Midnight Masqerade

by Shirlee Busbee

  Hope burgeoning within her breast, her hands clasped rigidly in front of her, Melissa finally managed to stammer, "A-a-are you s-s-serious? You are not j j jesting?"

  One thick black brow flew up quizzically. "My dear, I do not jest about that kind of money." Putting on a fierce scowl, Dominic added, "And I will not pay you a penny more, so do not try to drive up the price!"

  Melissa swallowed convulsively, visions of throwing Latimer's money in his face dancing before her eyes, joy at knowing that Folly would still be part hers causing a smile to tremble on her lips. "Oh, no! I wouldn't do Shirley Busbee that!" Earnestly she said, "You must believe me that I wouldn't have asked such a high price if it hadn't been of the utmost importance." She looked as if she might say more, but then she bit her lips and looked away.

  Zachary, who had remained silent during all of this, finally spoke up. Addressing Dominic, he asked slowly, "Does this mean that you are going to be a partner with us? That Folly will still be ours?"

  "Half yours," Dominic replied, wondering how he was going to explain his incomprehensible action to Royce-and to himself for that matter!

  Chapter 'Ten

  DOMINIC ended up staying for dinner, and the midafternoon meal proved to be a singularly enjoyable one. He met Frances Osborne and found her to be a likable woman; Etienne, too, once he realized that Dominic was not going to take Melissa's beloved Folly away from Willowglen, became quite animated and friendly. And Zachary, reassured that the future he and Melissa had dreamed of and planned for was not to be destroyed, was further impressed by Dominic's easy conversation and manner.

  Only Melissa remained apparently unaffected by Dominic's effortless charm as he complimented Frances on the excellent meal she had set before him and talked knowledgeably with Etienne and Zachary about horses. It was difficult for her to remain aloof, especially when she now had such strong reasons to be grateful to him for giving her the means with which to confound Latimer. Her resolution not to be bowled over by his mesmerizing presence would waver, though, whenever he would flash a warm, slightly teasing smile in her direction or his laughing gray eyes would meet hers. Sternly she reminded herself of everything that Josh had warned her about him, forcing herself not to notice the curly black hair or the handsome nose or the mobile mouth. She would not, she vowed grimly, prove to be just another silly female who allowed her head to be turned by a practiced rake. But it was a hard battle she was fighting within herself-particularly when she remembered what it felt like to be crushed in his arms and the intoxicating pleasure that same smiling mouth had given her.

  Disliking the trend of her wayward thoughts, Melissa scowled fiercely at the remains of the chicken that had been served at dinner. It would make things so much easier, she admitted unhappily, if Mr. Slade were not quite so charming and attractive. And she suspected that even with Josh's warnings firmly in her brain, being around Mr. Slade very much was going to put a severe strain on her good resolutions.

  Seeing her scowl, Dominic broke off his conversation with Zachary and murmured, "Is there something about my offer of a partnership in connection with Folly that displeases you?"

  Melissa was instantly the focus of every eye, and a hot flush stained her cheeks. "Oh, no," she said quickly. Thinking that they should work out the fine details of their agreement, she added, "But I do think that we should discuss the actual arrangements in private before you leave this afternoon. "

  Dominic's expression grew quizzical. "Shouldn't your brother or your uncle be handling that sort of thing for you? I'm aware of the unusual circumstances that make you owner of the horse, but at this point, shouldn't the men of your family be the ones to decide the financial situation?"

  Melissa gritted her teeth. She had long ago realized that her father had been extremely indulgent with her upbringing and that he had allowed her great license during his lifetime, but it wasn't until his death that she fully understood how little power she possessed in arranging the details of her own life. Although she had been forced by circumstances to take over the burden of decisions concerning Willowglen until Zachary reached his majority, she, could not publicly carry out plantation dealings without a man's assistance-it was unthinkable that a woman could transact business without a male surrogate for court and legal proceedings. It was also a commonly held notion that women could not manage their own affairs without the help of men. She thought of the deplorable chaos her father had left for her and Zachary to muddle through, and her temper rose. So Mr. Slade didn't think she could handle her own money, did he? Topaz eyes blazing with swift anger, she replied to his question in a barely civil tone. "Mr. Slade! Folly is mine, and I'm afraid that whether you like it or not, I am the one you must deal with if you wish to buy him!"

