"How are you feeling now, my lady?" Sally asked gently, noticing the paleness of Caroline's skin.
"I no longer feel like I am at death's door so an improvement of sorts, I think."
"A good meal will do you the world of good, my lady."
"I am quite famished. But I am loathe to face Rebecca and Edward. What must they think of me? I still cannot remember much about last night. Sally, how could I have let myself behave in such a fashion? I've utterly disgraced myself. And my family. I am quite sure that I shall be shunned from all good society."
Caroline's eyes filled with tears again. Really, she had never been such an emotional creature but then, she had never gotten foxed in front of nearly every important member of the Beau Monde before.
"My lady, please do not overset yourself. It won't be as bad as all that. You'll see. I'm sure his grace will have taken care of the nastier gossips and Mr. Crawdon—"
"What?" Caroline swung round to face Sally. "What about Mr. Crawdon?"
Caroline was astonished to see colour creep into Sally's already ruddy cheeks.
"Well, my lady it's just that—he—er, what I mean is, the gentleman—" here she paused again.
"Spit it out, Sally," said Caroline as a feeling of dread settled into the pit of her stomach. Tom. Last night. In the carriage. Oh no. No, no, no.
"Mr. Crawdon is the one who brought you home, my lady. You had fallen asleep by the time you arrived and he, well, he had to carry you."
Caroline groaned and dropped her head into her hands as memories, unmercifully vivid memories, assaulted her mind.
"He carried you all the way to your bedchamber."
Caroline gasped and her eyes flew to Sally's.
"What? But that is, he — what?" she spluttered.
"He wouldn't let anyone else touch you, my lady." Sally was wringing her hands now. "Said that he wanted to make sure for himself that you were settled. He was that worried, my lady."
"But, surely Edward—"
"His grace wasn't here."
Caroline stood up and began to pace in agitation.
"No. Of course he wasn't. I travelled alone with Mr. Crawdon, did I not?"
"You remember?"
"Yes," she mumbled miserably, "I remember."
"Oh, good." Sally was noticeably relieved that she no longer had to continue her painful recounting of the night before. "And do not worry about his shoes. If his valet is worth his salt, and I'm sure he is since Mr. Crawdon is rich as Croesus, he will be sure to—"
"What about his shoes?" Caroline asked in confusion.
Sally stopped talking immediately.
But Caroline no longer needed an explanation as the memory hit her with the speed of a runaway stallion.
Her eyes widened in horror and her hands flew to her mouth.
"His shoes!" she whispered in terror, "I—I. Oh God."
Even Sally couldn't say anything to make this better.
And she had obviously decided to abandon ship, too.
With a gentle squeeze of Caroline's shoulders, Sally turned her towards the door of the bedchamber and pushed her outside.
It was time to face them.
Caroline walked slowly down the stairs, feeling like she was walking to the gallows.
There was nothing else for it. She must face Edward and Rebecca, find out exactly what she had done last night, and figure out how on earth to make it right.
As for Tom. Well, she wouldn't be seeing him for a very long time; she would make sure of that. In fact, never seeing him again seemed an excellent plan at the moment.
Coming to a stop outside the dining room, Caroline had to take several deep, calming breaths before entering. And even then, she knew her cheeks flamed scarlet.
Please, she prayed reverently, please let it just be Rebecca in there.
Taking one final deep breath, she squared her shoulders and entered the room.
"Ah, so you live."
Punishment. That must be it. Punishment for acting so abominably last night. For why else would the first person who greeted her, a wide grin splitting his face, be Tom Crawdon?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TOM KNEW THAT he was verging on the insane the second she walked in the room. Why? Because he felt better just being around her.
Even though he had every reason in the world not to.
It was lust. That was it. Lust and nothing more. It had to be.
Still, he had to stop himself from leaping from his chair and pulling her towards him when she walked in, frail and beautiful.
He had arrived a while back, intent on speaking to Edward and Rebecca, to find out what had happened after he'd left last night.
He had guessed, quite correctly, that Caroline would be nowhere in sight that morning.
When he'd arrived, Edward had taken him straight to the library where he promptly shut the door.
"How is she?" There was no preamble from Tom.
"Worried. But glad that Caroline was returned safely."
Tom frowned in confusion for a moment before swearing in frustration.
"You really think I'm asking about Rebecca? Good God man, do you manage to think of nothing else?"
Edward had the grace to look abashed, at least.
"I have no idea how she is," he answered, "since we haven't seen her. Her abigail, Sally, came to see Rebecca this morning and Rebecca said we weren't to disturb her. So we haven't."
Tom's frown returned. This time, though, he felt dreadfully worried.
"Do you not think you should go and check that she is well?"
"No, I do not. She was quite violently ill, as I understand it. Bailey had to send one of his magic potions. So I'm staying well away."
Tom got up from his chair to pace in agitation.
"But someone has been checking on her, yes?"
He could see the shrewd calculation on Edward's face but he cared not. He was far too worried to care about such things at that moment.
"Yes, Tom," Edward finally answered, "her maid spent the night with her and Rebecca has been checking hourly all morning."
