Match For Melissa (14 page)

“Miss Dorothea has urgent need of your assistance.” The viscount valiantly attempted to hide a smile. “She has had a small misfortune.”

“From the manner in which you described it, Charles, I would say that it is a
large
misfortune!”

Melissa turned to her stepsister who was a study in contrasts. The color of embarrassment was bright in Dorothea’s cheeks, but her eyes were merry with laughter.

“I fear I have made a goose of myself, Lissa.” Dorothea giggled softly. “When I arose to greet Lady Beckworth, I trod upon the hem of my gown and the back of my skirt tore loose from the waist. Lord Chadwick observed my misfortune and bid me to sit back down, but now that I am seated, I find I dare not move from this spot.”

Melissa did her best not to laugh. “I shall think of a solution, Miss Dorothea. I would not wish for you to come undone in the presence of everyone here.”

“Thank you, Lissa.” Dorothea nodded, her lips twitching at the corners. “That would be most unladylike, indeed, and I fear poor Charles should be thoroughly shocked.”

“Never, my dearest Dorothea.” Lord Chadwick patted her hand. “But I freely admit that I should not care for any other gentlemen to share in the delightful
dishabille
that I alone witnessed.”

“You forget yourself, my lord!”

The smile that hovered round the corners of Dorothea’s lips belied the sincerity of her reproof and the fond look she bestowed upon the viscount made Melissa smile. Only a blind person would fail to realize that they had developed a
tendre
for each other.

Melissa considered the problem for a moment and then she turned to enlist the viscount’s aid. “I shall bring you a cup of tea, my Lord. Wait for my signal and then spill it on Miss Dorothea’s gown.”

“But it will stain, will it not?” Lord Chadwick appeared anxious. “I should not care to cause the ruin of such a lovely gown.”

Melissa nodded. “This is precisely the excuse that we shall tender. The gown will not stain if it is cleaned quickly and this will give us leave to quit the Drawing Room in a rush. I shall escort Miss Dorothea to the door, holding up her gown as I do so. You shall follow her, very closely, preventing any from viewing her back.”

“I knew you’d think of something, Lissa.” Dorothea looked
greatly relieved. “Let us get on with it quickly before I lose what little courage I possess.”

The deed was done according to plan, and all three conspirators burst into laughter as they gained the safety of the hall. When their mirth had subsided, Lord Chadwick returned to the drawing room to proffer their excuses and Melissa and Dorothea hurried up the staircase.

“Do you not think that Charles is perfection?” Dorothea turned to Melissa the moment they had gained the sanctuary of her bedchamber.

“Indeed I do.” Melissa replied honestly, choosing another dress for her stepsister to wear. “He is your perfect match, Doro.”

While Melissa cleaned the tea from Dorothea’s ill-fated gown, Dorothea donned another. A final check to make certain that the buttons were all fastened, and Melissa gasped in shock. “This gown was fitted perfectly at the beginning of the Season, but now it is much too loose. You have lost weight, Doro.”

“This is true.” Dorothea nodded. “I did not set out to do so, but sweets no longer hold the pleasure for me that they once did. I suspect that I gained flesh only to spite Mama. It was the one aspect of my life that she could not control.”

“And you no longer wish to spite her?”

Dorothea laughed gaily. “There is no reason to do so any longer. Soon I shall be rid of Mama and her mean-spirited ways.”

“La, Doro!” Melissa began to smile. “Do you mean that—”

“Yes, dear Lissa!” Doro interrupted, throwing her arms around Melissa and hugging her tightly. “Charles has confided that he wishes to offer for me!”

“This is indeed, wonderful news!” Melissa smiled, not at all surprised. “I am most happy for you, Doro. When will this happy occasion occur?”

“I have asked him to wait until the Season has ended and he has agreed.”

Melissa was puzzled. “But why, Doro? If he were to declare for you now, any number of people would host parties for the
two of you. You would be touted as the first bride of the Season and everyone would compliment you on the splendid match you made.”

“That does not signify.” Dorothea shook her head. “I should prefer to wait to save my dear sister from embarrassment.”

“I fear that I do not understand, Doro. Why should your good fortune cause Gina to be embarrassed?”

