Melinda Hammond (16 page)

‘Thank you sir, but no. I am sorry that I am not better company for you on your journey.’

‘No matter, my lady.’ He drew out his pocket watch. ‘We shall be stopping soon to change horses. I shall order coffee then, and a little refreshment to sustain you on your journey.’

Melissa thought privately that she wanted nothing more than to press on to London with all speed, but when they were eventually shown into the private parlour of the White Lion, the smell of coffee and freshly baked bread reminded her that she had eaten almost nothing that day and she willingly joined Sir Richard at the table.

‘I have been considering your situation,’ said the gentleman, pouring coffee into two cups. ‘I think it would be best if I took you to Lady Carlestone. Once we have explained the situation to her, she will look after you, I have no doubt.’

‘But she is Aldringham’s sister.’

‘And who better to look after Aldringham’s wife? Believe me, my lady, you must not even consider setting out alone in London. If you are determined to leave Aldringham—’

‘I am!’

‘Very well, then you will need someone to support you, someone above reproach. Lady Carlestone would fulfill that role, and you may rely upon my help, too.’

‘Thank you. You are very good.’

Having forced herself to take a small meal, Melissa viewed Sir Richard’s full plate with faint nausea. She rose and took a turn about the room. It had once been a handsome apartment, but a smoking fire had blackened the ceiling, and the green paint on the walls was faded and mottled with damp patches. She compared it very unfavourably to the gleaming neatness of Russetts. A sigh escaped her, which out of consideration for her companion she quickly turned to a laugh.

‘I was considering how I would fare as a landlady. I would certainly want my inn to be spotlessly clean - this room for instance would be much better for a little housekeeping.’ A gleam of genuine amusement shone in her eyes as she observed Sir Richard’s horrified countenance. ‘Be easy, sir. I have no intention of setting myself up in such a role. I am quite content to settle for some very
genteel
employment, although I have no doubt it will be horridly dull. But I cannot help thinking that to run a posting house such as this must be quite exciting, would you not agree?’

‘The thought has never occurred to me,’ he replied, pushing away his empty plate. ‘All I know is that the food here is excellent.’

‘But do you not think it would be even better if the surroundings were more comfortable? Why, this room has been neglected for years, and even the curtains are beginning to - Oh no!’ Melissa backed away from the window, the colour draining from her cheeks.

‘My dear, what is it? Are you ill?

‘N - no,’ she whispered, one hand creeping to her cheek. ‘Aldringham!’

Moments later, the earl entered the room. Gone was the languid society manner: his dark face was unnaturally pale, and he gave Sir Richard a strained smile as he began pulling off his gloves.

‘My apologies for bursting in upon you, Dick, but I have been chasing all over and when I saw your carriage—! She’s gone, my friend. Run off with that damned scurvy cousin of hers. I’ve made enquiries on every toll road but there’s no sign of them …’ His words trailed off as his restless gaze travelled round the room and eventually came to rest on Melissa, standing in one shadowy corner, her hands clasped anxiously before her.

Sir Richard saw the momentary glow of relief that leapt into the earl’s eyes, before it was superseded by anger: he thought he had never seen his friend so furious. He stepped forward, putting himself between Lady Aldringham and that blazing stare.

‘Jason, if I can explain—’

‘Oh, there is no need for that, Dick. I understand very well.’ The earl’s voice was icy. ‘I thought she had run off with that coxcomb of a cousin and all the time she was playing me false with one I considered a true friend.’

‘That I am, Jason, if you would only listen to me-’

‘What did she tell you, that I have abused her? I told you as much myself, but it is nothing to what I am going to do to you both now!’ With one swift movement he drew his sword, and levelled it at Sir Richard’s throat.
‘En garde!’

‘Jason, this is madness!’

The earl’s eyes glittered and he bared his teeth.

‘Draw, damn you, or I will run you through where you stand!’

‘Stop this!’ Melissa ran forward ‘Sir, your quarrel is with me, not Sir Richard. Believe me, he is not to blame!’

The cold glance swept over her, contempt in every line of his face.

