Melinda Hammond (3 page)

They stood side by side, gazing out at their audience and the earl spoke without looking at her.

‘One or two of the curious may be doing so, of course, but your beauty this evening is quite exceptional.’

She flushed, muttered something incoherent and lapsed into silence. She did not understand this man: the words were flattering, but his lazy drawl indicated nothing but boredom.

One dance,
she told herself.
That is all I have to endure. One dance and then I can be easy again.

He took her hand to begin the dance and Melissa forgot everything except the music. They stepped and gestured, pirouetted and passed each other with graceful ease. Melissa wondered how it could be that they should move so well together, and as the courante drew towards its conclusion she found herself wanting to prolong the moment.

The last notes died away and Lord Aldringham reached for her hand. ‘Will you stay for the minuet?’

She knew she should refuse, take her place beside Lady Fryer, but she could not summon up the will to do so. She found herself taking up her position opposite the earl on the dance floor.

The music swelled and rolled against her senses. Melissa lifted her eyes to the earl’s face and could not look away. He circled around her, his hypnotic gaze holding her eyes so that she was only dimly aware of the other couples on the dance floor. Her body was no longer her own, it moved and swayed in the same rhythm as her partner’s; when he stepped up to her the lace trim of her corsage brushed against his velvet coat. He led her round, first one way then the other, his eyes never leaving her face. She was lost. The music began again, another minuet, and still they danced. There were murmurs of disapproval from some of those mamas sitting on the benches, and even Lady Fryer began to grow uneasy, but Melissa noticed nothing. She was caught in a world outside time, aware only of her partner, the sinuous elegance of his movements as they followed the steps of the minuet and the way her own body swayed and circled around him while the music flowed about her. They were like two birds performing some ritual courtship, their bodies expressing a primeval language she barely understood.

The earl took her hand and led her back to their original positions, bowing as the music ended. Melissa curtsied mechanically to her partner. Her eyes searched his face and, reassured by the smile lurking in his own hard eyes, she was about to speak when another voice broke in.

‘Well, well, very nice, my dear, but time is pressing -your aunt mistook the day - another engagement. Come along Melissa, I am sure the earl won’t ... your servant, my lord!’

In a flurry of half-finished sentences, Sir Joseph caught Melissa’s arm and almost dragged her off the dance floor. The spell broken, she heard the earl laugh softly as her uncle led her away.

‘Sir Joseph, what is it? What has happened?’

Trying to collect her scattered wits, Melissa questioned her uncle, but he merely shook his head and hurried her out of the ballroom. Lady Fryer was waiting at the door and turned to follow them. Outside, the cool of the summer night quickly washed away the remains of Melissa’s stupor and she pulled her arm free from her uncle’s grasp, demanding to know what was wrong.

‘I’ll tell you what is wrong, miss,’ declared Sir Joseph furiously, ‘you have given every tattlemonger in Bath enough fodder for a month!’

‘What?’

‘To dance with only one man all night, and that man the Earl of Aldringham! You are ruined, child, ruined! And you, madam. What were you about to allow Melissa to meet such a man?’

‘Indeed I did not know his reputation!’ cried Lady Fryer, breathless with the effort of keeping up with her husband. ‘Pray you sir, slow your pace, for we are attracting even more unwanted attention by this unseemly haste.’

‘Thank God I decided to look in upon you before going on to supper. Heaven knows where it was leading, with the man blatantly seducing the girl in the middle of the dance floor. He is a rake, Melissa! A hardened libertine. The ruin of more than one poor female’s reputation can be laid at his door! One dance with such a man is enough to risk your good name, miss, but three! And everyone watching the pair of you - you have laid yourself open to the most abhorrent speculation.’

‘Uncle, I beg your pardon. I have no wish to disgrace you - or myself! I cannot tell how it happened that Lord Aldringham persuaded me to dance with him again when I had decided to stand up with him for only one dance. Indeed, sir, if you wish to confine me to the house and forbid the earl to speak to me again I should not object.’

Sir Joseph’s frantic pace slowed a little.

‘Well, puss, I do not wish to punish you, after all you were not to know Aldringham’s reputation. But I do think your acquaintance with the earl should cease.’

