Match For Melissa (24 page)

“They are a superb copy.” Mr. Oliver gazed closely at the jewels. “But I am certain that Lissa’s grandmother would have sold them long ago to provide for her family, had they been genuine diamonds.”

Emmy sighed.” ‘Tis a pity they are not real, Lissa, but you must not be sad about that. They are a gift from your dear mama and that makes them precious. I am certain she will watch you from heaven tonight and be happy to see you wearing them.”

“You are right, Emmy.” Melissa smiled. Both her mother and father would be pleased that she was wearing the earrings, but this was not how either one of them had envisioned their daughter’s first ball. They would be most distressed if they knew that she was there as her stepmother’s servant who merely pretended to be the lady of quality, rather than an invited guest.

Regina clapped her hands together as the duke’s chef wheeled in the cake. It was every bit as impressive as Lissa had promised it would be.

“La! It’s a castle!” Lady Jennings cried out in delight. “There is even a courtyard with fruit trees!”

The guests formed a line to file past the table, admiring the clever beauty of Henri’s creation. They were even more impressed when Henri informed them every part on the castle was edible, from the roof right down to the chocolate sauce that floated in the moat. There were many exclamations over the walls and turrets, and all agreed that the marzipan trees in the courtyard, trimmed with miniature sweets shaped like flowers and fruit, were utterly delightful and unlike any that had ever been seen before. When all had viewed the pastry to their satisfaction, the duke gestured for them to again take their seats.

“Your cake is a masterpiece, Henri!” The duke bowed to his French chef. “Without a doubt, you have outdone yourself.”

Henri bowed back, a proud smile on his face. “Thank you, your grace, but I cannot claim all the credit for myself. The
cake was Lissa’s design and she assisted me in its assembly. I could not have done it without her help.”

Low murmurs of appreciation came from the guests and Regina glanced quickly in her mother’s direction. There was a scowl on her mother’s face that did much to mar her beauty.

“Lissa again?” The duke turned to his guests with a smile. “It seems we must all thank Lissa tonight. Not only has she fashioned the elaborate costume my guest of honor displays with such beauty and grace, she has also ventured to my kitchens to help with the preparation of this marvelous work of culinary art. What say you we ask her to come out and accept our congratulations for a job well done?”

The guests broke into applause at the duke’s suggestion. Many of them had made Lissa’s acquaintance when they had called at the house on Belgrave Square. Of those, none had failed to like her and more than a few had remarked to friends that Lissa’s talents were sorely wasted as Lady Harrington’s servant. For those who had not encountered Lissa personally, they had heard Lady Beckworth’s comments regarding her. That good woman had been quick to sing Lissa’s praises and every member of the
ton
knew the tale of how Lissa had saved the opening dinner of the Season from certain disaster when Lady Beckworth’s servants had fallen ill.

As the shouts for Lissa grew more insistent, Mrs. Parker made her appearance. She whispered a word in her employer’s ear and an expression of dismay clouded the duke’s countenance as he turned to address his guests once more.

“I fear we are to be denied Lissa’s presence on this evening. It seems she has already gone to seek some well-deserved rest. I am certain you will all agree that her efforts on this day have been Herculean.”

“Hear, hear!” Lord Chadwick rose to his feet. “Perhaps a small gratuity would not be amiss for the girl who has made our evening such a delight…unless, of course, it would offend Lady Harrington?”

Before her mother could do more than gasp, Dorothea stood
up to join Lord Chadwick. “How could this possibly offend Lady Harrington? It is a compliment to her wisdom in entrusting these critical tasks to Lissa.”

Regina glanced at the duke who gave her a most improper wink. Before she could think, Regina winked back and then the duke spoke again.

“Let us pass the hat for Lissa. If you have no coins, personal notes will be accepted and redeemed upon the morrow.”

The guests applauded this idea and there were several cries to second it. In view of this positive response, the duke reached up for his hat, but his costume had only an open crown.

“It seems my crown is unsuitable for the purpose.” The duke laughed along with his guests. “Who among us will provide the hat?”

Henri swept off his gleaming white chef’s toque. “I shall be happy to oblige you, your grace.”

