Melinda Hammond (12 page)

Melissa frowned. ‘Who is with my lord?’

The housekeeper moved from one foot to the other, looking even more agitated.

‘Well, there’s Mr Courtenay, who was here yesterday, and a couple of gentlemen from the village, and - and some females who have no right to be in any respectable house!’

Lady Aldringham turned on her heel and walked briskly to the great hall. At her entrance the noise abated, and for a moment Melissa thought she had wandered into a nightmare.

Aldringham, she noted with relief, was lounging in a chair alone, with a half-empty glass in his hand. Mr Courtenay was sitting in one of the armchairs, a very painted lady on his lap, whom Melissa judged to be at least twice his age. There were three other gentlemen in the room, all very young. One of them was engaged in drinking wine from a lady’s rather soiled slipper while its owner perched boldly on the edge of the mahogany table. The other two young men were lounging on a sofa with another untidily dressed woman between them.

Melissa took it all in at a glance, her anger growing, then, without a word, she turned and whisked herself out of the room. As she closed the door behind her, she heard her husband’s harsh, mirthless laugh ring out across the room. Eyes flashing angrily, she walked quickly back into the kitchen.

‘Borster, can you load those pistols for me?’

‘Load them, my lady? But—’

‘Well?’

‘Well ... yes, ma’am, but I don’t see—’

‘Then you will load them for me at once, do you hear? You, boy!’ She pointed at a young stable-lad who had just brought in a basket of logs. ‘Bring me the whip that hangs on the stable door. The big one!’

The boy goggled at her, but seeing the determined look in her face, he tugged his forelock and disappeared at a run. Borster looked at his wife askance, but at her nod, he began nervously to load the pistols.

‘There, my lady, but I beg you will take care!’

Melissa checked the weapons.

“You need not worry, Borster. I was used to be a very good shot. Now, order the carriage and horses for our guests.’

The stable lad had returned with the whip, and Melissa carefully placed one of the pistols in her pocket. She took the whip in her left hand, the other pistol held firmly in her right. Thus armed she stepped purposefully back towards the great hall.

Very little had changed in the few minutes that she had been away. Aldringham gazed moodily into the empty fireplace while the others drank and joked noisily. The entrance of the mistress of the house carrying two very unladylike weapons brought the room to silence. Aldringham glanced up, a gleam of interest in his eyes.

Mr Courtenay pushed the female from his lap and got unsteadily to his feet.

‘Lady Aldringham—’

Melissa lifted the pistol and pointed it at his chest.

‘You will oblige me, sir, by removing yourself and your friends from this house immediately.’

Courtenay blinked. ‘My dear ma’am, I hardly think this is called for!’

‘I repeat, sir, you will all leave the house now, if you please!’

Aldringham sat up in his chair. ‘Do you include me in that command, madam?’

She flicked a cold glance at him.

‘If you wish. Or you may stay, but you will not interfere.’

Courtenay began to move forward, stretching his nervous features into the semblance of a smile.

‘Lady Aldringham, I cannot believe you are serious.’

A loud retort stopped him in his tracks as the decanter of Madeira on the table beside him shattered. The women screamed.

‘Good shot, my dear!’ approved Aldringham.

‘I am not without practice sir.’

‘Good God, my lord, are you going to sit there and let her murder us?’ cried one of the young men, his face ashen.

Melissa put down the spent weapon and pulled the other from her pocket. Aldringham merely looked amused.

‘I have no choice, Sylvester,’ he drawled. ‘My lady has the upper hand.’

Melissa stepped aside from the open door. She was very pale, but there was no mistaking the cold anger in her voice.

‘You have been warned, gentlemen. The next bullet will find a home in one of you, and I have instructed Borster to turn the dogs loose in two minutes. Now leave!’

Melissa raised the whip. It was many years since her father had shown her how to handle a whip and she was secretly relieved at the satisfying crack it gave, which added authority to her command. The women rushed screaming from the room, their gallant escorts close upon their heels. Mr Courtenay, bringing up the rear, made a final attempt to remonstrate with her, but another crack of the whip, this time close to his ear, made him change his mind and quickly escape, slamming the door behind him.

There was a momentary silence in the great hall.

‘A stirring performance, my lady.’