  Already familiar enough with her moods to see the signs of rising temper, but unable to resist teasing her, Dominic murmured dulcetly, "Half of him."

  Melissa was not in a mood to be teased, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Rising gracefully from the table, she said, "If you will come with me?"

  The glimpse of her smile was enchanting, he decided, and having noted the attractive flush to her cheeks before she turned away from him, Dominic was further intrigued. Without a word, he followed her lead, his gaze resting speculatively on her slim shoulders and narrow waist as she walked down the hallway ahead of him. Such a proud little tiger, he reflected with amusement.

  He strolled into the room she had indicated and glanced around. This was obviously the library and it was a pleasant place, although everywhere Dominic's eyes traveled, signs of the Seymours' straitened circumstances could be seen, from the patched leather chairs to the faded velvet curtains which hung at the long windows.

  After Melissa sat down on a chintz-covered sofa, Dominic settled himself in a chair across from her. With a faint smile curving his full lips, he asked, "What is it about my offer that you wish to discuss?"

  Her resentment flaring at the sight of that half-indulgent smile, Melissa snapped, "I am not a child and I would appreciate it if you would take this conversation seriously and not treat me like an-imbecile!"

  His eyes narrowed, and in a much less friendlier tone of voice, he said, "Believe me, my dear, when I talk about spending twenty-five thousand dollars, I am very serious!" `

  Melissa bit her lip, miserably realizing that it would do her cause no good to antagonize Dominic-besides, this situation wasn't his fault! She just wished that she weren't so very aware of him, of the way his coat fitted across the broad shoulders, or the way his breeches stretched tautly against the long length of his muscled legs as he lounged across from her. It didn't help her peace of mind to find her eyes drawn repeatedly to his dark, lean face, to find herself dreamily going over each of his features-the proud arch of the eyebrows, the clear clarity of the teasing gray eyes, the mocking curve of his mouth and the hard line of his jaw. With an effort, she jerked herself back to the matter at hand. This was business, and so, sitting up even straighter on the sofa, she began to question Dominic about how he proposed that they share Folly.

  While Melissa had been examining Dominic, Dominic had been doing a little surveying of his own, and what he saw still left him seeking a reason that this hostile, plain creature could cause him to act as he had. She definitely wasn't pretty, he finally concluded, having looked hard and long at her features, trying to imagine her without the spectacles, without the bun and without her mouth pursed in that depressingly prim manner, and he couldn't for the life of him picture her other than what she appeared to be-a somewhat dowdy spinster. So why did she hold such fascination for him? It was a question he couldn't answer, and Dominic intensely disliked unanswered questions.

  The entire situation was ludicrous! he thought angrily. She wasn't pretty. He didn't like her. Yet he was prepared to spend an inordinate amount of money because he feared she was in some sort of trouble with Latimer. Inwardly Dominic snorted. What sort of fool was he? He wasn't altruistic. He had never been particularly obsessed wi
th the plight of his fellow man, but this woman . . . this woman disturbed him and made him feel oddly protective. Hell! He'd bought only half a damned horse with his money! And that because he had seen how much she cared for Folly and hadn't had the heart to distress her further. Suddenly the unwelcome thought occurred to him that he'd had another motive: if he and Miss Seymour were partners, it would be only natural for them to spend a great deal of time in each other's company-and for some incomprehensible reason, Dominic discovered that he wanted to do just that!

  Positive that he had entered his dotage, Dominic began to suggest several methods they could use to make the sharing of the animal easy for both of them. Melissa ap peared to be reasonable about the subject, raising very few objections to his proposals. A bit suspicious of her meekness, Dominic wondered what was going on in her mind.

