Sweet Hoyden (12 page)

Once again he leaned forward to kiss her lips, and she wanted so desperately
to melt into his arms, to be done with the foolish business of pretense, but
if she did, he could claim victory over her, and she was not, as yet, prepared
for that.

When he drew away from her, she asked with none of her longing apparent,
"Tell me, Gareth, when you are questioned about my absence from town, how do you respond?"

As he turned to pour more champagne into his glass, he replied, "I
contrive, Pandora. Truly I do."

'I wonder. You see, I am of the opinion that there is more to this visit
than you would have me believe."

'And what is it you believe?" he asked, betraying no emotion.

'You are in a fix, finding it difficult to explain away my continued
absence, and so you suffer constant embarrassment, which would not sit well
with you. I'll warrant you did not consider that at the outset. Well, I am
bound to warn you that should I return with you now, my behavior would not be a
jot different to how it has been, and such an irritation to you. In fact, I
feel so outraged at your ill use of me, it is like I
shall be even more shocking in the future. Do you still wish to be reconciled
with me?"

Her head came back proudly as she gazed at him in triumph. His face became a
furious mask as he jumped to his feet.

'Damn you, Pandora! You are indeed a witch." He strode across the room
before pausing at the door. "Enjoy your rustication, my dear, for as long
as it is like to continue. I shall be gone before you rise on the morrow."

The door snapped shut behind him, and Pandora let out a long sigh. It had
cost her dear to let him go, and even now she was tempted to call him back. She
swung her legs over the side of the bed, aware that her day clothes had been
pushed underneath in her hurry, for she had barely arrived at Brocklesby Hall
ahead of him. There was only sufficient time to instruct the servants in what
they must say and do. The hastily lit fire had hardly warmed the unused room,
and she clutched her arms about her, shivering slightly.

The half-empty champagne bottle was still on the table, and Pandora picked
up her glass and held it high. "A toast to Madame de Chambray," she
whispered in a broken voice before draining the glass and throwing it into the
hearth, where it shattered into countless tiny pieces.

She choked back a sob and then, throwing herself down onto the bed, burst
into tears.

The bright winter sun was shining on
St.
George's
Fields, where the open space was usually
crowded with elegant carriages bearing fashionably dressed ladies, gentlemen,
and their companions. Bucks drove their high-perch phaetons and curricles into
the melee, where pedestrians were trying to avoid wheel ruts and those young
Corinthians showing off their prowess with a team of horses. Peddlers passed
among the crowds selling anything from ribbons and nosegays to hot pies, and
they were all doing a great trade.

Pandora had left Lady St. James and Jeanne in their carriage, where the viscountess
was receiving friends and acquaintances. Because Pandora did not feel much like
conversing, she and Francois wandered along to inspect at close quarters the
balloon that was about to be inflated.

'Imagine," Pandora said in awe, "man is now able to fly."

Since her return to
London
she had overcome her heartache and was all the more determined to pay the earl
back.

'Ah, yes," Francois agreed. "It is exciting, is it not? For me it
could not be better. Watching a balloon ascent in the
company of the most beautiful woman in
London
.
I am the most fortunate of men."

Beneath the copious powder on her face, Pandora blushed.
"Francois…" she said warningly, "you must remember this
situation is only temporary, and I am a married woman who hopes to be soon reconciled
with her husband."

'What other female is worth the attention, madame? A married lady needs
must have a gallant. Have you considered what you will do if Lord Asheville
does not wish to be reconciled with you?"

Pandora's heart felt as if it were turning to stone. "No, Francois, I
dare not think of it. I will not," she added firmly.

'Oh, look," he cried, diverting her in some small measure, "they
are beginning to inflate the balloon."

'How I wish I could fly in it," Pandora admitted. "Mayhap it can be
arranged, madame." She could not help but chuckle at the thought.
"That is just the kind of thing I am like to do, so I

dare not even consider it. Madame de Chambray would
not, so neither must I."