Melissa smiled faintly, the angry blaze dying from her eyes. ‘I was more than a little concerned that I should make a mull of it, not having used these skills for a very long time. Your pistols are beautifully made, sir. I could not miss.’

‘And what of these dogs you mentioned?’

She shrugged. ‘It was a bluff, in case they thought to overpower me.’

‘And do you intend to put an end to all our parties in this manner?’ he said, rising.

‘Only when you are foolish enough to forget what is due to your name, sir.’

He laughed and came towards her, swaying a little.

‘Then you had best keep that loaded pistol with you, lest I forget myself again.’

Her anger was spent, and the tension of the last few moments was beginning to tell. She gave a shaky laugh.

‘Perhaps next time I should use it on myself, and leave you to your pleasures.’

The earl frowned, stepping forward in time to catch her as she fell forward in a dead faint.

He removed the pistol from her nerveless hand and carried his wife to the sofa where he laid her down gently. After a few moments, her eyelids fluttered and she looked up to find his anxious face gazing down at her. She struggled to sit up.

‘H-how foolish of me. I have never done such a thing before.’

‘Lie still,’ he commanded, sternly. He moved away and returned with a glass, which he handed to her. ‘Here, drink this.’

She glanced at the drink, the deep gold of autumn leaves, and gingerly sipped at it.

‘All of it.’

Melissa took another sip, and felt the brandy warming her. She stole a glance at her husband. ‘Are you very angry, my lord?’

‘No, child. I am very proud of you.’

‘You are?’

He sat on the edge of the sofa, his eyes glinting, but not unkindly.

‘When I took you to wife I did not think you would rule my house with quite such an iron hand!’

She chuckled, and choked on the brandy.

‘Oh I am not that harsh on the staff, I promise you!’ A mischievous smile gleamed in her eyes. ‘I would not dare to oppose Mrs Borster, even with a pistol.’

She held out the empty glass to Aldringham. He took it, but retained her hand.

‘I must apologize to you, my lady. My lack of conduct has been unforgivable.’

A slight flush rose to her cheeks and Melissa squeezed his fingers before withdrawing her hand, quelling a desire to take his face in her hands and kiss away his worried look.

‘You behaved as you did because I had angered you. For all your wicked reputation, my lord, you did not seem to be enjoying yourself.’

She cast a look up at him from under her lashes.

Aldringham laughed. “You are right, of course. I can see that I can have few secrets from you, my lady. Well, Madam, will you inform Borster that there will only be two for dinner tonight?’

‘Oh, I would be so grateful if you would tell him, Aldringham. I am afraid he will not be happy with me for making such a mess in here.’ She gazed ruefully at the remains of the decanter, and the dark stain on the carpet.

‘Well since it is my carpet - I beg your pardon, madam,
our
carpet and decanter, I cannot but feel that we may do what we wish with them.’ He grinned at her, then, his eyes taking in her riding habit, he said, ‘You have been riding? Did you take Jenkins’s horse?’

‘No. I had him saddle Juno.’ She saw the frown in his eyes and added quickly, ‘I was very careful not to over-tire her. She has come to no harm, my lord.’

‘That is not my concern. She is not a lady’s mount. I would not have put you on her - did she try to unseat you?’

‘Well, yes, once or twice. But once we had each other’s measure we rubbed along very well.’

An odd little smile lifted the corners of the earl’s mouth.

‘It seems there is much I have to learn about my new bride!’

* * * *

The weeks that followed were the happiest Melissa had yet spent with Aldringham. He was a charming companion and she began to enjoy her role as his countess. They received and returned visits from their neighbours, many of whom declared that they had been greatly misled by tales of the earl’s wildness and thought him a most affable, courteous gentleman. My lord also announced plans for a ball at Russetts in honour of the new Lady Aldringham. A date was set for the end of August, invitations sent out and Melissa threw herself wholeheartedly into the arrangements. On the day before the ball she was in the morning-room going through the menus with Mrs Borster when the earl came to find her.

‘My dear, I have received a message that could upset all our plans.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Borster, we will finish this later.’ Melissa dismissed the housekeeper and turned her enquiring gaze upon her husband. ‘A message, my lord?’

