Rachelle Edwards Read online

  ONE

  The evening was well advanced. The house in Grosvenor Square

  was crowded with elegantly dressed and bejeweled people, many of whom were titled and most of whom were very rich. The magnificence of the numerous carriages that lined the square outside was testimony to that.

  The ball held at the town mansion of the Duke and Duchess of Repton was an early high spot of the social Season. Everyone who mattered in the haute ton had been invited; those who were not knew exactly the state of their social standing. In the salons and ballrooms of late the question on everyone's lips had been whether the Prince of Wales would become Regent or if the King would regain his senses. Now the matter was settled; wa­gers on the matter had been won or lost, and the beau monde awaited the next scandal or gossip-worthy event with great impatience.

  Throughout the evening in the card room large amounts of money were being won and lost. Dia­mond shoe clips and emerald rings were crossing the table at frequent intervals. At one table the Earl of Asheville scooped his substantial winnings into a leather purse before getting to his feet and, with a smile, bidding his companions an affable good-night.

  'He has the devil's own luck," remarked one of the losers as the earl walked away from the table.

  'It isn't like he'd need to resort to breaking shins."

  'No, indeed," agreed the other, "his marriage has ensured his future fortunes. That union is so typi­cal of Asheville. A considerable heiress would not suffice for him, I fear; the countess is also a hand­some wench."

  His acquaintance laughed. "A little too much for you to handle, Royston, and from all I have heard, that may be true of Asheville, too."

  'You need not have a care for him, I assure you. Lady Asheville will be permitted her head on all occasions as long as he can continue enjoying his pleasures, which are considerable."

  Unaware of their acid comments, Lord Asheville strolled out of the card room, nodding amiably to acquaintances as he passed them. He walked slowly back toward the ballroom, where he had last seen his wife. As always she had been surrounded by an eager crowd of friends and admirers, and the earl had harbored no doubts that the countess would be adequately entertained during his time in the card room.

  'Asheville!" He turned on his heel as he was ap­proached by Lady Welman, an old acquaintance. She had, in fact, been his mistress several years earlier. "Do I dare to hope you wish to take me in to supper?" she asked coyly when she reached him.

  He bestowed upon her his most charming smile. "Alas, I cannot, my lady, much to my regret, for I am engaged to escort my wife in to supper this eve­ning."

  Lady Welman fluttered her fan. "La! Your own wife! How unfashionable of you, my dear."

  'Indeed, I know it, but you must grant me this slight eccentricity. It is due entirely to the short time we have been wed."

  The woman looked skeptical. "Three months wed and still good friends?"

  'Remarkable, is it not?" he answered smilingly.

  'Even so, I'll wager you will not escort Lady Asheville into the supper room this night, my lord. Indeed, you will not."

  So saying, she turned on her heel and strode away, laughing with her companions, leaving the earl to frown after her for a few moments before he continued on his way.

  Several ladies eyed him with admiration as he passed them by. Up until the end of the previous Season he had been regarded as a very eligible bachelor, although his title and considerable wealth did not entirely account for that, for there were oth­ers of higher rank and greater wealth. The Earl of Asheville was considered to have a handsome coun­tenance and a fine figure, which was invariably clad in the height of fashion. He followed the current vogue of wearing his own hair tied back with a rib­bon, whereas some of his contemporaries still pow­dered theirs or even persisted in the outdated fashion of wearing a wig. His coats were always superbly cut to accentuate his broad shoulders, and his smooth breeches disclosed a pair of fine legs. When he so chose, he could use his charm to dev­astating effect, a fact to which many ladies could testify. All these attributes, together with the fact he had evaded matrimony until his thirtieth year, endowed him with a certain challenge to debu­tantes on successive Seasons. So, it had come as something of a surprise to many when his betrothal to one of their number was announced during the last Season.

  Miss Pandora Kettering was acknowledged to be a great beauty, and her portion was considerable, so after the surprise had faded a little, the gossips began to speculate in earnest on how a confirmed bachelor like Lord Asheville would deal with such a fun-loving girl. In this their first Season as man and wife all attention was on the newly married couple, and no one was more aware of it than Lord Asheville himself.

