Melinda Hammond (13 page)

‘Well, child, what can you tell me about this marriage of yours? Oh don’t mind Cynthia, soul of discretion. She’s been with me for years and knows all my secrets, which are in all likelihood far more scandalous than anything in your young life.’

Nonplussed, Melissa looked at the earl, who responded for her.

‘Shall we say,
Grandmère ,
that we were carried away on a tide of -er- passion?’

‘Had he known of our intention to wed, my uncle would never have consented to the match,’ Melissa added truthfully.

The duchess glared at her grandson.

‘If that were so, why the devil didn’t you apply to me? I am not without influence in the town. The girl’s lineage is impeccable - that much I have already ascertained. Your fortunes may not be similar but the match is far from unacceptable.’

‘You may recall, ma’am, that you warned me not to disturb your peaceful existence in Bath.’

‘Did I say so? Then it is the first time you have ever taken heed of me! Well, what’s done is done, and we must now make the best of it. I go to London for the winter, Jason. Your wife may be presented at Court under my aegis.’

‘Thank you, your Grace.’

The duchess allowed herself a rare smile as she addressed Melissa.

‘That will put paid to any rumours, my dear, and ensure no one dares to slight you. But until then, what will you do? You cannot continue here.’

‘Oh but I am very happy here, your Grace,’ said Melissa.

‘As you know,
Grandmère,
Aldringham is undergoing major repairs, and is not fit for my countess. If we grow tired of country pursuits, mayhap we will go abroad.’

‘What you will find here to keep you amused ‘til winter is a mystery to me.’

The earl’s eyes glinted as he cast a laughing glance at his wife.

‘I assure you, ma’am, that our lives here are not uneventful. As you will see tomorrow: we are holding a ball to introduce my wife to the neighbourhood. Shall you feel well enough to attend, ma’am?’

‘Damn you, Jason, I’m not an invalid yet! A night’s rest is all I need, then I shall be on hand tomorrow to see how you conduct yourself in the country.’

More tired than she would admit, the dowager duchess took dinner in her room, attended by Miss Hopwood. This left Melissa to dine alone with her husband, and gave her the opportunity to ask him if he thought the duchess approved of her.

‘Undoubtedly,’ came the reply, as the earl handed her to the table. ‘Why should she not?’

‘She might well have thought I was a fortune-hunter - that I had trapped you into marriage.’

He laughed. ‘My grandmother’s knowledge of my character would lead her to think the blame in this affair entirely mine. By the bye, do you like her?’

‘Very much. And she is very fond of you, I think.’

His face softened. ‘She was always very good to me. My father was the only surviving child from her first marriage, my grandfather died young and disgracefully - the Descotts were always a wild family! Unfortunately, once
Grandmère
married Steepledean they lived abroad for most of my childhood, and I have only known her during the last ten years, since she was widowed, and returned to England, where she now terrorizes the present duke and his family.’

‘But she does not terrorize you, my lord?’

‘No, not me.’ He raised his glass to Melissa. ‘There has only been one woman who has dared to cross me.’

The following day the whole household was in turmoil as the preparations for the ball were underway. The great hall was cleared for dancing, chairs and candles were moved to the minstrels’ gallery for the use of the orchestra and extra maids were brought in from the village to help in the kitchen.

Melissa made her own careful preparations for the evening, taking time over the arrangement of her hair, which was piled high upon her head, with a single ringlet coaxed to fall over her shoulder. Her gown of deep gold lustring over a white quilted petticoat accentuated the creamy tones of her skin. She was preparing to go downstairs to await the arrival of her guests when there was a knock at the door and the duchess entered. The old lady looked magnificent in an overdress of grey satin heavily embroidered with silver, her hair was powdered and pomaded and her eyes glittered through the rouge and white paint of her face.

Melissa smiled at her, and dropped a slight curtsy.

‘Your Grace, if you had sent word, I would have come to you ...’

“There was no need, child. I am not so old that I cannot walk a few yards.’ She advanced into the room, leaning heavily on her silver cane. In her free hand she held a small black case, which she held out to Melissa.