‘I have received word that my grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Steepledean is in the area - at the White Hart in Evebourne, to be precise. She wishes to know if we are receiving visitors. If we say yea, she will be here by dinnertime, and will doubtless stay for several days.’

‘Is that all? From your sombre looks I made sure it was grave news.’

Her smile was reflected in his eyes as he replied, ‘Indeed, some would consider a visit from her Grace as such. I wrote to her informing her of our marriage, and doubtless she has heard rumours of our flight from Bath, and wishes to know the truth.’

‘And what will you tell her, my lord?’

‘That I married you upon a whim.’ He spoke lightly but his piercing blue eyes watched her closely. ‘My grandmother is a formidable lady, and will subject you to close interrogation. If you would prefer to put off her visit . . . .’

‘By no means! If she has travelled from Bath to see you, on no account shall we turn her away. I will order rooms to be prepared, and if she does not wish to join our festivities tomorrow night I shall make sure she is made comfortable in her own apartments.’

He eyed her with appreciation. ‘Madam, what a practical woman you are.’

‘It is merely common sense. You must face the duchess at some stage, sir, and it might as well be on your home ground.’

He took her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Sage advice, my dear! But it is
you
she is coming to see, Melissa. I pray you will not be apprehensive - her manner is abrupt, but she has a kind heart. I hope you will like her.’

‘More to the point, I hope she will approve of me!’ Melissa smiled. ‘Send your message, sir. I will prepare a fitting welcome for the dowager duchess.’

When the lumbering travelling carriage drew up at the door later that day, the earl was waiting personally to greet the Dowager Duchess of Steepledean. He stepped forward to hand her down from the carriage and even remembered to extend a civil greeting to Miss Hopwood, a point that his grandmother noted with approval.

‘Well, your sudden marriage seems to have improved your manners, Jason.’ The duchess leaned heavily upon his arm as he escorted her into the house. ‘Where is this new bride of yours - are you hiding her from me?’

‘Not at all,
Grandmère.
You may even have met her in Bath.’

‘Bath! Don’t talk to me of that place! Full of malicious rumour and tittle-tattle. Pshaw!’ The earl’s eyes gleamed, but he said nothing, and after a moment she continued, ‘It’s all over the town, of course, that you swept the chit off her feet and stole her away from her uncle’s house at dead of night.’

‘Is that what they are saying, ma’am?’

‘Aye! And a damned sight more. That’s why I have come here, to learn the truth from you.’

‘I rather thought you would have learned that from my servants, ma’am.’

‘Hah, so it rankles that they keep me informed, does it? Well, you may be easy on this occasion - they have told me nothing! Now, where is the gal?’

Smiling, the earl led the duchess into the great hall, where Melissa was waiting to greet them.

‘Then, ma’am, let me present my wife, the new Countess of Aldringham.’

Melissa came forward, dropping into a deep curtsy before the old lady.

‘Welcome to Russetts, your Grace. We are honoured that you should take the trouble to visit us.’ There was not a tremor in Melissa’s quiet, well-modulated voice and only Aldringham noticed her nervousness as she rose from her curtsy. He immediately stepped forward, reaching out to take her shaking fingers in his strong grasp and lifting first one hand then the other to his lips.

‘Well done,’ he whispered, adding in a louder voice, ‘And may I present Miss Cynthia Hopwood to you, my dear? She is my grandmother’s faithful companion, and bears with her grace’s ill-humours extremely well.’

Observing the unfortunate female’s confusion, Melissa put out her hand, saying pleasantly, ‘Pray take no heed of my lord, Miss Hopwood. He delights in setting up our feathers!’

When the party was seated Melissa was about to offer refreshments to her guests when Borster entered, bearing a decanter. The earl grinned at her look of surprise.

‘Borster knows that
Grandmère
likes a glass of burgundy to restore her after a tiring journey.’

The old lady nodded vigorously. ‘That’s right. I don’t believe in these namby-pamby cordials, or hot milk! I’ll say this for you, Jason, you have always kept a good cellar.’ She sipped at her wine. ‘And this is as good as any I’ve tasted.’

“Thank you, ma’am.’

The duchess turned her direct stare to Melissa, who gazed back steadily. The piercing blue eyes were a little faded, but so much like the earl’s that she could readily imagine it was her husband looking at her, and she warmed to the old lady.