  By the time he had reached the ballroom, it was considerably less crowded than it had been the last time he'd been there. No longer was the dance floor a moving tapestry of brightly colored velvet and silk. Dancing, it seemed, created considerable hun­ger and thirst, and the supper room was now filling with the eager revelers, while the orchestra took a well-earned rest.

  'Have you seen my wife?" he inquired of an ac­quaintance, who shook his head.

  'Not for at least a half hour," came the reply. "Mayhap she is in the supper room."

  Among those remaining the earl could see no sign of his countess. Her mass of red curls, always un-powdered, made her easily visible, as did her laugh­ter, which so often rang out above the chatter and music. Lord Asheville was beginning to feel slightly irritated now, especially as Lady Welman's parting shot returned to his mind. Just as he turned to leave the ballroom, the earl's spirits plummeted further at the sight of the large lady approaching him with a purposeful air about her.

  'Asheville!" she boomed. "I have been seeking you out all evening."

  'Your Grace," he murmured with a bow. "I am always at your service."

  'You may not be aware of it, but I called in at Hanover Square and left my card with your house steward a sennight ago, and I find it strange that Lady Asheville has not returned the call as yet."

  The earl drew in a sharp breath. His mother's friend was a formidable lady, a foremost matron of the beau monde. If Pandora hoped to become a suc­cessful Society hostess, he was fully aware, as she must be, that she could not afford to alienate a lady of such importance.

  'I am persuaded," he answered, choosing his words with infinite care, "it was an oversight, Your Grace. Had Pandora seen your card, I know she would have returned your call without delay."

  'I suppose it is possible she has not seen it," the duchess conceded. "Servants are so lax nowadays, don't you find?"

  'Yes, indeed I do. I will have words with them on the morrow, I assure you. I do not suppose you have had sight of my wife this evening?"

  'Periodically I have caught a glimpse of her, I own. She has stood up for almost every set, usually with Sir Aldan Buckley."

  The earl bowed again as she brushed past him. When she had gone, he drew in an exasperated sigh. Buck Buckley. That rakehell. He might have guessed he was still dancing attendance on his wife, but even so, he could not help but feel angry.

  There were a number of guests in the garden, which was lighted by lanterns hanging in the trees. It was not uncommon when the heat and airless-ness indoors became too much that guests revived themselves in the garden, but at that time of the year the air was cool, and no one lingered there for too long.

  However, Pandora Asheville exhibited no anxi­ety to go back indoors as she enjoyed the fairylike vista before her. "I believe I would have swooned away if I'd been obliged to stay in the ballroom for another moment." She sighed. "The air is so de­lightfully fresh out here."

  Her companion gazed at her in awe. "Anywhere you are present cannot be other than delightful,
my lady."

  Pandora laughed, a sound that had entranced so many gentlemen since her debut into Society a year earlier. She tapped him playfully on the arm with her fan. "Flatterer."

  He caught hold of her by both arms and drew her toward him. "And you are a witch, my dear, a green-eyed witch who has enslaved me. I can scarce go about my daily tasks for thinking about you."

  Pandora's laughter was a mite more uncomfort­able now. "Sir Aldan, I beg of you, remember pro­priety."

  'You would do well to remember that I am still as madly in love with you as the moment I offered for you. How could you accept Asheville's offer in­stead of mine?"

  'I could only accept one offer of marriage out of all those that were made, Sir Aldan."

  'Call me Buck. All my friends do."

  'Indeed, I will not." She turned away from him, gazing up at the sky. "Look at the full moon. Does it not appear that you could just reach out and pluck it from the sky?"

  'If you bid me to do it, I vow that I shall."

  She laughed again. "What a tongue-pad you are, to be sure, but I own you are also very gallant."

  'Would that I were your gallant, my lady. If you cannot be my wife, that is all I have left to crave in life. To love you and be loved in return is all I now desire."

