'I wonder who that lady might be?" Pandora said teasingly.
'I think you must have an inkling, madame," he answered with equal coyness.
'I have a notion you are referring to me."
'None other, madame… Louise. That name is sweeter music than any sung tonight."
Pandora fluttered her fan and scolded, "You must contrive not to be so outrageous in your praise Sir Aldan."
'
'Tis nought but the truth, and you must know it. I am persuaded you will return my affection, for it cannot be any other. We have both known un-happiness, and now is the time to redress the misery we have both known. You cannot wish to remain a widow."
'That is true, but-"
'We shall deal famously together, I know it."
'How can anyone be certain of that?" she asked, scarcely hiding her bitterness now.
'Asheville has poisoned your mind, I see it," Sir Aldan replied grimly. "He has charm in abundance, I must own, but he cannot offer his name to you as I do. Only think, madame, our future happiness will be assured if you accept my offer, and fi so will poor Lady Asheville's. She is a true victim of this affair, and she will at last be allowed to return to all that she loves if I am no longer considered a danger to Lord Asheville."
Pandora laughed harshly. "If Lord Asheville is the blackguard you describe, I take leave to doubt she would wish to return."
'I assure you she will be looking forward to that day most anxiously, just as I await your answer."
Pandora didn't know whether to laugh or to cry-As she looked around for a means to escape, she said breathlessly, "Sir Aldan, this is a great surprise to me."
'The suddenness of my feelings has surprised me, too," he confessed, "but I do not wish to lose what is so precious to me."
'You must give me more time to examine my feelings," she begged. "Too much has happened so quickly."
Suddenly she caught sight of the earl, who had just entered the supper room. He was glancing around, and then when his eyes came to rest on Pandora, she saw that his face looked like thunder, and she was alarmed anew.
Not for the first time did she question what she was doing. She half rose from her seat as he began to make his way toward her. Sir Aldan caught sight of him, too, at that moment, and his expression hardened. Pandora had a sudden fear about what might occur if they met in her company, and after hesitating a moment, she had a further notion. Putting one hand up to her head she swayed slightly on her feet.
''Tis so hot in here," she murmured, and when the earl was almost upon them, she feigned a swoon.
Immediately a crowd closed around her as she was lowered into the chair. A vinaigrette was produced by one lady whose face hovered over her.
'There is no air in here," someone said.
'The poor lady must have experienced so much. No wonder she has swooned." As Pandora pushed away the pungency of the vinaigrette, her eyes flickered open. Sir Aldan was fussing but looked completely helpless.
'Do stand aside," he begged. "Allow me near to her, I pray."
No one took any note of his plea, but the crowd did part as the earl pushed his way forward.
'Call for Madame de Chambray's carriage at once," he ordered without taking his eyes from her.
'Madame de Chambray will be recovered in a while," Sir Aldan told him testily. "Pray leave her to me."
Pandora felt she could only close her eyes once more and feign further weakness.
Without troubling to answer Sir Aldan, the earl scooped Pandora up into his arms and began to carry her out of the supper room.
'By gad," Pandora heard Sir Aldan say, "What is he about? The fellow is too top-lofty by far."
Although she was being carried through the crowded rooms to the interest of all around them, Pandora had no thought for the gossip that would ensue, for suddenly she was happy to be in Ashe-ville's arms, and she laid her head against his shoulder, simply enjoying the sensation of being held by him. It had seemed such a long time since she had lain in his arms.
Her carriage was just arriving when they came into the hall. A lackey opened the door, and although Pandora was reluctant to be parted from him, she could not tell him so. He gently placed her inside, and she sank back against the squabs, feeling truly weak now. The lemon-scented cologne he always wore made her head swim.
Although he had relinquished his hold on her, he did not draw away immediately. "I am much obliged to you, my lord," she said in a whisper. "I am always at your service, madame."
'I am a fearful nuisance, am I not?"
