Sweet Hoyden (8 page)

As soon as the first act had ended, several of the St. Jameses' servants
arrived with picnic hampers, the contents of which they set out for the
enjoyment of those present in the box. There was a cold collation, champagne,
and fruit, all of which seemed to delight the guests. Pandora filled her plate,
with the knowledge that if she ate, it was not likely she would be called upon
to converse. However, she was alarmed when the earl brought his plate to where
she was sitting and took the chair next to hers.

'You are bearing your exile so bravely," he murmured, and her heart
began to beat fast. "My—exile… ?" she
stammered. "From
France
,"
he explained, bestowing upon her a heartfelt smile.

His eyes were very dark and unfathomable. Pandora realized, rather
belatedly, they had always been so. His moods, his feelings, were never very
evident, unlike his friend Roderick St. James, who had been known to cry when a
piece of music moved him.

Pandora drew in a sharp breath, aware that Rosamond was watching them
anxiously while keeping up a flow of bright conversation with the person
sitting next to her.

'It is naturally very sad that I have been obliged to flee my country,"
Pandora acknowledged, "but ray cousin and her husband are endeavoring to
make me very welcome, and evenings such as this do divert my mind from the
reality of the situation I find myself in."

'It does my heart good to hear you say so, madame. I trust that you are
enjoying the play."

'I am very much reminded of the Comedie Francaise."

'Ah, yes, I can understand that very well indeed. I have had many happy
hours there. In my youth it was my privilege to visit
France
on
several occasions."

Pandora gave him a quick, frightened look. "I had no notion of
that."

Urbanely he asked, "Why on earth should you, madame?" and she felt
her cheeks growing pink. A moment later he went on. "It was considered necessary
for me to complete my education on a grand tour of
Europe
.
I am bound to say that
France
was the favorite place out of all those I visited. Tis a wonder we did not meet
on one of those occasions I was in
Paris
."

Aware he must believe her to be older than her actual years, she replied,
"It might be that we did, my lord."

'I very much doubt it, for if we had, I would surely remember."

Once again she found her cheeks were growing red. The earl was actually
flirting with her. Well, she reasoned, it was what she had hoped for at the outset,
and as difficult as it might be initially, she knew she must respond.

'You are quite incorrigible, my lord," she murmured, flickering her
fan in a flirtatious manner.

For some minutes Frangois had been eyeing them uneasily from the far side of
the box. Now he put down his plate and came to join them, and Pandora didn't
know whether to be glad or sorry.

'Your protector, madame" the earl said, his voice heavy with irony.

'We French feel the need to keep together, now we are in exile," she
explained quickly.

'Ah, so that is the explanation."

The earl made no attempt to hide his sarcasm, and Pandora drew a sigh. How
she would enjoy giving him a set-down, except she could rarely best him in any
situation. He was the only man she could not best, and during their courtship
their encounters had served to stimulate her, but now she wished she had
chosen someone more malleable to her charm.

'My nephew is still feeling strange here," she added lamely.

'That is evident," he replied.

When the servants began to clear away some of the empty plates, the earl
moved, allowing Pandora to be alone with Frangois.

'Does he trouble you, my lady?" the young man asked in a whisper.

Pandora laughed brokenly. "It seems he always does, but you need not
get into a pucker over it, I assure you. It is no more than to be expected in
the present circumstances."

'His impudence is monstrous," Frangois went on angrily.

'He cannot be brought to task for merely speaking to a lady," she
pointed out.

'It is clear what he is about. First he rids himself of his exquisite wife,
and no sooner is she out of town than he attaches himself to the most fetching
Frenchwoman in
London
.
It is not to be borne."

The irony of the young man's words were not lost on Pandora, and she burst
out laughing, something which caused the earl to turn toward them and to frown.
Moments later Sir Aldan Buckley entered the box and paused in a theatrical
manner to gaze at her. Pandora had espied him earlier in his seat in the pit of
the theater but had hoped to evade him on this occasion. Dealing with
Asheville
was sufficient
for one evening, she felt, but now it seemed she was not to be spared.

