by Vikki Vaught
He enjoyed spending time with Elaine. They went riding every afternoon. He was pleased to see that she had turned into an excellent equestrian. He remembered how scared she was the first time he’d put her on a horse. She’d come a long way.
She’d also turned into a real beauty, and he would have his hands full in a few years when she made her bow to society. Elaine appeared older than most fifteen-year-olds. With her long, golden blonde hair and gorgeous green eyes, young men would flock around her once she had her come-out. He prayed she would not give him problems anytime soon.
She was fairly well-behaved, but she did tend to get into mischief when he was away. Again, he was grateful his brother had wed. Allison would be there to sponsor Elaine’s come-out. She would help make sure no trouble found her. Pouring another glass of brandy, he continued perusing his reports.
CHAPTER 2
From her carriage window, Lady Kathryn gazed at her mother’s imposing townhouse on the Royal Crescent in Bath. Dread filled her. The Dowager Duchess of Sanderford was a cold, unfeeling, and calculating woman, and they had never been close. She sighed.
Why did I agree to visit her when I could have stayed with my brother and his family for the summer at my beloved Sanderford Park?
After the carriage pulled to a halt, a footman rushed to the boot and retrieved her baggage as another one opened the door and placed the step on the pavement. With another sigh, she climbed out and made her way through the open door as the duchess’s butler welcomed her.
A noise above alerted her to her mother’s presence as the duchess regally descended the stairs. Kathryn curtsied once she came to a halt in front of her. “Good afternoon, Your Grace. I trust I find you in good health?”
God forbid if I called her Mama.
Her only living parent’s eyes roamed from the tips of her shoes to her bonnet and let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Where did you find that appalling gown? I have told you repeatedly; gray washes the color from your face. How will I ever find you a husband if you look so pale?”
Inwardly, Kathryn rolled her eyes. If her mother ever gave her a compliment, she would perish from shock. “I am not visiting so you can marry me off. I will not wed any man. My career as an artist comes first. I highly doubt any man you found for me would want a wife who works.”
Her mother’s hard blue eyes blazed. “Utter nonsense. No daughter of mine will debase herself in such a manner. I forbid it. Your brother is entirely too lenient with you. I told him no good would come of allowing you to attend that silly art school.”
“Mother. I attended the Art Institute of London, a highly respected school of advanced learning.” Deciding to avoid further confrontation, she sighed. “It’s been a long journey, and I want to wash my travel dirt away. May we please pretend to like each other for at least a day before arguing?”
The duchess’s brows drew together, and she sucked in air, then released it slowly. Apparently, she decided to save her vitriol for later. “I suppose we can continue our discussion at dinner.” A rotund woman stepped forward, and her mother acknowledged her presence with a slight inclination of her head and a dismissive wave of her hand. “My housekeeper will show you to your chamber. I shall see you in an hour. We meet in the drawing room before we go into dinner.”
As Kathryn followed the housekeeper upstairs, she swallowed the angry tears clogging her throat. It would be a long summer. When she reached her bedchamber, she found her maid inside unpacking her belongings.
Sarah dropped a curtsey. “There are fresh towels and hot water behind the privacy screen.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “Please find my sage green dinner gown. I need to meet the duchess in an hour.”
“As you wish, milady.” Her maid went to the largest trunk and quickly located the garment. “I shall take this to the laundry and press it.” Sarah dropped another brief curtsey and rushed from the room.
Kathryn went behind the screen, took care of her most pressing need, then washed her face and hands. Why had she agreed to come? She should have realized her mother would not be able to resist matchmaking.
She moved to the window seat and sat on the velvet cushion. She already missed her home, and she’d only arrived ten minutes ago. Surely, her mother would respect her wishes. She refused to allow the duchess to treat her like an errant child or force her into a marriage she did not want.
She’d made a vow to never wed, and she would not change her mind. Men were not to be trusted. A chill ran down her spine. Once a woman married, she gave away all her rights and became her husband’s property.
