Calling herself all kinds of a fool, Melissa had reluctantly dressed with care for their meeting this afternoon and had dutifully, if truculently, arrived at the spot he had indicated with time to spare. The afternoon had been unusually warm, and despite the turmoil in her mind, lulled by the droning sound of bees, she had dropped off to sleep.
She had been enjoying a very pleasant dream in which Dominic swore undying love for her, begging abjectly for her to forgive him, when she had awakened to find the object of her dreams, instead of gazing besottedly at her, wearing a very unfriendly expression indeed!
Before she could speak, Dominic smiled at her, his demeanor changing in a moment, becoming gratifyingly similar to her dream. Thinking that she had never looked lovelier with her hair attractively tousled about her face and her cheeks flushed from sleep, he murmured, "Have you been waiting very long for me?"
His eyes moved caressingly over her face and traitorously, Melissa felt her heart quicken its pace. Feeling at a distinct disadvantage lying in the hammock, she started to sit up, but Dominic gently pushed her back. "Stay," he said softly. "You present a charming picture just as you are ... the only thing that could be improved upon would be me lying by your side."
She wanted to be very angry with him, or at the very least, aloof and disdainful, but as she looked at him, seeing the dark circles under his eyes and the faint lines of weariness that still marred his handsome face, something melted inside her. Hating herself for being a spineless goose where he was concerned, she muttered with less heat than she had planned, "If you would stay home nights instead of gallivanting all over the place . . . "
"Are you very angry with me, Lissa?" he asked quietly, one hand reaching for hers. His warm fingers closed around her hand. "You have every right to be, but there was something that I had to do and it took me much longer than I had planned. As I told you this morning, I do not make it a habit to be out at all hours of the night." He grinned wryly. "There was a time in my salad days when such conduct was common, but no longer ..."
Not wanting to let him off too easily, yet unable to sustain any real fury, she managed to say indignantly, "Well, you certainly have a peculiar way of revealing it!"
"I certainly do, don't I?" he replied with equanimity. Reaching into his waistcoat pocket, he dropped the small book onto her chest. Smiling at her, he murmured, "I hope that this will help redeem me in your eyes."
Her puzzlement obvious, Melissa struggled to sit up, the hammock swinging wildly until Dominic steadied it. Sitting rather awkwardly in the middle of the hammock, a frown between her eyebrows, she stared at the book. It made no sense at first, being simply an acknowledgment that an account in her name alone had been opened and that the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars had been deposited in it. Having no idea where the money had come from, Melissa, not unnaturally, assumed that it was Dominic's money and that he was attempting to placate her by giving her money.
Thoroughly insulted, the topaz eyes glittering with fury, she glared at him and spat, "How dare you treat me in this manner! Do you think that mere money can buy you anything you wish? That every time you treat me in an insulting and callous manner, you have only to bestow a gift upon me for me to turn a blind eye to your scandalous conduct? How dare you!" Her voice was shaking with rage as she finished speaking the last words, and looking very much like a wrathful Amazon, the tawny hair fairly bristling with anger and the golden-brown eyes spitting fire, she threw the bankbook in Dominic's face. "Keep your damned money! I never wanted your money, you stupid jackass!"
Realizing instantly where he had gone astray, Dominic caught her shoulders in his hands. When she tried to throw off his hold, his grip tightened and he shook her gently. "Lissa, the money isn't mine," he said softly. "It's Latimer's. I spent last night, coldly and calculatingly, winning it from him-for you. It seemed simpler than killing him, and since you seemed so determined to keep all of us males from the dueling field, it was the only solution. That is why I was out all night."
Astonishment held her motionless. "Latimer's?" she repeated stupidly. "Why would you ...?" Comprehension struck her and her face changed ludicrously, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open. For a long moment, she looked into his dark, smiling face, almost unable to believe the warm light she saw shining in the gray eyes. "You overheard me talking to Zachary last night," she finally said slowly.