'Madame, this is a happy occurrence to see you so soon after our last
encounter," Sir Aldan greeted her.

'For you, no doubt," she answered dryly as the earl left the box,
causing her spirits to drop.

'I trust you have received my small token."

'Indeed, it was small, was it not? I declare I have never seen one smaller.
It was almost lost among the others."

For once, for a few moments, the rake was at a loss for words, and his
patched and powdered face took on a look of dismay. "You are exceeding
plain-spoken, madame."

'It is a national trait. You needs must grow accustomed to it if we are to
deal well together."

'It is my earnest hope that we shall."

She turned to gaze out at the auditorium and the other boxes, with their
illustrious owners, most of whom were present that
evening. Across the auditorium sat Fanny Courdon, in the Courdon family box,
and talking to her with great earnestness was

Lord Asheville. Pandora gasped with annoyance at the evident enjoyment the
earl was displaying in the company of her erstwhile rival. It seemed that
marriage had not ended old rivalries, and she realized she had been naive to
think that it would.

'I fear madame is feeling peevish today," Sir Aldan was saying.

When she was able to draw her gaze away from the Courdon box, Pandora looked
at the baronet once more. "Indeed, yes, and if I seem ungracious, I must
beg your forgiveness."

'There is no need, no need at all, I assure you. I fully understand. I
confess to having a rare understanding of the female heart."

Pandora smiled sweetly. "How comforting that is to me."

'Now you are more settled in
London
,
no doubt you will be considering a move to your own establishment before too
long. Mayhap, even to take a husband to ease the loneliness of your
exile."

'A husband?" Pandora said consideringly.
"I own I had not thought of it, Sir Aldan."

'You must. You need someone to protect you and your interests, madame. You
are all alone in a strange land."

'Oh, not all alone, Sir Aldan. I am surrounded by
so many acquaintances. I have been warmed by the friendship I have found all
around me."

'Acquaintances do not suffice, so I entreat you to consider the question of
wedlock."

'I think not. It is more like I shall retire from the social round, Sir
Aldan. In truth I am beginning to lose my liking for the diversions of
town."

He looked aghast, as was Pandora's intention. "I cannot credit that in
one such as you."

'Be assured I mean what I say." She drew a deep, exaggerated sigh
before continuing, all the while watched warily by Lady St. James. A few
moments later Sir Aldan, together with the other callers, left the box prior to
the start of the second act.

Rosamond St. James moved closer to her friend. "What did you say to
him? His face became as red as a brick."

To Rosamond's amazement Pandora began to chuckle. "I must be as wanton
as
Asheville
claims me to be,
Rosa
.
I told Sir Aldan that after all my recent trials I could see no other way save
to enter a nunnery."

Rosamond St. James's eyes opened wide with surprise, and then she, too,
began to laugh with her friend, which was the sight that greeted Lord Asheville
when he returned to take his seat for the second act of the play.

The resentment Pandora had been harboring toward her husband intensified
the following day when she entered Somerset House to view a showing of work by
members of the
Royal
Academy
.

A great many paintings were on show, but foremost among them was a new
portrait of Frances, Marchioness of Courdon. What is more, the work was
generally held to flatter the sitter, and enjoying all the fuss and compliments,
was Fanny Courdon herself, surrounded by a crowd of friends and admirers.

'Oh, I shall not easily forgive
Asheville
for this."

Pandora told Jeanne who had accompanied her to the showing. "Mr.
Lawrence is in the process of painting my portrait. At least he was, for I
cannot conceive when it might be finished now. I know he wished to show it here
today."

'When it is completed, I do not doubt it will rival Lady Courdon's,"
Jeanne replied, exhibiting more diplomacy than was usual for her.

