34. Chapter 34

Chapter 34

M elior smoothed her favorite white and blue ballgown with her gloved hands. That she had done so nearly a dozen times since they had left Stanford House must not have escaped Javenia's notice for she placed a hand over hers and gave a tight smile.

"You are going to wear a hole in your dress if keep rubbing it like that," Javenia said in hushed tones.

Melior grasped her hand. "I cannot do this."

"Of course you can," Nathaniel said.

Her gaze darted to the occupants of the other bench. Their voices must have carried a lot farther than she realized as both men were looking at her. The attention made her already racing heart jump into a full gallop. If her guilt had choked her before, it now had her in a full stranglehold.

She'd meant to speak with Nathaniel, to get him alone and confess, but after the morning's revelation she could not bring herself to do it. It was strange to realize his distance was not because he had little interest, but because he had too much.

Part of her had filled with triumph at his confession. It was incredible to think she had affected him for so long. And yet, another part hurt. He had cared for her, perhaps even loved her, and what had she given in return? A saucy attitude and coarse remarks. How had he ever held onto any tender feelings after so many years? She might never know, but he had, and she had never been more grateful.

For all the heartache that her actions had brought, she could not bring herself to regret the mishap that had thrown them together. It had brought her a mother who cared, friends who would do battle for her, and a man she could not imagine her life without.

And that was the crux of it.

If he found out, if any of them found out, she might lose everything she had gained. But the closer they got to her uncle's townhouse, the more she realized there was no way of keeping her part in the cloakroom disaster secret. It would come from her or from Edith. Either way, she would lose tonight.

"Nathaniel, I—" The carriage shuddered to a stop and a footman opened the door.

"What were you saying?" he asked.

She glanced at the door as the footman helped Javenia down. Her palms began to sweat and she blinked back the moisture gathering in her eyes.

"Never mind," she finally said.

Nathaniel grasped her hand and squeezed. "You can do this. I have witnessed your skill as a consummate actress. Gather that pride and social training your mother forced on you and use it for good tonight."

She pressed her lips together, biting down on them to keep from crying. Then she took a slow breath, let it out, and nodded. She could be Melior the superior for one more night.

Nathaniel watched his wife from behind a line of gossiping matrons as she danced with her uncle. It warmed him to know that at least two of her family members would still welcome her with open arms—three if he counted Lady Jillian, for she had been everything that was kind to Melior.

In contrast, Melior's parents had only dipped their heads toward their daughter on their arrival and left within an hour, Lady Kendall claiming a headache. No doubt the sight of the previously stolen necklace her daughter wore was the cause of her distress. A timely reminder of all the lady stood to lose if she stepped out of line again, for His Grace had made it quite clear to Nathaniel that if the lady should contact any of his household again, he would pull his support of their lavish lifestyle.

His gaze strayed to another couple in the line of dancers. Javenia touched hands with Lord Caraway as she crossed the center of the dance. At the edge of the formation they turned, came back to the middle, and grasped hands in a promenade. Nathaniel did not miss the way Lady Edith's eyes narrowed from across the ballroom as she waited her turn in the dance.

This was the supper set, and Lord Caraway would lead Javenia in to dinner. Everything had gone according to plan. Everything, that is, except the messages Al and Javenia had been sending through him to each other, even though they had been on either side of Nathaniel. He blew out a breath. Sometimes they were like little children.

Even so, they had played their parts, all the way down to Al requesting Lady Edith's company for the supper set. Lord Caraway had been near enough to overhear, and Nathaniel had not missed the relief on his face when she was forced to accept or risk sitting out the rest of the evening.

It had only taken an introduction to Javenia at exactly the right time for Lord Caraway to secure her the supper set.

Nathaniel tried to tamp down the smug smile that curled his lips. It was not over yet. Anything could go wrong. He needed to keep a level head and not become overly confident. Pride goes before the fall , he reminded himself.