‘Well that will be no hardship, Uncle. I truly do not wish for an acquaintance with the man!’

Sir Joseph shook his head. ‘Aye, but there’s the problem. The earl is very powerful; I should not like to cross him. He would make a dangerous enemy. We cannot cut him direct.’

‘Well, I wish you will tell me what we are to do!’ demanded Lady Fryer. ‘First you drag Melissa off the dance floor before the eyes of everyone in Bath, now you say we must acknowledge the acquaintance!’

‘Melissa must avoid the man. You say you met him at the Pump Room? Then you must both stay away for a few days, and if you meet him in the street, a common, distant bow will suffice. Your aunt tells me you have spoken to the earl but twice, Melissa, so let us hope that we have quelled his interest before it becomes too fixed.’

Sir Joseph seemed perfectly satisfied with this solution, but Melissa wondered just how successful such tactics would be if the earl was determined to pursue her.

* * * *

A week of living indoors followed for Melissa, who tried not to spend too long each day looking out at the inviting May sunshine. After two days, Lady Fryer resumed her visits to the Pump Room, reasoning that they could not all live as hermits. Having procured vouchers for the Assembly Rooms, Lady Fryer was disinclined to forego the treat. Promising to chaperon her niece very closely, she overcame Sir Joseph’s reluctance with a day of tears and sulks and the following week Melissa found herself once more accompanying her aunt into the crowded ballroom, Miss Langham’s eyes darkening angrily as she realized those around her were whispering behind their fans. She knew that the gossip would eventually be pushed aside by some other scandal, but it was difficult to ignore the giggles and glances.

It was quite late in the evening when she saw the earl. Even as she spotted him, a cluster of diamonds winking from the lace at his throat, she was determined to speak no more than two words to him. Yet a moment later she found herself again accompanying him on to the dance floor. She could never afterwards be sure how he had contrived to take his unwilling partner to join a set that was forming. She had certainly tried to snub him.

Remembering their last encounter, she kept her eyes lowered and refused to allow herself one glance at his face.

“You have not been to the Pump Room recently, Miss Langham?’

‘No, sir. I did not choose to go.’

‘That is unfortunate, since I extended my visit here specifically to further our acquaintance.’

Melissa closed her lips firmly against a reply. During the first part of the dance, the earl tried several times to open a conversation, but each time he met with the same icy response. As indifferent to her coldness as to her setdowns, he lapsed into silence. As he suspected, after a few moments she spoke.

‘You must know, sir, that your attentions towards me are - are not welcome.’

‘Because of my reputation?’

‘Of course.’

‘Alas that I should be forced now to suffer for my youthful follies.’

Melissa was undeceived by the sorrowful note. She replied with a false smile, ‘Well, sir, now that we understand each other, pray do not remain in Bath for my sake.’

‘Come, ma’am, how am I to leave while you think so ill of me?’

She chuckled. ‘If you stay I hardly think you will do anything to alter my opinion!’

Melissa then recollected that she had abandoned her aloof attitude and returned only monosyllabic answers to his comments for the duration of the dance.

The music ended and the earl firmly placed her hand in his arm. Melissa put up her chin, aware of the interested stares they were attracting. She tried to pull her hand away, but found his lordship’s grip too tight, making it impossible to free herself without an unseemly struggle.

‘What, would you give the gossipmongers even more to interest them? Ignore them, my dear, they will soon grow bored with it.’

Melissa bit her lip: the laughter she detected in his soft drawl made her fume inwardly, but she determined not to respond to his taunts. When they at last came to her aunt, Melissa made Aldringham a stiff little curtsy and immediately turned away. In no way discomposed, the earl bowed to Lady Fryer and after a brief enquiry into her health, he walked off. Lady Fryer fanned herself vigorously as she watched his retreating form.

‘Well, your uncle cannot say that we have encouraged the earl this evening! It was agreed that we could not snub him, but having allowed one dance, you need not stand up with him again, Melissa. Stay close to me, my love, and we will make sure he has no opportunity to make you the object of his gallantry tonight!’

