Sweet Hoyden (19 page)

'There is only one other with such proficiency at the harpsichord, and that
is my wife. I have no doubt that you recall that well, Buckley."

'Madame de Chambray cannot be thought to come close to Lady Asheville."

'Buckley, what ails you, my dear fellow?" the earl inquired in a hearty
manner. "Only yesterday you could not find fault in anything Madame de
Chambray said or did, but now you look as if you are in high dudgeon, and I
cannot believe that she is the cause of it."

'I have very good cause for my outrage,
Asheville
. Very good cause indeed, I assure
you. I feel ill-used."

'Surely the sound of Madame de Chambray's playing cannot help but soothe
your soul."

'Madame de Chambray is the cause of my megrims."

The earl's eyebrows rose a little. "From all I observe, you appeared to
be getting on famously, none more so. Truth to tell, I have become quite
envious of the cordiality which was apparent between you."

'You are cruel to remind me of it, my lord, but even so, I feel it only fair
to warn you that the lady, whose name I shall not mention, but who is of interest
to both of us, has recently discovered her husband is alive, dashing all my
hopes and plans for the future."

'How thoughtless of him."

'I do not doubt you will cry roast meat over this, but I am desolate and
cannot be comforted."

The earl made a conscious attempt to hide his amusement. "Are you quite
certain of your facts? I am no more pleased about this than you are."

Satisfied he had caused Lord Asheville some shock, Sir Aldan smiled for the
first time. "It was told to me in confidence, thus my reluctance to name
the lady, but you may rely upon the veracity of what I have said."

'Well, it is of no concern to me," the earl went on airily. "If I
so choose, I can call the fellow out and draw his cork. From all Madame de
Chambray has told me, it would not grieve her in the slightest."

'Even so, it is a desperate remedy."

'Have no fear, I shall not resort to be dueling on
this occasion. Lady Asheville will be back in town with the sennight, and I
must address myself to her."

Sir Aldan looked startled. "I had no notion she would return so soon."

'I had looked to see you pleased at the news."

'Oh, I am, I assure you," the baronet insisted.

'I must naturally insist that you keep your distance when she does return,
Buckley."

'We are like to meet socially."

'I believe you will find Lady Asheville has lost her taste for your
company."

'I take leave to doubt that," the baronet said angrily.

'Let me assure you, it is so."

'I will not believe it until Lady Asheville herself has told me
so."

'Buckley,
I
am telling you. Let
that be sufficient.

Sir Aldan glanced at the earl and saw his resolve The
baronet swallowed noisily. This is devastating news to me."

'You must endeavor to bear it bravely," the earl told him in a rallying
tone.

'We have the misfortune to like the same ladies
Asheville
," Sir Aldan remarked a moment
later and was unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice That
should forge a bond between us, not a chasm."

The earl laughed. "I fear that the ladies in question do not much like
you, sir." He gave Sir Aldan a withering look. "And I cannot wonder
why That coat is as offensive to me as it most
undoubtedly will be to Madame de Chambray."

Sir Aldan's eyes opened wide at this unexpected attack. "Lord
Asheville! That insult was quite uncalled for, as I employ the finest tailor
in London Everyone knows it. I really must protest "

'Protest is all you will do. Now, be pleased to remove yourself and allow me
to enjoy what remains of this recital."

'I pity Lady Asheville with all my heart," Sir Aldan said darkly.
"She is leg-shackled to a blackguard of the first order."

He turned on his heel, and the earl smiled faintly before turning his
attention back to Pandora at the harpsichord.

TWELVE

In the event, Lady St. James did not need her domino for the masquerade,
for a note arrived that morning informing them of the imminent arrival of her
cousin from
France
.

'What a relief that is to me," Rosamond declared. "I cannot tell
you what a fidge I have been in every time I have heard the news from
Paris
."

'This is indeed good news," Pandora agreed, "but there is now no
choice for me. I must act with no further delay, for after tonight the
masquerade must be over."

