Sweet Hoyden (18 page)

'If that were so, he would have followed me to Brocklesby Hall and
begged my forgiveness for his heartless use of me."

'But he did."

'No, he did not. As far as he was concerned,  had been rusticating for some
considerable time, and when he did finally arrive, only because he was in the
area, he treated me with the utmost patronage, graciously offering his
forgiveness, which is not the same by any means. If he had a care for me, he
would have begged my forgiveness and not left it so long to do so."

'It is just as well he did not pursue you to Brocklesby Hall"—the
viscountess chuckled—"for if he had, he wouldn't have found you there. You
were at
Pelham
Towers
with me."

Pandora paused in her playing to glance at her friend. "I shall wear
the scarlet domino,
Rosa
. It is not what
Pandora Asheville would wear, and that pleases me."

Rosamond St. James got to her feet. "I hear a carriage on the
forecourt, so it is like our guests are arriving."

While Lady St. James went to join her husband and greet the guests arriving
for their assembly, Pandora remained at the harpsichord, picking out
sentimental tunes that suited her mood.

'You play so beautifully, madame."

Without her being too aware of it, the room had been filling slowly with
people, and it was now becoming crowded. Pandora recognized the voice immediately
and looked up to see Sir Aldan Buckley leaning over the harpsichord smiling at
her with heavily rouged lips. It was tempting for her to dismiss him once and
for all, but it suited her purpose to flirt with him, and because he had
switched his allegiance so easily, she felt no compunction about hurting his
feelings. Only his purse would ache for what he believed he had lost in his
French widow.

Pandora got to her feet, flicking out her lace fan. Clad in white muslin, a
blue satin sash accentuating her slim waist, she knew she presented an alluring
figure. However, it was not nattering for her to have to acknowledge it was her
supposed wealth that attracted him like a moth to a flame. She could not
attribute that to
Asheville
's
pursuit of her, at least not on this occasion.

'Why, I thank you, Sir Aldan," she replied, dimpling prettily. "How kind of you to say so."

'It should be no surprise to you to learn the depths of admiration I harbor
for everything you say and do." .

'You do my heart good, I am bound to confess. And I
thank you for all the tokens you have been sending of me late, but I must
protest at your extreme generosity." He looked pleased. "I have
scarce begun. "The house isn't big enough to
accommodate all the gewgaws you have already sent."

'Mere tokens of my esteem, and only a small degree
of all you will enjoy once we are wed. Oh, crudest of ladies, do not keep me in
doubt any longer. Do I dare to hope you will accept my offer.

Pandora watched him from behind her fan as he preened himself in expectation
of a favorable answer. When she did speak, her voice was full of regret. "Alas, 'tis not possible for me to do so, Sir Aldan."

 His face immediately registered his
dismay. 'How can that be? Is there another who is able to offer you married
felicity?"

'In a way, yes."

'Zounds! I cannot credit that."

'It is not quite what you might think, sir. The fact is"—she paused for
full effect before going on— "I have today heard that my husband is still
alive."

A look of horror came over his face at this revelation. "How can that
be, madame?"

The anguish that then appeared in Pandora's expression would have done
justice to Mrs. Siddons. "The past few months have been a veritable hell
for me, Sir Aldan. You could not possibly know of it, living in the blessed
security of
England
.
My husband, the comte, is a well-known figure of great
import in
France
.
It was related to me that he had been set upon by a group of Jacobins and
mortally wounded. I felt it necessary to escape before I,
too, fell victim to their evil ways. Now I have been informed he was only
injured in the attack and was nursed to health by some peasants in great
secrecy. I have only just been informed that he is making his way to
England
and is
like to arrive at any time."

Sir Aldan's surprise now turned to outrage. "Madame, you have not
acted like a recent widow."

Pandora's head drooped even lower in her mock despair. "In all truth,
can you blame me for that? I came here believing myself a widow, a stranger in
a foreign land. It was incumbent upon me to secure a finer future for myself,
and I am so grateful to you for offering it to me. You will always have my
deepest gratitude."

Sir Aldan pulled at his coat. "I would do myself an injustice if I did
not admit I feel ill-used."

'Indeed, I cannot blame that in you. It would take a saint to feel otherwise,
but as one who professes affection for me, can you not find it in your heart to
forgive and be glad for my newfound good fortune?"

'You may rest assured that I do."

She put one hand on his arm. "I do thank you, Sir Aldan. Naturally I
must beg of you the utmost secrecy in this matter. Armand is still in great danger
until he reaches these shores."

'The matter is entirely entre nous, madame," he responded, his manner
somewhat colder than of late.

'Mayhap," she ventured as he began to move away from her "we can
still contrive to be… friends."

The baronet looked shocked. Pandora knew as well as he that it was a wealthy
wife he needed just then and not a mistress.

'I fear you will be fully occupied ministering to your husband's needs after
so long an absence," he replied.

'At first, I do not doubt it will be so, but afterward…"

'We shall see, madame," he replied, moving away from her with rather
more haste than she had seen him exhibit before.

As she watched him, she chuckled quietly to herself behind her fan before
turning on her heel and walking into the card room. One of
Asheville
's constant complaints was that she
gamed too often and too deep. On this evening she felt that good fortune would
be hers, and if it was not, he could not scold her, for once.

She paused in the doorway, surveying the room carefully before deciding
which table she would join. It was a deliberate act, for she wished to choose
partners who were renowned for losing.

All the while she played the cards she also flirted with the gentlemen who
surrounded her, so much so they could scarce keep their attention on the cards.
The ploy was so successful, Pandora accumulated substantial winnings, which
was fortunate, for she could not afford to lose the little pin money she had
by her.