“And I shall pass it.” Regina stood up to take the toque from Henri, beaming in delight despite her mother’s disapproving glare. “Call out if you wish to contribute to this highly worthy cause.”

As Regina passed the toque, Robert glanced at Lady Harrington. At first her expression was carefully guarded, but as the toque began to fill with notes and coins, her lips turned upwards and her eyes sparkled with greed. He would make certain that Lady Harrington did not take possession of Lissa’s bounty. If it were given into that avaricious lady’s keeping, the duke doubted that Lissa would see more than a penny or two of the money.

Henri’s toque began to overflow before Regina had attended to even half of the assembly and a man dressed as a sultan offered his bejeweled turban. When the turban was full, a dairy maid donated her straw bonnet and that was half-filled by the time Regina arrived at the duke’s side, her eyes shining with success.

Mrs. Parker had brought out a hamper for their use and the duke emptied the contents of Lissa’s collection into its roomy
interior. Then he handed the hamper to Mrs. Parker, instructing her to take it to his private sitting room, and smiled at the look of disappointment in Lady Harrington’s eyes. When the toque, turban, and bonnet had been duly returned to their owners, the duke stood up once again.

“I thank you all for your generosity and now I have a small gift for you. Only last week, Lissa told me of a cake her family used to bake for special celebrations. Several small mementos were wrapped inside pouches of cloth and baked into the batter. Each guest received a portion of the cake and the lucky ones discovered that they had received gifts as well. Henri has duplicated this delightful custom on this evening, so I must warn you all to use caution lest you bite into a trinket.”

There was a murmur of excitement as Henri picked up a knife to cut the cake. There were several protests that the cake was truly too beautiful to eat, but the duke gave Henri the signal and the cake was cut into portions to be distributed by the staff.

“Thank you, Duke!” A young lady dressed as a wood nymph cried out in delight as she uncovered a cloisonné ring. “This is lovely, indeed!”

“I have a watch fob shaped like a stag.” A court jester held up his prize for all to see.

“My prize is a miniature jade dragon.” A gypsy princess was the next to find her gift. “Thank you, Duke.”

“This is utterly delightful!” Lady Beckworth held up a rose made of silver filigree. Then she turned to Lady Jennings, who had just found a set of dainty earrings in her portion, and exclaimed over them.

Regina watched the proceedings with amusement. Even the guests of mature years were behaving like children as they found their prizes. And wonder of wonders, it seemed that everyone had found a prize and not a single guest would go home empty-handed.

“Exactly how did you accomplish this feat?” Regina turned to the duke with a smile. “It appears that no one will be disappointed on this night.”

The duke laughed and raised his brows in a rakish manner. “It was merely the luck of the draw, my dear. Do look…your mother is about to uncover her prize.”

Regina turned and her eyes widened as her mother unwrapped a gold sovereign. With a smile of immense satisfaction, Lady Jane Harrington bit into the coin to test its authenticity and then slipped it into her bodice. Without even glancing round the table to see if she had been observed, she returned to ply her fork with even greater vigor to see if there might be another.

“Her efforts are wasted. There is but one.” The duke winked at Regina. “Henri baked it into one of the turrets and that is the piece your mother received.”

“Then you knew in advance where the prizes were hidden?”

“Of course.” The duke favored her with a warm smile. “Henri marked the locations with bits of clean straw that stuck up above the batter. When the batter was baked, he removed the straws and marked them again with a drop of colored fondant. He used white for the ladies and chocolate for the gentlemen. It was all arranged in advance.”

“And Lissa told you of this trick?”

The duke nodded. “She thought of it herself once I told her I wished for everyone to receive a prize.”

“Where is this bit of colored fondant?” Regina stared down at her portion of cake.

“Flip it over with your fork and you shall see.”

Regina did as he bid her and looked up in surprise as a dollop of pink frosting appeared. “Did you not tell me that the ladies’ pieces had white fondant?”

“Yes, but I wished to make certain that no other would receive your portion. Cut into it, my dear. I should like to see if you are pleased by your prize.”

