Midnight Masqerade

by Shirlee Busbee

  Throwing his reins to the groom who appeared just as he pulled his horse to a stop, Dominic dismounted swiftly and raced up the broad steps two at a time. His foot had barely touched the floor of the gallery when a laughing voice rang out to his left. Spinning in that direction with a wide smile, he caught sight of the tall, broad-shouldered gentleman coming toward him. Hand outstretched, his voice full of warmth and affection, Dominic said, "Adam St. Clair! When you didn't come to the wedding, I assumed that you must have met your fate and that some irate husband had finally given you your just deserts!"

  Adam St. Clair, his bright blue eyes full of mischief, murmured, "At least I am not the one caught in the parson's mousetrap! Good God! I could not believe my eyes when I returned home and read the invitation to your wedding." He looked suitably mournful for a moment. "You realize that now that you have been leg-shackled, Catherine will not give me a moment's peace? Whenever she becomes too insistent about my unmarried state, I have always been able to fob her off by telling her that she needn't worry-you weren't married yet either! Now what am I going to do?"

  Dominic burst out laughing, his pleasure in seeing his friend from Natchez very evident. The two companions shook hands enthusiastically, and after much pounding of each other's back and several ribald comments about the other's appearance and habits, they walked to the end of the gallery, where Adam had been sitting talking to Melissa.

  As if it were something that he did every morning, Dominic strolled up to Melissa and, despite the interested onlooker, dropped a brief kiss on her surprised mouth. "Good moming, my dear," he drawled softly, his eyes intently studying her lovely features for a moment before he sat down in the chair next to her.

  Somewhat flustered, Melissa busied herself by fussing with the items on the silver tray for a few minutes. Realizing that there was no cup for Dominic, she hastily rang for a servant, glad to occupy herself with housewifely details until she could regain her composure.

  Sprawled comfortably in his chair, Dominic looked warmly at his glowing bride and said teasingly, "It seems that I cannot leave for a morning ride, madam, that I don't return home and find you entertaining guests! In this case a guest whose penchant for poaching other men's wives is well known to me." Sliding a caressing finger along Melissa's suddenly hot cheek, he added, "I think I shall have to shoot him before he even begins to think about trying any of his tricks with my wife!"

  Her heart racing beneath the lacy insert of her attractive, high-waisted gown of cherry-pink muslin, Melissa said breathlessly, "He's already warned me of his reputation and has promised, since your skill on the dueling field is common knowledge, not to make any attempt to sway my emotions." Her own eyes brimming with mischief, she murmured, "I think that he is being most considerate and magnanimous, don't you? After all, he is nearly as handsome and charming as you!"

  Adam St. Clair was a very handsome and charming young man, and there were those who would have been hard pressed to choose between him and Dominic. It didn't help matters that the two men in question were conspicuously similar in appearance and background. Like Dominic, Adam was tall, standing well above six feet; and like his friend's, his hair was thick and black, not as curly as Dominic's, but with an attractive wave to it. Their ages were the same too, Dominic being the older by just a few months, and until Dominic had purchased Thousand Oaks, they had both called the Natchez area home-Adam's plantation, Belle Vista, situated a scant three miles from Bonheur. But if there were many similarities between them, there was one marked difference: Adam had been born and raised in England, not coming to America until he was eighteen years old; instead of the drawling manner of speaking that Dominic had, his English accent was very apparent in his clipped speech, although the years in Natchez had softened it considerably. Adam was more intense also, possessing a more fiery, explosive personality, far more hotheaded than the cooler, calmer Dominic.

  Even if the two young men had not taken a liking to each other at first meeting, their friendship probably still would have prospered-Adam's younger sister, Catherine, was married to Jason Savage, who just happened to be a close friend of Morgan's. There was a great deal of interaction between the Savages and the Slades, and so naturally Adam had always been included and he was as familiar with Dominic's family as Dominic was with his. Of late, the meetings between the two had been few, Dominic busy with his life and Adam equally busy with his own affairs, and so Dominic's delight in being with his longtime friend was not surprising.

