Sweet Hoyden (13 page)

A great roar rose up from the crowd as the balloon's mooring ropes were
severed. Both Pandora and her husband gave their attention now to the ascent.
The basket shuddered and once faltered as it rose from the ground. The earl shaded
his eyes with his hand, to see better the balloon as it rose unsteadily into
the sky.

'What a magnificent sight," he declared.

'It has been a very agreeable afternoon," she responded.

When the balloon grew smaller and more distant, the earl transferred his
attention to Pandora again. "Madame, do I dare to hope you will attend
Lady Hartingford's rout?"

'Lady St. James informs me we are invited. There will be Italian singers to
entertain us, I understand."

'Signora Marella, who is presently the rage of
London
."

'I would not want to miss that for the world," she added with a smile
that dimpled her cheeks.

'Then it will be my pleasure to see you there."

He began to escort her to where Lady St. James was awaiting her in the
carriage. "Mayhap Lady Asheville will be returned to
London
by then."

'Alas, that is in grave doubt, madame."

'Oh, for shame, Lord Asheville. I had hoped to have
the very great pleasure of meeting her at last."

'My visit to Brocklesby Hall has merely confirmed that it is like Lady Asheville
will remain there for the rest of the Season."

As he spoke, Pandora drew in a deep breath, feeling indignant, but when
they reached Rosamond's carriage, she looked at him and her lips bore a smile.

'That is a great misfortune for her."

'Indeed, but my wife has a great sense of duty, and her cousin…"

'I thought it was your cousin. I was quite persuaded you said so to Sir
Henry a short while ago."

The earl looked nonplussed. "In truth he is not a close relative at
all, in fact a very distant one. We just call him cousin for ease of
explanation. In any event he is in bad health, with no immediate sign of
recovery. I have recently seen him for myself."

As he handed her into the carriage, she couldn't help but retort, "How
I admire her, my lord." She sat down next to her friend, who was watching
and listening with great interest. "It is also evident to me from the way
you always speak of Lady Asheville that you harbor an uncommon fondness for
your wife."

Pandora was at once rewarded by the look of astonishment that came onto his
face. She sat back in the squabs and emitted a long sigh of satisfaction as
the driver flicked his whip over the backs of the team and the carriage set off
across the field, leaving
Asheville
to stare after her.

NINE

By the time Signora Marella, the Italian contralto, was introduced to the
select audience at Lady Hartingford's house, Lord Asheville had not arrived at
the gathering. Gowned magnificently in chartreuse silk and wearing diamonds
wherever they could be accommodated, Pandora had circulated among the guests,
apparently at ease but anxiously awaiting the earl's arrival. It was, she
reflected sourly, almost as it was during their courtship, only then it had
been much more enjoyable. Intimacies could be exchanged with friends who were
similarly engaged in the search for a suitable match. As she searched her
memory of that time, she could recall no intimation of his heartless nature.

When the contralto began her first aria, Pandora settled in her seat to
enjoy the performance. In a way she was glad the earl had not, after all,
decided to attend the evening's entertainment. His absence meant that, for
once, she could enjoy the evening without first thinking on every word she
uttered. In his company she had to be constantly on her i.n guard, for fear of
saying something that would give her away. That difficulty was something she
had not anticipated at the outset of the pose. In truth, becoming Madame de
Chambray had become harder work than she had foreseen.

Everything she did had to be treated as a novelty, and accordingly,
pursuits that were familiar to her had to be regarded as new and diverting. In
addition she was obliged to feign ignorance about people she knew all too well.
Fortunately one of Pandora's attributes was being quick-witted and never before
had she been so in need of it.

The music was a delight, and it was easy to see why Signora Marella had
become the rage of the ton that Season. Listening to her dulcet tones was
certainly easier on Pandora's feet than the more usual balls and routs she
attended. As Signora Marella trilled, she allowed her mind to reflect upon her
encounter with the earl at Brocklesby Hall. How easy it would have been to
accept his truce. At this very moment she would be receiving her dues as the
Countess of Asheville instead of playing the part of some nonexistent emigree.
In a small way she wished she had given in to the temptation of accepting the
olive branch he had offered, but the proud
Kettering
part of her knew the play must be
continued until the last act was finished, and she was now more than ever
determined that it would.

A movement in the chair next to hers caused her to look around with a great
deal of hope and a little fear, to see Sir Aldan Buckley settling into the
seat. The hope faded, and her fear became apprehension. Sir Aldan smiled and
nodded to her, something to which she responded halfheartedly before returning
her attention to the efforts of Signora Marella.

The Earl of Asheville walked slowly down the curved staircase of his house
in

Hanover Square

.
He was dressed for evening in a coat of dark blue broadcloth, with a fall of
finest lace at his throat and cuffs. As he came down the stairs, he reflected
how quickly Pandora had made the place her own since
their marriage. Since she had gone, it had seemed terribly quiet, something he
had not noticed or minded before their marriage. Now the silence was
beginning to be irksome, although he was reluctant to admit that, even to
himself.

The sound of the carriage pulling onto the forecourt brightened his
spirits. The thought went through his mind that perhaps Pandora had, after all,
repented her wrongs and was returning to tell him so. He hurried down the last
few steps and across the wide expanse of hall. A footman dressed in green-and-gold
livery sprang to open the door.

The earl went to greet the carriage's passenger, but at the sight of the
lady who was just then alighting he look aghast.

'Mama!" he exclaimed.

Of all people she was the last he would hope to see in town at this moment.
The severe-looking matron, clad in black bombazine, allowed him to kiss her
papery cheek.

'
Asheville
,
'tis good to see you in such high feather."

'You look to be in rude health, Mama."

'And so I am."

'This is a great surprise," he said, forcing a good deal of heartiness
into his manner.