'Do not allow my cousin's arrival to panic you, my dear. You are very
welcome to stay in this house to continue awhile longer should you wish."

'It is kind of you to say so, dearest, but you will have sufficient to deal
with when your cousin does arrive, as will Frangois and Jeanne. In truth I no
longer have the heart to exploit such a tragic situation."

'That is something I would not have envisaged your saying a few weeks
ago."

'It is possible I am vastly wiser than I was then. In any event, this has
gone on long enough," she added with more briskness. "I did not
envisage it becoming quite so complex."

'What exactly do you intend to do to end it?"

'I must make my attempt to lure
Asheville
into an indiscretion with no further delay. If I cannot, and he has been
exceeding careful so far, I shall be obliged to retire to Brocklesby Hall until
such time he allows me back into town."

'I do not know whether I wish you to succeed or not."

Pandora laughed brokenly. "Nor do I, but I have had the devil's own
luck so far. Perchance it will stay with me until the end of the game."

'Lord Asheville is not aware he is playing a game."

'Then the odds needs must be on my side."

Madame de Fontenac arrived during the afternoon. She appeared frail and
fatigued, which was no more than could be expected after the ordeal of her
journey, but she was considerably relieved to be safe and in the bosom of her
family at last. Pandora's heart went out to her. Madame de Fontenac was
nothing like the flirtatious, fictional Madame de Chambray. Surprisingly, after
being reunited with his mother, Francois insisted upon escorting Pandora to Ranelagh
for the masquerade, where they were to join some acquaintances in their own
box.

'Will you will be my friend when you return to being Lady
Asheville?" Francois asked of her as the music played in the
rotunda and those in the box enjoyed a hearty supper.

'I have always been Lady Asheville," Pandora assured him. "And I
hope very much to remain your friend. However, Francois, now she is arrived in
England
, your
poor dear mother will need your support even more than I have done."

'I know it. I am man enough to afford you both support.
You need not doubt it, my lady."

'You are the dearest boy, and one day you will make some lady a wonderful
husband."

'But she will not be the first lady of my choice."

'Certainly she will," Pandora enthused. "You will marry only
a lady of your choice, Francois."

'It will certainly be possible if I call Lord Asheville out and draw his
cork."

Pandora was amused by his ardor, but she strove hard to hide it. "Oh, I
beg of you, do not even consider it. You have no cause, in any event."

'His ill treatment of you is reason enough."

'It has all been a trifle, Francois." He looked horrified.
"How can you say so after all you have been obliged to endure of
late?"

'Had I not acted in such a headstrong manner at the outset, the matter would
have been quickly resolved. Now I am trapped with only one way out. I cannot
cry off now, I fear. I must continue until the end, whatever that might
be."

'Have no fear, my lady. I am resolved to remain your champion."

His loyalty caused her to smile again. "How that knowledge warms my
heart, Francois."

'A heart you have given to another, I fancy."

Square, to enjoy her triumph, or to be banished forever to Brocklesby Hall.
Once, the thought of spending time in the country had been unbearable to her. Now,
Pandora was forced to acknowledge that it was life without the earl she could
not bear to contemplate.

Once in the hall of the rotunda she was diverted by having to guess the
identity of those strolling there. Some were easy to identify, others not so
simple. As always it was vastly amusing. Pandora knew that in her scarlet
domino and mask she could not be easily identified, except when she spoke in
that soft, seductive French accent that was becoming second nature to her.

As usual she kept seeking out a glimpse of the earl, for she felt now she
had no more time to lose. The ruse, in any event, was no longer so amusing, and
she was eager to see an end to it.

Suddenly she became tense when she spotted someone with Lord Asheville's
bearing walking toward them. He was accompanying a lady who could easily be
his mother. Pandora squeezed Francois's arm, and they made their way toward the
couple.

'Is this not the most delightful evening?" Pandora greeted them.

The man, who was wearing a blue domino and mask, bowed low in front of her.
"It is all the more delightful for this encounter, ma'am," came the
reply, and Pandora's smile froze behind her mask, for it was not the earl,
after all.