‘Oh, I am ready to believe that! You bewitched him, you jade, as you did me, and I will deal with you once I have run him through. Draw, Caseby, or die a coward!’

Sir Richard stood his ground and met the earl’s blazing eyes with his own steady look.

‘I will not take arms against a friend, Jason. Let us be done with this madness!’

With a growl of rage, the earl drew back his arm, then he lunged, but even as he did so Melissa hurled herself at him.

‘No, Jason! I will not let you kill him!’

‘My lady, don’t!’

Sir Richard’s cry had no effect: Melissa collided with the earl and the deadly blade flew up, ripping through Sir Richard’s sleeve and into the soft flesh of his arm.

There was silence. Melissa stared at Sir Richard, a sob catching in her throat as she saw the ugly stain darkening the sleeve of his coat.

‘Oh you are wounded! Let me help you out of your coat. We must bind up the cut.’

‘Thank you.’ Over her head Sir Richard glanced at Aldringham. ‘Let us hope honour is satisfied now, Jason.’

‘I would not have touched you.’

‘I know that.’

Melissa was helping Sir Richard out of his coat, but at these words she paused.

‘Do you mean he would have missed you if I had not …? Oh my dear sir, it was so
wrong
of me to embroil you in my concerns!’ Sir Richard winced as she tore the ruined sleeve away from the wound. ‘It is not deep, thank heaven. I can bind it up with my neckerchief until the surgeon can attend you.’

‘No, no surgeon. We don’t want this business broadcast all over the county. Bind it tightly and that will suffice until I get to London.’ He stared at the earl and said pointedly, ‘Lady Aldringham has placed herself under my protection. If she insists on continuing to Town, I will take her.’

‘As you wish.’

Sir Richard allowed himself to be pushed down on to a chair while Melissa began to wind her neckerchief around his arm.

‘My lady begged me to help her because she thinks you do not care for her.’

‘Not care? Is it lack of care that has had me chasing all over the country today?’ demanded Aldringham savagely.

‘You do not do so out of affection,’ retorted Melissa, not looking up from her task. ‘It is merely your wish to be master. You are sorry that you married me. I know it, and I will not watch you grow ever more consumed with regret.’

‘So you ran off with Caseby? Very noble.’

‘Sir Richard had little choice. I waylaid him on the road and persuaded him to carry me to London. It is my intention to retire from society and no longer be a burden to any of you.’

The earl banged his fist on the table, making the dishes rattle.

‘Damn you, woman! You expect me to sit back and let you run off to live God knows where? You have no money of your own—’

Melissa turned to face him, her eyes bright with anger.

‘I will earn my living!’

‘Oh yes. The scandalmongers will enjoy themselves enormously. Lady Aldringham leaves her husband, preferring to live in poverty.’

‘I shall change my name and find a suitable position out of town.’

‘And what will you live on, your mother’s settlement?’

Stung, she retorted bitterly, ‘It would be better than living on your charity!’

‘My
charity?’

The earl moved forward, and Melissa stepped back behind Sir Richard’s chair, her own anger at boiling point.

‘You do not want me, you never really did, and now that the novelty has worn off you find yourself saddled with a wife you do not love!’ She dashed a hand across her eyes. ‘You are not happy, and neither am I, watching you, knowing you bitterly regret the devil’s bargain you have made - I am leaving so that you may forget you ever had a wife!’

The earl’s countenance was pale, his lips compressed into a thin line.

‘You gave me your word, madam.’

‘Yes, but then I did not know - c-can you deny that you married me because of my resemblance to your mother?’

‘What?’ the earl stared at her. ‘How in damnation did you get hold of that hair-brained notion?’

‘The Duchess—’

‘Ah, of course. My grandmother.’ He rubbed one white hand across his eyes. ‘Did she tell you that I have been harbouring a cankerous resentment for my mother all these years? The truth is that I rarely think of her, and when I do it is with compassion, for I understand the poor woman suffered much before she died.

‘No my dear, I married you because you had breached my defences and taken for yourself a power I vowed I would give to no woman.’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘Is it not ironic, that even as I was striving to win you,
I
was being conquered?’

