Melinda Hammond (6 page)

His words lay heavily upon her spirits:
it might as well be you as another.
Her heart sank.

‘I understand, my lord.’

‘Good. Now, let us finish our journey.’

As they travelled towards London, Melissa watched the passing scenery and allowed her thoughts to wander. She was surprised that she was so calm, travelling alone in a closed carriage with a notorious rake. She had to admit that her knowledge of the species was poor, but according to the novels she had read, she should have been in hysterics, and furiously repulsing his amorous advances. But the earl made no such advances, and she realized now that the novels had failed her miserably. How was a maiden supposed to act when her abductor merely lounged in his corner, apparently asleep?

At that moment the earl opened his eyes and surprised her look.

‘Well, madam, do I pass inspection?’

She felt the blood warming her cheeks but answered as calmly as she could.

‘I did not mean to stare, sir.’

‘What were you thinking, child?’

‘I was wondering why you wish to marry me, sir.’

He sat up and took out an exquisite gilt snuff box, helping himself to a pinch before he answered her. Then he looked at her, his eyes glinting.

‘You wish to know the truth? Then I will tell you. When I first saw you in Bath I thought you pretty enough for a mild flirtation, to while away the time in that dull city. Then your scorn made me determined to master you. As a mistress you might find your promise to me too difficult to keep.’

‘If you doubt my word, sir—’

‘Oh I don’t doubt you
mean
to keep it, Melissa, but if, for instance, I should decide to beat you, you might consider your promise null and void.’ He saw the colour drain from her cheeks, and wondered why he kept baiting her, when it gave him such little pleasure. He laughed harshly. ‘Don’t worry, Miss Langham! Depraved as you think me I do not beat women! But to continue:

as my wife, you are mine, body and soul.’

‘Oh no, my lord. I have promised to be yours on any terms, but that only gives you my body. My soul remains my own.’

‘Oh?’

Melissa did not mistake the menace behind the earl’s soft utterance and she forced herself to meet his piercing stare.

‘My soul will never be yours, Aldringham.’

‘You must learn not to contradict me, Melissa. I will master you completely, my dear, until you beg me for a little kindness!’

His words sent a familiar chill through her, but Melissa would not own to it. Instead she pretended to consider the matter.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘in that case we shall have a very uncomfortable time of it!’

To her relief, he laughed.

‘How old are you, Miss Langham?’

‘Two and twenty, sir. If you are wondering why I am unmarried, my aunt and uncle live very retired in Wiltshire.’

‘That was not my thought, madam. I was wondering how you have reached such an age without being murdered!’

A mischievous gleam twinkled in her eyes.

‘I am generally considered very well behaved, my lord.’

‘Then you have lived in very odd company, Melissa!’

She laughed. ‘No, you wrong them. A little dull, perhaps, but perfectly respectable.’

‘Unlike myself.’

‘Why yes. But,’ she added kindly, ‘I doubt if anyone has ever called you
dull!’

* * * *

The coach eventually rumbled into London, and Melissa looked about her with interest as they rattled through the crowded streets. She had never seen so many people before, street hawkers plying their wares, a ragged urchin sweeping a crossing for a gentleman in the hope of earning a penny, baggage wagons and vegetable carts jostling for space with smart chaises and travelling carriages. At last they reached Carlestone House, where Aldringham led his companion into a small but modish saloon to await Lady Carlestone. The earl turned to Melissa.

‘I must insist upon your discretion, my dear, if we are to avoid a scandal. However, if you would prefer it, I will tell Lady Carlestone the truth.’

‘I cannot see that that would achieve anything, other than the discomfiture of several persons.’

Aldringham smiled mockingly, but turned aside as the doors opened to admit his sister.

‘Jason! Fie on you my dear! You have not called on me for an age!’ Lady Carlestone ran forward, her hands outstretched towards her brother.

‘Francesca!’

While Aldringham greeted Lady Carlestone, Melissa took the opportunity of observing her. There was a marked resemblance between brother and sister, although my lady, some years older than her brother, had a softer look in her blue eyes, and the black hair was liberally streaked with grey.

‘Francesa, let me introduce to you Miss Melissa Langham.’ He saw the surprise in his sister’s face and added quietly, ‘My future bride.’