His lips twiched into a smile. "Only in the most delightful manner, I assure you. Go home and rest," he added then, his voice suddenly grown soft. "I fear you are exhausting yourself in a round of relentless pleasure. I understand your need to do so, but mayhap it is not so wise."
'You are full of good sense, my lord." He withdrew from the carriage at last, and she sat forward a little, having rallied somewhat. "You seem exceeding concerned for me."
' Tis only natural that I should be." Pandora sighed and sank back into the squabs once more. "You are an enigma to me, I confess. You warn me against Sir Aldan Buckley, and he counsels me against you. Who on earth am I to believe?"
His eyes were very dark as they looked deep into hers. "Madame, you must listen to your heart." fl
The spell between them was abruptly broken by the arrival of Francois, who came running from the house. "Tante Louise, what is amiss?"
'Take your aunt home, monsieur," the earl advised as he stood to one side. "She is a trifle unwell this evening, but I am persuaded it is nothing to get into a pucker about."
'I take leave to disagree, my lord," the young man replied as he climbed into the carriage, fussing all the while. Pandora was scarcely aware of him until he asked, "Why did you have an attack of the vapors? Was it the fault of Sir Aldan or Lord Asheville?"
'It was neither," she replied absently. "It was simply the heat."
When Francois tapped the partition behind the driver, the carriage jerked forward, and Pandora turned to look out of the rear window. The earl was still standing on the driveway, and he raised his hand in a gesture of farewell as the carriage started off before he turned around and walked back into the house. Pandora stared after him until he had gone, and then she sat back, staring sightlessly ahead of her and drawing a heartfelt sigh.
'You must listen to your heart," he had said.
Pandora dared not. She was too afraid of what she might find there.
TEN
Lady St. James entered Pandora's bedchamber late on the following morning, to discover her friend still abed, sipping disconsolately a cup of chocolate.
'My dear Pandora, taking to your bed is quite unlike you. I trust that you are not unwell."
'I am in fine health, I thank you, Rosa, merely fatigued."
Her friend drew up a chair and sat by the bed. "I am obliged to confess to being concerned for you, Pandora. Francois informs me that you had an attack of the vapors last evening at the Hartingfords'. I have never known it in you before."
Pandora smiled faintly. "It was not as it seemed. I merely pretended that I swooned. It was opportune for me to do so."
Lady St. James peered at her worriedly. "Are you certain that is all it was?"
'Yes, you must not trouble your head on it."
'All the same, you do look a trifle hagridden this morning."
Pandora sank back into the pillows and sighed.
'Is it any wonder? This playacting would tax the most robust creature, and I am beginning to realize I am not one of their number."
'I have feared for this for some days past. You can always cry off, my dear."
'With each passing day I am more and more tempted to do so, until I see Asheville, which makes me all the more determined to continue, only it becomes more difficult to maintain the pretense. I cannot conceive why. At the outset I had no notion how difficult it would be."
'Oh, my de
ar, you make me feel so guilty for encouraging this madness. It did seem a lark, did it not?"
Pandora smiled genuinely now. "You must not blame yourself. After all, it is I who has always been deemed a goosecap. Mayhap it is true after all."
'You are as melancholy as a gib-cat this morning. I am becoming truly concerned for you. Tell me what happened to precipitate this attack of the megrims. I'll warrant, it is Asheville who has put you out of humor."
'Indeed, he is a part of my lowness of spirits. I cannot deny that, but, Rosa, 'tis everything that plagues me. The matter has become impossibly complex. When I set out on this masquerade, it did not occur to me that everyone would convey on dits to me as to Lady Asheville's character. La! Little of it has been in the least bit flattering."
Rosamond St. James laughed in the face of her friend's outrage. "Surely the reason is obvious to you, my dear."
'I am beginning to appreciate what a disagreeable baggage I truly am!"