Regina’s heart was beating frantically as she extracted her trinket. She had assumed that the duke would save his declaration for the conclusion of the ball, but perhaps she had been mistaken. Her hands were trembling as she loosened the cloth.
Was this the moment the duke had chosen to propose to her and would she find the ring to pledge his troth as her prize?

“Oh! How…how beautiful!” Regina stared down at the tiny gold statue in her hand as relief washed over her in waves. “It is a likeness of Diana, the huntress, is it not?”

The duke nodded, apparently pleased at her enthusiastic response. “I wished to give you a private token on this most special of evenings.”

“Thank you, Duke! I shall treasure it always!” Regina smiled up at him. She was not certain why he regarded this token as private. Indeed, it could have been given to any lady at the ball.

The duke took her hand and patted it gently. “I have not forgotten the evening we met and I promise that I shall always think of you as my goddess Diana.”

Regina received his comment with a warm smile, but inwardly she was puzzled. She had known nothing of the goddess Diana before Melissa had told her the story, and neither she nor the duke had mentioned it on the evening they had met. For some reason, unknown to her, the duke seemed to equate her with this ancient goddess and Regina wished she had the courage to ask him to explain the reason he did so.

“Come, my goddess. It is time to lead the procession to the ballroom.” The duke rose and held out his arm.

As Regina rose and waited for the other guests to form a queue behind them, she felt a flutter of regret for the news she would soon have to impart. The Duke of Oakwood was a charming gentleman and she hoped that he would not be too disappointed when she told him that she intended to marry another.

“God bless his grace.” Mrs. Parker looked up to smile at Melissa. They were in the duke’s private sitting room and the housekeeper was totaling the contributions the guests had made. “I have never heard tell of a host taking up a collection for a deserving servant before. Now that his grace has initiated the custom, no doubt it will become quite the rage at
ton
affairs.”

Melissa held her breath as Mrs. Parker made the final tally marks and proceeded to add the column of figures. When the housekeeper turned to her there was a gratified smile upon her face.

“La, Lissa! You have enough and more to open your own shop as a modiste!”

Melissa shook her head. “But this largess was given for the tasks that were accomplished, and your staff worked by my side. It is only right to divide it amongst them equally, so all will benefit.”

“Attempt it and you shall soon see that none will accept so much as a penny.” Mrs. Parker laughed. “We have all agreed that this purse is for you alone, Lissa.”

“But is it right for me to keep it?” Melissa’s brow furrowed in an anxious frown.

“Of course it is, child!” Mrs. Parker smiled. “The contributions his grace’s guests have made are but a mere trifle to them. It would be mean-spirited indeed, to deny them the pleasure they receive by gifting one who is not as fortunate as they are.”

“You are doing it up much too brown, Mrs. Parker.” There was a teasing note in Melissa’s voice. “But I do believe that you are, for the most part, correct. I shall accept this kind contribution with gratitude.”

Mrs. Parker nodded and then she cupped her ear to listen to the sounds that came to them from above. “The guests are entering the ballroom, Lissa. You must make ready to slip inside once the dancing has begun.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Parker.” Lissa reached out to hug the housekeeper who was now her good friend. “I truly believe that this is the happiest night of my life!”

Robert was dancing with Regina when there was a murmur of excitement in the ballroom. The noise swirled around them and he turned his head so that he could see the source of the commotion. A young lady had just entered, and Robert’s eyes widened in appreciation as he caught sight of her. She was dressed as the Princess of Winter and she was so lovely, she took his breath away.

“She is beautiful!” Regina looked up at the duke, who appeared mesmerized. A faultless dancer, he had come close to missing a step. “I do not believe I have seen her before. Do you know who she is?”

Robert shook his head, attempting to calm his rapidly beating heart. “I do not know. Perhaps she is someone’s house guest. I issued several open invitations to accommodate friends and relatives who had arrived unexpectedly.”

“I do not recall seeing her at the banquet.” Regina frowned slightly. “Perhaps she was delayed and has but recently arrived.”

“Yes. That is a distinct possibility. I shall greet her after this dance has concluded and attempt to discover her identity.”