Her friend gasped. "My dear, you must have a care."
'Hence my new stock of patchouli. It is quite different to my usual floral variety, I assure you, but I was never more mortified than when he made mention of the similarity."
She cast a hesitant smile toward Francois who had been reading a paper with great concentration. Then he cast it down, scornfully declaring, "Mon Dieu, it is disgraceful that such things are allowed to be printed. If I knew the culprit…"
He made as if to draw a nonexistent sword, which was a graphic enough gesture for Pandora. "What can have put you in such a pucker, Francois?" she asked.
' Tis nothing," he answered.
Pandora laughed. "I cannot credit that. You are in quite a fidge. Let me see what has upset you so."
'It is of no account," he insisted.
'Give it to her," his cousin said resignedly.
'No! She must not see it. I will not allow it, Tante Rosamond."
Pandora looked to her friend for an explanation. "I confiscated that from my maid, Pandora. It is one of those scandal sheets that tend to circulate around the lower orders."
'A chronique scandaleuse." Francois added contemptuously when he reluctantly handed it over to her.
'
'Which Lord A,' " Pandora read aloud, " 'only awaited the departure of his lady on an errand of mercy before taking up with an enchanting and very much available emigree?' I suppose this is circulating all over town," she added as she looked up.
'I am so sorry, Pandora," Rosamond told her in heartfelt tones, "but no one is exempt from those Grub Street hacks. It does not help when you are leg-shackled to a Corinthian crony of the Prince of Wales."
'I know," Pandora answered, and for once her tone was muted.
'It is not to be borne," the young man raged. "I vow someone will pay for this slight upon you, my lady."
'It is nought but the truth," Pandora pointed out, clutching the paper to her bosom, "but I do wonder which one of my 'friends' revealed this little on dit. You have no need to be sorry, Rosa. You are not personally to blame. We all must share the blame for our life-styles, which attract the interest of these vile creatures. Moreover, it is only what I planned, if you recall. The plan is working perfectly, and this"—she waved the paper in the air—"is ample proof of that. It could not be better, I fancy."
Rosamond sank back onto the daybed. "How long do you suppose you can continue with the tarradid-dle?"
Pandora had walked over to the window, aware of Francois's brooding gaze. Now she turned to look at her friend once again. "You do not grow tired of it, do you, Rosa?"
The viscountess laughed. "Indeed, I do not, but there are times when I fear for the outcome."
'No more than I, I assure you," came Pandora's heartfelt reply. "The best that can happen is that Asheville and I have a greater understanding between us when it is over. Matters, in any event, cannot be more tangled than they are now."
'And the worst… ?" Lady St. James prompted.
Pandora sighed. "You have never seen Asheville in the vials of wrath."
'He would not dare to castigate you," Francois declared.
The remark caused Pandora to smile sadly. "My husband would castigate a saint if he deemed the
Qfi circumstances correct, and let no one say I am one of their number."
'You need have no fear, my dear madame," Francois reassured her. "Should Lord Asheville be so foolish as to attempt to punish you, I will call him out."
Although she was touched by his declaration of devotion, Pandora was obliged to conceal her amusement. "Dear Francois, I would not on any account have you do that."
'You would have no choice, madame, for it is certain I would not first ask your permission."
'It would pain me a great deal if you drew Ashe-ville's cork, and if, as is like to be the case, he hurt you, then I would be distraught, and I am certain you would not wish for that."
Frangois marched angrily toward the door. "Oh, it is not to be borne. You are laughing at me."
'No, no!" Pandora hastened to assure him.
'You think I am just a boy, when in reality I am a man. I brought my sister to safety out of France, so I do know a little about these things."
He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. "Oh, dear," Pandora lamented, "I have succeeded in alienating the both of them now."
'They will recover," her friend assured her, "but you must know, you cannot remain Louise de Chambray forever."
