Rachelle Edwards

by Sweet Hoyden (lit)

  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 show
­ing of work by members of the RoyalAcademy.

  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."

  'Then, let it be hoped she will soon have the means to return." After a moment's pause Pandora ventured, "I do trust that she will be returning to town before long."

  'I think not, madame," he answered, to her cha­grin. "Her relative is suffering a long illness, I fear. There is no possibility of a quick recovery."

  Once again Pandora was obliged to swallow her anger. "That is indeed a pity, my lord. I should have liked to make her acquaintance."

  'I do not doubt you will yet have the opportunity. You would, I am persuaded, have a good deal in common." He glanced past her. "It appears that Her Grace, the Duchess of Melway, desires a coze, so regretfully, madame, I must leave you for now, but it would please me to have the honor of driving you in the park on the morrow. Do I dare to hope you will join me?"

  Pandora swallowed hard, for she recalled easily a similar invitation he had issued at the start of their courtship. It was evident, however, that the memory was not so clear to him. But when she smiled behind her flickering fan, there was no sign of her despondency.

  'I shall look forward to it. Until the morrow, my lord."

  The moment he had gone Pandora nodded grimly to Jeanne, who had stood aside during the encoun­ter, and a moment later they were gone.

  SIX

  At the appointed hour Pandora was dressed and ready for her ride in the park. Even though she was always modishly dressed, on this occasion she had chosen with particular care a blue velvet gown and a bonnet trimmed with feathers. Around her neck she wore a sapphire necklace belonging to Rosa­mond's French cousin.

  It was unusual that she was ready so early for the appointment. More often than not Pandora kept everyone waiting, including the earl, who found the habit irritating and did not hesitate to tell her so. Today, as she awaited his arrival, she could not help but compare the occasion with the first time he had ever taken her out in his carriage. Because he had long been pursued by debutantes and their moth­ers, for Pandora to be seen sitting up beside him in his phaeton delighted her and drew a great deal of attention from all of her acquaintances and his. The fact was soon reported all over town and regarded as a triumph for her. Today she felt some of the apprehension she had experienced on that occasion, but little of the pleasure, for his attention had been something she accepted as her due. Now, in view of his recent behavior, Pandora acknowledged she should have questioned his character far more closely before agreeing to marry him.

  To add to her current trials Nan was becoming decidedly restless at being confined to the house and only being allowed to attend her mistress's toilette. To make matters much more fraught Frangois had taken violently against the appointment, and after being informed that she would not be included in the outing, Jeanne had stormed off in a miff, ex­claiming, "Why is it I am only required for the dull outings?"

  Before Pandora could soothe away her anger, Jeanne had rushed out of the house, jamming on her chipstraw bonnet. Her departure from
the house coincided exactly with Lord Ashville's arrival in his high-perch phaeton.

  As he handed the ribbons to a lackey, he glanced at the flushed girl who had halted in her headlong flight at the sight of him and had adopted some semblance of poise.

  'Mademoiselle, are you not Madame de Chambray's abigail?" he asked as he accosted her.

  He spoke to her in fluent French, and she replied in a similar manner, averting her eyes demurely as a maidservant might do, but which was out of char­acter for her.

  'I have that honor, monsieur."

  'Madame de Chambray, I am bound to say, has the exceeding good fortune that you were willing to leave France and accompany her to London. Not many servants have been willing to do so."

  'I am shocked to think you might consider me willing to leave my mistress to fend for herself in a strange country, monsieur. I have no taste for what is happening in France."

  'I am full of admiration for you. Have you, er, been in service with Madame de Chambray for long?"

  'A few months." Jeanne looked up then, her eyes narrowing. "Why do you ask, monsieur?"

  It was his turn to look away. "No reason, I assure you, beyond the fact you look far too young to have been in service a great many years."

  Jeanne's cheeks flamed as she watched him go into the house for his appointment with Pandora. "Young, indeed," she scoffed. "I am scarce younger than his own wife, and she has no notion how for­tunate she is. If Lord Asheville were my husband I would do anything to please him."

  No one could have been aware of Pandora's inner qualms when she went to meet her husband. She was fully aware of the pretty picture she presented coming down the grand staircase of Lady St. James's house. Lord Asheville awaited her in the downstairs hall, wearing a caped driving coat and Hessian boots that had been polished to a high shine.