The Lady and the Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement (The Eardleys of Gostwicke Hall Book 1)

by Penelope Redmont

  "Shall we return to our party?" Hexham asked. He hadn't noticed Linton. He had eyes only for her.

  If they turned to go back, they'd be walking in the same direction as Linton and Lady Ashby. "In a moment," Melly smiled at him. "Please tell me more about your horses."

  Somehow, she managed to get through the rest of the evening. She didn't see Lord Linton and his companion again that night.

  Although she meant to refuse Hexham's invitation to Far Crossing, she didn't get the chance. Catherine emerged from the drawing room and strolled into the foyer when Hexham was bowing over Melly's hand in farewell.

  Hexham extended the invitation, and Catherine accepted it.

  Far Crossing

  Despite Melly's protestations, Catherine had her way. Melly, her three sisters, and Mrs. Eardley arrived at Far Crossing on Saturday. The estate was three miles from Newmarket. They would spend two days with Captain Lord Hexham's family. Henry was in raptures.

  Lady Hexham, an elegant, self-assured matron, with slivery hair, and bright blue eyes, was kindness itself, but Melly could see doubt in the lady's assessing gaze, and felt exasperated. She shouldn't be here.

  "What if he offers for me?" Melly asked Catherine a couple of hours later.

  Catherine didn't respond. She was helping Melly do her hair for a visit to the stables. Henry had begged to see the stables as soon as they'd arrived.

  Melly sniffed, and complained: "You can be sure that Lady Hexham is asking Hexham what he means by bringing us here. I wonder at it myself."

  "Stop fussing, do. And stop moving your head!" Catherine snapped. She plaited Melly's hair skillfully, then wound it around Melly's head so that it would fit underneath the hat Catherine had selected. It was one of her own hats, and had a short brim. "Give me the hat…"

  Catherine set the hat carefully on Melly's head and pinned it in place. "I haven't heard that Hexham's looking for a wife," she said. "He's asked us because Father was the son of a duke — a son who refused to use his title, but Father had many queer starts, and that's the least of them. Our connections mean that we're good ton." Catherine laughed. "And he asked you because you're pretty, of course."

  Catherine adjusted a mass of corn-gold curls around Melly's face, then stood back to assess the results. "No, not pretty. Beautiful! That short brim is ideal — we must order you some hats in that style. It suits you admirably, as I knew it would… The pale blue of the hat brings out the dark blue of your eyes."

  Melly stared at herself in the mirror, and sighed heavily. She did look well, but drew no pleasure from it. She didn't want Hexham to imagine that she would welcome his addresses.

  "What happened at Vauxhall?" Catherine asked suddenly. She'd opened the door of Melly's dressing room to leave. She, Anne and Mrs. Eardley were riding out with Lady Hexham to pay visits to local families.

  Catherine stared at Melly when she didn't answer, then closed the door again. "Something happened, did it not? You haven't been yourself since that visit to Vauxhall Gardens. You refused Hexham's invitation to take you riding in the park, and you've barely said a word to me or anyone else since."

  Melly's throat felt tight. She coughed. "Should I take a shawl, do you think? The wind's cold."

  Catherine took her hand, and pulled her to the bench at the foot of the bed. "Sit down. Speak."

  "Nothing happened."

  "Did Hexham — did he overstep himself?"

  "No, of course not."

  "No 'of course' about it, my dear. He's a man, you never know what the creatures will do next, they're unpredictable. Look at me for a moment." She put her hand on Melly's cheek, and turned Melly face so that she had to meet Catherine's searching grey eyes.

  Melly sighed. "Don't tease me Catherine — I am perfectly well."

  "Nonsense. If it's not Hexham who's upset you, it's Linton, is it not? That wretched man — I warned you." She paused, and looked down at her hands. "I suppose I should tell you. Lord Linton sent a note when he returned to London. I refused his invitation for you to ride in the park with him."

  "What? Why did you do that?"

  "Aha! So that's it — I knew it, you're upset over Linton… My dear, I warned you not to become attached to that man. He's so very much older than you."

