The Rake's Redemption Read Online Free PDF

Instead her need to claw back some control prompted a small defiance. “You will be pleased to have your friend returned, John. Is he much altered?”
    “Become quite the drill sergeant, Judith. And arrogant. Refuses to listen to the officers who raised the regiment. You were well served that he left.” The words carried their own conviction and Judith felt a hint of sympathy for her brother. Thomas Stainford had never been mindful of others. But she still needed to correct John.
    “You are in error, brother. Thomas Stainford was always a source of indifference to me.” She could see John’s obvious disbelief, but it was the concern in her father’s eyes that triggered the deeper anger. Damn Thomas for coming back to train the militia. And father too for thinking she was made of spun sugar to need protecting.
    “Why is he here?” It was a stupid question since she’d already been told the answer, but she needed to know about Thomas, and for once her brother answered intelligently.
    “He’s been wounded apparently, and sent here to convalesce.” John completely missed the quizzical look on her face and instead of telling her about the wound resumed his own rant. “Marched into headquarters and started issuing his orders, bold as you like.”
    “Father, I must return to the rents.” She could feel herself start to tremble, and it would not do to show distress. The servants were bound to stir themselves into a frenzy of rumour about this. When they did there must be no suspicion that she had been anything other than aloof to the news. “I’m sure John has much to tell you about the militia, but I have little interest in military affairs.”
    Judith genuinely tried to return to the rent rolls, but she couldn’t settle to it. The figures still wouldn’t make sense, but this time because they were swimming in front of her eyes. The inevitable knock came five minutes after she’d drifted upstairs to her room in frustration. It could only be Lucy, alerted by the other servants and come to see if she needed anything.
    “Mistress Rogers said I was to come up, Miss, to see if you wanted to dress now.” Judith could see excitement behind her maid’s deference. Rumours must already be racing round the servants’ hall. “Will you want the green satin, Miss?”
    “Whatever for, Lucy? And it’s far too early to dress now.” A bobbed head told Judith her tone had been too sharp. Lucy was only trying to be helpful.
    “It’s ever so lovely, Miss Judith.” It was, and it had cost an exorbitant amount, which she’d thought worthwhile for the way it picked up the colour of her eyes. “You wore it last when Viscount Alsbury came to dinner, Miss.”
    Thomas had smiled his appreciation for the low cut gown. His eyes had filled her with heat as though she were one of the new gas lamps being turned up to illuminate the dark.
    “It’s also an antique, Lucy. That hasn’t been in style for years. It’s far too low for the fashion now.”
    “You could wear a fíchu, Miss. The Viscount Alsbury was handsome, Miss. When he was sweet on you.” Lucy must have seen the balefires ignite, for she dropped a curtsey and scuttled out the door before harm could come her way.
    Thomas Stainford might be handsome, but he brought nothing but trouble. All the days of waiting hopefully, of expecting Aunt Chloe’s butler to announce him, of not wanting to accept that he wouldn’t come. Her own fault for being naive and trusting. Thomas had been a rake, easily able to bamboozle a green girl. Nor was it likely that she was alone in her ruin. Three years ago, there had been a tale of a duel over the wife of a Spanish Marqués. Amara said it was a faradiddle not to be listened to, but for once Judith hadn’t believed her.
    There was no denying she’d been a fool. The entire season Aunt Matilde had given her had gone by in a whirl of gaiety, attending routs and concerts and balls. Father had been very mindful of the cost and so grateful