  The servant arrived with the other china cup as well as a freshly brewed pot of coffee, and it was only after everyone had been served that Dominic settled back in his chair and asked, "Now, what sort of excuse are you going to offer for not being here for my wedding?

  Adam grimaced, his air of relaxation vanishing. "I'm afraid that Jason's business kept me away from Belle Vista until just recently. It was only when I stopped by the house on my way to New Orleans that I even knew of your wedding." His mood changed for a moment and he cast a languishing glance in Melissa's direction. "If only I had seen you first! Just think, madam, instead of that lump beside you, you could have been married to me!"

  Melissa smiled at his teasing, and feeling very brave, she put her hand on Dominic's sleeve and remarked, "You are too kind, sir! " She cast Dominic an uncertain look and added softly, "But I am . . . " She hesitated, then, encouraged by the warm expression in Dominic's eyes, said in a rush, "Content with the husband I have!"

  Suddenly oblivious to Adam's presence, Dominic brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand, his eyes locked intently on hers. "Are you, my dear? Are you really?" he murmured.

  A lovely blush flooded her cheeks and, unable to sustain his probing stare, she glanced away and muttered helplessly, "I believe so."

  Adam watched the scene with great interest, marveling at the change in the onetime avowed misogynist. Dominic might have protested loudly about the vices of marriage, but it appeared that he had radically changed his mind since they had last spoken. Deciding that he had called at the wrong time, Adam coughed delicately and said, "It seems that I have arrived at an inopportune time. Shall I leave?"

  Recalled to their duties as host and hostess, Melissa and Dominic instantly uttered protests, and the conversation took a less personal turn as they began to hastily question Adam about the usual things-when had he arrived in the area? where was he staying? would he be here long?

  Laughing, Adam held up a hand. "One question at a time, please! But those you've asked are easily answered. I arrived last night and went immediately to Oak Hollow, since I knew Royce would have word of your whereabouts." Adam smiled ruefully. "I had already taken a room at the tavern in town, but Royce insisted that I stay the night." He shot Dominic a teasing glance. "Since your abdication of the bachelor state, he is feeling rather bereft, and I believe he simply needed reassurance that he is not a vanishing species."

  "And did you calm his fears on that point?" Dominic asked lightly. He had expected a glib answer from Adam and was slightly startled when an odd expression crossed Adam's face.

  Almost frowning, as if he were confused about his own feelings, Adam said slowly, "Yes ... yes, I did." His mood changing in a flash, he grinned and added, "He was quite relieved, I can tell you!"

  The conversation continued in a lighthearted vein for several more minutes, and thinking that Dominic might like some time alone with his friend, Melissa eventually rose and took her leave of them. Since there were no pressing tasks that required her attention, she contented herself with wandering dreamily about the grounds, her gaze misty and a soft little smile on her lips.

  Nothing had been settled between her and Dominic, and last night had proved nothing that she hadn't already known-Dominic wanted her body and he could arouse her to the heights of passion. But there was something different between them, and this difference wasn't just on her part. Dominic felt it too; it had been obvious in the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her. Dared she hope tha
t he had fallen in love with her? That even if all the lies she had heard about him proved to be true, miraculously h- felt something deeper for her than he had for any other woman?

  Even though he was listening interestedly to what Adam had to say, there was a part of Dominic's brain that was very busy mulling over the current, pleasant state of affairs that existed between him and Melissa; and while he was quite delighted with Adam's unexpected arrival, he was conscious of a strong desire within himself for Adam to leave . . . soon. Right now the most important thing on his mind was making certain that nothing would alter the growing rapport he sensed between him and his wife. He was on the point of politely suggesting that it might be better if Adam did call later when the other man said something that had his undivided attention.

  "I've been biting my tongue since I arrived here, not wanting to say anything in front of Melissa, but the war news is bad, Dom. Very bad."

