Dreaming of You (20 page)

   Alone in her bedchamber, Melody gazed absently at the spiraling wisps of steam that rose from the delicate teacup she held in her right hand.  Since waking, her thoughts had been plagued by the remarkably vivid dream that had woken her just before dawn.  Over the years, her dreams had often centered on the man at the cottage and the time they had spent together, though in the past his face had always been obscured and shadowed by darkness.  Last night however, her lover’s face had been surprisingly clear.  In her dream, her true love had vivid green eyes, wavy brown hair, and a smile that caused the breath to catch in her chest, for the shadows had finally cleared and in their place had been the face of Gavin Montrose.
 

She knew that it shouldn’t bother her, for it was merely a dream, but oddly it did.  For so long now she’d assumed that her heart had been left for eternity with the man at the cottage, the man who’d taken her innocence, taught her the meaning of passion and unknowingly secured her everlasting love.  So how then had another man so easily invaded her dreams?  How could she have allowed, even unconsciously, the Duke of Rutherford to fill
his
role?  Was she so fickle of heart that the first handsome man she encountered in London could have affected her so strongly?
 

Taking a sip of tea, she turned her gaze to the window.  “
You’re making too much of this
,” she told herself.  It
was
just a dream after all.  Perhaps it didn’t mean anything.  Rising from her chair, she stood and breathed a long, heavy sigh.  Then again, perhaps it did mean something.  Clearly she’d been attracted to the duke; there was simply no denying it.  Was it a sign for her to move on then, to move past the memories?  Rather than living in the past, should she turn her focus to the present, for as much as it pained her to think it, she would likely never find him.  And of course with so much time having passed, there was always the possibility that he now had a wife and family of his own.  If so, as painful as it was to imagine, she hoped that he was happy.
 

Looking out the window, she watched as the children played in the rear garden, waving butterfly nets to and fro as they chased the winged creatures under the watchful eye of Miss Tibbs.  In all likelihood her children would never know their real father, never have the slightest inkling of Charles Cavendish’s deception.  Maybe it
was
best to move on, for all of their sakes.
 

As she watched, Emma suddenly turned toward the house, her gaze moving to the window where Melody stood.
 

Catching sight of her mother framed in the tall window, Emma raised her hand and waved excitedly, then quickly resumed her chase of the elusive butterflies.
 

Yes, she needed to focus on the present
.  Setting down her cup, she moved determinedly toward the door.  
 

Moments later Melody entered the rear garden, and focusing on the present, she immediately set about catching butterflies with her beloved son and daughter.
 

Later that night, as she prepared for the evening ahead, Melody could scarcely contain her growing anticipation, for she had always dreamt of attending a performance at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.  When Penny had suggested the outing, she’d leapt at the chance to see the opening night performance of
Cenerentola
, Rossini’s version of Cinderella.  Watching in the vanity table mirror as Elizabeth put the finishing touches on her elegant coiffure, she felt almost giddy with excitement.  
 

Once her exacting lady’s maid had finished adjusting the final curl to her satisfaction, she smiled broadly.  “You’re a vision, My Lady, if I do say so myself.”  
 

Melody cast the young woman a grateful smile as she gazed at her reflection.  She felt like Cinderella.  “Thank you, Elizabeth, you did a beautiful job as always.”  
 

Rising from her seat, she quickly smoothed the folds of her sapphire-colored silk skirt and slipped her feet into a pair of matching silk damask, heeled shoes.  Then, taking the pair of long white gloves from Elizabeth’s outstretched hand; she pulled them on, tugging them up past her elbows to just below the wide bands of her lavishly embroidered off the shoulder gown.  She wore no jewelry other than a pair of small sapphire earbobs her mother had given her years ago, but she didn’t mind her lack of expensive finery.  With the money Charles had left her she could have easily afforded to adorn herself with jeweled bracelets, necklaces and the like, but it simply wasn’t in her nature to indulge in things she viewed as frivolous and unnecessary.  The cost to create her current wardrobe alone, including the gown she wore now, had been exorbitant and she still felt guilty over the jaw-dropping expense.  But now that she had entered the exacting ranks of the
ton’s
elite, she understood that it had been a necessary sacrifice.
 

And so, satisfied with her appearance and having already said goodnight to the children, Melody grabbed her reticule from the top of the vanity table and slipped the thin satin loop around her wrist.
 

“The gentlemen in attendance will be hard pressed to keep their focus on the stage once they see you, My Lady,” Elizabeth enthused, seeming almost as excited as Melody was herself.
 

“With all of the beautiful women in London, I doubt that,” Melody replied with a laugh, thinking of Countess Petrovich in particular.  “But I appreciate your confidence in me nonetheless.”
 

A short time later, as Melody settled herself once again into the Wexley coach, she couldn’t help thinking how drastically her life had changed in such a short period of time.  Balls, outings to the opera, Society in general, it all still seemed slightly unreal when compared to the life she’d led before.   
 

“I am so looking forward to Signorina Cassini’s performance this evening,” Penny said excitedly as the coach moved forward, referring to the young Italian soprano who had recently taken London by storm.
 

Since Edward’s health had improved significantly over the past twenty-four hours, Melody was pleased to see that Penny’s mood appeared much more relaxed than it had been the night before.
 

“It is certain to be a packed house,” Henry remarked.
 

As it was opening night, Melody couldn’t help wondering if the Duke of Rutherford might be in attendance as well.  Though she dare not let on to her cousin, for Penny would surely never let her hear the end of it if she thought for even a moment that Melody had anything more than a passing interest in the duke, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t looking forward to the possibility of seeing him again.  To propel her thoughts along a different path, she complimented Penny’s lovely emerald-green gown, and as she’d hoped, the conversation quickly turned into a discussion of fashion.
 