Pandora's eyes sparkled. "I don't believe it will be for much longer. Asheville is almost on the point of committing a great indiscretion, and when he does, I can reveal myself to him as his wife. Oh, the glory of it. I can scarce wait. In any event he and I planned to hold our first Grand Ball in February, so he needs must reinstall me in Hanover Square
some time before that date."
A moment after, there came a knock at the door and a footman entered bearing a large basket of flowers and fruit.
Rosamond gasped at the magnificence of it. "How lovely."
'It is for Madame de Chambray, my lady," the lackey informed her. "It has just arrived."
'Which one of your admirers, I wonder," Rosamond murmured.
Pandora laughed. "I have almost forgotten what it is to receive a token of a gentleman's regard, for when I wed Asheville, I was resigned to no longer having admirers."
'A mere marriage cannot stop gentlemen admiring you. You are like to have more than before. When you wed, you left a good many gentlemen to wear the willow."
Pandora went to take the card from the basket. "They're from Asheville. I might have known. It is typical of his extravagance." A moment later she gasped and Lady St. James said wryly, "Flowers from one's husband. How unique."
Again Pandora gasped, and when she looked up, her eyes were filled with panic. "Rosa, the note states he has gone out of town for a few days. What can it mean? If he is gone to Brocklesby… ?"
'Then there is nought you can do about it if he has already left."
Pandora took a deep breath. "Indeed, you are correct. If I left now for Brocklesby, I could not get there before him. What am I to do now? All will be up, and long before I am ready."
In the face of her friend's panic Rosamond rose from the daybed and pulled at the bell rope. "Let us see if we can discover more of the matter." When a servant arrived shortly afterward, she asked, "Is his lordship still at home?"
'I believe he is, my lady."
'Be pleased to ask him to wait upon me without delay."
Some few minutes elapsed before Roderick St. James appeared. "Rosa, my dear, I was just about to leave for Boodles. What is it that is of such import to delay my departure?"
His wife smiled placatingly. "Dearest, only look what Lord Asheville has sent to Louise."
'Very nice," he murmured, scarcely giving it a glance.
'We were never more surprised to learn he is gone out of town," Rosamond went on. "I presume you knew of his departure."
'He did make me aware of it, yes, together with his regrets at, er"—his face grew pink—"not being able to see Cousin Louise for the few days it will take him to complete his business."
'I suppose he is anxious to see dear Pandora at Brocklesby Hall."
All the while the conversation was ensuing, Pandora stood at the window looking out into the street below.
'I suppose so," Lord St. James replied, glancing uncomfortably at Pandora, who was pretending not to be listening to the conversation.
'You must do more than suppose, dearest," his wife insisted. "I am persuaded you know exactly what he is about."
'He didn't inform me of his movements, Rosa. You know Asheville can be as close as oak when he so wishes. What is to you, in any event?"
'Curiosity, my dear, and naturally, Cousin Louise wished to thank him for his token. We wondered when he will be returning to London."
'I do know he'll be back for Monday," her husband said with sudden ce
rtainty, taking out his gold hunter and glancing at it before returning it to his waistcoat pocket. "I called in at Hanover Square
this morning, as a matter of fact, to confirm that Asheville would be back in time to accompany me to a mill at Clapham Fields. His house steward believes he is gone to Newmarket." He glanced once again at the apparently uncaring Pandora. "He has three horses in training there, not to mention all the breeding stock. Well, I suppose he is bound to call in at Brocklesby Hall on his way back."
Rosamond and Pandora exchanged glances, and to Lord St. James's surprise, he was all but knocked over by the two ladies, who made a very fast and exceedingly undignified exit from the room.
EIGHT
It was almost dark when Lord Asheville's traveling carriage passed through the gates of Brocklesby Hall and bowled at a spanking pace along the elm-lined driveway. The great porticoed ediface loomed out of the gloom as he approached. Lights were to be seen in several windows, and a thin plume of smoke curled into the sky from each of the chimneys, giving the house an air of welcome.