In truth, as he recovered a little of his composure, he was horrified she
should choose to arrive at this very time.

'

'Twas a sudden whim, I confess, and I am greatly
heartened by the warmth of your welcome, m' boy."

He led her up to the small sitting room, where she seated herself by the
fire. The earl hurried away to give instructions for his mother's rooms to be
made ready, and when he returned a few minutes later, he was more composed.

With a hand that shook slightly, he removed his jeweled snuffbox from his
waistcoat pocket, took a pinch before he put it away again, and all the while
his formidable mother regarded him with great severity.

'

'Tis unusual to see you in town nowadays, Mama.
Have the diversions of Tunbridge Wells palled already? I feared that they
would."

'In that you are quite wrong,
Asheville
. I still find Tunbridge
Wells a very tolerable place to live and am like to continue doing so for the
foreseeable future."

Hopefully he ventured, "Then it is like you will not be staying for
long in
London
,
which you have grown to dislike."

'That is quite so. I shall remain in town for only as long as it takes to
settle one or two matters I consider of some import."

'Ah, now I understand, Mama," he said with false heartiness. "You
wish to patronize your mantua maker, milliner, and so on? That is quite
understandable."

'That is not my reason for making that abominable journey. Do you think I have
windmills in my head, like some green girl?"

'Indeed not, Mama."

'My sole reason for coming up to town is to have a coze with my son on a
matter which has come to my attention of late."

Just then the earl experienced a good deal of foreboding. "It must be
a matter of great import to bring you to town with such haste."

'Indeed, it is, so, let us not mince words any longer. I have received a
letter from Meg Chisholm, the contents of which have greatly alarmed me, I
confess."

'The queen of the tattle-baskets," the earl responded sarcastically.
"You should not concern yourself about anything she imparts."

'Don't be so insolent. Lady Chisholm is an old and honored friend."

The earl looked penitent. "I beg pardon, Mama. The title was not one I
bestowed upon her."

'I have not come here to discuss Meg Chisholm, so do not divert my
thoughts."

'No, Mama," the earl responded with a sigh.

'Lady Asheville is the reason for my visit—your wife."

'Pandora."

The dowager made a noise that indicated her irritation. "It is
perfectly plain to whom I refer. It has been brought to my attention that your
wife of no more than three months is now living at Brocklesby Hall while you
remain here in
London
.
Is that true,
Asheville
?"

Once again he drew a sigh. "Yes, Mama, it is."

'I confess I am at a loss to know what to think on it."

'You may be assured, it is nothing for you to be in a fidge about,
Mama," her son answered smoothly.

'Indeed, you are incorrect there. It troubles my head and is like to do so until
I have an explanation. How do you suppose you can fill your nursery when Lady
Asheville is in one place and you are in another?"

' Tis a parting of short duration, you may be certain,
and nothing over which you should get into a pucker."

'I find it most unusual and quite alarming. Admit it,
Asheville
, you and she have parted brass
rags."

The earl laughed. "No, Mama. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Pandora and I are in perfect accord."

'Then why… ?"

He could not meet his mother's keen gaze and instead stared into the leaping
flames of the fire. " 'Tis most unfortunate, I
own, but a distant relative of hers—injured most grievously during the war in
the
Americas
—is
in need of nursing. Pandora thought it incumbent upon her to bear him company
for a short while in order to raise his spirits a little. She is adept, you
must own, in doing so."

The dowager looked astonished. "That goosecap nursing
an invalid? That is a notion I find exceeding difficult to
comprehend."

Rallying now, the earl chided, "Truly, Mama, you have no need to
trouble your head on this matter."

'Your marriage is of great import. You took an unconscionable time in
choosing a bride. I'd have thought the last thing you wanted was to part, however
short a period it may be."

'Rely upon it, Mama, neither of us relishes the necessity."

'That is all very well, but you have a duty. The Ashevilles are an old and
great family, as you well know. Your ancestors date back directly to William
the Conqueror. The line must be perpetuated without delay. I was of the
opinion you were fully aware of it, but I am not so certain that crackbrained
wife of yours is."

The earl was fast becoming irritated by this oft repeated tale, but he
scarcely showed it. "I assure you, in the
fullness of time you will have many grandchildren to gladden your heart,
Mama."

The dowager grunted. "You have always known my opinion of your choice
of bride,
Asheville
."

'Yes, Mama," he replied with the air of one who was sorely tried,
"but at least you can have no quarrel with her antecedents."

'Nor I have, but the chit has windmills in her head. I have always thought
so. When you decided to offer for her, I confess, I could not envisage how you
could deal with her."

'I assure you I do, and this parting is of a very temporary nature. It is
all a nothing."

'In truth it surprises me to hear of her charity."

Lady Asheville conceded. "Mayhap I have judged the chit wrongly after
all."

Her son allowed himself a small smile of relief. "I have always told
you so, Mama. Pandora has virtues that are not always apparent."

'Her portion was ample, I grant you," his mother added.

Seeking to end the discussion on this note, the earl took out his gold
hunter and glanced at it. Noting the gesture, his mother, her manner considerably
softened now, told him. "No doubt you have an engagement this evening, and
in view of my unexpected arrival, you need not feel obliged to remain at home
on my account."

'It is a long-standing engagement; otherwise be assured I would remain at
home to bear you company." He bent to kiss her again, and as he
straightened up, he added, "Now you have contrived to reassure yourself
as to the state of my marriage, I trust you will feel free to return to Tunbridge
Wells. I know how tedious you find
London
."

'I am not so young anymore, my dear. The journey was a tiring one, and I
feel quite done up, so I shall remain only long enough to regain my spirits.
Naturally it would be tolerable if I was to see your wife before I return to
Tunbridge Wells."