  'Your tongue is certainly well hung," she mused, "and everyone knows you to be a practiced rake. Why should I believe such tarradiddle?"

  Once again he seized hold of her, his expression fierce. "Because I speak only the truth. I am driven mad with love for you."

  Once again Pandora drew away from him. "Sir Aldan, pray let go of my arms. You are hurting me."

  He did so, adding, "You care nothing for my hurt.

  Why do you persist in this torture? You know of my feelings for you. Indeed, you were aware of them before you became leg-shackled to Asheville."

  'Had I accepted your offer of marriage, Asheville would have bemoaned his anguish."

  'You cannot think so. He has no such feelings, and what is more, I am of the opinion he cannot make you happy, for he has a cold disposition. Ev­eryone remarks upon it. I'll warrant he has never been in love. You need a man who can understand the passion in your heart, my lady, and I am that man."

  Feeling desperately uncomfortable now, Pandora feigned a careless attitude. "Oh, gentlemen suffer an excess of pride, Sir Aldan. Tis only injured pride that prompts this outburst, nothing more. This Sea­son there are many debutantes who are both well favored and have generous portions. I am per­suaded, if you set your mind upon it, you will find one much to your taste."

  'Heartless wench," he castigated, "to dismiss me in so cavalier a manner when I am in perpetual agony."

  When he reached out yet again and pulled her toward him, she was too surprised to resist, and when he bestowed a kiss upon her lips, for a mo­ment Pandora could do nothing but allow him to press his lips against hers. Her shock lasted only moments, but just as she recovered her surprise and was about to draw away outraged, a familiar voice snapped out her name.

  Pandora jumped back, as did her erstwhile lover. Fortunately the powder on his face and the numer-ous patches he wore concealed a sudden paling of his cheeks. The sight of the earl standing some few steps away came as an even greater shock to Pan­dora than the dandy's kiss.

  'I have been seeking you out for an age," Lord Asheville told her, casting the other man a look which could have melted ice.

  Abashed and appearing nothing like the dashing beau of a few moments before, Sir Aldan made a brief bow. "My lady. Asheville." He hurried back toward the house, leaving Pandora to stare after him in dismay.

  The earl's gaze followed him pitilessly. When Sir Aldan glanced back and saw it, he almost stumbled before making even greater haste toward the house.

  'La!" Pandora laughed in order to cover her con­fusion as she opened her fan and began to swish it in front of her red cheeks. "Is it supper time al­ready? I declare I had quite lost all notion of time."

  'So it would appear," her husband tartly replied. All at once Pandora felt cold and shivered, drawing her shawl more closely about her. The earl held out his hand, much to her relief. "Come, let us go in­side before you take a chill."

  With uncharacteristic meekness she allowed him to lead the way, joining the path taken a few mo­ments earlier by Sir Aldan Buckley. After a mo­ment or two of enduring a discomforting silence, she ventured, "Is it not the most diverting eve­ning?"

  'I do not doubt you would deem it so, my dear." he answered without looking at her, and his tone gave her no reassurance at all.

  It seemed to Pandora that he was very angry in­deed, and although she feared his wrath, she would have welcomed a more open display of ire. "I caught sight of you in the card room a while ago," she ven­tured meekly. "I do trust that you won at cards."

  'I did," he answered, his tone still icy.

  'Then you are free to stand up with me for the country dance after supper. I have left it free for you." When he did not reply, she went on breath­lessly, "Have you seen Fanny Courdon's gown? How hideous it is. I cannot conceive what possessed her to wear it."

  'No, I have not seen Fanny Courdon's gown, Pandora, but I have seen the Duchess of Melway."

  Pandora cast him a fearful look. "What did Her Grace want with you? To impart some criticism of me, no doubt."

  'You are very astute. She believes you owe her a call."

  Pandora bit her lip. "I do intend to call upon her… on the morrow. Indeed, I have had it in mind all week, I assure you."

  He cast her a disbelieving look as they reached the house, but instead of escorting her into the sup­per room, he led her into the hall, where several guests cast them curious looks.

