Sweet Hoyden (14 page)

The earl bit back a cry of irritation. Females, he thought vexedly. They
were the very devil. However, he continued to smile at his mother as he replied,
"It is quite like that you will. Pandora will be very soon back at my side where she belongs."

'That news gladdens my heart, m' boy."

He moved away from her quickly, saying, "I will bid you a very good
night, Mama."

Just as he reached the door, she said in an uncharacteristically casual
manner, "It is, of course, none of my concern,
Asheville
. You are a grown man long out of
leading strings, but it would do better if you were to delay taking a chere amie until after there is an heir in your nursery."

Lord Asheville turned on his heel, his irritation apparent now. "Mama,
what are you about?"

The dowager smiled sweetly. "The French doxy with whom you have been
seen abroad of late. No doubting she makes exceeding pleasant company, but
remember, duty always comes before pleasure. Recall
that is the motto on the family coat of arms. Mayhap you should read it the
very next time you climb into that phaeton of yours."

'Madame de Chambray, for 'tis obvious it is to her you refer, is no doxy.
She is a cousin of Lady St. James and has suffered great deprivation in her
flight from danger. It is incumbent upon all of us to ease the sorrow of these
emigrees. It could, after all, have happened to us."

Lady Asheville was evidently horrified at the notion. "Here in
England
? What
tush,
Asheville
.
Whatever can you be thinking of to suggest it? There
was never any possibility of it happening here. The English have too much good
sense."

'Nevertheless, Mama, I have merely helped to ease her pain a little."

'Very commendable of you, my dear," his mother replied dryly. " 'Tis to be hoped, you would do exactly the same if
the lady in question had been hagridden."

'What makes you think she is not?"

'I take leave to doubt it. Well, you may go along to your pleasures now. I
have delayed you for long enough."

Still appearing piqued, the earl bowed low before her before he made a
grateful exit. As he came down the stairs once more, he was no longer looking
forward to the company of Madame de Chambray. The arrival of his mother had
quite spoiled the anticipation of that particular pleasure.

Seated on the other side of Pandora at the recital was Francois, who
frequently cast dark looks at Sir Aldan. The baronet, however, was totally
unaware of the boy's malice as he listened with apparent ecstasy to the music.

When Signora Marella's last note faded away, the audience began to applaud
enthusiastically, and Francois whispered, "Do not allow Sir Aldan to take
you in to supper. I wish to have the honor."

'Frangois, I must not allow you to monopolize my company, however pleasant
that may be for both of us. It is important to the plan for me to be with Sir
Aldan as often as is possible. Moreover, 'tis unnatural for
one's nephew to be so attentive. Lord Asheville has already commented
upon it."

'Lord Asheville," the boy said contemptuously. "I care nothing for
what he says or thinks."

Casting one last dark look toward Sir Aldan, Francois got up from his chair
and walked away. Pandora drew a little sigh as Sir Aldan leaned closer to her.
"What a voice. Such delicacy of tone. It is most
rare."

Pandora began to fan herself, for she had become averse to the baronet's
company since her estrangement from the earl, and yet she knew she must tolerate
him for now.

'I am delighted to hear you enjoy the recital, Sir Aldan."

'Did you not? You do seem a mite preoccupied this evening."

'I am flattered you have observed that in me. I had not thought it
noticeable."

She glanced around, but there was still no sign of the earl, and she was
beginning to wonder if she was truly glad about that or not. It was beginning
to be apparent to her that she was unable to enjoy any diversion if he was
absent.

'You must be certain, madame, I note everything about you," Sir Aldan
was saying. "May I have the extreme honor of escorting you in to supper?"

Once again she glanced around and then resignedly replied, "I thank
you, Sir Aldan. That will be quite congenial."

As they wandered into the supper room, he said, "I do trust the cause
of your megrims is not serious."

'Indeed, it is, Sir Aldan. How can it not be? I am concerned for my family
in France, my friends, too."