  Busy struggling with the major problem of asking Dominic to pay her the entire amount within twenty-four hours, Melissa was only half attending to what he was saying. When he stopped talking, she suddenly blurted, "Could you pay me the money tomorrow? In gold?"

  If Dominic had had any doubts that Latimer was behind her actions, this request settled it for him. Latimer must be demanding payment and must have set the first of July as the date the money should be paid or he would take some sort of action that Melissa could not countenance. Knowing Latimer, Dominic had a very good idea of what that action would be, although he simply could not understand why Latimer had designs on such an unattractive woman. Then he grimaced to himself. If she had him unwillingly fascinated, it stood to reason that she might have cast the same spell over Latimer.

  Melissa's request for the money in gold by tomorrow created a problem, though. Dominic was a wealthy man, but laying his hands on that sort of cold, hard cash in the time given was damn near impossible. He hesitated and then said slowly, "I doubt very seriously that I could make arrangements that swiftly, but I can assure you that you will have your money before the end of the week." He shot her a keen look and, picking his words with care, added, "I'm certain that any, er, debtor who might be demanding payment from you would not be able to take any harmful action before you would have the money."

  Melissa's eyes flew to his, her astonishment and fear obvious in the wide-eyed stare. She swallowed, then asked in a low voice, "How do you know I need the money for a ... a ... debtor? "

  Carelessly, Dominic replied, "A mere guess, my dear; don't let it concern you." Driven by something he couldn't explain, he got up and stood in front of her. Bending forward, he picked up one of her hands as it lay limply in her lap, and holding it comfortingly in his, he murmured, "If there is some way I can serve you ...?"

  His words were so tempting that for one insane mo ment, Melissa actually considered telling him of Latimer's dishonorable offer, but she was far too conscious of Dominic's disturbing nearness to think clearly. His hand felt warm and strong around hers, and her fingers seemed to tingle just from the mere touch of him, her heartbeat accelerating madly. Frightened that she might betray the tumult within her breast, she nervously jerked her hand away and stammered, "Oh, th-th-thank y-y-you, but there is no n-n-need for th-th-that! "

  He remained unconvinced, but he could not force her confidences, and with a negligent shrug of his broad shoulders, he stepped away from her. Any chance for further private conversation ended when Zachary entered the room a moment later.

  The three of them talked amicably for several minutes longer; then Dominic and Melissa signed an agreement stating the terms of the sale. With the paper safely tucked inside his waistcoat, Dominic took his leave. He was pleased with the morning's work, yet troubled, too. It went against his grain to know that Latimer was the one who would ultimately profit from the partnership between himself and Miss Seymour. If only there were a way, he mused idly, that he could put a spoke in Latimer's plans....

  Returning to his room at the tavern, Dominic found Royce waiting for him and, resigned to the teasing he was sure to receive, he succinctly told his friend what he had done. The knowing smile that quirked Royce's lips made Dominic's fists clench, but a reluctant grin crossed his own face. "I have gone mad," he admitted. "And I do not need you to tell me so!"

  Royce's instant nod of complete accord did nothing for Dominic's self-esteem, but during the next few minutes he good-naturedly listened to Royce's mirthful comments about "addled wits" and "muttonheaded decisions." Eventually, though, Royce left off his mocking remarks and mentioned the reason for his visit. "My father invites you to partake of supper with us this evening." Giving his friend a rueful smile, Royce added, "He was not pleased that you preferred a public place to Oak Hollow, but I think if you come for supper, it will soothe his ruffled pride"

  Dominic accepted the invitation, and shortly thereafter the two friends prepared to leave. They had just mounted their horses when Dominic got a brief glimpse of a gentleman entering the tavern. Frowning, he stared at the doorway, and Royce, noticing his expression, asked, "What is it? Something wrong?"

  "I don't know," Dominic answered slowly, "but I could have sworn that I just saw Latimer go inside."