Dominic nodded. "Yes, I admit that I eavesdropped shamelessly on your conversation, and while I would normally condemn such practice, I cannot say that I am the least bit remorseful over my actions." His voice dropped to a low, intimate drawl. "How else would I have learned that my bride, who I thought had neatly trapped me into marriage for what it would bring her, had been the innocent victim of a totally unscrupulous villain? That it was an accident that you were in my rooms that night. That it was a frantic attempt to save your home and honor which compelled you to make me that ridiculous offer for Folly. That instead of being a scheming, greedy, little harpy, you were in fact a gallant, stubborn, virtuous, wayward, maddening darling!"
Suddenly shy, but quite eager for this most interesting conversation to continue, Melissa fastened her eyes on his neatly arranged cravat, her hands playing with the lapel of his jacket as she inquired diffidently, "Did you really think that I had married you solely for your money?"
"Hmm," he muttered as his lips caressed the curls near her temple. "Perhaps at first." Feeling her stiffen slightly, he added hastily, "But only for a very short time." A wry note came into his voice as he added, "It soon became apparent to me that while you liked the clothing and gifts I gave you, you would have been perfectly content without them. It puzzled me for quite some time. I couldn't understand why, having gone to such lengths to trap me into marriage, you showed no inclination to enjoy the fruits of your efforts."
Her arms crept around his neck. "It wasn't because of your money that I married you," Melissa whispered.
"I'm aware of that now ... and while it is regrettable that Josh used Zachary as a means to compel you to marry me, again I cannot say that I feel the least shred of remorse that he did so." Feathering soft little kisses along her jawline, he muttered, "I am quite a reprehensible fellow where you are concerned. "
Thinking foggily that he should not take all the blame for their misunderstandings and remembering certain incidents that showed her in a less-than-complimentary light, she snuggled even closer to him and confessed eagerly, "I
am at fault too! There have been times when I have used you shamefully." Shyly she admitted, "I did not mean to send you from my bed so cruelly on our wedding night. I have regretted it terribly, but I was so confused and I feared that-"
She stopped abruptly, realizing unhappily that she had been on the point of declaring how desperately she longed for him to love her. She wasn't quite confident enough of his feelings to take such a bold step. Even though it was gratifyingly apparent that he felt very strongly about her and that he no longer seemed to mind the fact that he had been forced to marry her, it did not mean that he loved her. Nor, during all of this delightful conversation, had the vexing, painful question of his involvement with Deborah Bowden been resolved or even mentioned.
Since Deborah Bowden was the last person on Dominic's mind, he didn't connect Melissa's sudden silence with that lady. He had been held too spellbound by Melissa's fascinating disclosures to think of anything but how much he adored her and, utterly enchanted by her words, he had all he could do to keep himself from sweeping her into his arms and fervently proclaiming his love for her. But he was intensely curious about what she had not said, and so, pressing tiny, ravishingly sweet kisses at the corners of her mouth, he coaxed, "You feared that ...?"
Melissa was melting into his arms, her cheek against his, and Dominic was positive that his heart had stopped beating while he waited breathlessly for her next words. Unfortunately, it was not Melissa's soft voice that broke the silence, but Josh's hearty tones as he entered the clearing and boomed out, "Ah, here yo
u are! Been looking all over for you. Servants said you weren't to be interrupted, but I knew you wouldn't mind seeing me! Especially since I have such good news!"
Chapter Twenty-seven
DOMINIC did mind. Quite a lot, as a matter of fact. Suppressing a murderous urge to throttle Josh, he gently put Melissa from him, stood up and turned around. Forcing himself to act civilly, he inquired with far less interest than he might have shown at another time, "What good news, Josh?"
His genial features fairly beaming, his hands rubbing together with childlike glee, Josh said jubilantly, "Ships, my good man! Ships! Two of 'em, in fact!"
While Dominic looked confused, Melissa rose gracefully m the hammock, knowing exactly what her uncle was referring to, and sent him a delighted smile. "They got through the blockade?" At Josh's pleased nod, she rushed up to him and flung her arms impulsively around his neck, still clutching the bankbook Dominic had given back to her. "Oh, Uncle Josh! I am so happy for you! I know how very much you have wanted this to happen."