The earl was greeted at the door by his house steward, Wilson, who took his lordship's caped greatcoat, hat, and cane as he welcomed his master most effusively. A fire in the hearth of the cavernous hall was a warming sight, and the earl held out his hands toward it.
'A fire is lit in the drawing room, my lord," Wilson informed him, "and Cook has taken the liberty of preparing a cold collation."
'I ate on the road," the earl explained, "but you may bring up a bottle of champagne." The man was about to do his master's bidding when the earl added, "And fetch two glasses while you are about it."
'Two, my lord?"
The earl smiled urbanely. "That is correct. One for me and one for Lady Asheville. Where may I find her?"
The house steward began to look uncomfortable. "I'm afraid her ladyship has retired early this evening, my lord. According to her abigail she was suffering the headache and has taken laudanum. She left orders not to be disturbed."
'That is exceeding odd, Wilson, for there could be no one to disturb her prior to my arrival, and she had no warning of that."
'No, indeed, my lord," the house steward answered in a baleful voice.
'However, I am persuaded it is unlikely she would wish to miss my brief visit. Bring the bottle, Wilson, and the glasses. I shall take them up to her myself. The champagne cannot fail to raise her spirits and banish even the most severe of headaches."
The earl waited patiently in the hall in front of the fire, his hands clasped behind his back, until Wilson returned with a silver tray bearing a bottle and two glasses.
Before relinquishing the burden to his master, the house steward cleared his throat. "Henderson made mention of some accounts requiring your consideration, my lord. They are set out in the library for your perusal, and I can send word for Henderson to come up to the house immediately, seeing as you intend to remain only a short while."
'There is no need to trouble his evening rest, Wilson. The morrow will be soon enough. I shall not be leaving here at the crack of dawn, you may be sure."
'Very well, my lord," Wilson answered resignedly.
The earl hurried up the stairs, balancing the silver tray in one hand while he knocked at the door of his wife's bedchamber. There was no reply, but undaunted, he gently opened the door and slipped inside.
'Pandora," he whispered as he closed the door behind him.
Again there was no reply or any movement in the four-poster bed. Heavy velvet curtains had been drawn to shut out the encroaching night, and the only light in the room came from the embers of the fire.
The earl placed the tray on the bedside table and with one hand drew back one of the curtains of the four-poster. Lying in the center of the bed, clad in a satin bedgown, her red hair fanning out over the pillow like a cloud, Pandora stirred gently.
He whispered her name once again, and this time her eyes flickered open. When they focused on him at last, they registered extreme shock and she shrank away in fear.
'Asheville, what… ?"
'Don't be alarmed. I have only just arrived. How is your headache, my dear?"
'My… ? Oh, gone, quite gone." All at once she was totally awake. "Asheville, what are you doing here?"
His lips quirked into a smile. "Why should I not be here? It is my home, remember."
'I am well aware of that," she responded, displaying no pleasure at seeing him. "I also realize all the diversions you are missing in London, and would not want that for anything. I trust it is not concern for me that prompts this visit."
'Your welcome is so fulsome, I am in danger of being overwhelmed by it," he told her, his voice heavy with irony. "I had hoped you might be pleased."
'I beg your pardon, but you must see that this is the greatest shock to me. Quite an unexpected honor."
The earl began to pour some champagne into the glasses. " 'Tis nothing to get into a pucker about, Pandora. I was visiting my stud at Newmarket and decided to call in here on my way back to London. I was scarce diverted from my route."
'I am indeed honored," she told him sarcastically.
He handed her one of the glasses, which she was tempted to refuse, but then she sat up against the lace-edged pillows and accepted it from him with an ironic smile.
'We must make a toast, Gareth." She raised her glass. "To the success of your stud."
'How are you faring, Pandora?" he asked a moment later.
'How kind of you to inquire. Time passes here with such speed, I scarce have a moment to spare. 'Tis quite amazing how busy I am."
