and, often, the stakes were trivial. ‘I’ll willingly put my greys up against your pair—but we must have a time limit.’
‘Christmas,’ Freddie said, a wicked glint in his eyes. He had made the bet for sheer devilment, as a cure for the slow, creeping boredom that had come over him of late.
‘Done!’ George cried instantly. ‘But you must attend all the main affairs of the Season, no running off to hide in the country or disappearing to your club until you’ve met all the new hopefuls.’
‘Fair enough,’ Freddie agreed. ‘But I draw the line at Almack’s. When you see me there you will know that you have won your bet.’
‘Indeed I shall,’ Bellingham said for he knew his friend too well. ‘I would not be attending myself, except that my sister is bringing her daughter to town and I have agreed that I will escort them. I assure you that Miss Julia Fairchild is not the lady you are seeking. She is seventeen and a shy child, so I must do my best for her—but we have the whole Season to look forward to, Freddie. Who knows what may happen?’
‘Precious little, if past experience serves me true,’ Freddie said and wondered why he had made such a bet, when it meant that he would have to attend many tiresome affairs that he usually avoided like the plague.
He yawned behind his hand, wondering what he could find to do with his evening. There was no denying that he was bored with Yolanda and a visit with her did not engender any feeling in him. It would be best to make an end. His tastes had altered of late, and he thought that it might be time to start making changes to his lifestyle.
He would buy the lovely Yolanda a handsome present, perhaps the diamond necklace she had been angling for these many weeks. Yes, he would give her the necklace and make an end to it.
‘Mama, do we truly have to stay with Aunt Louisa?’ Caroline Holbrook asked of her mother that morning. It was more than two years since Caroline’s father, the Honourable Mr Anthony Holbrook, had passed away, and his grieving widow was only now coming to terms with her situation. ‘Could we not take a house for ourselves for the Season?’
‘You must know that that is impossible.’ Marianne Holbrook sighed deeply. She was a thin, pale lady with a fragile air. Having given her husband two sons and a daughter, she had suffered a series of unfortunate miscarriages, which had left her a semi-invalid for some years. Her bereavement had taken its toll of her too and, never a strong-minded woman, she had fallen under her elder sister’s influence. ‘Your father died owing considerable amounts of money, and your brother has had difficulty in holding the estate together. I do not feel able to ask him for such a large amount of money.’
‘Poor Tom probably hasn’t any to spare,’ Caroline said regretfully. She was fond of her eldest brother and had no wish to make life more difficult for him. She sighed because it seemed that there was no escape for her. Her aunt, Lady Taunton, had married to advantage and though she had been widowed a few years previously, she was in possession of a generous independence, which enabled her to live as she chose. It was kind of her aunt to offer to pay their expenses, but she had such an overpowering manner that Caroline was dreading the experience. ‘Couldn’t we afford a short stay—if I did not spend too much on my clothes?’
‘Please do not be difficult, Caroline,’ her mother requested. ‘I have a headache coming on. You know my health is not what it ought to be. I should not be able to escort you to all the balls and affairs you would wish to attend.’
‘Forgive me, Mama,’ Caroline said, suddenly feeling wretched for upsetting her mother. ‘I suppose we must accept, but I hope that Aunt Louisa will not try to dictate to me, especially on the subject of whom I should marry.’
‘Of course, my dear, but you must choose someone suitable—if you receive offers, of course.’
Marianne Holbrook gazed at her daughter doubtfully. She was certainly very striking, though not in the particular fashion of the day, which seemed to be for slight, fair girls with gentle manners. Caroline was a flame-haired temptress with a seductive mouth and challenging green eyes. She was tall and filled with a restless energy that made her mother feel distinctly weary around her. Sometimes, she wondered how she had managed to give birth to such a spirited creature. She must be a throwback to the old marquis, Caroline’s grandfather, now a recluse, who had been a rake, a gambler and highly disreputable from all accounts. Certainly she in no way resembled any of Marianne’s family.
‘You married for love, did you not, Mama?’
‘Yes, and have regretted it since,’ Marianne said ruefully. ‘Louisa married for position and wealth. I chose a younger son with only a small estate and have suffered the consequences. I should not wish to see you in a similar situation.’
‘Poor Mama,’ Caroline said. ‘But I think you were happy enough while Papa lived, were you not?’
‘Yes, perhaps…’ Another sigh escaped her mother. ‘Yet I do not care to see my son worn down by worry. And Nicolas has gone to be a soldier. I cannot sleep at night for thinking of him in danger.’
‘The war with Bonaparte is surely over, Mama, for he has been confined on Elba,’ Caroline said. ‘Besides, Nicolas is not the kind of man who would be happy staying at home. You know that he was always into some adventure when a child.’
She and Nicolas had been born a matter of eleven months apart. Although not particularly alike in looks, for he favoured their mother, they had been kindred spirits. It was Nicolas who had taught his sister to climb trees, to swim in the river in her shift and to ride her horse astride. All of these unladylike pursuits had of course landed her in hot water first with her nurse, and later her governess. She had learned to be more sensible as she grew older, but secretly envied her brother his freedom.
‘You always encouraged him in his wayward behaviour,’ her mother said a little unfairly. ‘But I suppose you are right. A mother may not keep her son in leading strings for ever. However, it is my duty to see you settled with a husband and a home of your own, and therefore we shall accept Louisa’s invitation to stay with her in town. It is my intention to go up next week.’
Caroline gave up the attempt to dissuade her mother. It was not often that Mrs Holbrook set her mind to something, but on this occasion it seemed that she was determined. However, Caroline was equally determined that she would not allow her aunt to dictate to her in the matter of the gentleman she accepted as her husband—if anyone actually offered for her, of course.
* * *
‘Very suitable,’ Lady Taunton said, approving her niece’s attire for that evening. ‘Yes, I was right to insist on mainly white for your gowns, Caroline. The emerald you favoured would have been too bold with hair like yours. It is a pity that you are not more like your mama, but it cannot be helped.’
Caroline gritted her teeth, but kept her thoughts to herself. She had been in town for three days now and already she was finding her aunt’s overbearing manner hard to accept, especially in matters of dress, which should surely have been her choice. She believed the white gown was less becoming than the emerald she had wanted, but her aunt was paying for most of her clothes and there was little she could do but accept her choices. Mrs Holbrook wanted only to keep the peace, and Caroline was forced to mind her tongue.
‘Well, come along then, Caroline,’ Lady Taunton said and swept ahead out to the waiting carriage, leaving her niece to follow in her wake. ‘It is a pity your mother did not feel up to attending the ball this evening, but she will be better resting at home with her maid to cosset her.’
Caroline did not answer, for she knew it was not required. Her mother had accompanied them to a musical evening and two small dinners, and then declared herself exhausted. It was clear that she had abandoned the task of finding her daughter a husband to her sister, and that she would not bestir herself unless it was truly necessary.
During the carriage drive to the house of Lady Melbourne, who was holding one of the most prestigious balls of the season, Caroline was forced to endure another lecture from her aunt.
‘I dare say I have