"Can't deny that, m'dear!" Josh agreed exuberantly, nodding his head several times. "Got word this aftemoon from New Orleans. My agent says that with the British blockade keeping so many ships from port, these two cargoes will fetch a fortune! "
Smiling fondly at him, Melissa patted his arm. "I told you not to worry, that if you would just be patient all your worries would be resolved." And though she was very happy for Josh, she could not help but recall how determined he had been to gain the money from the trust left by her grandfather ... at her expense. She no longer resented the fact that he had forced her to marry Dominic, but Josh's news only clearly illustrated what she had known all along-sooner or later his fortunes would right themselves, and if she had married any of the many suitors he had pushed her way simply to ease his momentary crisis, in the end her sacrifice would have been for naught. It was a sobering thought, but she did not dwell on it. She was married to the man she loved, and if Josh had managed to engineer it for all the wrong reasons, it no longer mattered. She could not help teasing him just a little, though. With a twinkle in her lovely eyes, she murmured, "You see, you didn't need the money from the trust after all! Just think, you might have sacrificed my happiness unnecessarily."
Josh shot Dominic a nervous glance. "Er, we don't need to go into that right now, m'dear," he said a little sheepishly. "Just wanted to tell you the good news and to invite you both to the party we are having the evening after next. Want to share our good news with the neighborhood."
Melissa bit back a giggle, thinking privately that Josh was as transparent as just-washed windows. He might say he wanted to share the good news, which he did, but he also wanted to crow a little and to make certain that everyone knew that Josh Manchester was once more plump in the pocket, make no mistake about that!
"Sally and I thought we'd put on a dinner and then the gentlemen could play cards while you ladies discuss everyone who isn't at the house!" Josh said mischievously. "Will you both be there?"
Dominic draped a possessive arm about his wife's shoulders. "Certainly," he said easily, suddenly exceedingly grateful that Josh's ships had not managed to slip through the blockade any earlier. Who knew, if Josh hadn't felt so desperate for funds, he might not have been so quick to see Melissa married. Reaching out, Dominic surprised everyone by shaking Josh's hand with unwarranted satisfaction. "Splendid news, sir! I am very happy for you!"
Slightly taken aback by Dominic's enthusiasm, Josh said, "Well, yes, it is. Must be off now. Have to see several more people this afternoon."
Josh had just started to walk away when Melissa quickly decided to take advantage of his unexpected visit. She had been longing to speak to him about the things he had once said about Dominic, and in view of the past few weeks, especially in view of what had transpired last night, she did not want to waste this opportunity. "Uncle, wait!" she cried. "I wish to speak with you a moment."
Throwing Dominic an uncertain glance, she said, "Do you mind? I shall not be long, but I need to talk privately with my uncle."
Dominic clearly did mind, but since their intimate mood had been shattered and it seemed unlikely that they would be able to rekindle it immediately, he reluctantly nodded. "Of course. I shall see you at the house in a few moments."
When Josh and Melissa were alone in the small clearing, Josh eyed his niece with some misgivings. Surely she wasn't going to berate him for having arranged things so he could get his hands on Sally's share of the trust. He couldn't have known that the two ships would make port, could he?
Testily, he muttered, "Now, Lissa, if it's about that damned trust, I don't want to hear it! I did what I thought was best and things worked out, didn't they?"
"It isn't about the trust," she said with a smile. "It's about Dominic."
"Eh?" he grumbled uneasily. "What about him? Think he's a fine man. A good man. As a matter of fact, he's a much better man than any of those other fellows I tried to push your way."
"Then why," she asked levelly, "did you tell me all those awful things about him?"
Having long forgotten his original plan, Josh grew quite outraged. "Awful things! " he repeated with angry incredulity. "I never said one disparaging word about him! Why, from the moment I first clapped eyes on him, I thought . . . " What he had thought and what he had done during those first early weeks suddenly burst unpleasantly across his brain, and a decidedly guilty expression filled his face. "Ah ... well ... you see . . . " he began helplessly.
