The Black Lotus (Night Flower) (5 page)

“May I cut in?” She started as Lord Montjoy spoke at her elbow, his pale eyes regarding her partner with a mild curiosity.  Blanching slightly, the callow youth moved aside and Montjoy caught hold of her.

“I was hoping to get a dance,” His voice was sibilant in her ear and her skin crawled at the suggestive notes that flowed across his words. Still, he could do nothing untoward in the middle of such a crowd and she didn’t want to make a scene. A polite smile edged over her features, hiding the revulsion she felt at his touch as they began to dance.

“You’
ve been extremely well received,” he murmured against her ears as they moved through several complicated steps. “You are a goddess here you see,” The words which she had heard from gallants the whole night sounded ominous falling from his lips and she suppressed a shudder. He manoeuvred her through the crowd, his steps sure and strong as the music dragged on; prolonging Melissa’s discomfort. Montjoy kept whispering sweet nothings in her ear and she though she managed to kept her distaste from him, she still froze inwardly every time he opened his mouth.  They had been dancing for perhaps two minutes, when Melissa became aware that he was moving them away from the main hallway and its throng of people and toward the gardens.

“Excuse me,
” She spoke politely and tried to pull away, mindful of her mother’s warnings.  She didn’t want to be caught alone in the gardens with Monjoy. One glance at the hot, intense gaze in his eyes told her that his intentions were anything but honourable.

“I’d prefer to stay within.
” Swallowing the panic that threatened to overwhelm her, Melissa came to a stop and tried to move away from him.

“But it
’s quite loud and over-populous in here,” Montjoy’s voice slithered over her objections and he kept walking towards the door. “We can’t conduct proper conversation in this crowd,” In response to her feeble efforts for freedom, his hand tightened on her wrist and he pulled her forward. It would now take a strong wrench of his arm to pull free and that would create a fuss she could little afford. In desperation, she flicked her eyes over the crowd hoping to catch someone’s eye, yet Montjoy had placed his body between her and much of the soiree and no one came to her rescue.

“
I have another dance sir, I do not wish to be late,” She spoke more forcefully, trying to pull her hand away yet his grip was strong and he still drew her onward, towards the yawning doors and the dark gardens beyond.

“It won’t take a moment; there
is something I wish to show you,” His arm dropped to her waist and slid about it with a creeping familiarity. His fingers settled beneath her ribs and as the shock of his audacity flooded her veins, Melissa ceased her attempts at politeness.  Anger boiled through her. How dare this abhorrent rake place his hands on her? Scarcely taking the time to think, she rounded on him, bright spots of vivid colour shining through the powder on her cheeks.

“LET ME GO!” Her voice snarled out between her lips with a volume that su
rprised even her. Even as the words left her mouth, she was pulling her hand back to shoulder height and as her shout reverberated around the room, she let fly. With a loud crack, her hand connected with his cheek as she slapped him with as much power as she could muster. “I do not wish to walk in the gardens with you.”  The sound of flesh striking flesh and her loud exclamation echoed through the hall and drew the immediate attention of the soiree. People near them stopped dancing, their eyes fixed on the spectacle with shock and interest. Near the buffet, Sarah looked up and stared at Melissa with a troubled look on her face. Several of her gallants from earlier began pushing their way through the room towards them and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Justin, The blue clad noble was stood near the main doors, his hand on Mary’s arm and his eyes fixed on her. His face was hard to read, yet his eyes never left her even as Mary muttered something in his ear.

“You she-devil!” Montjoy hissed as he raised a hand to his reddened cheek, his eyes blazed, wounded pride and anger battling in his watery gaze. “I’ll teach you..” Oblivious to the scene around him and angry, he raised his fist against her and struck downwards only to have the strike thwarted by a solid hand which seized his fist and twisted the lavender clad arm into a painful position.

“You dare raise your vile hand to my sister?” Marcus’ voice was low and shot through with menace as he painfully twisted Montjoy’s arm. Around them, the crowd was still, everyone watching the action with shock. “You even conceive of it? How dare you sir!”

“She….” Montjoy stammered, looking at the deadly gleam in Marcus’ eyes and realised his error. A panicked look about the room revealed that he had no allies, several of Melissa’s dance partners of earlier were staring at him with something akin to hatred and many of the others were whispering to each other.

“For this insult to her honour I will meet you on the morrow,” He let go of Montjoy’s wrist and stared at him full in the face. “Unless you are too craven to attend,”

Montjoy’s eyes glittered and he nodded slowly, casting a vicious glance in Melissa’s direction, he strode from the ball.

“Did Father not warn you of him?” Marcus watched Montjoy leave before he turned to face his younger sister. “The man’s a blight on polite society, he’s a villain of the highest order and you put yourself in his path. What the deuce were you thinking?”