  To her horror, Melly felt her eyes grow moist, and her chin wobble. She might as well tell Catherine. "I saw him at Vauxhall… With Lady Ashby. He didn't even look at me. And in the park, when he was riding with Sir Robert, he barely nodded to me."

  Catherine shook her head. "Oh my dear…" She pulled Melly into her embrace, and hugged her. "I'm not sorry that I sent the refusal. But perhaps I should have shown you the invitation… I'm convinced that for all his faults, Linton wishes you well. He would not set out to harm you. He didn't acknowledge you at Vauxhall, you say?"

  "No, of course not, not when he was with…"

  "Good. That was proper of him. It's unfortunate that you saw the woman at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. We ladies do not admit that such women exist, at all." She released Melly, and handed her her own handkerchief. "There — blow your nose. If Linton extends another invitation, I will allow you to accept it."

  "You will?"

  Catherine shook her head and sighed. "I don't approve of the man, but if we forbid you to see him, he'll assume too great an importance in your mind. Far better that you become acquainted with him. Once you get to know him, you'll see him for what he is." She chuckled. "He's not a cad, far from it, but he's not for you either, as you'll learn. I suppose that he's cross because of the pamphlet. That's too bad. I'm angry with him because of his horrid nephew."

  "You will allow me to see Linton?" Melly struggled to understand.

  Catherine threw up her hands. "Did I not say so? You're such an innocent, and Linton has a glamor about him. You'll soon see him for what he is, and will send him on his way. Now Hexham… I doubt that he would forget himself enough to address you, without speaking to Mother. If he tells Mother that he means to pay his addresses to you, I will see that she refuses, if you wish it."

  "Yes. Please." Melly did wish it. She didn't want to encourage Hexham.

  She decided that when they returned to London, she would send Lord Linton a note, apologizing for having had a previous engagement.

  Then she saw him.

  6. Newmarket

  Linton was at Newmarket.

  Melly couldn't believe it. She'd been waiting in the yard of Captain Lord Hexham's stables for him to finish giving instructions to his trainer. Her maid was flirting with Hexham's groom.

  She liked the girl, so she moved some distance away to give her freedom, even though Catherine would disapprove — she dismissed any female servant who had a follower.

  Henry, who'd vanished with one of Hexham's grooms, had provided Melly with a bag of apples and carrots. Hexham laughed when she asked whether she might give the horses the treats. "Yes — by all means."

  Her bag was empty, and Hexham was still speaking with his trainer. Her maid was still looking shyly up at the groom, so Melly walked out of the yard, to watch the passing parade of horses, grooms, and visitors.

  Captain Lord Hexham's stables were part of a large complex of training areas and other stables. The trainers brought their horses to the complex from the farms where they were kept to train them, or to get them ready on race days.

  Lord Linton stood not twenty feet away, speaking to a groom.

  He looked up, gave her a quick glance, nodded, then went back to his conversation.

  Melly turned away. She had suddenly remembered that Lord Linton owned several racehorses. He must have a galloper in next month's races, and was at Newmarket to watch his horses' trial gallops.

  "Mel! A moment — please wait."

  For a moment, she couldn't move. Then she swallowed hard. Her heart felt lighter, and she smiled, but the smile dimmed as quickly as it bloomed. Catherine. No doubt he'd seen the scandal sheets and wanted to take her to task for Catherine's actions.

  Melly turned
, and squared her shoulders, her temper coming to her rescue. She had no control over Catherine. If Linton wanted to berate her, she wouldn't accept it.

  She turned, and Linton smiled at her.

  Although she disliked herself for it, she smiled back at him, then turned to watch a fractious horse rear, his forelegs in the air, almost clipping a stout man.

  It took several minutes for the young horse's grooms to get him under control. Melly had backed away from the disturbance, into Hexham's stable yard.

  Suddenly Linton was there, bowing to her. She extended her hand and curtsied. "My lord."

  "Come." He kept her hand, and tucked it into his elbow. "I'll show you my horses."

  "I shouldn't, I'm waiting for Captain Lord Hexham."

  "He can come looking for you if he wants you," Linton responded tartly, and kept walking. "Come."