The music ended and the couples bowed to one another. Supper was announced and Lady Jillian was given the honor of leading everyone in with her dance partner. Someone bumped into his shoulder and he turned to see Eddie examining the room.

"That cannot be good." Eddie gestured with his chin.

Nathaniel followed his line of sight. Lady Edith had dropped Al's arm and was making a beeline for Melior. Odd. She'd done everything short of giving the cut direct to avoid her earlier. What was she about?

He began weaving among the ladies and gentlemen moving toward the dining area, but Lady Edith caught hold of Melior's arm before he could reach her. She said something to the Duke of Bedford and he smiled, allowing her to pull Melior to the side of the room. Flicking her fan up, Lady Edith bent forward.

He did not know what Lady Edith said, but Melior's face went pale. She stepped back and shook her head. Lady Edith narrowed her eyes and shook Melior's arm. After a moment, Melior's head dropped and she nodded. Lady Edith straightened, shut her fan, and walked away with a smirk on her face.

His Grace must have seen Melior's distress as well, for he was at her side in a moment. Nathaniel and Eddie waited for Lady Edith to exit before crossing toward them. Melior held up a hand to her uncle and watched the door for several moments, allowing them to draw near.

"Are you well?" Nathaniel asked.

Melior's hands shook, but she smiled. "Quite. We are in luck."

"How so?" Eddie asked.

"Lady Edith has called in a favor of me. I am to send Lord Caraway to meet with my husband in the billiard room."

Her eyebrows inched up and Nathaniel caught the implication. "But it will not be me in the billiard room, will it?"

"No." Her brows slammed down with the flat one-word answer.

"When is this to happen?" His Grace asked.

"After the first set, post supper time. In addition, I am to circulate a rumor ten minutes after Lord Caraway has left so they will be discovered."

Nathaniel crossed his arms over his chest. "Does the woman have no moral character? It seems she will stoop to any level to gain what she desires."

The tremor in Melior's fingers found its way to her voice. "It seems so," she said quietly.

Too many people still milled about the edges of the room to pull her into an embrace so he squeezed her shoulder instead. "Take heart. This ordeal is almost over."

She nodded but did not look up.

His Grace threaded her arm through his. "We need to be on our way, but I shall meet you gentlemen in the study next to the billiard room right after supper."

"Yes, Your Grace," Nathaniel and Eddie said.

As the Duke of Bedford led Melior from the room, a sense of foreboding settled over Nathaniel. Though the candles made the white and gold walls of the ballroom glisten with fairytale-like luster, the room seemed hauntingly dim.

Melior glanced over her shoulder just before leaving and he saw something there that twisted his heart. He prayed the appearance of her features was only a trick of the light, but deep down he knew he'd seen that expression before. Regret.

Supper passed too quickly. She needed more time. Melior watched the couples leaving the dining hall. How was she ever to carry through with this ruse? Edith had already threatened to tell her secrets as she'd known she would. There was no way out but straight through the fire of guilt she'd built for herself.

Javenia pulled Lord Caraway to a stop beside Melior after her uncle abandoned her for his betrothed. "Lady Stanford, how are you this fine evening?"

Melior tried to smooth her brow, surprised at Javenia's formal address. "I am well, Miss Harris . And how are you enjoying this evening's ball, Lord Caraway?"

"It is a fine event. Your uncle has quite outdone himself."

"That he has." What to say next? She had spent the whole of the meal trying to come up with a reason her husband would need to speak with Lord Caraway and nothing had come to mind.

"And where is your husband this evening?"

She nearly breathed an audible sigh of relief at Lord Caraway's question. Glancing around, she made a pretense of looking for Nathaniel.

"He was seated near the door earlier, but I heard him say he had some business to conduct before we entered."

"Business, at a ball? I thought these functions were for us to get away from our troubles."

