’t matter how many times she went over his words afterwards, and she did, she couldn’t help herself, she couldn’t work out how significant his words had been. The panic in her that somehow he knew of her past with Thomas was almost unstoppable no matter how she told herself it was impossible and ridiculous. Then there was the way that maid had flinched at his anger. Judith knew real fear that marriage to a jealous and suspicious Theodore Horsley would be disastrous.

  Their waltz was a rather dreary affair with Theodore demonstrating no feeling for the music at all. He seemed far more concerned with the liberty that holding a woman while you danced with her gave him.

  It was still preferable to the announcement of their engagement that came before supper. Most of the guests were far more interested in supper than listening to Sir Theodore’s pompous and long winded eulogy of his betrothed. Standing there beside him was one of the most cringing experiences of Judith’s life. Florinda Horsley’s evident and ecstatic delight only served to heighten her embarrassment.

  A smattering of relieved applause marked his eventual conclusion until one of the subalterns decided the occasion needed to be more fittingly marked. Judith could see appalled consternation replace boredom on the faces of the guests as the young officers began baying and cheering in rowdy delight. It would have been a relief to go into supper if the food had tasted of anything but sawdust.

  The worst of it had been Thomas’ face watching her, sympathy oozing out of every pore. If there was one thing she didn’t need from the disinherited heir of Penwick it was pity. As far as she was concerned he’d be better occupied finding another of his female relatives to debauch. Instead he came to her after supper to claim his reel.

  At least it was a fast dance with only the intermittent requirement to exchange polite words. Judith tried very hard with her eyes to warn him off saying anything that congratulated or commiserated on her betrothal and when she failed quickly switched the conversation to the subject of training the militia.

  “Sir Theodore tells me the militia find your training awkward?”

  “You surprise me, Judith. I had not thought you interested in military matters.” He managed to infuse the words with such scorn that they sounded like a reprimand. Judith could feel her temper rumble at the slight.

  “Sir Theodore has concerns.” It sounded as though she was passing the blame, and she didn’t want him to think her timid enough to do that, but his response took a different tack.

  “And Sir Theodore’s concerns are yours now, are they Judith?”

  Did Thomas not understand the nuances of polite conversation? But of course she knew that he did, and very well too. If he made her nervous now it was quite deliberate on his part. The look that accompanied the question was level and even, without a trace of flirtation. Yet somehow she felt he was asking if she had bestowed her soul, and that absurd thought ratcheted her temper up a little more.

  “Should they not be?” Goodness, she sounded coy and flirtatious and that was the last thing she meant to be. “Sir Theodore is entitled to be concerned for his regiment.” Another mistake when they both knew he intended to take the regiment away from Horsley and he must be wondering if she had switched her allegiance so far as to tell that to Sir Theodore. Not that it wasn’t an open secret already.

  “Sir Theodore might be badly placed to judge, Judith. He hasn’t experience of what will be asked of the battalion.” Thomas sounded even, balanced, reasonable. An impossibly infuriating man. The only thing she could do was finish the dance, thank him and avoid him for the rest of the ball. And her life.

  “Then doubtless you will be advising him, Major Stainford.” Why was it so hard to make the words sound as dismissive as she intended? Why should she have to care what Thomas Stainford thought? He was no longer part of her life, he hadn’t been for years. How could he behave so coolly at her betrothal ball? Obviously the memory of her meant nothing to him. And that was the lesson she needed to teach herself. He was merely an episode from her past. But it would be nice to find a riposte she could crush him with.

  Thomas watched Judith walk back to the Forburys and nearly yielded to the temptation to run after her and ask what lunacy had prompted her to agree to a betrothal with Horsley. The man was a buffoon and a clown, unfit to be near her let alone betrothed to her. He was rich though, even the expense of the regiment by all accounts had barely put a dent in his fortune. While Oakenhill was poor. Was that why Judith had agreed to wed him?

  In any event the last thing he could do was involve her in a scene here. It was bad enough that these people were impertinent enough to treat him as some sort of exhibit, ‘Roll up to see the peer who fought his brother for his wife.’ Only he wasn’t a peer any longer and he didn’t have the money to rescue Oakenhill.

  What he did have was the ability to hurt those around him. The thought of the anguish Charles had suffered thinking of his wife and his brother carrying on behind his back was enough to choke on. Perhaps Judith was better off making her own way. She certainly behaved as if she intended to keep him at arm’s length and he had little choice but to accept that. For now. Yet it was inconceivable that their ways should part. Or that she should become another man’s wife so that all that was left to him was to seduce her for his amusement.

  Chapter 12

  “John Hampton will go to Spain with the regiment as my adjutant. That is all there is to it. I have made my decision, Stainford.”

  Theodore Horsley obviously expected his words to be final, or at least that was the impression he was trying to give. But Thomas could see behind the bluster to the nerves the colonel couldn’t hide. Even though this was an altercation Horsley had deliberately brought on himself. The man would never have the presence of mind to hold his battalion in the face of an advance by the chanting French veterans. So it was as well to deal with him now, even if that meant Sir Edmund having to fund some of the regiment’s costs before he really wanted to.

  “No, Sir Theodore he will not. And you will not be taking this battalion to Spain. It is a Fencible formation formed for home defence. It would be illegal to you to take the men to Spain. So you will not. Is t
hat clear, sir?”

  “The men are listed to my regiment. They will go where I lead it.” Sir Theodore spoke slowly and distinctly, but the slight quaver in his voice completely spoiled the effect of determination he was trying for. If he only dared the Loyal East Mercian Volunteer’s colonel would be thumping the table with his fist to emphasise his words. But he didn’t dare. Just as he wouldn’t stand when the drums rolled. Did Judith know what she was getting?

  But Sir Theodore wasn’t finished explaining the enormity of the matter. “The regiment is mine, Stainford d’ye see? Paid for it with my own money. They didn’t like my raising the Volunteers. Oh no. They were happy to see me pay for it, but now the men are uniformed and drilled, they want to take it away. Well, the officers are loyal to me.”

  Like an overgrown child, Thomas thought, spoiled and wilful. Wanting to lash out because his wishes had been thwarted and his toy was being taken. “Nevertheless this regiment will not be transferred to the active list. And you will no longer attend its training or parades.” Thomas could feel the temptation to intimidate Horsley strong upon him: he almost wanted the man to protest against his decision.

  “You cannot do that. I am colonel. I command here.”

  Theodore Horsley’s lips moved but his eyes took care not to meet his tormentor’s. Thomas knew the argument was over but his dislike for the man propelled him on. That Theodore Horsley should have the gall to think himself a fit husband for Judith.

  “The only thing you’re fit to command is a tea party in the officers’ mess. Now, if my conduct displeases you in some way I stand ready to give you satisfaction, Sir Theodore.” Sir Edmund and Amara’s warning against any further duels rang in his head as he spoke, but it couldn’t hold Thomas back from his cold fury.