Tom tried not to let his relief show on his face.
"Right. Well. Good. That's—that's good."
There was an awkward pause while Edward continued his speculative stare and Tom drew to a stop.
"So, what of last night?" Tom eventually broke the silence. "Did that little rodent Hadley cause much damage?"
Edward rose now too.
"No, not overly much. Rebecca and I did a lot of smoothing over. That is to say Rebecca smoothed things over with the ladies and I — well, I made sure he stopped spreading whatever it was he was spreading."
Tom grinned widely as he could well imagine the significantly smaller Hadley cowering before his redoubtable cousin.
"Still, I feel it would be a good idea for Caroline to lay low for a while. Give the tabbies a chance to sink their claws into some other on dit."
"Funnily enough, I think I have just the solution."
"You do?"
Tom nodded. "Come, let us find your lovely wife and we will discuss my plan."
They found Rebecca in the drawing room playing with a very happy Henry.
Edward plucked Henry from his mama's lap and swung him high into the air, eliciting squeals of delight from the baby, before settling him into the crook of his arm.
"I never thought I'd see the day, cousin," said Tom wryly, watching Edward coo over his son.
Edward merely grinned unrepentantly before rescuing his cravat from Henry's chubby clutches.
"Good morning, Rebecca." Tom went to kiss her lightly on the cheek. He assumed, hoped really, that their little spat from last night would be forgotten in light of greater concerns.
Rebecca's smile told him that it was.
"Thank you," she said as Tom took a seat across from her, "for taking care of my sister last night."
"It was my pleasure," Tom said softly. Now it was Rebecca's turn to gaze shrewdly at him.
They did a lot of that in this household. It was deuced uncomfortable.
"Tell me, Tom, how was Caroline last night?"
Tom thought back to Caroline's whispered declarations. Her confessions. And of course, the ruination of his carriage and boots, before responding calmly, "She was perfectly fine. Fell asleep before we reached the house and I had to carry her upstairs to her bedchamber but—"
"What?" Edward bellowed making them all jump and scaring the wits out of Henry.
"Blast it all, Edward. You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Tom yelled over the noise of Henry's wailing.
Rebecca moved to settle the baby and Edward turned to glare menacingly at Tom.
"What the hell were you doing in her bedchamber?" he growled.
Tom stared at him in astonishment. How ridiculous he was being! What did Edward think had happened between him and an unconscious woman?
"Since she had passed out, I was merely carrying her up the stairs so that her maid could see to her. I left as soon as I had deposited her on the bed. Fully clothed. Above the covers. Or would you rather I had dropped her in the hallway?"
Edward seemed to consider it.
"No," he eventually conceded, "no I wouldn't."
By this time, Henry was cooing happily again and the butler had arrived to announce lunch.
Rebecca excused herself to settle Henry for his nap before joining them again in just a short few moments.
Once they had retired to the dining room and seated themselves, Tom turned to Rebecca. "Tell me what happened after we left."
Rebecca sighed and rubbed her head gently. "It wasn't too bad, I suppose. Though I know Caroline will hate herself this morning. Hadley had managed to cause a few raised eyebrows but I think I managed well enough to silence the rumour mill. Then strangely enough, he stopped talking about it altogether. And left shortly after you."
Tom caught Edward's self-satisfied grin at this and could only assume the sudden silence had been a result of him scaring Hadley off.
More was the pity. Tom would have relished the opportunity to shut him up himself.
However, the important thing was that he'd been silenced and, with any luck, the whole thing would blow over with little or no consequences for Caroline.
"Edward thinks it best for us to keep quiet for a couple of weeks. Stay out of society for a while, though I do not want it to seem as though we are hiding."
"Ah, well I believe I have a solution."
"You do?"
"Indeed. I had held off on telling you until everything was ready, but I have acquired some property in Essex and I plan to hold a house party there."
"Oh how wonderful! That would be perfect. When do you plan to travel there?"
"I thought perhaps family could come as early as next week and then some friends and acquaintances could join us for a second week. I've met the local gentry. They seem pleasant enough so plenty of entertainment to be had. It will give me a chance to show off my new property and Caroline a chance to keep a low profile for a time."
"Yes, yes that is perfect Tom. I cannot wait to see it. Is it very big? What's it called?"
Tom smiled indulgently, feeling rather proud of Rebecca's obvious excitement.
He took great pleasure in telling her all about his new home, Woodview Hall. A sprawling red brick manor house built in the Palladian style that was all the rage a few years ago. It had belonged to a well-to-do earl whose son had squandered the family money before deciding that the European way of life was more suited to his desired lifestyle.
Rebecca was enchanted.
"Oh, it sounds just like the houses Caroline and I dreamed about as little girls," she sighed wistfully.
Tom tried not to let his reaction show. But hearing that Caroline would likely approve of the house caused him more happiness than he would have wished.
"None of my estates appeal to you then, sweetheart?" Edward asked with a raised brow.
"Everything about you appeals to me," Rebecca answered.
Tom sighed and averted his eyes from the smouldering looks between the two. Really, they were ridiculous.