While she and Penny chatted about fabrics and the latest fashion plates from Paris, Henry focused his attention out the carriage window as they made their way to Covent Garden.  However, as they drew nearer to the famed local, Henry began to point out various sights and Melody was soon entranced by the magnificent buildings and notable landmarks that marked the way to the celebrated opera house.  When at last they arrived at their destination, she could scarcely disguise her overwhelming awe.  
 

However, once they entered the grand building, she found it simply impossible to hide her wonderment as her gaze moved from the enormous gas lit chandeliers and opulent furnishings, to the stunning architectural features that captivated the eye with their incredible beauty and intricate detail.  Unfortunately though, with the performance about to begin, her admiration was cut short as Henry quickly summoned one of the attendants to show them to their seats.
 

Much to her surprise, Melody had discovered that the Cavendish family had long-held a private box at the Royal Opera House, in addition to boxes at several other venues as well, and it was there that they would be seated.  Following the attendant, they ascended a wide marble staircase to the balcony level, and were shown to a lavish box set high above the crowd of people seated in the gallery below.  As she and Penny entered, Henry held back for a moment, waylaid by an acquaintance just outside the curtained entrance.
 

As always, the enormity of her late husband’s fortune once again amazed her as she took in her surroundings, but even more astonishing was the fact that all of it, including this, now belonged to her son.  Though as hard as it was to believe, all too soon the time would come when William would be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility that came with the title of Lord Edgington and all that it entailed.  Knowing that it was her responsibility to guide him along the way, she silently reaffirmed her resolve to do the absolute best that she could to prepare her son for what lay ahead.
 

Sitting down upon one of the plush velvet-covered chairs, Melody’s eyes eagerly roamed the gallery’s elegant trappings and lavish décor, moved along the orchestra pit and curtained stage, and up to the other boxes that skirted the room.  She saw several people that she recognized from the Middleton’s ball and nodded courteously in return to those who caught her eye.  The neighboring box was empty however and curiously she wondered to whom it belonged.  She was about to ask Penny but suddenly there was no need, for as she watched, the Duke of Rutherford and his sister promptly entered the box.  Before she had time to look away, the emerald-green gaze of Gavin Montrose unexpectedly swung in her direction and immediately met with her own wide-eyed stare.  Embarrassed, she smiled politely and then quickly turned away.
 

Gavin wasn’t entirely surprised to see Lady Edgington seated with Penelope Dunham in the box next to his, for he was fully aware that the late earl had owned those particular seats.  He was a bit surprised however, to have found the lovely lady’s eyes fastened upon him as he’d turned.  Now, as he studied her profile, he was once again struck by her alluring beauty.  For a moment he felt a sharp pang of guilt for the meeting he’d had earlier in the day with Mr. Beckett, one of the investigators he’d hired years earlier in an attempt to locate his abductor, but he forced it aside.  Quite certain that Mr. Beckett would swiftly prove that Melody Cavendish hadn’t been involved in his abduction, she would never need know of the vile assertions her husband’s nephew had cast against her, nor of the loathsome suspicions they had triggered within his own mind.     
 

When Henry entered through the curtain several minutes after Melody and Penny had taken their seats, they both turned.  Surprisingly, Henry’s expression was somber as he met their gazes.
 

“Henry, is something wrong?” Penny asked, eyeing her husband inquisitively.
 

“Apparently it has just been reported in the evening papers that Lord Hattford was involved in a dreadful accident in the wee hours of the morning.”
 

  “My goodness, I had no idea,” Melody exclaimed in surprise.
 

“Hattford is your late husband’s nephew, is he not?” Penny asked, turning to Melody.
 

She nodded.  “He is.  But we are not well-acquainted.  We only met once, and that was years ago.”
 

“Whatever has happened to him?” Penny inquired as Henry settled into his seat.
 

“Well, it seems the poor man was inadvertently run down by a delivery wagon on a street in Westminster.”
 

“Oh dear.”  Penny’s eyes grew wide.
 

“Good heavens.  Is he going to be alright?” Melody asked.
 

 “I’m afraid that I do not know.  It was only reported that his injuries were quite severe and that he is being treated at the local hospital.”
 

“I see.”  
 

“Well I’m sure that Lord Hattford is receiving the best care possible, but we should all say a prayer for him tonight, nonetheless,” Penny said, just as the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of the performance.
 

“Yes of course.”  Although she felt badly for Nelson, as she would for anyone who had suffered such a mishap, it was difficult to summon much more than passing sympathy for a man she scarcely knew, and one who had made his contempt for her glaringly apparent.  And though acknowledging that it was terribly selfish of her, she couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved to know that she was unlikely, at least for the time being, to encounter any lingering hostilities from Nelson, or Lavinia, if they’d happened to cross paths at
any upcoming societal functions, as she had once feared.  Regardless, she would still pray that he made a quick recovery.
 

It wasn’t long into the performance however, that thoughts of Nelson gradually faded from her mind as she became completely engrossed in what was transpiring upon the stage.  The opera was even more incredible than she had imagined it would be, and before long she felt as if she were being drawn into the scene right along with those on stage, transported to a completely different place and time.
 

As the poignant strains of a beautifully sung duet filled the air, Gavin’s attention vacillated between the figures on the stage and the lovely young woman seated just a short distance away.  He found it difficult to look away as her animated features reflected the depth of her emotion as she appeared to lose herself in the melodic passage, revealing a passionate nature that he found tremendously intriguing.  It was only his sister’s presence at his side that kept his eyes from remaining overlong on her expressive face, for he found watching Melody Cavendish nearly as enjoyable as watching the performance.