His lordship, however, far from seeking her out, paid no further heed to Miss Langham and quit the Assembly Rooms soon after, leaving her to decide whether she was relieved or disappointed.

The next morning, her aunt suggested they might try a little trip to the Pump Room, since the earl’s interest appeared to be waning, but Melissa declined, pleading a headache. When her aunt had left the house, Melissa took herself off to walk in Sydney Gardens with her maid. The exercise did much to restore her spirits, but as she was crossing Pulteney Bridge a familiar drawling voice behind her made her jump.

‘Good morning, Miss Langham.’

Melissa stopped and looked back. Lord Aldringham had ridden up on a magnificent black horse. She gave a brief nod then turned and walked on, but the black merely trotted along beside her.

‘My dear girl, do stop for a moment, so that I may dismount.’

Melissa flushed at this term of address, but biting her lip she waited while the earl jumped down and handed his reins to his groom. She wondered why her pulse should be racing so fast. They were in a busy street with her maid in attendance: he could not harm her. But nothing could dispel the feeling that the earl could do anything, if he so wished. She resumed her walk.

‘Pray do not interrupt your ride for me, my lord.’

Aldringham was unaffected by her chilly manner and fell into step beside her.

‘My dear Miss Langham, you do not imagine that I would prefer a gallop across the hills to a few moments in your company?’ His drawling tone robbed the words of any compliment.

‘I can think of nothing better than to be riding out on such a beautiful day.’ She sighed.

‘Then why do you not do so?’

‘We make but a short stay in Bath. It was not considered worth the expense to bring my hack.’

‘If riding gives you so much pleasure surely it would be a small price to pay.’

‘Not at all, when one is obliged to consider economy.’

‘Are you in such straitened circumstances, Miss Langham?’

‘No more than most visitors to Bath. It is merely that I prefer to be plain about it.’

His mouth curved into a smile.

‘I suspect your plain speaking is designed to dampen my interest.’

‘I sincerely hope it will do so.’

‘And why should you hope that, ma’am?’

‘Because
your
reputation will not enhance
mine,
my lord.’

‘And if I give you my word to be - ah - discreet?’

She laughed. ‘I think discretion would sit very ill on you, sir! You ride into Bath on a showy hunter that will have every buck discussing its finer points in the clubs tonight; you have only to enter a room for every eye to turn towards you. You might not seek attention, my lord, but you most certainly command it!’

‘And you, Miss Langham, are a most outspoken female.’

She turned her wide gaze upon him.

‘My lord, are you so
very
wealthy?’

Surprise and amusement replaced the mocking look. ‘I am generally considered so.’

'Ah.’

The earl was not used to young ladies looking at him almost pityingly, and he was not at all sure that he liked it.

‘I am at a loss to understand you, ma’am.’

Hearing the cold note in his voice, Melissa knew he was rattled, and she was aware of a sharp satisfaction. She threw him a quick glance and explained in a kindly tone, ‘I did not see how you had become such a notorious rake, when you have so little address. But of course,’ she continued, ignoring the choking sounds from her companion, ‘if you have a fortune, that would explain it.’

The earl gave a shout of laughter and Miss Langham looked up, surprised by the genuine amusement in his response. It had softened his harsh features, and the sneering look had vanished from his face. He controlled himself with an effort and grinned down at her.

‘My dear girl, are you always so frank?’

She fought down the desire to return the smile. ‘Only with people I do not care for sir!’

The amusement in his eyes grew. ‘So you wish me to understand you don’t care for me? Have you forgotten when we first danced together?’

She flushed. ‘That was a mistake. Since then I have learned more about you.’

‘Well, child, I admire your spirit, and your honesty, but you really cannot think that I would give up the chase at such a small set-back.’

‘Well, I had hoped so,’ she replied frankly, ‘for you see I really have no wish to receive your attentions.’

‘That, madam, is not for you to decide. It amuses me to pursue you, and I
will
be successful, you know.’

‘What,’ she murmured, ‘when I do not care for your fortune? What else could possibly aid your suit?’

‘You have a sharp tongue, madam. I fear it may cause you, ah, shall we say, some
inconvenience
if you do not guard it.’ His voice was silky.