'My pockets are to let," declared Lord Humphrey, who immediately
vacated his seat. "Perchance you will afford me an opportunity to win
back my purse on another occasion, madame."

'It will be a pleasure, my lord," she replied, be stowing upon him a
bewitching smile.

Some of her pleasure faded, however, when she found it was the earl who had
taken Lord Humphrey's place at the card table. Her concentration on the game
could hardly continue if he was present. He was, she thought as she glanced at
him covertly, as handsome as ever, a realization that made her heart beat
fast. Just then she was tempted to withdraw from the game, but the inclination
lasted for only a moment.

He smiled at her across the table. "Madame de Chambray, what a pleasant
evening this is becoming. I cannot imagine a gaming partner I would prefer
more."

'You will prefer one who allows you to win."

'That is undoubtedly true, and I do invariably win."

'But you will not, naturally, mind if I take your purse on this occasion, my
lord?"

'It would be a pleasure to lose to you, madame. However"—he glanced
around—"it has not yet come to pass. Lady Courdon," he called, and
the marchioness hurried to his side. "Stay by me," he ordered.
"Your presence will bring me good fortune, I feel."

Fanny Courdon cast Pandora a smug smile. "I am determined that I
will."

Her presence was most disconcerting to Pandora, who was never more surprised
when she continued to win. After several unsuccessful games the earl turned to
the marchioness and dismissed her.

'My dear, I believe I must dispense with your services before my pockets are
entirely to let."

'She has never brought me any luck at the gaming tables,"
Asheville
remarked, to
the amusement of all those gathered about the table.

'Tis time for you to withdraw, I think," Pandora
ventured, "before you go deep into dun territory."

'My dear," the earl replied dismissively, "you have evidently not
resided in
London
long enough to understand that I am fully able to honor any vouchers I may
write."

'I did not doubt it," she responded. "We will continue if you
wish to do so."

'By all means, let us play the game to the end."

As he smiled grimly, she eyed him covertly, but his face bore no telling
expression. "Or until you are entirely out of funds," she added.

Once again he lost, while Pandora won. One wit said, "You usually have
the devil's own luck,
Asheville
.
I wonder why it has deserted you this evening. Mayhap you should bring your
wife back to
London
before you approach the tables again."

Pandora continued to watch him, but he was un-fazed by the comment,
answering easily, "Perchance you are correct."

Winning had never been so easy for Pandora, who was able to smile with
triumph at last when the earl declared, "I am all dished up. My situation
is past praying for."

Normally Pandora would not be able to experience this kind of triumph, for
the earl refused to game with her in public, so her success on this occasion
was all the more sweet.

'It occurs to me, my lord, that this is a rare occasion," she told him.

'One day, I vow, I shall drub you," he responded good-naturedly.

Pandora was unable to hide her delight as she pocketed her considerable
winnings. "Do not depend upon it, my lord."

As they left the table, he told her, "You would do well to conserve your
good fortune, madame. Lady luck, as you have just
observed, is known to be fickle."

'Indeed, I believe I shall act upon such good advice. 'Tis not often I am
able to do so."

He looked surprised at that admission. "It seems to me that you are a
lady who likes to win!"

Pandora opened her fan. "Who does not?"

'And you will always attract good fortune, I fancy. You are deserving of
it."

'How can you know what I deserve, my lord? I may
well be the personification of evil. You know me not at all."

He laughed deprecatingly. "I feel that I do. Moreover, I am a better
judge of nature than you believe."

'Perchance you are an expert on the nature of females."

'I do pride myself on that ability."

'You appear exceeding certain of yourself, my lord."

'Ah, alas, madame, it is a fault in me I am unable to correct."

'Then mayhap someone will one day correct it for you."

'I await that day, which I trust is as yet far
away."

'I trust that Lady Asheville—the dowager Lady Asheville—is in good
health."

'Indeed."

'And yet she has not accompanied you here tonight. I cannot help but wonder
on that."

'My mother eschews the social round nowadays."

'But she still remains in town?"

'For the present. However, I believe the time is
drawing close when she will depart for her home in Tunbridge Wells."

'If that is so, she will no doubt be unable to see your wife on her eventual
return to town."

'That is a misfortune they will both be obliged to bear. However, I feel I
must tell you, my mother has spoken of you in the most glowing terms."

'It is indeed generous of her."

'You are being modest, but I am of the opinion," he added in a lowered
voice, "you must have some notion as to your own charm and its effect upon
all those you meet."

When Pandora caught sight of Francois approaching them through the crowd,
she didn't know whether to be glad or not. Time was fast running out for her
masquerade.

'Tante Louise, it is requested that you play the harpsichord for us."

When Pandora began to demur, the earl insisted, "You must allow us this
small pleasure, madame. A proficiency at the harpsichord must be another one of
your many accomplishments."

'Lord Asheville is correct, Tante, you cannot disappoint all those who are
anxious to hear you play. I will turn your music," he added quickly.

'Monsieur de Fontenac, you are unique among other nephews of my acquaintance
in your attention to your aunt," the earl remarked, his voice heavy with
irony.

Frangois cast him a cold look. "Madame de Chambray is unique among
aunts, my lord."

The earl's smile was filled with mockery. "My dear boy, I am very much
inclined to agree with you on that statement."

The earl stood back a pace as Francois made ready to escort her to the
harpsichord, and Pandora could see no alternative but to play, although she had
no fancy for doing so at the moment. While she played for the assembled party,
Lord Asheville contrived to move closer to Sir Aldan Buckley, who was staring at her with an unprecedented ferocity,
something the earl could not help but notice.

'What a delightful touch she has," he remarked when he was standing
next to Sir Aldan.

'Indeed," the baronet responded without taking his eyes off Pandora for
a moment.