Artful Deceptions (13 page)

“Well, he should have thought of that when I tried to persuade him to go after Rhys. It is on his own head. Is Daphne truly expecting? How lovely! I shall be an aunt. That should prove I am no longer a child.”

Melanie bounced down beside Arianne and extended her hand with a book. “Would you care to read the first volume? It’s immensely exciting, even if it is a little silly. Imagine finding villains in every inn. One would think men had naught else to do but wait for hapless heroines to appear on the doorstep.”

There were times when it would be much easier to strangle Melanie than to put sense into her head, but Arianne forwent the urge. “Did you not see any of the villainous characters in that room out there? Even with Lord Locke’s company, I felt as if we would be coshed over the head and left for dead. Do you see nothing but happy endings?”

Melanie looked surprised at her cousin’s tone. “Well, of course not. There are those poor creatures who live in the streets with scarcely a crust to eat. And I am not so innocent as to think there aren’t thieves and rogues who prey on the helpless. But one cannot help everyone. Rhys is my friend. If I can help to write a happy ending for his story, I will have done something useful, won’t I?”

There was little argument Arianne could offer to that, and as her supper arrived then, she didn’t carry the conversation further.

Galen joined them a little later. The supper he had sent in was more than ample, and he settled in the chair across from Arianne while Melanie remained on the sofa with her novel. At Arianne’s questioning look, he shook his head.

“The carriage cannot be repaired until morning. I have sent Evan’s servant back on a hired horse to let them know where we are and that all is well, but it appears as if we are stranded here for the night. I hope Evan makes good explanations to your family, Miss Richards.”

“My mother thinks the twins can do no wrong. She will accept anything Evan chooses to tell her. I doubt my father will know I’m missing until he wishes to send me on an errand. Do not worry on my account.”

Melanie glanced up from her book at their low words. “You needn’t whisper, you know. I can hear perfectly well. If you had not been so foolish as to come after me in that ridiculous phaeton, you could be on your way home. Really, you could go on now. The innkeeper assured me the carriage would be fixed in the morning, and I’m quite comfortably settled for the evening. Arianne is needed at home. Although I must say, Galen, it was most improper of you to bring her. There is no telling what such haring about will do to her reputation.”

Galen lifted a cool brow in her direction. “What assurance would we have that you would return after us in the morning?”

“Why, none, of course,” Melanie agreed in surprise. “I have no intention of going back in the morning. You are welcome to join me, if you like, but I’m going to Carlisle. We visited Keswick one year, and it was quite lovely. I should think Carlisle would be much the same. You really ought to join me. It would be great fun.”

Arianne had no compunctions about losing her temper. Turning a sharp look to her thoughtless cousin, she replied, “Fun is for children, Melanie. I don’t know why you express such great surprise when everyone treats you like a child. You behave like one. Adults have responsibilities. Obviously you don’t. How do you think Mr. Llewellyn would feel should he learn you were harmed in your feckless search for him?”

Both Galen and Melanie looked at her in surprise, but Arianne was tired and politeness escaped her. This time, Locke was the one to intervene.

“I’m certain we will all be more sensible in the morning, when we have had time to sleep on this. Miss Richards, if you have finished your meal, let me escort you and Melanie to your room. Perhaps some solution will occur by the time we wake.”

Arianne certainly hoped so. For the moment, the only solution that came to mind was slapping Melanie in chains and hauling her home, screaming all the way.

Chapter Ten

When Locke entered the breakfast parlor the next morning, Arianne took one look at him and excused herself, using the door nearest her rather than the one behind him. She obviously had no desire to be caught between two people accustomed to having their way.

Locke let her go without comment, although Melanie appeared ready to protest. It was highly improper for them to be alone together, but Galen intended to rectify that situation at once. It was time someone took Lady Melanie Griffin in hand, and if her brothers weren’t so inclined, then it would have to be him.

“I trust you slept well?” he began innocuously enough.

Melanie shifted uneasily in the hard chair, then indicated the seat across from her. “Fine, thank you. Would you care for some tea? Or shall I ring for something else? My brother prefers coffee. I have never breakfasted with another gentleman before.”

