The Rake's Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page B

to his sister. Leaving Judith to suffer in her guilt, for she never intended to accept any of the polite, eager young men. Not when Thomas would be coming back for her. A fool indeed. Well, she was older and wiser now. Too wise for such foolishness.
    Dinner was a very quiet meal. There was not a single reference to the Viscount Alsbury, and Judith guessed her father had spoken with John. Not for the first time she found herself wondering how sharp father’s suspicions had been. He’d never explained the sudden trip to Launceston, and when they arrived Aunt Chloe had favoured her with two cringing lectures on the ways of young men.
    She went to bed early, but lay awake late. The same circle of thought kept running through her mind. Ruin was such an irremediable word: it was unfair, unjust, and final. Leaving her with only anxiety. Anxiety that if she dared to marry she might be returned to father the morning after her wedding, and anxiety that father would then feel bound to defend her honour. Anxiety that he might die for what a silly, foolish girl had done.
    And when she saw Thomas, for she would have to see him, would he acknowledge their past? If not, it would be unbearable, but how could she let him when that might betray her secret? It would be petty and childish to slight him, but it would be safer. And it would free her too of that last lingering hope. The exhaustion that had been stalking her finally won and she never knew when she tumbled over into sleep.
    If dinner had been quiet, breakfast was not, which was unusual in the Hampton household. A raised voice was not heard in the morning, and certainly never at breakfast. But then this voice belonged to John Hampton, whose attendance at breakfast was a rare curiosity.
    “He all but cut me, damn it.”
    After her restless night the devil was in Judith and she listened to John with impatience. He obviously considered that father’s stricture on mentioning Thomas had expired last night. Judith looked up from her brioche to see how her father would react to John’s outburst.
    “You forget yourself, John. Apologise to your sister.” Jonathon Hampton left his son in no doubt that profanity was unacceptable.
    “My apologies Judith.” John Hampton apologised as instructed, but the anger was still plain within him.
    “You are inclined to intemperance, John, especially when you work yourself up with such denunciations of Thomas Stainford.” Judith knew a softly spoken censure would annoy her brother far more than raging at him and sure enough he reacted as she expected.
    “He just nodded and went on his way. Too high by far. I thought he’d have been keen to share tales of the Peninsula with his friend.” John’s face flushed as he spoke, and her father glanced warningly at Judith.
    “At least the Major’s demands for morning parade have brought you to the breakfast table, John.” This time she avoided father’s reproach by the simple expedient of keeping her eyes downcast as she delivered her bon mot. It was unkind, but John had puffed himself up so.
    “He’s put Sir Theodore out of sorts too. Ordered up a parade as if he were running the regiment.” John Hampton obviously saw this as conclusive backing for his point of view. “If he’s not careful Theo’ll have him packed off back to London.”
    “Is that likely, John? “ Jonathon Hampton was keeping one eye on his daughter and the other on his son. “The Volunteers need stiff training, do they not?”
    “Whether they require training or not, Theodore will not put up with this. After all he paid for the regiment out of his own pocket.” John’s certainty was so absolute Judith had to stifle the absurd urge to giggle. Her brother’s stance as champion of the militia was unconvincing. Until last week John had attended parades rarely, spending most of his time in London.
    “Do you think Viscount Alsbury will call?” Judith voiced the thought with an insouciance she didn’t feel. There was no