I shall never let that happen.
Sarah tapped at the door then bustled in. She helped Kathryn don her gown, then arranged her hair. Once she was ready, she made her way to the drawing room. When she reached the door, she drew in a steadying breath, dreading the evening ahead. Thank goodness her mother had not arrived yet, so Kathryn took a seat on the sofa and glanced around, taking in the well-appointed room with its deep blue Turkish carpet and gilded French furniture.
The duchess had moved to Bath several years ago, but this was the first time Kathryn had visited. Between attending the art institute and visiting her family home, she’d stayed too busy to make the journey. At least her mother had agreed to sit for her portrait while she was here. She needed practice because she had her first commission in the fall, thanks to her sister.
Helen had become good friends with the Marchioness of Ralston. When the woman saw the portrait Kathryn had done of her sister’s stepdaughters, the woman had written and requested she do one of her boys.
A surge of anticipation rushed through her. If all went well with that portrait, then perhaps word would spread, and she would attract other patrons. At least, she prayed that would happen.
Her mother swept into the room. “Ah, you arrived before me. I see you do still remember some of my tutelage regarding promptness. Now, fill me in on the happenings in town. It’s been an age since I was in London.”
Kathryn shared what little she knew, which was not very much. While she attended the art institute, her sister-in-law’s aunt had graciously offered her a home. She had grown to love the dear lady. Thank goodness Lady Helton shared juicy tidbits of gossip every day, so she told the duchess the latest news.
Before her mother could ask too many probing questions, the butler entered and announced dinner. When the duchess brought up her spinsterhood, she was able to steer the conversation to the family, telling her mother what her brother was working on for the House of Lords. Henry’s involvement in Parliament saved her from further scrutiny.
Over the next few days, Kathryn maintained her composure and went along with her mother’s plans, for the most part. The duchess sat for her portrait each morning, and she went to whatever function her mother wanted to attend in the evening. Her mother may have given up on finding her a match. Of course, Bath did not attract many eligible bachelors, so that certainly helped.
Perhaps, I shall make it through this visit unscathed after all.
* * * *
When Jonathan returned from his ride with Elaine on Monday, his friend had arrived. He dismounted, grabbed his walking stick, and made his way to him. “Jenkins, glad you could make it. You remember my sister, do you not?”
Jenkins glanced at his sister and grinned. “Surely this cannot be little Lady Elaine. I remember you as a little girl in braids, and now you’re a lovely young lady. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
She coyly batted her eyes. “Good day, my lord. I’m almost sixteen now, so I’m no longer a child. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance again.”
He did not like the way Elaine was behaving. He could not believe his eyes. His little sister was actually flirting with Jenkins. “Elaine. Please inform Mrs. Rollins we have a guest and make sure she readies a room for him.” Her rosebud mouth turned down at the corners and into a pout, but she went into the house as directed.
Turning to Jenkins, Jonathan sighed. “Please e
xcuse my sister. Elaine’s trying out her feminine wiles on you. She thinks she’s grown; she’ll turn sixteen in a few months. I hope she didn’t offend you.”
Jenkins guffawed. “I have a sister the same age, so no, I wasn’t offended. Actually, it’s a boost to the ego to have her flirting with me. Good Lord, I’m almost old enough to be her father. You will have to watch her when she makes her come-out. She’s turning into a real beauty. I’m glad it’s you and not me who will have to contend with her beaus. Thank God my mother will have to deal with my sister.”
Jonathan drew his brows together. “I’m certainly not looking forward to it. At least, I shall have Roderick’s wife to guide her when she makes her bow in a few years. Now, are you ready to do some fishing?”
His friend grinned. “More than ready. Have you done any since you arrived?”
He pulled his flask from his pocket and took a swig. “Not yet, but I’m looking forward to it now that you’re here.”
A frown creased his friend’s brow. “Is your knee giving you more problems? You seem to be drinking quite a bit lately. Does it help with the pain?”