Melissa bit back a smile at the incredulity on Lady Carlestone’s face. However, the lady made a brave attempt to recover herself, and came forward to take Melissa’s hand.

‘How do you do, my dear? Jason, I wish you had told me of your intention to marry. I would have been more prepared.’

Aldringham took out his snuffbox and helped himself to a pinch.

‘You see, Francesca, our betrothal has been secret for some time,’ he said blandly, dusting a minute speck from his immaculate coat. ‘There was some reluctance by Melissa’s guardian to consent to the match. I was finally ... er ... forced to bring my bride to London.’

Melissa watched Lady Carlestone’s growing bewilderment and some demon of mischief prompted her to add, ‘You see, ma’am, my guardian was about to force me into a - a distasteful marriage. It was not to be borne.’

“Your guardian opposed a match with
Aldringham
?
’
cried my lady. ‘But he is the biggest prize on the market.’

Melissa lowered her eyes, her lashes veiling their mischievous twinkle.

‘My guardian is a very - sober gentleman, ma’am. With
religious
inclinations.’

‘Ah, so he disapproves of my brother’s dissolute ways, does he? Well, that is quite understandable. I have been warning Jason for years that he should settle down. I am pleased to see that he has finally heeded my advice.’

Aldringham’s eyes gleamed appreciatively, but he said gravely, ‘I would be grateful if you could take Miss Langham into your home for a few days, ‘Cesca, while I arrange matters here in Town.’

‘Well, I don’t think - Carlestone is in Paris and does not return for weeks . . . .’

‘Then there can be no problem.’ Ruthlessly, he interrupted her tangled objections. My lady threw him a look of dislike.

‘It is all very well to talk that way, Jason, but you know what my dear Carlestone will say!’

‘I imagine he will be pleased to see me tied at last. Would you refuse to help me, ‘Cesca? I have never asked it of you before.’

Melissa watched as he gave his sister his rare, warm smile. She realized that Lady Carlestone was as powerless to resist its appeal as she herself would be.

‘Oh, very well, Jason. Miss Langham may stay.’ She tugged at the bell-rope, smiling at Melissa. ‘My dresser, Howker shall show you to your room, and you can refresh yourself before dinner.’

Thinking that Aldringham would require her to act her part convincingly, Melissa laid one hand upon his sleeve. She looked up soulfully into his eyes and murmured, ‘You will not leave without saying goodbye?’

She saw his lips twitch, but he replied gravely, ‘No, my dear. I shall come back here to dine. You need not fear.’

She followed Howker from the room, wishing that she could stay to hear the conversation she was sure would follow. Her imaginings were very near the truth, for no sooner had the door closed behind her than my lady turned to her brother.

‘Now, Jason,’ she said sharply, ‘the truth, if you please.’

Aldringham looked hurt. ‘But my dear, you have just heard it.’

‘I heard a fairy-tale that may fool that child, but I do not believe a word of it! Do you really intend to marry her?’

‘Of course.’

‘Jason, have you considered? The match will be the
on-dit
of the Town for months! Besides, I do not believe you love the child.’

‘Lord, ‘Cesca, what has that to say to anything? Did you love Carlestone when you married him?’

‘No, but it was a very good match, arranged by Papa, and - oh, fie on you, Jason. That is not the point. Why marry the chit if you don’t love her?’

Aldringham lowered himself into a chair by the fire.

‘My dear sister, you have been telling me these ten years past that I should marry!’

‘But not some country miss! I want you to marry someone from your own circle, a woman who knows your ways and won’t fly into hysterics every time you find
another interest.’

He smiled slightly. ‘Miss Langham is not given to hysterics. We understand each other tolerably well.’

‘It’s plain the girl’s head over heels in love with you, Jason. She probably thinks of you as the hero from some novel.’

He grinned. ‘Oh I don’t think so, ‘Cesca. Not quite the hero!’

Lady Carlestone did not understand her brother’s humour and chose to ignore it. ‘Jason, pray consider what you are about! You cannot conceive what it will be like, tied to this child. She will bore you within the month.’

‘I doubt it.’