  She recognized one of Linton's grooms, holding the head of a horse harnessed to a gig. Linton handed her up into the gig, despite her protests. "My maid —"

  "I'll return you to Far Crossing later, never fear. I've sent my groom to tell Hexham, and your maid, that I'll return you." He grinned at her.

  "But…" Melly grimaced. She should insist on her maid, but the gig only seated two persons. She'd ridden in Hyde Park with Linton often enough. Why shouldn't he take her to see his stable?

  His stable was half a mile away from Hexham's.

  "Stop looking at me in trepidation," Linton chided her when another groom hurried to hold the horse when they drew into his stable yard. "I suppose you're worried about Mrs. Grove's machinations. Let me set your mind at rest at once. I suspected that she'd retaliate against Lady Burnley."

  "You did?"

  "Of course I did. If you're sensible person, and awake to her, you stay on Catherine's good side. Lady Burnley is far from sensible. She might have considered the old saw about people living in glass houses."

  "What about Pierce?"

  "What about him?"

  "Is he angry with me?"

  "You're concerned about Pierce?" He stopped, and looked down at her, frowning. His eyes looked very green.

  She felt like pinching him, but resisted the temptation. "Pierce is still my friend," she said coolly. "Of course I'm worried about him."

  Linton snorted. "I'm afraid that I would never have your forbearance. You're a kind soul, Melisande Eardley."

  She blushed. "Show me your horses, please."

  Linton's stables were larger than Hexham's. "Are all these horses yours?"

  He shrugged, and handed her a carrot so that she could feed a curious bay mare, with a pretty head, who extended her head over the half-open door of a loose box. "Most of them. I've got a couple of Sir Robert's horses here, and a couple of your uncle's too — the Duke of Arndlea's building up his string of racehorses."

  "You have? Could I see them?" She was curious. She'd never met the duke. Her father had been the fifth son of the Duke of Arndlea. His brother now held the title, but she'd never met him. She had no idea what her father's estrangement from his family was about.

  It occurred to her that Linton might know. "How well do you know the Duke?"

  "Well enough — he's not a close friend. He's part of the Prince's Carlton House set, I am not, and I've no wish to be. Why?"

  She sighed. Then decided to ask. "I've always wondered what caused Father's estrangement from his family. Do you know?"

  "Mel…" She felt his gaze on her, as he hesitated. "No, I don't. You should ask your mother. She knows."

  Melly knew that she wouldn't do that. "Which horses are you running in next month's races?"

  "Just two. Come, I'll show you."

  Melly enjoyed the time she spent with Linton. He went out of his way to make her laugh, and she was sorry when they arrived at Far Crossing. He had delivered her, as promised. Why did she feel sorry about that? She sighed.

  He helped her down from the gig. A mounted groom who'd ridden behind them held the head of the horse harnessed to the gig.

  "I won't take you inside — if Hexham's back, he might call me out."

  She knew he was joking. His eyes sparkled more green than grey.

  He didn't release her hand, merely stood looking down at her. "I won't be visiting Lady Ashby again, Mel. That connection is in the past, and I'm thankful for it."

  Melly's eyes widened, then she frowned — what did he mean?

  "Will you accompany me to the park next Tuesday? I have a new phaeton I want to show you — we'll take my carriage to the park."

  "Yes," she responded without hesitation.

  "I'll be at Eardley House at five."

  Catherine

  When Catherine, Anne, Mrs. Eardley and Lady Hexham arrived back at Far Crossing, Catherine grabbed Anne's arm and took her to the west wing of the great house.

  Far Crossing was an enormous house, in good repair for the most part, although the gardens needed attention.

  Catherine took off her hat, and sailed it across the room. "I think you're right — Hexham means to offer for Melly. I've a mind to agree to it."

  Anne folded her arms and glared. "I disagree, and so I shall inform Mother."

  "Why?" Catherine was curious. She was finding it difficult to understand Anne. Anne had stopped grieving. She'd even hired a butler and housekeeper so she could reopen Kingston House. But she'd changed. She was no longer the girl she'd been before she married Kingston.

  "Because I mean to see that Melly has a season. She's an innocent — I won't have you pushing Melly into marriage," Anne said calmly. "Hexham isn't the man for Melly."