Jonathan ran his fingers through his hair. The last thing he needed was a friend commenting on his drinking. “My knee is giving me a few problems lately, and the brandy helps deaden the pain. Hatton wants me to take laudanum, but I refused. How was the trip? Did it take you long to get here?”
“Pleasant enough. I stopped by my estate for a couple days. Since I only came from Wiltshire, I left at dawn this morning. Oh, by the way, Alana already has a new protector,” Jenkins informed him. “She’s with Haversham now. I’ve heard he’s set her up in a townhouse in Mayfair.”
“That relieves my mind and my pocket,” he countered. “Your room should be ready. Let us go inside and get you settled. We keep country hours here, so dinner is at six.”
While dining on roasted pheasant and buttered potatoes, Jonathan brought up their upcoming fishing trip. “Will ten in the morning work for you? The fish should be biting.”
“I can’t wait,” Jenkins replied.
Jonathan tossed his napkin on his plate. “Shall we adjourn to my study and continue our conversation?” After they settled before the fireplace with their evening brandy, he chuckled. “Do you recall the time we were caught sneaking those barmaids into our rooms at school?”
Jenkins grinned. “I’d forgotten that. We were a pair of rogues back then. I thought we were going to get expelled for sure, but you came up with that brilliant tale about them cleaning our rooms. I still can’t believe Professor Higgins bought it. I miss those days.”
“Me too. I don’t know how we ever made it to graduation.” He chuckled. “You and I would not have without Roderick. Having him as a prefect kept us out of trouble on more than one occasion.”
Jonathan sipped his brandy as he resisted the temptation to swill it down in one giant gulp. He was determined to limit his intake to one glass since Jenkins had commented on his drinking earlier.
His friend leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees. “The only time we’ve been apart was when you went to war. I still regret I was unable to go, but as you know, I’d already inherited my title. If anything had happened to me, it would have left my sister without a guardian. Do you ever regret going? I know you experience a great deal of pain from your injury.”
“I hate being crippled,” he told him, “but I’ve never regretted it. Bonaparte had to be stopped, and I wanted to do my part. My only regret was how it affected my father. My injury devastated him. God, I miss him.”
“He was a good man,” Jenkins commiserated. “He helped me immeasurably when I lost mine. I was so young. I didn’t have a clue about running my estate.”
“A day doesn’t go by that I don’t miss him.” Not wanting to dwell on his loss, he switched to another topic. “Oh, by the way, while you’re here, I’ll take you into Bath to visit Madame Angela’s House of Pleasure. It’s the most exclusive brothel there. She has quite a few lovely ladies. You’ll enjoy their company.”
Jenkins rubbed his hands together. “Can we go tomorrow night?”
“Certainly.” He stretched and stifled a yawn. “Since we’re going fishing early, I think I’ll retire. I’ve enjoyed reminiscing on old times.” His friend rose with him, and they made their way to their rooms.
By the time Jonathan entered his bedchamber his hands shook. He poured a large glass of brandy and downed it in three gulps. His need for the damned brandy had increased. Perhaps it was time to try something stronger. Looking through his liquor cabinet, he found a bottle of scotch. He drank a large glass, and the immediate warmth rushed through his body.
Ah, yes, that’s better.
His pain eased a little. Since he’d dismissed Hatton earlier, he undressed, put on his banyan, and sank into his chair as he continued to imbibe the smooth scotch. Eventually he passed out.
The next morning, he awoke when his valet entered his bedchamber and handed him his restorative beverage. While the man did not comment, he picked up the empty whiskey bottle and released a resigned sigh.
They went fishing as planned. They did not catch many fish, but they enjoyed each other’s company. They laughed and joked, and it felt as if they were young again, before war had gotten in the way.
That night they went into town and visited Madame Angela’s House of Pleasure. Jonathan picked out a luscious, tall blonde and spent half the night enjoying a rousing bit of bed sport. Madame Angela’s was better than having a mistress. Mistresses always wanted to talk, and they were too damned expensive. Here it was only mindless sex, which was all he wanted anyway.