"Anyway," he interrupted loudly, "I shall be travelling down in the next day or two and you are, of course, welcome to join me whenever it is convenient. It is really only a few hours ride so should not be too difficult for Henry."
"It sounds perfect. Just the thing that Caroline needs," said Rebecca excitedly before her eyes suddenly glinted with a mischievous light.
"You are inviting friends and acquaintances you say?"
"Yes," said Tom warily. She was up to something. She was always bloody up to something.
"Who?"
"I am not entirely sure yet."
"Perhaps I can suggest a few guests."
Tom looked to Edward for a clue as to what Rebecca might be concocting but he shrugged to indicate he was as in the dark as Tom.
"Who did you have in mind?"
"Oh," began Rebecca breezily, "just a few eligible gentlemen that might rouse Caroline's interest. She is, after all, on the lookout for a suitable husband. And if we drag her away mid-Season she will miss several opportunities. Of course, a house party where they can concentrate solely on her would be just the thing."
Tom felt his temper flare and clenched his fists tightly to try and reign in his emotions.
"Much as I'm sure your sister would appreciate having a parade of men fawning over her for a week or two, I do not particularly relish the idea of having strangers in my house," he said through gritted teeth.
"No, I don't suppose you would. But surely you must know some gentlemen who would suit Caroline?"
For God's sake. The woman didn't let up.
"I shall consider it when sending out invitations," he said now to shut her up.
The idea of handpicking potential suitors for Caroline was the outside of enough and he didn't want to think about it, much less talk about it anymore.
He did not need, he thought with murderous rage, visions of another man's arms around her soft, inviting body, another man's lips caressing hers, another man—
"Excellent. And if you do have trouble coming up with some suggestions I shall have plenty of my own," Rebecca said now with an iron stare.
So, his first thought of conveniently leaving all single gentlemen off his invitation list probably wouldn't work. Dammit.
"I shan't have any trouble," he muttered sulkily.
"Good."
Tom's retort was interrupted by the door opening slowly.
There was a brief pause before anyone entered and Tom felt the familiar prickling of his skin that told him it was Caroline.
Sure enough, seconds later she entered and damn near took his breath away.
Perhaps it was best that she had rejected him. If he were around her all the time he'd never breathe properly again.
Caroline looked as bad as he imagined she would. She was pale, except for two bright spots of red on her cheeks. She had dark circles under her eyes and those same eyes had none of their usual shine.
And yet she was still the most painfully beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life.
Her eyes darted to his and then quickly away again. Ah. She remembered the shoes.
Only weeks ago he would have relished the idea of having something to use against her. To humiliate her. To sit back and enjoy while her family rang a peal over her head.
But now? Now the thoughts of her being embarrassed or upset were causing him almost physical pain. Which made him all kinds of an idiot, he supposed.
Nobody had spoken yet, so he did.
"Ah, so you live."
Her pale blue eyes, made bluer by the matching colour of her simple gown, darted back to his, then around the room like a frightened deer.
She was likely trying to figure out how much, if anything, Rebecca and Edward knew of what had transpired last night.
"Barely," she answered, her voice coarse.
He probably shouldn't laugh. She was clearly embarrassed and
suffering greatly from the effects of a night of overindulgence.
But his mind suddenly conjured up images of last night — working herself up to deliver a set down to Hadley, forgetting Hadley's name for that matter, and although he hadn't exactly enjoyed the carriage ride home, the image of the prim and proper Lady Caroline Carrington acting like a drunken lush was more than a little amusing.
So, no, he shouldn't laugh. But laugh he did. And it wasn't long before Edward and then Rebecca joined him.
And the more they laughed, the funnier it seemed to get.
Well, at least it had livened Caroline up a bit. Because rather than look like a lifeless, frail doll, her colour was returning full force and her eyes were lit with the blue flame of her temper.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CAROLINE'S STARED, FIRST in shock and then in anger as Tom, Edward, and then her own sister laughed hysterically at her misfortune.
It was not to be borne. She was suffering, for heaven's sake. And the fact that it was entirely self-inflicted was not something she wished to reflect on right now.
At least Edward and Rebecca were only laughing at her conduct at the dance.
Tom, however, was laughing at her utter humiliation that occurred after the damned dance. The swine!
"Well, I'm pleased to see you all in such high spirits at least. Do not mind me. I could be dying but do not let that stop you."
Her words, rather than bring the joviality to an abrupt stop like she had hoped, only served to send them all off into peals of laughter once again.
Childish. Utterly childish every last one of them.
Caroline stomped over and plopped into her seat then immediately regretted it as her head pounded in objection.
Her groan of pain had the effect that her lecture hadn't. They stopped laughing at once.
Rebecca rounded the table and sat next to her, squeezing her hand.
"How are you feeling, dearest?" she asked with concern — said concern being ruined a little by the tears of laughter still in her eyes.
"Like I've been trampled by a horse," Caroline answered bitterly, "You?"
Rebecca chewed her lip in an obvious attempt to stop herself from laughing again.
Caroline couldn't believe they found anything amusing in this. Didn't they realise? She was ruined!
Seeking Scandal (Ranford Series Book 2) Page 13