Sir Richard sat very still: the tension swirled around him, but the two protagonists had forgotten his existence.

‘Melissa.’ The earl’s voice was gentle as he reached out and pulled her towards him.

She could no longer hold back her tears and, taking out a handkerchief, Aldringham gently wiped her cheeks. ‘Do you really believe I regret our marriage?’

She did not look up, preferring to fix her eyes on the diamond winking at her from the froth of lace at his throat.

‘Of c-course! At first you were so angry you wanted only to p-punish me, then when you began to regret that you had trapped yourself, you started being k-kind to me!’

Sir Richard was surprised into a laugh. ‘You object to his kindness? My poor girl—’

‘Be quiet, Dick.’

Sir Richard rose and went unsteadily to the door.

‘I’m going to order the horses to be put to. When I come back I am quite prepared to carry Lady Aldringham on to London, if that is her wish. Is that understood?’

‘Perfectly,’ replied the earl, keeping his eyes fixed on Melissa. He put one hand under her chin and forced her to look up at him. ‘Absurd child. I was kind to you because I love you -1 think I have always loved you from the first night you climbed into my carriage, almost frightened out of your senses and trying to be so brave.’

She gazed up at him shyly.

‘I thought perhaps you hated me and then … then that you did not care at all.’

His eyes burned into her, making her tremble so that she was glad to lean against him.

‘While I have been searching for you today I vowed that I would give everything I possess to have you come back with me. But if you are determined you cannot live with me, then I will buy you a house - as many houses as you choose - and give you an allowance. I will even promise never to see you again if that is your wish, but don’t leave me like this, Melissa, without a word, and without giving me an opportunity to make amends for the wrong I have done.’

The humble note in his voice tore at her heart. She gazed up at him, putting one hand to his cheek. He covered it with his own, drawing it down to press a kiss into the palm.

‘You love me?’ she said in wonder. ‘But I thought—’

‘I know what you thought. I frightened you once, and dared not risk doing so again.’

‘You never frightened me, Aldringham. Not really,’ she confessed. ‘I love you too much for that, except perhaps when you are in a rage.’

It seemed to Lady Aldringham that she was then swept into a crushing embrace from which she emerged feeling bruised and shaken, but exquisitely happy. She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed contentedly.

There was a light scratching at the door and Sir Richard entered. Melissa broke away from her husband, but the smile still lingered on her lips, and there was no disguising the glow of happiness shining in her eyes.

Sir Richard glanced from one to the other.

‘Am I to understand that you have resolved your differences?’

‘Not all of them, Dick, but we have made a start.’ Aldringham held out his hand to his wife, who took it, smiling.

Sir Richard grinned.

‘Well thank heaven for that. If ever a couple were smelling of April and May! And I think I was correct in my judgement, ma’am: Jason is not one to sacrifice his happiness for another. I fear you think too highly of him, my lady.’

Melissa hung her head, but her lips quivered.

‘Indeed, sir, I believe I was in danger of turning my husband into a saint.’

‘Witch!’ murmured the earl.

Sir Richard took the lady’s hand and bowed over it.

‘Then I take it you will not be travelling on to London. I am pleased for you, ma’am. Jason can be a devil at times, as you must know, but I understand you know how to keep him in check.’

Melissa blushed at the knowing look in Sir Richard’s eyes and Aldringham, drawing his wife into his arms, said over her head, ‘You have obviously been listening to servants’ gossip, my friend. My wife did not use the whip on
me
, she merely threatened our undesirable guests. And I warn you, Richard, that you are quickly becoming one of their number. I suggest you take yourself off. I have wasted too much time already, and my wife and I have a lot to make up.’

Sir Richard looked at Melissa. ‘Well, ma’am, shall you be safe with this nobleman?’

Melissa looked up at her husband, a smile trembling on her lips. ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘I would not be anywhere else but here.’

Copyright © 2002 by Melinda Hammond

Originally published by Robert Hale (London) [0709071175]

Electronically published in 2008 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228