Over the next two days, he and his friend fished during the day and went to Madame Angela’s at night. It was the most enjoyable time he’d had in years. When Jenkins left on Friday, Jonathan was sorry to see him go, but his friend needed to return to his estate, and his brother would arrive the following day.
Roderick and his family arrived in time for tea. There was an entire entourage because they also brought the children’s governess, Allison’s maid, and Roderick’s valet. After the children were settled, Elaine joined them in the drawing room for tea.
Once Jonathan had his refreshments, he turned to his brother. “Glad you were able to come. I trust your journey was uneventful?”
“It was an easy trip.” Roderick took a plate of sandwiches from Allison.
He dropped a lump of sugar into his teacup and stirred. “So…what has occupied you lately?”
“We’ve been spending much of our time on our new yacht,” his brother enthused. “The weather has been superb this summer. Allison loves it as much as I do, and we’ve even taken the children out a few times. I wish you would visit so I could take you out.”
Jonathan took a sip of his tea. “I know you love sailing, but I’ve always had problems with seasickness, so I think I shall pass. How long can you stay? I want to spend time with Frankford. After all, he’s my heir.”
His brother scowled at him. “You’re welcome to spend time with him, but I wish you would reconsider your decision to avoid matrimony. Marriage is the best decision of my life.” Roderick turned to Allison. “Is it not, my dear?”
“I hope you feel that way.” Delight danced in her light-blue eyes. Then she glanced at him. “Do you think we could go into Bath on Monday? The shopping is much better there than in Bristol. I also want to visit the Pump Room, just to see who’s in town, of course. I can’t stand the mineral water though, even if it is supposed to be good for one’s health. Oh, and I want to attend the assembly rooms on Wednesday, if that would be convenient?”
“Your wish is my command,” he jovially replied. “I may take the waters. Perhaps they will help my knee. Oh, and we can attend the assembly rooms. I remember how much you enjoy dancing.”
After tea, Jonathan and his brother retired to his study. He poured two snifters of brandy. After several minutes of conversation, he noticed a gleam in his brother’s eyes. “I know you’re determin
ed to never wed, but you’ve allowed Susannah to have so much power. She was shallow and conceited. Do not let her ruin your chance at happiness.”
He glared at Roderick. “God’s teeth, you’re worse than our late elderly aunt. And I am not giving power to that bitch.”
Roderick held up his hand. “I don’t want to anger you, but you deserve some contentment. I’ve watched you through the years since Waterloo. If you keep drinking, carousing with your reprobate friends, and debauching women, you’ll turn into a bitter old man or die before your time. How many mistresses have you had anyway?”
“To be honest, I’ve lost count. I ended it with my last mistress before I left London. If I want bed sport in the future, I shall go to a house of pleasure.” He stared at the flames in the hearth. “As far as the rest of it, I drink to relieve the pain. I carouse with my friends…to keep the boredom away. You know that.”
Roderick leaned forward. “I know you believe that, but marriage would be good for you.”
“I’m well aware of your views, but look at me. I walk with a cane. I can’t dance. What woman would want me?” Jonathan’s blood boiled. He yanked at his cravat, which had grown tight. “Not to mention, I’m too set in my ways. I could never wed a silly debutante. You need to accept my decision and leave me alone.”
“I don’t want to argue,” he placated. “I’ll drop the subject. Frankford is thrilled you want to spend time with him. I hope you know what you’re getting into. He’s a rambunctious lad and hard to handle at times. Perhaps I should go with you tomorrow when you take him fishing.”
“We’ll be fine. In a few years I’ll be teaching him how to manage the marquisate. He’ll be more receptive if he knows me better. He will have a great deal of responsibility when he reaches his majority. Father spent years grooming me, and I want to do the same for Frankford.” He paused. “You’re welcome to come along with us tomorrow. After all, I am a cripple, and if anything happened, I might not be able to get to him fast enough.”