‘Here. Take these. They will enhance that dress more than the pearls you are wearing. Very proper for most occasions, of course, but tonight you must look every inch a countess.’

Melissa gave a little gasp as she opened the box. A cluster of diamonds sparkled up at her: delicate drops for her ears, an exquisite necklace and a large corsage brooch.

‘They were to go to Jason’s mother, but I held them back, and of course, then it was too late. They have lived in my strongbox ever since the incident. Put them on, my dear, and let me look at you.’

In a trance, Melissa fastened the necklace and earrings, gazing at her reflection in the dark glass. The old lady took the corsage brooch and pinned it to the lace of Melissa’s gown, where it nestled against the soft rise of her breast.

‘They - they are beautiful, your Grace. Thank you.’ Melissa smiled into her mirror, meeting the old lady’s eyes in the glass.

‘They are yours by right, child, as Jason’s wife, and they look very well upon you.’ The duchess’s eyes grew misty, but only for a moment. In a stronger voice she continued, ‘Of course, it would be better if you could be persuaded to apply a little paint, and to powder your hair, but your tresses are so dark doubtless it would not cover successfully. As it is, you look very well for a country party. Shall we go downstairs?’

As they descended, Melissa saw the earl disappearing into the great hall. He did not see her, but as they entered, the duchess put her hand on Melissa’s arm, forcing her to pause.

‘Well, Grandson, what do you think now of your bride?’

The servants in the room grew silent, some gazing open-mouthed at the two ladies. The earl looked up, and Melissa saw his initial swift glance turning into a long stare. To cover her nervousness, she unfurled her fan, using it to conceal her heightened colour. Her heart leapt at the glow of admiration in the earl’s eyes, and she could not resist an answering smile as he approached.

‘Ladies, you look magnificent. My compliments to you both!’ His eyes rested on the diamonds sparkling at Melissa’s throat and the duchess answered his unspoken question.

‘They were given to me by your grandfather, Jason. I always intended to pass ‘em on. They look very well upon your wife.’

‘Only outshone by her beauty, ma’am.’ He reached for Melissa’s left hand and glanced down ruefully at the simple gold band. ‘It reminds me that I have given you nothing, save this.’

Melissa shook her head at him, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush.

‘I care not for jewels, my lord, nor for your fortune.’

The earl stared at her, a look she could not read in his eyes, and Melissa wondered briefly if she had offended him. Before she could question him Borster announced that the first carriages were arriving, and they moved into position to welcome their visitors.

The stream of guests seemed never-ending and Melissa, flanked by the earl and the duchess, smiled and greeted each one with unflagging hospitality. The dancing had already begun by the time they could move away from the entrance, and Melissa secretly wished that she could sit quietly in the corner with the duchess for a while, but it was not to be. Her hand was solicited for every dance, and when she dared to hesitate, the duchess tapped her sleeve with her fan.

‘Go along, my dear, it is your duty to dance tonight. Only when you are as old as I am can you plead infirmity and sit out.’

So Melissa danced, and chattered, and began to enjoy herself. She had been relieved to learn that Mr Courtenay was not invited, but from the comments and the knowing looks she received, she suspected that there had been some gossip about his last visit to Russetts. She mentioned it to Aldringham at the first opportunity. They were walking together through the gardens, where the earl had ordered dozens of coloured lamps to be hung along the paths to enhance the moonlight so that their guests could enjoy the long summer evening. The earl squeezed her hand as he drew it on to his arm.

‘I wrest you away from your many admirers and you waste the precious interlude talking of Courtenay!’ he accused her.

‘Only to ask you if you had mentioned that - that day to anyone. Several people have quizzed me, with cryptic phrases about
whipping you into shape,
and
ruling the household.
I did not know how to respond to them.’

‘Oh you may be sure that everyone in the county knows you came home to find me engaged in a rake-hell party, and whipped the revellers out of the house.’

She stopped.

‘Aldringham, you did not tell them that!’