  Royce shrugged. "And if you did? What are you going to do about it? The man has the right to go into a bloody tavern, for God's sake!"

  Dominic grimaced, well aware of the truth of Royce's words Without further conversation, he turned his horse away and headed in the direction of Oak Hollow. But he could not put the man he had seen from his mind. Was it Latimer? But even more importantly, was Latimer going to see Melissa tonight?

  The answers to both questions was yes. It definitely had been Latimer whom Dominic had seen entering the tavern, and he wouldn't have been very pleased to learn that Latimer would be staying in a room just five doors up the hall from him, in room number three. Dominic would have been even more displeased to discover that once Latimer had procured his night's lodging, he had sat down and written a note to be delivered that very evening to Miss Melissa Seymour!

  With relish and lewd anticipation, Latimer penned the words informing Melissa that he was in Baton Rouge and was looking forward to meeting with her. A malicious smile on his lips, he scrawled hurriedly that before they settled the terms for payment, he wished to see her to make final arrangements. He would be staying at the tavern tonight, he wrote in a barely decipherable hand, in room number three, and it would be to her advantage to see him this evening to make certain that they were in perfect accord concerning the "terms of their bargain."

  It was an insulting missive, and reading it later that evening, Melissa shivered with revulsion. She had been expecting some word from him, so the receipt of his note was almost anticlimactic for her. Sitting on a small chair in her bedroom, she reread his letter, unbearably grateful that Mr. Slade had come to call today and that, thanks to his generosity, Latimer was no longer a threat to either her virtue or her peace of mind. If Slade had ignored her letter or had been tardy in answering it or unwilling to pay her exorbitant price . . . Melissa's mouth went dry as she thought of how she would feel if she had received Latimer's note without the comforting knowledge that she would be able to pay him off in gold coin by the end of the week.

  She sat there alone in her room for a long time, staring blankly at Latimer's note, realizing sickly how close to ruin she had come, how she might very well have been forced to accept Latimer's degrading terms, if Dominic had not been willing to meet her unheard-of price for Folly. A soft smile suddenly curved her mouth as she thought of Dominic and his generosity. For several moments she was lost in a dreamy haze, remembering the way Dominic smiled and the way his clear gray eyes had twinkled with teasing laughter. Then with a regretful sigh she jerked herself away from such silly reflections, bringing her wayward thoughts back to the matter at hand.

  She read again the part where Latimer had written that he wished to see her tonight. Why? she wondered suspiciously. What was he up to? Extremely mistrustful of him, Melissa considered different reasons that would make it imperative for him to see her tonight, but she
could think of no satisfactory explanation for his request ... except that he might wish to gloat at what he assumed was her predicament. Her eyes flashed with an angry golden fire and she considered letting him sit up all night waiting for her, but then her lips twisted. She dared not ignore his request-what if he should grow tired of waiting and show up here at Willowglen demanding to see her? A shudder went through her. If Zachary's suspicions were aroused ... She glanced again at the letter, trying to decipher from Latimer's scrawl if it was number three or number eight. After careful scrutiny, she decided it was an eight.

  Setting aside the letter, she got up and went to stand before the cheval glass, absentmindedly beginning to brush her long, wavy hair. She had washed it after Dominic had left and now it swirled about her shoulders in shiny honeycolored curls, the silky strands gleaming with a life of their own. The brush felt good as she rhythmically pulled it through the tawny mass, her mind still occupied with Latimer's note.

  Why shouldn't she see him tonight? she mused grimly. It would be such a pleasure to watch his face when she threw his disgusting offer back at him! The more she considered it, the fonder she became of the idea. Why not? He had humiliated her, forced her to listen to his sordid plans, so why shouldn't she have the enjoyment of forcing him to listen to what she had to say? Why wait until tomorrow?

  She smiled faintly, her first in many days, as she pictured Latimer's chagrin and-she hoped-disappointment when he discovered that she wasn't going to become his mistress.