'You surprise me," he told her as he sipped the champagne.
'I'm amazed you doubt it. I have never hemmed so many handkerchiefs, and my eyes are grown quite red from all the reading I do. I had never appreciated Mrs. Radcliffe before, but be sure I do now. Moreover, I am very well occupied dispensing largesse among your tenants. Shame on you; you are exceeding neglectful of your duties here."
'So bountiful. That pleases me very much, for a caring Lady Asheville is precisely what is needed here."
'I own it is difficult to follow your dear mama, for she is regarded as something of a saint, but I contrive very well, you may be sure."
'I dare say, with such an excess of activity, you have little time for anything else."
'Oh, indeed, I do! On clement days I often embark upon botanizing expeditions. You must see my prodigious collection of leaves before you go. It will astound you."
'How improving," he said, draining his glass, and it was his turn to be sarcastic.
'As you may observe, the good country air has had a great beneficial effect upon me."
He smiled as he gazed down at her in the half light. "Yes, I can see that is so. You look very beautiful, Pandora."
'As I recall, it was not a lack of beauty that prompted you to banish me from all I enjoy."
He sank down onto the counterpane at her side and put his glass on the table. "Can we not be done with this nonsense, Pandora? The truth is, I have found life tedious without you."
It was her turn to smile. "Oh, I am persuaded you have been much too occupied for such feelings. I do receive correspondence from London, you know, so do not seek to gammon me."
'Do not believe all you are told."
'I assure you, I believe only the half of it."
As he put his hand on her shoulder, caressing it gently, Pandora continued to sip her champagne, apparently heedless of his touch, which in truth did affect her. His hand traveled upward to caress the silky softness of her hair before he cupped her chin in his palm and turned her face toward his, causing her heart to beat faster.
When she was forced to look at him, he said softly, "I cannot believe you are so indifferent to me. You never were before."
'You have not used me so ill before," she replied in a husky voice that almost betrayed her true feelings.
'I am willing to forgive you," he whispered, his lips close to hers.
'It appears your sojourn in the country has not improved your temper, my dear."
She could no longer meet his gaze and, instead, averted her eyes. "I cannot forget the wrong you have done me or the anguish I have been obliged to suffer ever since."
Once again he leaned forward to kiss her lips, and she wanted so desperately to melt into his arms, to be done with the foolish business of pretense, but if she did, he could claim victory over her, and she was not, as yet, prepared for that.
When he drew away from her, she asked with none of her longing apparent, "Tell me, Gareth, when you are questioned about my absence from town, how do you respond?"
As he turned to pour more champagne into his glass, he replied, "I contrive, Pandora. Truly I do."
'I wonder. You see, I am of the opinion that there is more to this visit than you would have me believe."
'And what is it you believe?" he asked, betraying no emotion.
'You are in a fix, finding it difficult to explain away my continued absence, and so you suffer constant embarrassment, which would not sit well with you. I'll warrant you did not consider that at the outset. Well, I am bound to warn you that should I return with you now, my behavior would not be a jot different to how it has been, and such an irritation to you. In fact, I feel so outraged at your ill use of me, it is like I shall be even more shocking in the future. Do you still wish to be reconciled with me?"
Her head came back proudly as she gazed at him in triumph. His face became a furious mask as he jumped to his feet.
'Damn you, Pandora! You are indeed a witch." He strode across the room before pausing at the door. "Enjoy your rustication, my dear, for as long as it is like to continue. I shall be gone before you rise on the morrow."
The door snapped shut behind him, and Pandora let out a long sigh. It had cost her dear to let him go, and even now she was tempted to call him back. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, aware that her day clothes had been pushed underneath in her hurry, for she had barely arrived at Brocklesby Hall ahead of him. There was only sufficient time to instruct the servants in what they must say and do. The hastily lit fire had hardly warmed the unused room, and she clutched her arms about her, shivering slightly.
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