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, as Algenon tried to coax Edith to leave, but she seemed set on hovering near the door. Melior subtly tipped her head to the side, hoping Edith would take it as a signal to leave. Instead Lord Caraway glanced in the direction of the pair. His cheery expression instantly fell.

In response Edith raised a hand and wiggled her fingers at him. He dipped his head, then turned his back toward her as he addressed Melior.

"How are you liking Kent?"

"It is lovely. The crocus are out, and the tulips and jonquils are beginning to sprout."

Algenon must have finally convinced Edith to leave because when she looked that way again they were gone. It was time. She made her decision, hoping it was the right one.

Dropping her voice, she said, "Lord Caraway, the business my husband needs to conduct is with you. He needs you to meet him in my uncle's study as soon as this next set ends. Do you know of which room I speak?"

"I believe so." He peered at her curiously. "The one on the third floor, five doors down on the left."

"Yes, but do not enter the one six doors down or you will find yourself trapped into an unwanted marriage."

His eyebrows climbed so high they would have been hidden behind his hair if he kept it in the longer fashion of the season. "Might I ask to whom?"

"Do you need to ask?"

He sighed. "No. I had hoped with my curt words to Lady Edith yesterday that she would abandon her pursuit, but as you have witnessed she has become increasingly bold."

His gaze shot to Javenia in alarm. "Do forgive us, Miss Harris. I had not meant to keep you so long and on a subject you no doubt are loathed to address."

"Actually, I am part of this rescue mission. After we discovered Lady Edith's part in Melior's mishap, as well as Lady Jane's and Lady Agatha's scandals, we knew something had to be done."

"Lady Edith was the one who started all those rumors?"

Melior nodded.

The dark shadow that passed over Lord Caraway's features was such a stark contrast to his cheer that Melior wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chilly expression.

"I pity that woman. If the Duke of Rothland and his sons find out what she has done, no place in Society will ever accept her again. And as for her treatment of Lady Agatha…" he shook his head. "No one as sweet as she should ever be subjected to such slander."

Javenia dropped his arm, obviously as surprised at his vehemence as Melior.

"I will go to the study now."

Melior grabbed his arm. "No, it has to be after the first set. If not, our plan will not work. Sir Nathaniel will give you all the instructions you need on your way to the study, but you must wait until then so Lady Edith does not become suspicious."

His posture did not lose its stiffness, but he nodded. Lifting his arms he offered one to each of the ladies. Melior took his right arm gratefully.

"Well then, might we all make a grand entrance into the ballroom so we will not be missed?" His lips tipped up on the right side, determination in his eyes.

"Yes, let's," Javenia said.

In the ballroom, a man Melior did not recognize made his way toward the three of them. He stopped in front of the group and bowed.

"Miss Harris, what luck we should meet again."

"Is it?"

Javenia's curt remark caught Melior by surprise, but when Algenon started pushing through the crowd toward them it became abundantly clear who the smug-looking man before them must be. This must be Lord Penwick. The man Nathaniel and Algenon despised, and the one who ruined Javenia's first season.

"It is luck, for I am here to claim this next set with you."

Melior tamped down a smirk as Algenon reached around the arrogant man. "Miss Harris, are you ready for our set?"

Javenia looked like she'd swallowed a lemon. "Yes, Mr. Roberts. My apologies, Lord Penwick, this set has already been spoken for."

It took all of Melior's training not to laugh at the circumstances that led to Javenia breaking her silence with Algenon, but it seemed talking to him was far preferable to dancing with the fool fumbling over his words in front of her.

Lord Penwick stared after Algenon and Javenia, then stormed off muttering something about interfering knaves.

"That was highly irregular," Lord Caraway said.

"Yes. You are not the only one in this ballroom receiving unwanted attention, it seems."

"Indeed."

Melior had dropped his arm during the confrontation, but now she touched his sleeve lightly. "I want to apologize."

Lord Caraway smiled. "For what, pray tell?"

"For everything."

He patted her hand. "It is not your fault."

If only that were true.