“Because she is the eldest and, as such, she is expected to marry before me.” Dorothea frowned slightly.

“But I am certain that Gina would wave your concerns aside and wish you happy.”

“This is true.” Dorothea nodded. “But it is also true that my impending nuptials would place her in a most uncomfortable position. You have seen several of the old tabbies, Lissa. Can you deny that there is not one among them who would regard Gina with pity and regale her with condolences were I to be betrothed first?”

Melissa sighed and shook her head. “You are right, Doro. There are several old tabbies who would relish the prospect.”

“Exactly!” Doro nodded. “There is also the matter of the duke. Charles has confided that he is as skittish as a new colt when the mere whisper of an impending alliance is made. It is possible that others may urge him to offer for Gina if it is known that I am to be wed. I should not like to be the cause of frightening him away.”

“I appreciate your concerns, Doro.” Melissa was thoughtful as they stepped out into the hallway and walked down the staircase. When they were again outside the Drawing Room door, Dorothea turned for one last word.

“I should like it above all things if Gina were to receive an offer before me, but if this does not come to pass, Charles and I have agreed to a second plan. We should like Regina and you to come to live with us. We shall be a family together, three sisters and my dear Charles.”

Melissa smiled. “That is very kind of you, Doro.”

“If you think me kind, it is to Charles’s credit. He believes
me to be an Incomparable, Lissa. And because of his high estimation of my character, I find it is not at all difficult to be exactly as he imagines me.”

Melissa nodded and glanced around to make certain no one was about. Then she gave Dorothea a loving hug and patted an errant curl into place. “I am proud of you, Doro. And I find that I agree with Lord Chadwick. You are, indeed, an Incomparable.”

After Dorothea had re-entered the Drawing Room, Melissa went to fetch more refreshments. When she had placed them on the table, she stood at the side of the room again, listening to the conversation that flowed around her.

“I shall never forget the dinner party your mother held last Season.” Lady Jennings claimed the duke’s attention. “I swear I have not tasted such exquisite delicacies since. Is that marvelous French chef still in your employ?”

The duke nodded politely. “Yes, Lady Jennings. Henri is still with us.”

“It is unfortunate, indeed, that your mother is not in residence at Oakwood House.” Lady Ashford sighed. “I had hoped that we might enjoy Henri’s talents again, this Season.”

“Have you also a preference for French cuisine?” The duke turned to Regina.

“I am not certain.” Regina smiled up at him. “It is an impossible query for me to answer, since I have not partaken of it.”

The duke looked thoughtful for a moment and then he laughed. “It appears that my mother has whetted everyone’s appetite for French cuisine and then conveniently taken herself off to Oakwood Castle. Perhaps it is my duty to host a dinner party.”

“There is no need to feel obligated on our account.” Jane spoke up quickly. “It would be a difficult undertaking, especially since you are currently without a hostess.”

“This is true, but it is also a situation that can be rectified.” The duke smiled at Jane. “Will you do me the honor of acting as my hostess for the occasion, Lady Harrington?”

Melissa could tell that Jane was surprised, but she recovered
quickly and favored the duke with a brilliant smile. “The honor is entirely mine, Duke.”

Speaking glances shot around the room like balls from cannons, and Melissa was sensible of their meaning. The subject concerned the duke’s reason for singling out Lady Harrington to be his hostess. Some would claim that he curried her favor because he had formed a
tendre
for Regina. Others might propose that the duke had simply chosen the closest woman at hand and it was sheer coincidence that it had been Lady Harrington. Still others might suspect that the duke did so out of charity, since Lady Harrington had voiced no plans to entertain any social functions, and the
on-dit
was that she was regrettably short of purse. Whatever his true reason, the duke had chosen her stepmother for his hostess, and Melissa sighed as she realized that as Lissa, Lady Harrington’s favored servant, she would be responsible for overseeing the preparations to make certain that the duke’s dinner party was a success.