'Tush. You are young, beautiful, wealthy, and the wife of one of the most sought-after gentlemen in London. Moreover, you have a gentleness of spirit that confounds them, so you may be sure it is only envy that prompts such tattle. Rejoice in your true friends who love you."
Pandora smiled. "Dear Rosa, you do raise my spirits. If only it was just the tattle-boxes who trouble me. I believe I could dismiss them, but I also have a care for your nephew, who has become very proprietorial. I would not wish for the world to hurt him."
'You will not. You are his first calf love and a very necessary person in his life. Recall, Frangois has never been away from parental or tutorial supervision until now. He will recover, you may be certain."
'And Jeanne? She is constantly in high dudgeon, and I am at a loss as to how to placate her."
'There you have youthful uncertainties, my dear. Poor Jeanne sees in you the woman she would like to become, and in Asheville the man she hopes will one day claim her heart. As soon as a few beaux begin to call upon her, you will see a distinct improvement in her humor."
'I do hope you are correct," Pandora answered worriedly.
'You may depend upon it. Now, have I contrived to dismiss most of your worries?"
'Only partly," Pandora confessed, biting her lip. "Last night Buck Buckley came up to scratch."
Lady St. James chuckled heartily. "This is famous! What a buffle-head he is, but I can see that matters become daily more complex for you."
'That is only a part of it." When her friend looked intrigued, Pandora went on. "As well as declaring his fondness for me, Madame de Chambray, he also suggested that our match would enable Lady Asheville to return to town. It seems Lady Asheville is madly in love with him after discovering the error in marrying her husband." Her friend laughed heartily, but Pandora looked disgusted. "The arrogance of that man is matched only by that of my husband."
'I take it that Sir Aldan is not correct in what he believes your feelings to be," Lady St. James ventured.
'Indeed, he is not!" Pandora declared in outraged tones.
'I can perfectly understand why you felt the need to feign a swoon."
'Especially when Asheville arrived looking as if he were ready to kill someone. I cannot conceive why he was in such high dudgeon, for I am persuaded he arrived in that mind, and it was not just the sight of me with Buck Buckley. That was when I deemed it appropriate to swoon. I feared what he might say and do."
'Asheville has always cared too much for what is proper to do anything too outrageous."
'I was not willing to take the risk." Pandora sighed deeply once again. "The worst aspect of the entire affair, I am bound to confess, is the knowl-edge that Asheville has become entranced by another woman."
Rosamond St. James's eyes opened wide with surprise. "I have heard nothing of that, I assure you."
'Madame de Chambray," Pandora chided gently, and her friend looked abashed.
'How can you be troubled by that? You are Madame de Chambray. If you have forgotten that, I must truly worry for your sanity."
Pandora laughed brokenly. "Asheville does not know that I am Madame de Chambray, which is more to the point. He is harboring a definite fondness for a beautiful young French widow. Do not bandy words, Rosa. You must own it is true."
'As I have already said on several occasions, you are able to end the play now, if you so wish. You also have it in your power to end Lord Asheville's association with Madame de Chambray. Not many wives are in the happy position to be able to act in such a manner." When Pandora did not reply, she went on, "I only wish I could bring you some solace, my dear, but I fear I cannot. Matters will not grow any less fraught." She brought an envelope out of her pocket. "This arrived this morning."
Before Rosamond St. James could reveal more, there came a knock on the door, and a footman entered bearing a basket of flowers. "From Lord Asheville, madame. He is downstairs inquiring as to your health."
Pandora drew in a sharp breath. "Tell his lordship Madame de Chambray thanks him for his kindness and is in rude health." When the lackey had gone, she turned to her friend once more. "Now do you see? How dare he be so blatant?"
'Perchance he recognizes something in Madame de Chambray he finds fetching," Rosamond suggested.
'No doubt it is the same quality he found fetching in that female he used to visit in Bloomsbury Square
, and still does, for all I know. What do you have there in your hand, Rosa?"