He grinned down at her. ‘Not I, sweet life, but with servants in the house there can be very few secrets. The only surprise is that they have not informed my grandmother. Mayhap she had left before that particular piece of news reached Bath.’

‘But surely the Borsters would not—’

‘Oh wouldn’t they! They’d think it a merry jest indeed to see me brought to heel at last.’

‘Oh, but I - it was not done to hurt you, my lord. It was merely that I was so angry I did not stop to think what anyone would say.’

Aldringham laughed and kissed her hand.

‘Madam, pray think no more about it. Believe me, it has greatly enhanced your reputation.’

Melissa bit her lip and resigned herself to the gossip. Her only comfort was the effect of her actions upon her husband. Aldringham no longer tarried in the dining-room over his brandy, preferring to sit with his lady, recounting tales of his family. By day they rode out, or the earl drove Melissa in his new chaise. The discovery of Melissa’s ability with pistols led Aldringham to set up targets in the garden, and they spent hours together competing, or strolling through the woods while Aldringham explained to her the finer points of duelling. At such times Melissa felt she could not ask for more, but at the end of each long, summer evening, she knew her happiness was not complete.

After the first fateful night, Aldringham had not come to her room again. In every other way he was the perfect husband, charming and considerate, but although there was at times a glow in his eyes that set her heart pounding, there were no words of love. Sometimes he would kiss her hand, but she could not believe it was anything more than an empty gesture. No, she thought to herself, she had repulsed him once and he did not love her sufficiently to risk his pride a second time.

That he loved her too much she would have found

hard to believe. Unused to the ways of society, Melissa did not realize that Aldringham was courting her as he had never courted any woman before, using every ounce of his considerable charm to woo his own wife. Wary of frightening her again, he suppressed his own desires and when at night she bade him goodnight, he never once detained her. Melissa would have died rather than let him see how much she wanted him to do just that. She began to despair.

Chapter Eleven

The Dowager Duchess of Steepledean stayed but two days at Russetts. She told her hostess she was minded to approve the match, and wanted now only to return to Bath, and the luxury of her own feather bed.

Melissa and the Duchess were alone in the morning-room, and Melissa was emboldened by the old lady’s mellow mood to voice a question that had been nagging at her since the night of the ball.

Your Grace - forgive me, but when you gave me the diamonds, you - you said that they should have gone to Aldringham’s mother - I had assumed at first that she died before you could do so, but you mentioned an incident.’

The duchess gave her a hard stare.

‘Do you not know the story of Jason’s mother? No, of course not - he would not tell you that. Come, child, help me up. We must go upstairs.’

‘Upstairs, ma’am?’

‘To the long gallery - I take it the family portraits are still there, and the little one of Maria Carlotta, the last Countess of Aldringham? Well, then, let us go there, and I will tell you her tale.’

The two women stood in the long gallery, gazing at the small portrait of a dark-haired lady, whose smiling black eyes shone back at them.

‘She - she was very beautiful.’

The duchess nodded.

‘Indeed she was. She came from a poor
émigré
Italian family, impeccable birth, of course, but no money. Not that such a consideration worried the Descotts, they were already as rich as Croesus. Aldringham - Jason’s father - was besotted with her, showered her with gifts, but theirs was a stormy marriage; they were both very hot-tempered, you see; quick to fire up. At first it did not matter, their passion kept them together, but after Jason was born, the Countess was obliged to spend more time in the country with the boy. It was not in her nature to live quietly, and if Aldringham would not go with her, she found plenty of other men in London willing to escort her to the balls and parties her shallow heart craved.’

‘And what of her husband?’

‘The earl’s passion never cooled and I believe they quarrelled desperately. But she was not content with a discreet little
affaires,
she fell in love with a young nobleman, one of the Italian Ambassador’s party. They fled back to Italy.’

‘And the earl?’

‘He was a broken man, he could never forgive her. She was never mentioned again in his presence. That was very hard on Jason, for he idolized his mother.’

‘Ah poor boy!’

The duchess shook her head. ‘Indeed. I was on the Continent at the time, and heard the tale from friends and acquaintances in London months later, when it was too late to be of any use.’