“That is a situation that I hope might change before long.” Galen took the seat offered and held out his cup. “Tea will be fine. The coffee in these places is never of the best.”

Melanie nervously poured the tea and set the pot aside, glancing hastily around the ruins of the breakfast table in search of more to offer him. It was unlike Arianne to desert her, so she must be feeling abandoned
.

Aware of her shyness and determined to keep the upper hand, Galen located a piece of toast and began to spread it with jam. “You’re quiet this morning, my dear. Is this a temporary condition or are you always so in the morning? I find a quiet breakfast rather refreshing, myself.”

“I am simply waiting for you to come to the point.” Melanie quit puttering and glared.

Galen lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. “Testy in the mornings, are we? That is good to know. Perhaps I should wait until later in the day to make my proposal.”

“Galen, you are being as irritating as my brothers. I like it much better when you are amusing. If
you
have something to say, say it. The innkeeper has assured me that the carriage is almost ready, and I shall be gone shortly.”

“You cannot go traipsing after Llewellyn all alone, my dear. Should word of your departure from London get about, the scandal will be large enough, but an extended absence chasing after a man whom the
ton
does not even recognize as acceptable will destroy your reputation for life. Do you hold some
tendre
for our writer friend, that you find it necessary to harm yourself and break your family’s heart?”

Melanie’s jaw set even more obstinately. “Rhys is my friend, as he is yours and Evan’s. If neither of you can take time to help him, I will. I cannot see how visiting an old lady can be termed scandalous.”

“Should someone walk in on us right now, you would be ruined. It doesn’t take much, as you must certainly be aware. If you are so set on visiting Lady Llewellyn, then we can arrange some respectable retinue with your family’s permission and do this without any loss of reputation. But it must be done properly, and not in this havey-cavey manner.”

Melanie brightened. “You will persuade Evan, then? Why didn’t you say so from the first? Oh, thank you, Galen. I knew you were my friend.”

Galen set his bread aside and watched the fairy-child across from him nearly dance with delight. Despite her angelic looks, he now knew her to be as stubborn in character as the rest of her family, a not altogether difficult asset to deal with, but how many other traits had she kept hidden from him? This business of choosing a wife was not so simple as he had originally seen, but he could still fathom no one more suited to his nature than Melanie. After this night in the inn, Evan would feel much more comfortable should they come back with a proper understanding. There was never a better time than the present, although Galen had some reservations about proposing over a well-used breakfast table.

“I would be more than your friend, my dear.” He rose and came around the table to take her hand, gently helping her from her seat.

Melanie appeared momentarily confused by the tone of his voice, but she accepted his hand easily enough. When he continued to hold it instead of releasing her, she tried to wriggle free gracefully. “Well, I am certain that you are, Galen, but it is most improper for you to tell me so in these circumstances. Perhaps we had better find Arianne. I cannot think why she left so abruptly.”

Galen could, and he silently thanked the practical cousin, who employed so much understanding in all the right times and places. “There is something we need to discuss before we return to your family, Melanie. Perhaps you would like to take a seat on the sofa.”

A small frown of irritation crossed Melanie’s brow. “Certainly not. I must see if Arianne is all right and check that the maid has packed everything. Time is running short.”

Galen caught her small shoulders in his big hands and held her still. “This is worse than trying to propose to a whirlwind. You could have the grace to stand still for just a few minutes while I do the pretty, at least. Evan didn’t say I’d have to shackle you before the vows are said just to pop the question.”

That got Melanie’s attention, and she froze in place, staring up to Galen to be certain he did not jest. “Have you quite taken leave of your senses?” she whispered.

“I have not,” he said, wondering what it would be like to taste those lovely pink lips. Somehow, he had not quite got around to thinking about that. Kissing Evan’s sister seemed somehow disrespectful, maybe even incestuous, but that was nonsense. He had her attention now; he must put it to good use. “I am asking you to marry me. I have talked to Evan previously of this, and it seems in our best interests to declare the attachment now. That should lay to rest any hint of rumor that might emerge from your escapade.”