As soon as she could extricate herself, Pandora sketched a little curtsy,
and she and Francois moved on. "That, I am persuaded, was Lord and

Lady Erskine," All at once she began to laugh. "He is nothing like
my husband. Oh, dear, Francois, what if I'am unable to discover which one he
is? Or better still, what if I entice a complete stranger?"

'That cannot possibly happen, even if you are obliged to wait until the
unmasking."

'I cannot wait that long. Shall I be obliged to challenge every tall
gentleman present?"

She began to laugh again, until someone said, "How splendid it is to
see you in such good spirits, ma'am."

Her laughter faded when she looked up. He was wearing a black-and-silver
domino that covered the elegant clothes that would normally have made him
conspicuous to her. Behind the mask his dark eyes sparkled, whether with
amusement or malice Pandora could not know, but she would have recognized
them anywhere.

'A gentleman in black," she gasped. "I wonder who he may be."

'I know who you are," he responded enigmatically.

'What a tease that is for me."

'We have met before."

'Then I feel we must be friends, sir."

'Much more than that."

'I am all the more intrigued."

'We must continue our promenade," Francois began as he started to move
away.

'Not so fast. This gentleman makes me curious," Pandora told him.

'You are exceeding wise, ma'am. Come with me to the lake, and I will give
you more clues to my identity," the earl promised.

'How can I refuse such an invitation?" she responded, despite
Francois's gasp of annoyance.

The earl turned his attention to the young man. "Unfortunately, young
man, there is room within the boat for only the two of us. No doubt you will
find other entertainment where you may."

Francois had no choice but to withdraw, but Pandora was very well aware he
was not happy to do so. When the earl took her hand and began to lead her
toward the lake, she said, "You were exceeding cruel to that young man who
is devoted to me."

'

'Tis nothing to the cruelty he will encounter in
the future at the hands of ladies."

'You evidently do not have high regard for females, sir."

'I beg you to forgive that slight note of bitterness, ma'am, for I have
suffered cruelly at the altar of feminine worship."

'That is a terrible tale indeed. It saddens me greatly to hear of it."

'I did not mean to depress your spirits, ma'am. I should like to gladden
your heart."

'It is exceeding gallant of you to say so."

An attendant was waiting at the lakeside. Lord Asheville handed Pandora into
one of the small boats, which was not an easy task, owing to her many
voluminous skirts. When he, too, was seated a moment later, he took up the
oars, rowing gently away from the shore and into the center of the lake, where
many other couples were enjoying the boating.

'Do you not think this is a night when magic is abroad?" Pandora
ventured.

'How strange that you should say so. I have had
just those thoughts myself. 'Tis an evening when devils may be transformed into
saints."

'Or the other way around," she reminded him, and he laughed.

'Perchance hags may become beauties," he ventured.

'There might well be a hag behind this mask. You cannot know, sir."

'It makes no odds to me. You see, at midnight you will become a great
beauty, so have no fear. You only have to wait."

'You truly believe in the power of magic, do you not?"

'Mayhap just for tonight."

Pandora laughed and sat back as he propelled the boat across the smooth
surface of the water. Soon it became apparent there were fewer boats at this
part of the lake, and the music had grown fainter.

After a while the earl rowed the boat into the bank and got out, holding his
hand to her. Pandora allowed him to help her onto the bank, reluctant to
relinquish his hand. He suffered a similar reluctance, for he kept hold of her
as they walked together to one of the paths illuminated by colored lanterns
hanging in the trees.

'This is such a lovely spot," she murmured. "One can truly believe
in the power of magic."

Let us walk back toward the rotunda, and mayhap by the time we arrive you
will have guessed who I am."

She drew a deep sigh. "Apparently it is so. I would like to say I wish
it otherwise, but Lord Asheville is the only man I have ever loved. It should
have been apparent to me from the outset, but poor, blind fool that I am, I
could not see it. It appears I was masked long before the masquerade
began."