Sir Aldan shook his head, the powder from his hair dusting his shoulders
like snow. He was wearing a brocade coat with paste buttons, and his face was
as liberally powdered as his hair. Pandora could not help but compare him
unfavorably with the earl, who at all times was a picture of sartorial
elegance. Just then she wondered how she could have ever considered this man
one of her suitors.

'

'Tis a bad business," he agreed, "but
be assured, madame, you are now among friends. Not only are you perfectly safe
from any harm, but made very welcome, too."

Pandora's cheeks grew pink. "I could not help but be aware of it. My
heart is constantly warmed by the way I have been received."

'I do hope that means you feel you will be able to settle here."

'Do I have a choice, Sir Aldan? I think not. I cannot return to
France
however
much I wish to do so. That would be most foolhardy at the present time."

'What I mean is… no more nonsense about entering a nunnery. You did make
mention of the possibility."

'I have not entirely dismissed the notion," she answered airily.

'Madame de Chambray, if I may be permitted to say so," he said in an
agitated manner, "that would be a sinful waste."

Pandora laughed. "About that matter we shall have to see. To enter into
the service of one's God cannot be deemed a waste."

'For you, I am persuaded it would be. You would be obligated to miss so much
you evidently enjoy. I am persuaded you are diverted by evenings such as
this."

'I cannot help but agree with you on that score,  especially when I am in such company as
yours, Sir Aldan. Then the pleasure is much increased." She watched him
preen himself before she added, almost chuckling at her own duplicity,
"But I must confess, if I were to leave
London
, it would not trouble me at all. What
is most disappointing, I find, is the lack of court life. In
France
most of us lived at
Versailles
for a great part of the year. Here
no one goes to
Windsor
."

'Our sainted King and Queen are unlike yours, madame. They prefer a quiet
life with their family, and naturally, the King's illness has somewhat curtailed
his public life."

'Ah, now I understand the better. On reflection, thinking of all that is
happening in
France
,
mayhap King George is the wiser."

When they reached the supper room and the splendid buffet set out for their
enjoyment, Pandora and her escort helped themselves to plentiful servings of
ham, chicken, and savory mousse. Solicitously Sir Aldan settled her in a seat
before going to fetch lemonade. As Pandora glanced around anxiously, she
caught sight of Francois. He glowered at her from across the room before
marching toward the door, even though she gave him an encouraging smile.

Sir Aldan soon returned with the lemonade and seated himself next to her.
"I cannot conceive why I accepted your invitation to supper, Sir
Aldan," she said, lapsing into the flirtatious role that came so easily to
her.

'Madame, you did so because you find my company as congenial as I do
yours."

'You are, I confess, diverting."

'A lady of your beauty and charm cannot help but attract attention, but in
truth, madame, I wish to be more in your company than I am able."

'Before you continue, I feel it only fair to confess that Lord Asheville
warned me against you," she said maliciously.

The baronet almost choked on his ham. "Madame!
How dare he! I had always considered him a scapegrace,
but this is outside of enough. I must protest. It is most unfair."

'I cannot conceive why he should do such a thing," she went on when he
had finished his outrage. "You have always been so amiable."

'I am delighted to hear you say so," he answered, only slightly
mollified, "but I am bound to say, there are things about
Asheville
you do not know. He has, I do not
doubt, put the saddle upon the wrong horse. He is the one you should treat with
the utmost caution. I have taken him in extreme dislike…"

'That much is very evident," she told him as she heedlessly continued
to eat her supper, "but I am bound to confess that Lord Asheville has
always appeared most agreeable to me."

'He always exerts a good deal of charm toward any handsome lady, but in
truth he is a rake and a scapegrace. His tongue is too smooth and he gambles
too deep."

'A fault in many men," Pandora pointed out.

'Madame, I feel I am falling into the trap of sinking down as far as my
Lord Asheville. Suffice to say there are good reasons, quite unwarranted, I
assure you, for his malice toward me."