  'Where are we going?" she asked in bewilder­ment. "This is not the way to the supper room."

  He did not reply. Instead the earl addressed one of the footmen on duty. "Have my carriage brought round immediately," he ordered, "and her lady­ship's cloak."

  Pandora gasped as the lackey went to do his bid-in ding. She turned on her heel and looked at him di­rectly at last. "Are we to leave, Asheville?"

  'Yes," he answered, nodding smilingly at some­one who passed.

  'We cannot leave; the evening isn't half over." For a moment he surveyed her dispassionately before replying, "For you it is over."

  'Why?" she asked in a desperate whisper. "I am amazed you should ask. If you truly re­quire to know, it is because your behavior is de­plorable. I believe that is reason enough."

  'You mistook what you saw. When I accepted Sir Aldan's invitation to take some air in the garden, I had no notion he would try to kiss me."

  'It appeared to me that he did considerably more than try; he succeeded. His lamentable behavior does not excuse you."

  Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, you do not intend to call Sir Aldan out over this, do you?"

  The earl's lips curved into a mirthless smile. "That poltroon? Certainly not. He is only good for behaving like a mooncalf with married ladies. A duel can only give satisfaction if both parties stand a sporting chance. Sir Aldan would probably make for the first packet boat leaving Dover before I had a chance to appoint my seconds."

  As their carriage clattered into the forecourt, Pandora became angry. "You are making far too much of this, Asheville."

  'I think not."

  'I am of the opinion that this 'punishment' has more to do with my not returning Her Grace's visit than Sir Aldan's brief embrace," she declared, throwing her head back proudly.

  'Think what you will, Pandora," her husband answered wearily. "It makes no odds to me."

  Her fox-lined cloak was put around her shoul­ders, and before she could protest any further, the earl had ushered her into the carriage, which im­mediately set off at a spanking pace.

  Pandora's eyes filled with tears when she thought of all she was going to miss. "What will the tattle-baskets make of this, I wonder?" she asked in a broken voice.

  'It surprises me that you even care, Pandora. I hav
e never noted this trait in you before. Mayhap in future it will cause you to be a mite more circum­spect in your behavior."

  'You sound just like the prosy old clergyman who used to preach to us when I was a child. He was forever reading us dire lessons from the pulpit, but that didn't stop him patronizing the village doxy as soon as church was finished."

  She turned away from him in disgust and frus­tration. In truth she was very much alarmed by what had happened. In their three months of mar­riage she had never seen him other than amiable and indulgent toward her, so that this cold anger, which was entirely new to her, was frightening. She had always possessed the ability to manipulate gentlemen to do her bidding, from her adoring fa­ther to the beaux who laid siege to her house dur­ing her one and only Season as a debutante, and she fully expected to be able to continue in this manner with the man who had become her hus-band. Now she was at a loss as to how to make amends for that momentary lapse in propriety. It did not occur to her that a humble apology was likely to have the desired effect.

  The carriage rattled into Hanover Square

  and came to a halt outside the handsome edifice of Asheville House. Pandora did not wait for her hus­band to help her down. As soon as the steps were lowered, she climbed down and hurried into the house ahead of him.

  As he followed her, he said, "Tomorrow you can send a note to the duchess explaining your early departure."

  'How do you suppose I can do that?" Pandora demanded, her breath coming quickly.

  'Why not say quite simply that you felt unwell?" he suggested, and then began to climb the curving staircase.

  'Are you mad?" she retorted. Her earlier guilt was quickly turning to anger.

  Halfway up the stairs he paused to turn and look at her again. "Mayhap you would prefer to tell her your husband is heartily weary of seeing you be­have at best like a hoyden and at worst a wanton."

  'How dare you say that of me?" she fumed in the face of his cold anger.

  'Do not forget, Pandora, I have the evidence of my own eyes. If it concerns you what the tattle-baskets say, I suggest you take up my earlier ad­vice and write to tell Her Grace that you had an attack of the vapors or some such thing. It is not unknown among ladies, I understand."