  Seeing that he had Dominic's full concentration, Adam said bluntly, "The British attacked and burned the capital on the twenty-fourth of August!"

  Part Four

  To Trust My Love

  The violet loves a sunny bank,

  The cowslip loves the lea;

  The scarlet creeper loves the elm,

  But I love-thee.

  Proposal -Bayard Taylor

  Chapter Twenty-three

  THERE was a moment of stunned silence as Dominic took in all the disastrous implications of Adam's news. If Washington had fallen . . . He swallowed painfully, the horrifying vision of British Rule rising before his gaze. The war had never seemed real to him before; it had been too far-flung, too sporadic, too ill-defined to make itself felt beyond being an annoying nuisance. But this! This changed everything!

  His voice was thick and rusty with emotion as he finally asked, "The President? His Cabinet?"

  Quickly Adam reassured him. "The President escaped, although our forces were so mismanaged that at one point be and his party nearly plunged right into the middle of the British advance! And they would have done just that if a self-appointed scout, self-appointed, mind you, hadn't warned them at the last moment!"

  Adam's face showed his disgust and contempt for what bad been the disgraceful disarray of the American troops at the Battle of Bladensburg, which had taken place just outside the capital city. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Between them, General Winder, our disorganized commander of the army; Armstrong, our sulking and arrogant Socretary of War; James Monroe, supposedly our Secretary of State, but ever eager to try his hand at military tactics, and our ineffectual President, they practically gave the British a victory!"

  Having vented at least some of the rage he felt for what bad been shocking ineptitude, he went on dispiritedly. "It is hard for me to believe it even now, but with little more than twenty-six hundred men, the British were able to vanquish an American force of more than six thousand!" Shame evident in his words, Adam added dully, "We should have won, but almost from the first volley of rockets, the first thunder of the cannon, our lines broke, and in little more than half an hour our troops were in full retreat. It was a complete rout!"

  Numbed by Adam's shocking account, Dominic could only stare at his friend, not quite able to believe that things had been as bad as stated. Giving himself a mental shake, he leaned forward and said hopefully, "But that was at Bladensburg. What happened at Washington? Surely we were better organized in the defense of our capital?"

  Adam smiled bitterly. "There was no defense. The place was in utter chaos, people streaming out from the city in all directions, their belongings piled high on carts and wagons, rumors flying wildly through the streets, the military . . . " He gave a harsh laugh. "The military were as anxious as the civilians to put as much distance between themselves and the advancing British forces as possible. Oh, Winder tried to rally his men, but by then more than half his troops had taken to their heels and there was no stemming the tide-we ran like sheep chased by a pack of dogs."

  Unwilling to dwell on the ignoble picture Adam presented, yet desperate to know the worst, Dominic questioned sharply, "You said that the capital had been burned. If there was no battle at the site itself, no one to offer resistance, how did the fire come about?"

  Adam shrugged. "Major General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, the British commanders, merely wanted to teach us a lesson. And while I don't like to speak well of the enemy, they did show considerable restraint in their actions, even going so far as to not blow up the capitol building itself when several of our women begged them not to, fearful that the explosion would destroy their nearby homes. In the main, only public buildings were put to the torch, but Washington is still a sad sight ... our capital is in ruins."

  There was nothing Dominic could think of to say, the enormity of what had happened leaving him filled with a MIDNIGHT MAS-QUERADE helpless rage. The shameful defeat at Bladensburg and the infamous burning of Washington were such devastating blows to the American government that he wondered bleakly if it could recover. His voice a mixture of anger and despair, he asked, "Do the British still hold the city?"

  "No. After the most important buildings were aflame, they retreated. Before I left the area, there was speculation that their next target might be either Annapolis or Baltimore." Adam ran his hand tiredly over his face. "I didn't want to leave until I had definite word on where they might strike next, but I dared not tarry too long-Jason will want a factual account from me as soon as possible." He smiled faintly. "And since it was at his, er, request that I be in Washington, and since my entire purpose was to be his 'eyes,' it seemed logical that once the city had returned to something even only faintly resembling normality, I should be on my way."

