27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

N athaniel tucked his timepiece back into his pocket, contemplating the advantages of having a duke as an in-law. Without the duke's help, he never would have received an invitation to the soiree he and Al now attended, and thus would have missed the opportunity to see Lord Caraway interacting with the three ladies on their list.

He would have much rather had Melior for a companion, but sometime between their discussion this afternoon and the party she had developed a headache and opted to go to bed early. Al was the better option anyway since his roguishly good looks and pretty compliments would do more toward winning the confidence of the ladies.

Lady Agatha arrived first; her coppery brown curls piled on her head with several white feathers for adornment. Her gaze darted about the room and then settled on him. Her eyes lit with recognition and she separated herself from her mother.

Moments later, Lady Jane entered the room behind her father, the Duke of Rothland. Her usual porcelain complexion seemed a bit sallow, but Nathaniel did not have much time to think on it.

"Where is Melior?" Lady Agatha whispered to him while she peered at someone across the room.

"At home."

"In Kent?"

"No, here in Town, why do you ask?"

"I need to speak with her, but my mother is firmly set against it."

Nathaniel followed Lady Agatha's gaze and realized she was watching her own mother. Lady Lundry was deep in conversation with two other matrons, her back turned to them.

Someone entered the doors, stopping to talk with the host. The dark hair and sharp features of Lady Edith caught his notice and he forgot all about Lady Agatha. Entering behind her was Lord Caraway. Had they arrived together? If so, there might be an understanding between them.

"Where is your home?" Lady Agatha hissed.

He yanked his attention away from the arriving parties. "How do I know you are in earnest? Melior was dreadfully hurt by your absence at our wedding as well as your lack of response to her letters."

It was one of many things they had discussed that afternoon in the confines of their room and the reason she had cried until her head ached.

Lady Agatha finally looked at him. "I know I hurt Melior, that is why I must speak with her. Please, Sir Nathaniel."

The pleading in the woman's eyes appeared genuine. But what if she merely wanted to get close to Melior to do more damage? Then again, if Lady Agatha aimed to hurt Melior, why would she ask to visit their home where gentlemen and servants alike would come to Melior's aid at a moment's notice?

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a calling card, deftly handed it to her, and then walked away. There was no reason to continue the conversation if the woman's mission was to keep her mother from noticing them. Besides, Lord Caraway was approaching Lady Jane and he was interested in seeing how their interaction played out.

Stopping at the refreshment table, he listened as the two greeted one another. There was nothing unusual in their interaction. Lord Caraway asked after her health, then followed with a bit of small talk. The unremarkable conversation could have been had by any number of people in the set of rooms.

When they had exhausted the normal subjects, Lord Caraway moved on, showing no special attention to any of the ladies he spoke with.

Strange really, but Nathaniel was beginning to believe Melior was correct. Lord Caraway was affable and kind, his mannerisms unassuming and genuine. In fact, Nathaniel wondered if the man would even have the capacity to think of such an underhanded plot. From what he observed, he seemed a bit naive.

Halfway about the room, Lady Edith latched onto the marquess's arm. He gave her a social smile and they took a turn about the room, but when it became obvious that Lord Caraway was ready to move on to the next person, Lady Edith stayed, hovering near him when he strayed too far and consistently pulling him back into conversation.

Suspicion grew as Nathaniel started to combine the lady's recent actions with those of the night he and Melior had been caught in the cloakroom. Eddie had insisted John needed to speak with him, and Nathaniel had gone, assuming his friend had been approached by one too many pretty ladies. He'd passed Lady Edith in the hall on his way out of the ballroom. Was his memory faulty, or did he recall a snide smile on her face?

He tried to focus on the memory in his mind, but the more he thought on it, the more undefined it became. She had been there, though. And if she had been there, she must have seen Melior pass by; perhaps even requested she search for something in the room. He'd never asked Melior why she'd been in that part of the house or what had directed her steps to such a room in the middle of a ball. Perhaps it was time they addressed the question that had plagued him for weeks.