  Catherine glared at her sister. "We'll see," she said finally. She was unaccustomed to opposition.

  Anne merely nodded, and left.

  Catherine wasn't certain she liked the person Anne had become.

  The door had just closed on Anne, when a footman tapped on it. Captain Lord Hexham's compliments, would Mrs. Grove join him and Mrs. Eardley in the library?

  As she'd expected, Hexham told Mrs. Eardley and Catherine that he'd like to call on Melly in London.

  Mrs. Eardley looked to Catherine for a response.

  Catherine smiled, and agreed.

  "Should we tell Melly?" Mrs. Grove asked her eldest daughter when they returned upstairs.

  "No," Catherine said. She remembered Anne. "Anne thinks Melly an innocent. She believes that Melly should have a season. Perhaps she's right. Let Hexham call. We'll see how she responds. He's a clever man, and wants our connections, not Melly — Elaine would do just as well."

  "Yes, there's Elaine to consider too," Mrs. Eardley mused. "You're right. If Melly becomes attached to him, that would change matters. Until then… We'll see that she has a season."

  They arrived back in London early on Tuesday afternoon.

  The other women retired to their rooms to rest, but Catherine went to the housekeeper's room to check on the household's provisions and menus for the remainder of the week.

  She knew that Melly had arranged to ride in the park with Lord Linton later that afternoon, so she was surprised when the butler tapped on the door and asked whether she was home to Lord Linton. "He said he needed a moment of your time, ma'am."

  "He does, does he?" Catherine bridled immediately. No doubt he'd decided to take her to task over the pamphlet. "Thank you, Simmons. I'll see him with pleasure."

  Simmons had taken his lordship into the drawing room.

  "Well, Linton?" Catherine asked a few minutes later.

  He was standing in front of the tall windows, looking out onto the square.

  She nodded to Simmons to close the doors, then settled herself comfortably on the sofa. Let him complain; she had a few choice words to say about his nephew.

  "Settle your feathers, Mrs. Grove," he chuckled, and took a chair opposite her. Pax, Catherine. I haven't come to berate you. If anything, it's to congratulate you. You successfully spiked the little Burnley's guns. How did you learn of Carradine?"

  He was affable, which immediately made Ca
therine suspicious. She shrugged. "It wasn't difficult. They paid him off, but servants talk. Now, why are you here? I thought you were riding with Melly later?"

  "Yes, I am, and it's Mel I'd like to discuss."

  "Then you may refer to my sister as Miss Eardley, Lord Linton."

  "You don't trust me, do you?"

  "I'm not such a fool as that. So, why are you here?"

  "What would you say if I offered for Mel?"

  "You?" Catherine wasn't easily shocked. She stared at him. His grey-green eyes betrayed his amusement at her response.

  "Yes, I want to offer for Mel, and I will, whether you agree, or not. Taking in mind your temperament however, I though it only wise to explain my thinking to you."

  "You've taken leave of your senses, no explanation necessary." Catherine sat up very straight. "I've known you for years — and that's it in a nutshell. How old are you — you're well over 30. Melly is just 20. Far too young for you — do you think for a moment I'd —"

  He raised his hands. "Will you calm yourself, and allow me to explain?"

  Catherine inhaled deeply. "Very well. Explain."

  "Lady Burnley is rich and very spoiled. That means that she'll continue to make trouble. If Mel and I were betrothed, she'd reconsider whatever plans for vengeance she's brewing. She's like you, Catherine. Determined to have her own way. I'd prefer that she renounce Talverne… But he can't call off the engagement. If that's to be done, she must do it."

  "You imagine that becoming betrothed to Melly would settle her? I doubt it. Besides, you're the head of your family. Tell her that once she marries Talverne, if she continues to make trouble, she will remain at The Oaks, every day of the year. No company. No visits to London."

  "I'm not you, Catherine. I don't like to use such a heavy hand."

  "Melly wouldn't have you."

  "She will, if she imagines that that would calm matters between our families… and if I assured her that the engagement was a ruse, only. She could hand me my hat at any time."