Generally sparkling blue eyes widened with horror and dismay, and Melanie backed away. “You’ve talked to Evan? Without even consulting me? How could you do so? And to use this ...”—she swung her hand to indicate their surroundings—“to persuade me ... that is the outside of enough! I thought better of you, Galen, I truly did. We would never suit. Surely you must see that. We are much too much alike. I am not certain that it is an honor you do me by proposing in such a manner, but I am grateful for your thought in considering me. Let us leave it at that, Galen. I want to go home.”

* * * *

In the adjoining room, Arianne cringed at the sound of rising voices. Tugging once more at the door swelled shut from recent rains, she cursed at being trapped in here, witness to this entire embarrassing scene. Worse yet, she cursed at Lord Locke for making such a bungle of the thing. Surely he must understand Melanie’s romantic nature. To propose out of the expediency of the situation rather than with words of love and caresses was without doubt the silliest thing the man had ever done. She did not think Lord Locke an exceedingly silly man, but when it came to women, most men were impossible. It was a wonder anyone ever married.

The words drifting from the other room were not angry words, nor were the voices raised done so with anything more than a slightly louder polite pitch. They would both bore each other into anger if they did not cease soon. Arianne wished to scream and kick and shout herself, and she was not even in the room with them. She was sincerely grateful for her unusual upbringing. At least she was not required to be polite at all times and all places. Society did not expect as much of her as it did one of its own.

Finally she heard the sound of the door being flung open in the other room. If she waited long enough, she could be certain they had both gone, and she could slip out with none the wiser. At least Galen had persuaded her wayward cousin into returning home, although after this little altercation it wouldn’t surprise her if Melanie chose to take off on her own again. She would have to escape here to head her off
.

The sound of Galen’s steps crossing the room brought a sigh of relief. Soon he would be gone, and she would be relieved from this embarrassing predicament. Scowling and giving another annoyed tug at the stubborn door, she didn’t realize the steps were going the wrong direction until a hand came out to cover hers on the knob and a man’s strength jerked the door open.

Arianne nearly staggered beneath the abrupt change, then caught herself in time to gaze helplessly into Lord Locke’s impassive expression. “Th-thank you, my lord.”

Now that the door was ajar, Galen didn’t move aside to let her pass. Instead, he stared down into her fathomless eyes and frowned in perplexity. “Why won’t she marry me? We suit admirably. Anyone can see that.”

Startled that he would mention the subject without reservation, even though he must know she had heard every word, Arianne took a minute to recover her wits. When she did, she allowed some of the irritation that had been building to escape.

“Oh, admirably, no doubt. Not just any woman would appreciate the finesse of having her entire family informed of her suitor’s intentions before she is. And it takes a certain nature to accept a proposal based on an innocent night’s stay in an inn rather than words of love or romance. I daresay you have not even kissed her or given her any token to mark your esteem, either. I’m certain that impressed her mightily. I should think the two of you so well-suited that she must have leapt into your arms with joy after that affectionate demonstration of your feelings.”

A bemused look crossed Galen’s usually good-natured features as he regarded the dark wren barking at him. Perhaps he had mistaken Miss Richards’ nature also. She was certainly no wren to cheep mildly. Running his hand uncertainly through his hair, he stared down at her without an easy quip to relieve the situation. “I made a cake of it, didn’t I? Dash it all, how else does one go about proposing to his best friend’s little sister? I’d feel a proper cad courting or seducing her like any other female.”

“I’m scarcely one to consult, am I? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’d better see that Melanie isn’t making off with the carriage while we speak.”

Since that seemed a definite possibility now that he knew Lady Melanie’s impetuousness, Galen allowed Arianne to escape to the upper story while he took strides to command the carriage. He had never proposed to a lady before, and so had never been rejected. He wasn’t at all certain that he liked the feeling that someone else did not consider him as good a prospect as he had imagined. Cold water could not have been more dashing, but he wasn’t prepared to let the rest of the world know it. Shrugging his shoulders back, Galen strode out into the inn yard with the assurance of a man in complete control of his world. None of the doubts growing in his soul could be detected from the outside.