'If only it could cross the channel to
France
," he mused. "How
wonderful it would be to pelt those slimy Jacobins with gunpowder."

They were joined at that moment by a group of young ladies in whose eyes
Francois had found much favor. While he gravely explained the working of a hot
air balloon to the attentive girls, Pandora took the opportunity to slip away
from him. Since her return from Brocklesby Hall, close on the heels of the
earl, she had had no sight of him, but now she glimpsed him climbing down from
his curricle. She watched the set of his head as he handed the ribbons to his
tiger, and her resolve was reinforced. He was too top-lofty by far.

It would have been easy for Pandora to lose herself in the crowd, but that
did not suit her purpose. As he walked away from his curricle, she called out,
"Lord Asheville."

Frowning, he glanced in her direction and then his lips curved into a smile.
"Madame de Chambray." He took her hand and bowed low over it.
"What a welcome surprise to see you here. I could not be certain you would
be." At last he let go of her hand, making it evident to Pandora that he
did not wish to. "I look to you to keep me abreast of the on dits that
circulated in my absence."

'You do not have the appearance of a tattle-basket, my lord," she
answered demurely.

'It is often as well to know what is being said in one's absence."

'I regret I cannot help you there; I have been absent myself for the past
two days." At the sight of his puzzlement, she went on to explain, "I
journeyed to
Dover
in order to arrange a sea passage for my sister."

'So she is to come to
London
?"

'Hopefully, very soon. We have had word she has
left
Paris
."

'Then I wish her Godspeed, madame."

'I too," Pandora replied with obvious sincerity.

'It seems an age since we last met," he went on a moment later.

'I am persuaded that it is, my lord, but in truth I did not look to see you
here. The note that accompanied your delightful basket informed me you were
going out of town, and I was quite certain it was like to be a lengthy
stay."

'I trust that news did not distress you, madame."

'You must know it did."

'I was resolved not to stay away too long, for you must know there is much I
am loath to miss in town just now."

Pandora made good use of her parasol which she twirled coquettishly while
she conversed. It had another use, preventing the earl from getting too close
a look at her face, which now sported many patches on her perfect skin.

'How could I know that, my lord?"

He smiled into her eyes. "Be certain of it."

She smiled and accepted his declaration, and all the while she was tempted
to denounce him where he stood. However, at the sight of the elderly gentleman
who was approaching them, Pandora grew afraid. He was tall and very thin,
wearing a brocade coat with paste buttons and a queue wig tied back with a
velvet ribbon.

'Oh, no, Papa," she murmured to herself and immediately turned away.

The gentleman raised his walking cane to attract Lord Asheville's attention
as he came, and the earl looked no more pleased to see him than Pandora was.

'
Asheville
,
just the fellow!"

The earl bowed stiffly. "Sir Henry. I did not look to see you here. I
believed you to be out of town."

'This seemed a novel diversion after taking the waters of
Bath
."

'I trust that the visit benefited your health, sir."

'I am of the opinion that it did. However, that place is not as it used to
be when Beau Nash held sway. Now,
Asheville
,
what is this I have been hearing about m' daughter?"

'Pandora is at Brocklesby Hall at present."

'Indeed, that is precisely what I have heard. She is not unwell, I
trust."

'She is in rude health, I assure you, sir."

'Then what nonsense is that? Pandora rusticating at this
time of the year? I have never known it of her before."

Amidst her disquiet Pandora was beginning to enjoy her husband's
discomfiture as she feigned interest in what was happening around the balloon.

'An elderly cousin of mine—an invalid—was taken ill, and Pandora felt it
incumbent upon her to render him some comfort for a short while. I am persuaded
she will not stay for long, but on the other hand it is quite like that she
will."

Sir Henry's eyebrows rose. "This is quite unlike the chit, but I
confess to be heartened by this news. Mayhap being leg-shackled to you has,
after all, mellowed her hoydenish ways."