  "Jason sent you there?" Dominic inquired instantly, his surprise momentarily pushing aside the catastrophic events of the burning of Washington.

  Adam nodded. "You know Jason-he believes firmly in keeping his finger on the pulse of the country. I believe he has even convinced some other poor fool to spy for him in England. He has tentacles everywhere, it seems." A grin broke across Adam's lean features. "He is more like his Uncle Roxbury than he would care to admit."

  "Ah, speaking of Roxbury . . ." Dominic began and proceeded to explain, in a less-than-complimentary tone of voice, Jason's fine hand in his own affairs.

  Having been enmeshed in Jason's machinations on more than one occasion, Adam listened with commiseration. He couldn't help being amused by the situation, though, and when Dominic finished speaking, Adam's blue eyes glinted with amusement. "And is your bride most understanding about your apparent flirtation with another woman?" he asked.

  "Now what do you think?" Dominic retorted, the memory of the harsh words he and Melissa had exchanged a scant forty-eight hours ago still rankling and reminding him unpleasantly that things had not been completely settled between them. "I don't believe that Melissa is a chat terbox, but I cannot take the chance-and then there is the depressing possibility that even if I were to tell her the truth she might not believe me! Might even think I was lying to her!"

  Adam could not help teasing him about the situation, but the topic of the war was too compelling to be ignored for long, and in just a few minutes they were deeply involved in a discussion about the repercussion of the burning of Washington. The conversation could have gone on indefinitely, but Adam was pressed for time and after a short while he said regretfully, "I really must be on my way. I have lingered here much longer than I intended, but I did not want to be in the area, however briefly, without calling on you."

  They both rose to their feet and slowly began to walk down the length of the gallery toward Adam's horse. "I can only hope that when next we meet, I have much better news for you. In the meantime, I must leave for Terre du Coeur. Jason will have my hide if I do not reach him without further delay." Swinging effortlessly up onto his restive horse, Adam said lightly, "It is too bad that I cannot remain here and lift the burden of remaining, ah, friendly with Lady Bowden from your shoulders."

  Dominic smiled fa
intly. "Yes, I'm sure that you would not find it a very arduous task."

  Adam laughed; then, his dark face suddenly serious, he murmured, "Be careful, Dom. That brother of hers sounds like a nasty brute."

  Dominic needed no warning, well aware, after the beating he had taken in London, of Latimer's dangerousness. He merely commented, "Royce will keep watch at my back, and knowing that Latimer is capable of anything will make me all the more cautious in my dealings with him."

  Adam nodded and then, kicking his horse, rode away. A slight frown between his eyes, Dominic watched Adam's tall form disappear down the driveway, the sensation that there were troubled days ahead for all of them very strong. The British strike at Washington had changed the whole tenor of the war for him, and he suspected that he would not be alone in this feeling. Mulling over the far-reaching implications of Adam's unwelcome news, he finally went in search of Melissa. Though he appreciated the niceties of Adam's restraint, he felt that there was no use in withholding the information from her; soon the entire countryside would be aflame with it.

  Dominic was entirely correct in his assumption, and in those first black, disbelieving days, as word of the terrible destruction wrought on the nation's capital filtered slowly throughout the country, the opinion was against the President and his Cabinet. The Winchester, Virginia, Gazette blared: "Poor, contemptible, pitiful, dastardly wretches! Their heads would be but a poor price for the degradation into which they have plunged our bleeding country."

  Eventually the tide of rage and indignation faded and there was a wave of sympathy for the embattled President. The change of attitude was best expressed by the influential Niles' Weekly Register; "War is a new business to us, but we must `teach our fingers to fight'-and Wellington's invincibles shall be beaten by the sons of those who fought at Saratoga and Yorktown. "