Alone in her bedchamber, Melissa wrestled with her problem until the wee hours of the morning. Though she had been loath to address her feelings for the duke, the time had arrived to deal with them. She was in love with the Duke of Oakwood. There could be no other explanation for the way her heart beat faster when she opened the door to his presence, or the manner in which her hands trembled when his hand brushed hers while taking his coat. Her mind was filled with the conversations they had shared. Indeed, she could remember every word. She had memorized all of his gestures, the way he brushed back his hair when he was searching for something to say, the straightening of his shoulders when he prepared to enter a crowded room, and the extra breath he took when he picked up the reins and gave his team the signal to start.

In the past two weeks, Melissa had made a study of his preferences and she felt she knew him as no other. Even Gina, who might very well become his duchess, did not know that he fancied
the Greek versions of classical myths over the Roman, enjoyed falling asleep to the sound of the wind soughing through the pines outside his window at Oakwood Castle, and preferred black tea to green. In their brief private meetings, Melissa had learned that he liked a spoonful of gooseberry preserves on a slice of fresh bread, could wiggle his right ear but not his left, and thought bonnets that were decorated with fruit were silly. She knew he liked to rise early to ride through the forest, had once fallen through the ice when he’d attempted to cross a frozen lake, and did not care at all for marzipan. She also knew that he had plagued his poor nanny by putting crickets in her pockets, that he had been fond of climbing up to the parapets when he was a child, and that his sister had extracted all manner of services from him by threatening to divulge that he had used the best china bowl for a receptacle in which to keep his pet worms.

Melissa sighed as she gazed at the little gifts he’d given her, gifts that she cherished as tokens of his friendship. If he offered for Gina, would that precious friendship have to come to an end?

With a shake of her head, Melissa dismissed that dire possibility. If the duke married Gina, he would become a part of her family and their friendship could stand intact. She could visit Gina at Oakwood Castle and enjoy the duke’s company as Gina’s husband. They could still converse and laugh together, exactly as they did now. There was only one way to put a period to their friendship.

If she should choose to reveal her
tendre
for him, the duke would be obliged to disassociate himself from her company. Her admission would gravely injure Regina and this Melissa vowed she would never do. Their affections must continue as fond sister to fond brother and she would never step beyond that line. Her abiding love for the Duke of Oakwood would be a secret that Melissa would take to her grave.

“Thank you, my lord.” Melissa hopped down from Lord Chadwick’s curricle and waved until the viscount was out of sight. He had been out very early, accomplishing an errand, and had come upon her on her way to Oakwood House. It was the morning of the duke’s dinner party and Jane had instructed Melissa to spend the day there to make certain that all the preparations were accomplished. Since her stepmother had not seen fit to give Melissa the use of her own equipage or to hire one for the purpose, Melissa had found herself trudging the two-mile distance between their rented house in Belgrave Square and the duke’s home.

This was not the first occasion that Melissa had walked this route. Jane had sent her to Oakwood House on almost every day of the past sennight. In truth, Melissa did not mind her frequent presence at the duke’s home as his servants were pleasant and on several occasions, she had enjoyed brief visits with the duke, himself. Now, as she traversed the walkway leading up to the front of the house, Melissa mentally reviewed the preparations that had been made. She had written out the invitations from her stepmother’s guest list, collected the acceptances, and carried the menu the duke’s French Chef had provided to Jane for her approval.

After a survey of the duke’s gardens, Melissa had chosen the flowers she wished to arrange for the party and the head gardener had promised to have them cut this morning. She had
engaged the orchestra to provide music for dancing after the formal dinner, and made certain that tables of cards had been arranged for the convenience of any gentleman who might prefer the pleasures of whist to those of the Quadrille.

During her very first visit to Oakwood House, Melissa had solicited the good offices of the duke’s housekeeper. When the duke had introduced her to the robust woman in black bombazine who had controlled his household for so many years, Melissa had thrown herself on Mrs. Parker’s mercy. She had explained that she was merely a country servant in Lady Harrington’s employ, and she had expressed great dismay at being ordered to take charge of such an august affair.

To Melissa’s surprise, Mrs. Parker had laughed and said that Lissa’s reputation had preceded her. It seemed that Lady Beckworth’s housekeeper was Mrs. Parker’s cousin and she had already heard what a gem Lissa was. Instead of being affronted by Lissa’s presence, Mrs. Parker had been delighted to meet the girl who had so taken her cousin’s fancy.