Lady St. James addressed herself to the invitation. "Ernestina, Countess of Asheville, has the pleasure of requesting the pleasure of the company of Lady St. James and Madame de Chambray to a the at Asheville House, Hanover Square
…"
Pandora had drawn a horrified gasp at the mention of her mother-in-law's name. "All is up now, Rosa," she said grimly as her friend looked up at her. "Asheville's mother prides herself on being up to snuff in all matters. Nothing escapes that sharp-eyed stare of hers. She will see through my disguise at the first glance."
'Surely you credit her with too much power, Pandora. No one, including your own husband, has yet penetrated your disguise, so why should one old lady?"
'Evidently you are not acquainted with Asheville's mother?"
'Only in passing, I confess. I own, she appears to be a trifle alarming."
'What an understatement!" Pandora assured her. "I suppose you know she was bitterly opposed to our marriage. She considered me totally unsuited to such an elevated position. She'd as lief had Asheville leg-shackled to Fanny Courdon."
'Recall, he is her only child. 'Tis understandable that she would be a trifle concerned for his choice of wife."
'In any event, when she retired to Tunbridge Wells after our wedding, no one was more gratified than I."
'I can readily understand that, but was there any indication that she might come up to town?"
'No, and I don't suppose my husband had a notion, either." There was some satisfaction in her tone. "Lady Asheville was heartily weary of the social round and only remained as long as it was necessary to act as hostess at Asheville House."
Pandora's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as her friend suggested, "Mayhap that is the reason for her return just now. Your husband is in need of a hostess for the Season."
'Oh, no! Asheville would never call in his mother. He could not admit to her the truth of the matter, for she would cry roast meat, in that she was correct in her reading of my character. Oh, no, Rosa, you are wrong in this."
'Then, why… ?"
'The only reason for her return must be because someone has told her of my absence and she wishes to take advantage of it. Oh, yes, I see it clearly now. She will urge my husband to let me molder in the country and then encourage him to associate with doxies until he no longer wants to see me again."
'Pandora, why should she do such a thing?"
'Because she hates me. It is quite fashionable to do so in London this Season!"
At the thought of this wrong being perpet
rated toward her, Pandora dissolved into tears, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes as she rocked to and fro in her distress. Lady St. James jumped to her feet and hovered over her weeping friend.
'Pandora, my dear, I am more than ever of the opinion this is all becoming too much for you. It began as a great lark, but if it is unhinging your reason, then I agree it must end. The strain on your sensibilities is too much. It cannot go on."
Pandora looked up at her then, her eyes bright as emeralds through her tears, which she was now fighting back valiantly. "You are wrong, Rosa. It must go on. I cannot permit her to win. Can you not understand that?"
Lady St. James looked a mite uncertain then, but she answered, "I think so, although the cost… I am becoming so afraid for your reason, my dear."
'I beg you, do not concern yourself for me. I will contrive." Pandora now spoke with resolve; all her earlier uncertainty was gone. "I must finish what I set out to achieve, at least until after the masquerade at Ranelagh. If by then I have not encouraged his indiscretion and won my victory, then it is like I shall not do so, however long I remain as Madame de Chambray. In that event I shall be obliged to retire to my cursed rustication after all."
'What of Asheville's mother? Have you forgotten what you have only just said about her?"
All at once Pandora displayed something of her old spirit. "I have forgotten nothing. If I can con-ft found Lady Asheville, then that indeed will be a victory. Naturally, when this is all over, it will also be something to hold over my husband's head should he attempt to ill-use me on another occasion. His mother is truly the only person in the world he fears. If I threaten to betray my masquerade to her, he will always be in my power."
'If you do, after all, contrive to best her," Rosamond replied doubtfully. "If all you say of her is true, the odds are very great against you."
'Recall, I have always been a gamester, and more often than not, I win. On this occasion I am merely gaming upon my future, so the odds needs must be great. One way or another the masquerade at Ranelagh will end my own little play, which I am determined will now run until the very last act."
Rachelle Edwards Page 11