Passing by two older ladies, a familiar voice assaulted his ears. Lady Plum's nasal whine was probably meant to be a whisper, but it carried to his ears nonetheless.

"That is what I heard. And to think how all the highest gentlemen sought to win her. It must be quite lowering."

Mrs. Cline sniffed. "There always was something off about the girl. Too polished, as if she had something to hide. But are you certain it is true?"

A third lady joined them and Nathaniel stopped, making a show of observing a painting on the wall. He glanced at the group. Even with the large turban he would recognize Lady Kendall's lifted chin and peacock-like strut.

"Lady Kendall, can you confirm such a rumor?"

The lady elegantly crossed her hands upon her lap. "What rumor are we speaking of?"

Mrs. Cline flicked her fan open and whispered behind it. Lady Kendall's eyebrows inched up with each second that passed. Nathaniel could only imagine what was being said, but he was quite certain it pertained to him and Melior. Quite the bold move of the two old tabbies to go straight to Lady Kendall for confirmation of the rumor that probably also included Mr. Fairchild's name.

Perhaps returning back to London so soon had not been a good plan. It seemed that their scandal was still quite fresh in everyone's minds.

Lady Kendall pulled back and shook her head. "I am afraid it is quite true. Such a disappointment. I tried to warn her father of the trouble that would come all our way. And to think she floated around so many ballrooms hiding such a lie."

Nathaniel balled his fists. Did the woman have no shame? She was speaking of her own daughter, and yet she threw her to the proverbial wolves. He grit his teeth in a desperate bid to hold back the rebuke he wished to rain down on Lady Kendall's head.

If there was a liar in this room, it was that lady. He'd never held much respect for the hypocritical woman, but her willingness to do anything to save face was despicable.

He crept closer, telling himself he was not going to intervene, that he only wished to make the lady uncomfortable. But the anger building in his chest had him ready to burst like a steam engine with too much pressure.

The Duke of Bedford stepped in front of Nathaniel, his back to him. "Lady Kendall, what a pleasure to see you this evening."

The lady glanced up in surprise, her lashes fluttering as she blinked a few times. "Your Grace. I thought you did not mean to return until Sunday."

"That had been the original plan before I left, but once I was on the road to Maidstone I found that I would be needed back a few days sooner."

Lady Kendall uncrossed her hands and swiftly opened her fan, batting it high above her nose. "I see. Well…"

Was that perspiration gathering on the lady's forehead?

"Welcome, I suppose. And where is Miss Fortesque?"

"Do you mean Lady Jillian ?" the duke asked.

Lady Kendall flushed. Had she meant to so openly slight the duke's future duchess?

"Ah, yes." It was hard to believe, but the beating of the lady's fan increased, wafting dark curls streaked with grey about her face.

His Grace took a step closer, peering down at her. She raised the fan, almost as if she wanted to hide under it.

"What interesting jewelry."

At the duke's words Lady Kendall's flushed cheeks became a sickly color of red.

"Yes, Lady Kendall," Lady Plum said, "Those sapphires and diamonds are quite exquisite."

Sapphires? Diamonds? Nathaniel stepped close enough to get a better look. There, on the lady's throat, was the exact jewelry Melior had described to him all those weeks ago. The ones she said her uncle gifted her.

The steam engine in his chest whistled and he pushed forward. The duke put out an arm, catching him by the chest. "Not here," he whispered.

Nathaniel made eye contact with him, a mulish expression taking over his face.

"For Melior," her uncle said.

The thought of bringing more shame and hurt to her door cooled his boiling rage. What good would it do to make a scene over Lady Kendall's theft?

His swift movements had caught her attention and the bright red color drained from her cheeks, leaving them a sickly pale color. "S… Sir Nathaniel."

He could have her jailed for her deceit, and she knew it—especially with His Grace there to testify.

The duke turned the arm he'd used to stall Nathaniel and offered it to Lady Kendall. "Care to take a turn about the rooms?"

His question held the correct amount of politeness, but the steel in his blue eyes brokered no objections. She would go with him or suffer the consequences.

Nathaniel smiled. Yes, it was quite nice having a duke as an in-law.