“I on
ly danced with him to be polite,” Melissa protested at the tone in her brother’s voice. She had not anticipated this turn of events and she still felt shaken. The thought that Montjoy would try to manoeuvre her forcibly from the events had not occurred to her and her fingers still stung from slapping his cheek. Her gaze flickered over the crowd, it was also clear that she would be the talk of the town for this little episode,

“Well you shouldn’t have.” Marcus’ voice dragged her back from her thoughts and he looked down at her with a disapproving expression on his face. “You don’t have to dance with all that crave your company. I fancy my dear sister that you have a good deal to learn about society. Maybe you should talk to your
friend; she knows how to deal with those of that sort.”

“P
erhaps if she’d spent more than ten minutes with me I would have learnt something.” Melissa snapped back at him, angry at herself for not realising that she could have turned the man down and angry at Marcus for pointing it out. She had only been polite, why was Marcus turning this into her fault. Angry tears pricked at her eyes and she blinked furiously, determined not to cry.

“A
nd stop acting as though it were my fault, I didn’t ask you to play my saviour.”

“Nevertheless sister dearest, I am honour bound to defend your good name. He would have struck you, should I have let him?”

“No of course not but…”

“Then don’t be so stupid
. I will meet Montjoy on the morn and he will learn manners on the end of my blade,”

That’s if he doesn’t strike
you first

“Now I think we’ve caused enough upset, I think it’s time to go
,” He captured her hand and they walked towards the doors.

“Do we have to tell Papa?” Melissa asked as they reached the hallway and moved through the crowd.

“Well we can hardly keep it secret,” Marcus nodded at a small group of women gossiping in the corner, as the pair drew near, the talk subsided and several pairs of eyes fixed on their passage. “You’re the talk of the night? I think mama will want to keep you home for several days until the scandal has died down.”

“Not what I wanted to be noted for..” Melissa sniffed as they reac
hed the study and her father. “And where is Sarah?”  She looked about her, wondering why her friend had chosen this moment to abandon her.

“I don’t kn
ow, but I’m not looking for her.” Marcus walked into study and crossed the crowded room, heading for their father.

Melissa glanced around the hall, feeling the eyes on her as she waited. It was uncomfortable and she knew that she was the subject on everyone’s lips. Trying to ignore the stares, she gazed into the study and watched Marcus reach her father’s side.

“
Oh I can’t believe you did that,” She turned at the words and looked at Sarah with a grateful smile. “I mean he did deserve it, but he would have struck you.”

“I wasn’t going to
let him take me out there,” Melissa retorted, remembering the anger that coursed through her as she realised what he meant to do. “Did you want me to meekly go with him?”

“Of course not, but why didn’t you just excuse yourself?”

“I tried but he was pinching my arm,” She held up her wrist and showed the reddened marks made by his fingers. “Perhaps I should have called for help from another, but I barely know some of these men and why should I have to?” A great sense of injustice flowed within her. “I slapped him for heaven’s sake and now Marcus is going to duel him tomorrow.”

“
Yes I wouldn’t worry about that.” Sarah replied. “Montjoy is a poor duellist. Your brother will mark him and then that odious individual will leave court for several years! I would worry more about your own future,” Her friend’s face took on a more concerned cast. “That little burst of anger will cost you dear, I saw several potential suitors for you turn their eyes away in disgust.”

“Sarah
,” Melissa protested; worry flooding through her in an instant.

“Well it’s true, you just demonstrated conduct unbecoming for a lady and as it is your first day on the scene it hasn’t helped. You have to be demure.”

“I know that.” Melissa’s voice was wrung with agony as she realised the enormity of what she had done.

“You should have had the vapours or fainted.” Sarah persisted, seemingly determined to lay salt on the wound.

“I know.” In a paroxysm of misery Melissa bent her head back into the lace handkerchief, wiping the hot salty tears into the white fabric.

“Melissa,” Her father’s voice drew her attention and she looked up Edward De Vire was crossing the room, his face clouded with anger.

“Well
I guess he knows,” She stepped forward and hugged Sarah farewell, feeling her anxiety rise even further. “Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Of course.
” Sarah replied, stepping away as Melissa’s father walked through the door.

“We’re going home.
” Edward announced in a voice like thunder as he reached them threshold. In a stony silence, her father led her from the Palace and out into the cool night air. Melissa did not attempt conversation; her father’s anger was a palpable force that she feared to test. As she waited for Marcus and her mother to leave the building and as a distraction from her father’s raw fury, Melissa turned her head to stare back at the Palace. A lone figure detached itself from the exit and walked out, illuminated by one of the carriage lamps. The light bounced off powdered hair and a bejewelled coat drawing her attention. Justin stood at the entrance. His eyes met hers and he took a hesitant step forward. His face was softer, less mocking than it had been within the ball and he seemed all the more attractive for it. At that moment, her mother and brother left the palace and walked towards them. Her mother was thin lipped and angry.

“Into the carriage,” Her father’s voice gruffly sounded as the steps were lowered before her. Melissa ducked her head and climbed within the coach, before turning and staring back out of the curtained window. Justin still stood there, face in shadow beneath the glare of the light. As her mother and Marcus stepped through the doors, he was joined by Mary Westbury and she drew him away towards the Palace. As they pulled away she took one last look at his dark form before he faded from sight. Behind her Justin watched her leave, an enigmatic gleam deep within his eyes as the carriage disappeared from view.