Hands on her hips, one foot tapping ominously, Melissa demanded, "Are you telling me that you don't remember warning me against him? You don't remember warning me that he was rather fond of a certain type of woman and that he was a gambler?" Josh's expression of guilt increased and Melissa was hard pressed not to laugh. The wretched dear had tried to make her think ill of Dominic. Hoping what was forbidden would prove attractive? Struggling to maintain her MIDNIGHT. MASQUERADE outwardly angry posture, Melissa narrowed her eyes. "I seem to remember clearly you telling me that he wasn't the type of man you wanted me to many."
Running a nervous finger around the inside of his cravat, Josh mumbled, "Well, um ... I just thought ... that since you hadn't seemed to like any proper suitors ... that maybe ... if I made Dominic appear, um . . . "
Josh had lied to her! Melissa thought blissfully. Dominic was none of the things he had implied! Controlling a strong desire to rain delighted kisses over her uncle's increasingly discomforted features, Melissa still couldn't help teasing him. "You lied to me!" she exclaimed in horrified tones. "All these months I have been thinking - that I have been married to a womanizer and a gambler!"
"Oh, Lissa, no!" Josh expostulated feebly, obviously greatly upset at this news. "I never meant for you to think such a thing. I only meant to arouse your interest in him!"
Melissa dropped her head to hide her laughter-filled eyes. "Uncle!" she moaned sadly. "How could you mislead me this way! I trusted you! Your lies have ruined my marriage!"
Utterly dismayed by these dramatic revelations, Josh said, "Oh, my dear child! It was never my intention to cause you one moment's distress. I shall speak to your husband immediately and explain matters to him." Suddenly aware that the gentleman in question might not take too kindly to his slanderous statements, Josh added dismally, "No doubt he will call me out when he learns the truth."
Josh glanced uncertainly at Melissa, racking his brain to think of some further words of comfort to offer her, but something about the way she was hiding her face from him, something about the way she was holding her hand over her mouth ... Suspicion sharpening his gaze, he reached over and jerked her hand away from her mouth.
"Lissa, you little minx!" he declared half angrily, half laughingly when he saw the merry features lifted up to his. "You have been playing a May game with me!"
Smiling warmly at him, his unrepentant niece freely admitted it. "It's true! But I think you will agree that you deserved such a trick after what you did to me."
Somewhat shamefacedly
, Josh nodded his head. "I should not have meddled as I did, but," he continued hopefully, "you must admit that it all worked out for the best."
Melissa's smile became very soft and tender. "Perhaps," she said dreamily. "Perhaps it has after all."
After waving her uncle a fond good-bye, Melissa walked slowly toward the house, a sensation of delightful exhilaration building within her with each step she took. Dominic had not said that he loved her, but his actions were certainly those of a man in love. Why else would he have sought out Latimer and not only recovered what Latimer had received from her but added a tidy profit to it as well? Bemusedly she looked at the bankbook clutched in her hand. He was her husband, there had been no need for him to set up the money in a private account for her, but he had done so. Surely that indicated something more than just simple generosity. Oh, dear God, please don't let me be wrong! she thought fervently.
She had been a little insulted when she had learned that he had assumed she had married him for his money, but looking back over the events that had led to their marriage, she admitted fairly that her actions had appeared in a lessthan-complimentary light. He had known hardly anything at all about her, and considering the circumstances, it would have been strange if he hadn't thought her a mercenary piece of goods, she finally concluded. A warm glow entered the topaz eyes. Even believing that she was a greedy schemer, he had treated her honorably and been generous to a flattering degree. Thinking of all the gifts he had lavished on her-the cottage itself, the beautiful clothes and costly feminine fripperies that cluttered her wardrobe and dressing table-Melissa was suddenly ashamed of the seemingly capricious way she had treated him on more occasions than she cared to think about.
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