Pandora paused in her enjoyment of the food and look
interested. "I am truly intrigued, Sir Aldan. Do tell me. I am in a fidge
to know."

At this he appeared to become extremely uncomfortable. His cheeks had taken
on a decidedly pinkish tone, and she wondered if it was because he had been
overindulgent with the rouge and hare's-foot.'

'Tis a matter of the utmost delicacy. I could not
betray a sacred trust."

'Now would I wish you to, but I feel our relationship transcends pretense,
and I can assure you, you may rely upon my discretion. I can be as close as oak
when I wish."

'Very well," he conceded with a sigh. "You are, in a way,
concerned in the matter, so it is right you should know. I would hate for you
to be deceived by that man."

'Indeed, I should dislike making a cake of myself."

'Be assured, I shall not allow that to happen, madame. I would defend your
honor with my life."

'Sir Aldan, I am totally overcome," she answered, betraying no trace
of her amusement as she recalled his quick exit from the garden on the evening
Lord Asheville found them together. "However, I must urge you to continue
with your on dit."

'You may not be aware of the fact, madame, but
Asheville
and I were once rivals for the hand
of Lady Asheville. The truth is," he added, glancing at her quickly,
"that dear lady favored my suit. Indeed, she did. However, it was
parental pressure that ensured that it was
Asheville
who finally triumphed."

'I certainly did not know that," she agreed, astounded at the
overweening arrogance of the man.

'

'Tis true, alas for me. You may imagine the
devastation I suffered. Moreover,
Asheville
was well aware of his wife's true feelings, which did nothing to endear him to
me. After their marriage I was left to grieve the loss of my dear love. However,
on her eventual return to town it was evident to me the poor chit bitterly
regretted her marriage to that poltroon, which was no more than I expected, in
truth, although it grieved me anew for her sake."

'How shocking," Pandora murmured, holding her irritation in check, of
necessity.

'Ah, yes, indeed. The sadness we both endured was
incalculable. To see her wherever I went, so beautiful, so ill-used, was almost
more than I could bear. Inevitably, madame, nature in such matters being what
it is, she could no longer conceal her feelings for me." He sighed.
"I know she tried. For the sake of propriety we both did, but I am ashamed
to confess, Lord Asheville caught us committing a slight indiscretion. Oh, be
assured, I would not have caused her pain for anything, but she begged me for a
sign I still cared for her, and it was beyond me to refuse her."

As he cast her a piteous look, she murmured,
"So that is why Lady Asheville is gone to the country."

'Precisely, madame. A rose that blooms only in the
full light of town diversions is banished from all she loves and from all who
love her. 'Tis tragic, you must own."

Pandora smiled at him. "My dear Sir Aldan, it is quite evident to me
that you still love her deeply."

'Alas, I shall always harbor a fondness for Lady Asheville. However, the
truth is—dare I admit it?— I have met another, a lady
who is free to return my affection in the abundance in which it is given."

'I wonder who that lady might be?" Pandora
said teasingly.

'I think you must have an inkling, madame," he answered with equal
coyness.

'I have a notion you are referring to me."

'None other, madame… Louise. That name is sweeter music than any sung
tonight."

Pandora fluttered her fan and scolded, "You must contrive not to be so
outrageous in your praise Sir Aldan."

'

'Tis nought but the truth, and you must know it.
I am persuaded you will return my affection, for it cannot be any other. We
have both known un-happiness, and now is the time to redress the misery we
have both known. You cannot wish to remain a widow."

'That is true, but-"

'We shall deal famously together, I know it."

'How can anyone be certain of that?" she asked, scarcely hiding her
bitterness now.

'
Asheville
has poisoned your mind, I see it," Sir Aldan replied grimly. "He has
charm in abundance, I must own, but he cannot offer his name to you as I do.
Only think, madame, our future happiness will be assured if you accept my offer, and fi so will poor Lady Asheville's. She is a true
victim of this affair, and she will at last be allowed to return to all that
she loves if I am no longer considered a danger to Lord Asheville."