Lady Carlestone took a turn about the room, shaking her head. At last she stopped before him.

‘If you have any compassion, then consider her plight. She will be married to a man of no morals, a libertine who has never bothered to hide his - his
affaires
from the eyes of the world; you will surely break her heart.’

‘If you have quite finished!’ He jumped up and walked to the window, scowling out at the street. ‘She will learn,’ he said harshly. ‘She is young. I will teach her to be a comfortable wife for me.’

‘A comfortable wife! Goodness, Jason. I vow you frighten me with your black looks. I should think you talked of an enemy, not your future bride.’

He smiled suddenly, dispelling the harsh look.

‘I promise you, Francesca, I will not harm the child, but I have no wish for a clinging wife. Now, my coachman is walking the horses in the street, and if I am to be back in time for dinner I must go.’

He left upon the word, and his sister made her way slowly to her room, her head buzzing with conjecture.

* * * *

Aldringham returned just as Lady Carlestone was leaving her room, and they made their way to the drawing-room to await Melissa. Remembering their conversation that afternoon, there was a slight tension in the air, although neither of them mentioned the earl’s forthcoming marriage. When Melissa entered the room, Lady Carlestone stole a glance at her brother, trying to detect any sign of affection in his greeting. Privately, she thought Melissa looked very striking in her demure gown of dark green, a single string of pearls her only ornament. She also realized that she looked absurdly young and vulnerable. These thoughts did not show, however, as she led Melissa into the room, and she kept up a constant flow of light chatter until dinner was announced. Melissa did her best to join in the conversation at dinner, answering my lady’s questions as best she could. Only Aldringham appeared completely at his ease, although he took little part in the exchanges. Both ladies were relieved when he took his leave soon after they had finished their meal, and after a searching look at Melissa’s pale face, Lady Carlestone abandoned any thoughts of prolonging the evening and suggested her guest should retire early after such an exhausting day.

Once in the privacy of her room, Melissa undressed quickly and dismissed the serving girl sent to wait upon her. She blew out the candle, and lay in the curtained bed, considering her situation. It seemed inevitable now that she would marry Aldringham. At times during the day she had found herself to be quite in charity with him, and the idea of being his wife was even pleasurable, but now, in the quiet of the night, the thought chilled her. True, she had returned the notes of hand to Sir Joseph in her letter of farewell, and she knew her uncle to be free of that debt, but she had given her word to the earl, and she would not go back on that. An inner voice told her she would regret her action if she married the earl, and prompted her to take the whole tale to her hostess. Melissa considered the idea for a moment but she was shrewd enough to guess that even a public declaration of her situation would not save her from Aldringham, for even if he cared for any opinion other than his own, his rage would probably overwhelm him.

She found herself picturing the rake who was soon to be her husband, and in her drowsy mind imagined that he was looking at her with the same warm smile he had given his sister. With something very like a sigh, she dragged her thoughts away from such foolish imaginings and tried to consider her situation in a more practical light. If Aldringham insisted on marrying her she would carry out her part of the bargain. She knew that marriages of convenience were common in the earl’s world, and she would do her best not to disappoint him. It was even possible that he might come to appreciate her, given time.

Chapter Six

As Melissa was travelling towards London, Sir Joseph was at his desk in Bath, staring at the pile of notes before him, his own problems temporarily solved. His jovial face was set in unusually sombre lines and there was a grave look in his eyes that was foreign to his nature. There was a quiet knock on the door and the butler entered, carrying a tray bearing a decanter and glass.

‘Thank you, Goring. That will be all.’

‘Goodnight, Sir Joseph.’

Goring glanced at his master before leaving the room, and he later informed his spouse that he had always known there would be trouble from Sir Joseph’s gambling, and why it should be Miss Melissa who had to suffer, he did not know.

When Lady Fryer had been handed Melissa’s letter that morning by a trembling housemaid, the poor lady had lost no time in falling into hysterics, and since her dresser, housekeeper and maid were engaged in calming her ladyship, it was not long before the whole household knew that Miss Melissa had run off with a notorious rake to save the family from ruin. Sir Joseph rarely left his room before noon, but the state of affairs below was soon made known to him by his valet, and he broke his habit to attend his wife.