Free The Rake's Rebellious Lady by Anne Herries

that he still wished to take her driving,but she was afraid that she might have given him a dislike for her company. She was at heart a very well-behaved young lady despite being sometimes reckless. She decided that the next time they met she would be more careful of her behaviour.
    * * *
    The following day was quite taken up by shopping and appointments with the seamstress, and in the evening they attended a musical event. There was no sign of either Sir Frederick or Mr Bellingham, and Caroline wore a rather fixed smile all evening, and was rebuked by her aunt for being above her company.
    ‘You may be bored, Caroline, but if you show it so plainly you will soon find that you are no longer invited anywhere.’
    ‘I am sorry, Aunt,’ Caroline said. ‘I did not mean to offend anyone, but I am feeling…’ She sighed, because she did not know why her spirits were at a low ebb. She ought not to feel as if the evening were pointless just because her particular friends were not present. ‘Perhaps I am a little tired.’
    It was merely an excuse, she knew, but she was glad when it was time to leave and she could be alone in her own room. She was a little on edge, and she wondered whether or not Sir Frederick would keep his appointment to take her driving the next morning.
    * * *
    She need not have worried, for he arrived at the appointed time. He looked extremely handsome in his blue coat and pale breeches, his boots having the kind of shine that only a valet of the first order could bestow on them.
    ‘Miss Holbrook,’ he said as the footman announced him, showing him into the downstairs parlour where Caroline waspretending to read a news sheet that had just been delivered. ‘You look charming this morning, if I may be allowed to say so?’
    ‘Thank you, sir. You are very kind.’
    ‘You are ready?’
    ‘Yes, of course.’ Caroline smiled, allowing none of her uncertainty to show as she picked up her gloves and went out into the hall. ‘You will not want to keep your horses waiting.’
    She was assisted with her pelisse, and, tying the ribbons of her bonnet, followed him outside. The young lad Freddie employed as his tiger was walking the horses and brought the phaeton back to them.
    ‘Thank you, Jim. Up with you now, lad.’ Freddie turned to Caroline as the lad obeyed. She had noticed that he was driving a pair of perfectly matched greys.
    ‘Mr Bellingham told me that you had some fine chestnuts, sir. Have you changed your horses recently?’
    ‘No, but I had a chance to purchase these and thought they would be a splendid addition to my stables. One can never have too many horses.’
    ‘Oh, I agree. I should imagine anyone would be pleased to own these.’
    ‘Not all young ladies take such an interest in horses. You are a rarity, Miss Holbrook.’
    ‘Am I?’ Caroline looked at him as he handed her up. ‘I have loved horses since I was first able to walk down to the stables with my father…dogs, too. Proper dogs, I mean, not the fancy lapdogs that many ladies dote on. At home I like to walk with them, sometimes for hours at a time.’ She laughed. ‘Indeed, I think I prefer being out with my dogs to talking to some of the people I have met in town.’ She drew a sharp breath as she realised what she had said. ‘Oh, dear, that was not wellsaid. Now you will think me a country bore and I shall be ruined.’
    ‘Not at all,’ Freddie said. ‘You have too much intelligence and vivacity to be a bore.’
    ‘I shall take that as a compliment.’
    ‘Well, you may do so, for it was meant as one.’
    ‘Thank you. Do you have a country estate, sir?’
    ‘I have three at the moment,’ Freddie said. ‘A hunting lodge in Oxfordshire, my family seat in Derbyshire and a shooting box in Scotland, which I seldom use. It was set up by my maternal grandfather and came to me on his death, but I prefer to spend much of my time in London.’
    ‘Oh…yes, I see,’ Caroline said. ‘I suppose the country does not appeal to