As Pandora moved around the room inspecting the exhibits, it was now
becoming easier for her to greet others as Louise de Chambray, for many were
coming to know the beautiful comtesse. The tale of her desperate flight from
France
had
caught the imagination of all who heard it.

'You know, Jeanne, I am growing accustomed to being looked upon as Madame de
Chambray. Everyone admires her as they never did me, so before long I may
decide to remain an emigre Frenchwoman and never return to being Lady
Asheville."

The girl looked shocked. "You cannot mean that, ma'am. What of Lord
Asheville?"

'It is thoughts of my husband that prompt the comment, my dear. Imagine his
perplexity when his wife disappears forever without a trace. He would discover
himself in an impossible position, and most deservedly so."

'I think you are too hard on him, ma'am. Moreover, I am of the opinion you
could not do it."

Pandora sighed. "Mayhap you are correct, but it is diverting to
contemplate." As she passed Fanny Courdon, she murmured, "Mon amie, vous Ues ravissante."

'Merci, madame," the marchioness responded, smiling sweetly.

Although she was reluctant to do so, Pandora felt bound to study the
portrait at length, which did nothing to salve her displeasure. In her opinion
Fanny Courdon had been flattered to a great and unfair degree by the artist,
making her appear far more fetching than Pandora considered her to be.

'What do you think of the prize exhibit, madame?"

She turned sharply at the sound of the earl's voice close to her ear. The
sight of him always discomposed her now, just as it had done in the early days
of their courtship. Then, his air of aloofness attracted her, quite different
as it was to the gushing of the others who pursued her. Now, his inscrutability
angered her, but all at once there was no strength to her wrath. The desire to
pay him back in some measure was much stronger in her and growing daily.

'It is quite splendid," she answered, masking her ire successfully and
appearing relaxed.

'I couldn't agree more," the earl mused as he further studied the
painting. "Mr. Lawrence has captured the essential radiance about
her."

Now Pandora couldn't quite mask her annoyance. She clucked her tongue,
which made the earl look at her curiously. "You made some comment,
madame?"

Pandora cleared her throat. "Oh, indeed. It has occurred to me that,
having seen her at close quarters, Lady Courdon is so fetching, no painter
could possibly do her full justice," The remark cost her dearly in pride,
but she reckoned it was all in a just cause.

'I believe you are correct there, madame," he answered, studying the
work with great interest. "Lady Courdon is a most fascinating creature, I
must own."

'I cannot comment upon that, for I do not know the lady except in
passing," Pandora replied, her tone dripping with ice.

'A closer acquaintance would be most rewarding, I assure you. It is my
privilege to know her rather well."

Pandora was tempted to slap his satisfied face, or at least stamp her foot
on the floor in anger, but she was, naturally, obliged to restrain herself. Moments
later the earl went on, "Mr. Gainsborough painted my portrait some years
ago, and I was very pleased with the result. Now Mr. Lawrence
is in the process of painting my wife's portrait."

'It is to be hoped you will be as pleased with the result as you are with
Lady Courdon's portrait," she answered with some asperity.

'I dare say I will be, for my wife has a comeliness which many find
pleasing. It is intended that the two portraits, mine and hers, hang together
at Brocklesby Hall."

'Like two felons on the gibbet, my lord?"

Her sarcasm was not taken amiss, for he laughed delightedly. "What a
fine humor you have, madame. It is a great attribute in a lady. My wife, I may
tell you, is fond of a lark. You would deal well together, I fancy."

As she moved on to inspect anther exhibit, feel- ing she had wasted
sufficient time on Fanny Courdon's portrait, the earl accompanied her.
"Ah, your wife," she murmured. "I have heard she has had the
misfortune to be obliged to adjourn to the country."

'Unfortunately so."

'It couldn't be a worse time, unless, of course, she dislikes the diversions
of town."

'In fact, she loves them. She will be most disappointed to have missed
today's exhibition, I assure you."