The earl smiled wryly. "Oh, I would not depend upon it, sir."

'When she returns, and like you, I am certain she will not suffer
rustication for long—not Pandora—pray tell her I wish to see her."

'Indeed, I will, Sir Henry. In the meantime allow me to introduce Madame de
Chambray. General Sir Henry Kettering, madame."

'Ah, yes," her father responded, taking note of Pandora at last. "Your servant, ma'am."

Pandora inclined her head so that the brim of her feathered bonnet concealed
most of her face. After her initial panic she realized she had little to fear.
Her father rarely took much note of ladies nowadays. He scarce glanced at her.

'Bad business in
France
,"
he murmured. "Damned Jacobins." He nodded
affably in the earl's direction, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Fine
fellow,
Asheville
.
Glad m' daughter chose to wed you."

As he strode away, there was a brief silence between Pandora and the earl,
whom she suspected was feeling embarrassed by the encounter with his
father-in-law. Then, after a few moments, the earl said with false heartiness,
"Sir Henry is my wife's father. He was quite a hero of the American
war."

'He looks to be slightly mad," she countered. Her success on yet
another occasion caused her to feel rather reckless.

'Oh, no, that is far from being true, although I would say he is a mite
eccentric. It is a fault in Englishmen—ladies, too."

'I had noted," she mused, "that English gentlemen place their
horseflesh above their womenfolk in import. That I find most strange. Tell me,
Lord Asheville, does your wife favor Sir Henry?" she went on quickly.
"I fancy he might have been handsome in his youth."

'I understand Lady Kettering was a great beauty of her time. Pandora, I
believe favors her."

They began to walk toward the crowds. "Her name is most unusual, I
think."

'It is of mythical origins," the earl confirmed, "and I am bound
to confess, madame, it suits her admirably. Recall how the original Pandora
opened the box of evil. My wife is often doing such things. I pray it will not
cause her downfall." Pandora's hand clenched into a fist around her
parasol as he went on, unaware of her anger, "Enough talk of Lady
Asheville. Let us talk about you. I am in a fidge to know all about you."

'How flattering you are. My life up until now has been quite unremarkable, I
assure you."

'I take leave to doubt that, but even the most unremarkable facts about you
are of the greatest interest to me, and yet I know little beyond your name and
the fact you are, regrettably, widowed."

Pandora was startled, for she had given no thought to the provenance of the
mythical identity she had assumed.

'Why… yes, my lord, that is so."

'Do you have no children?"

'Alas, I was widowed very soon after my marriage," she replied,
allowing her head to droop slightly.

'What a great misfortune that must have been," he commiserated.

'Not as great as you would think, for my husband, how shall I put it, my
lord? He was not a kind man. Many ladies are unfortunately burdened with
husbands who are less than indulgent toward them."

The earl looked outraged. "It is not only ladies who are so
unfortunate. Let me assure you, some gentlemen have the misfortune to become
leg-shackled to ladies who bring them to the brink of financial ruin with their
deep gaming, or invite unhealthy gossip with their behavior. However, I can
scarce believe any man of sensibility could be anything other than kindness
itself to you."

Once again Pandora hung her head in mock despondency, and all at once she
was enjoying herself hugely. "He was not a man of sensibility, I fear. His
doxies were of more import to him than I, his cronies, too. It is often the way
with gentlemen."

The earl moved closer to her. "I must tell you, madame, it is as well
he is dead, for I would feel it incumbent upon me to call the poltroon out for
misusing you."

She sighed deeply. "Oh, my lord, how that sentiment, so genuinely
given, heartens me, but you must know, in France, as it is here in England, a
gentleman may use his wife as he will."

'Not a gentleman of worth, madame."

'Oh, I am fully aware you would not behave in so heartless a manner, Lord
Asheville. How I envy Lady Asheville the husband she has in you." To
Pandora's satisfaction he looked extremely discomforted by her fulsome praise,
which was no more than she had intended.