Claiming The Chaperon's Heart. Anne Herries

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      * * *

      ‘I wish you had not agreed to go to the theatre with that fellow,’ Will said to his sister that afternoon at tea. ‘I would not have minded if I could accompany you—but we hardly know him, and I do not trust him near Melia...’

      ‘I believe him to be a gentleman.’ Jane smiled and placed a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Do not concern yourself, dearest. Lord Frant has no interest in Melia other than as his ward. I think he found the whole business troublesome and was glad to leave her in my care once he understood that we were respectable. He is to settle five thousand on her, which is a decent sum. Not that you care one iota for a dowry, but others might.’

      ‘It does not matter what others think,’ Will said loftily. ‘Melia is already sure of her future...should she wish it.’

      Jane looked at him intently. ‘Melia is very young, my love. I think her sweet and gentle and I am sure she would make you happy—but you must not be too certain of her yet. Bringing her to London may not prove to have the result you hoped for.’

      ‘You think she might fall in love with someone else?’

      Will looked so hurt that Jane felt terrible. Yet she had to make him aware of what she sensed. They had only been in company twice so far, but on both occasions Melia had been introduced to attractive, wealthy men, and she’d shown her pleasure in the attention paid her.

      ‘I do not know, my love. I only felt that you should be a little wary. Melia has not given you her promise—has she?’

      ‘No, but she knows how I feel. I spoke frankly the last time I visited near her home. She said that she needed to know me better and that’s when the visit to London was first discussed...’

      ‘Yes, I see.’ Jane was thoughtful. If Melia had been a schemer she might have suspected her brother had been used, but she did not think it. Perhaps not always truthful, and sometimes careless of others’ feelings, Melia might hurt Will but not intentionally. She liked him, considered him her friend and thought that she might like to marry him, but that did not mean she’d given her heart and, until she did, she might well bestow it on another. Jane hoped she would not, but Melia had to have her season; she had to have her chance, because otherwise she might do something regrettable after marriage. She was a girl who liked excitement and adventure, and Will preferred a quiet life in the country. Melia would have to be very certain that she loved him to settle for that life.

      ‘Well, time will tell,’ she said now and smiled lovingly at her brother. ‘Things happen and people change...but I should not worry about us attending the theatre with Lord Frant. I do not believe you have anything to fear from him.’

      In that much Jane was right, but if she wanted to safeguard her brother’s interests she should have refused the invitation until Will could go with them, but perhaps even that would not have made much difference.

      * * *

      Melia was not sure how she felt about going to the theatre with Lord Frant. He had been kind to her, and she was grateful for the five thousand pounds he was settling on her through the family lawyer. Yet she thought him stern and was a little in awe of him, though her dear Jane seemed to like him and that must mean he was all right. However, the moment he introduced his friend, Captain, Viscount Hargreaves, Melia began to enjoy the evening.

      His smile made her heart race and she thought him the most handsome man she had ever seen. Indeed, he resembled the pictures of Greek gods she’d once seen in an art book in her father’s library, but was so much more impressive in the flesh. Not that she could see any flesh other than his hands and face—but after seeing that picture she could imagine what he might look like stripped to the waist.

      How immodest she was! Her imagination did not go further than his waist, though his long legs looked powerful and strong in pale pantaloons and she thought would show to even more advantage in riding breeches.

      She lamented that she had no horse in London, not realising that she had done so aloud until he at once insisted that he would hire her a good ladies’ horse and take her riding in the park.

      ‘Would you really?’ Melia asked and fluttered her lashes at him. ‘I have a darling mare at home. She has the softest mouth and has spirit, but is a gentle soul as a rule and would never dream of tipping me off.’

      ‘I shall bring you a creature to rival your darling,’ Adam ventured, vowing privately that he would buy such a horse if none suitable were to be hired. ‘I promise you will not be disappointed. I am said to be a judge. Even Frant takes my advice on horses, though he is a marvellous judge and rider himself. We have been talking of setting up our racing stables together.’

      ‘So Lord Frant intends to remain in England?’

      ‘Yes, I think he does,’ Adam said with a small smile and for a moment his eyes seemed to dwell on Lady March and his friend. ‘Though we may keep our horses in Ireland and train them there...’

      ‘Papa told me that the best horses came from Ireland...’

      ‘Well, perhaps,’ Adam agreed, ‘but I like Spanish myself. Spanish bred and trained in Ireland—a winning combination...’

      ‘How clever you are,’ Melia said, gazing up at him. Her fingers fluttered on his arm and she felt almost faint when he smiled down at her. ‘Do you intend to stay in England, Captain?’

      ‘I dare say I shall divide my time between London and Ireland,’ he told her. ‘We shall race the horses here, you see—but I must visit them often. However, I prefer to live in London. It is the heart of things...but I do not mind travelling. I have had adventures enough for any man, and must find a good house where a sensible woman could be happy. I think my wife must love London, as I do, but be prepared to visit Ireland and other parts with me from time to time.’

      ‘Oh, yes, she would surely wish to do that,’ Melia said, quite carried away by such an enticing picture. ‘To live in London for most of one’s life must be heaven...though it is pleasant to walk in the country when the weather is good.’

      ‘Yes, exactly,’ Adam said and smiled again. ‘I think we are to see a good play this evening. It is a comedy, I believe, and then we shall be entertained by a dancer. I am led to understand that she is wonderful to behold but I shall reserve judgement. I have seen a great deal of dancing in India.’

      ‘Oh, yes, how exciting that must have been,’ Melia said and her fingers curled about his arm. ‘You must tell me all about it.’

      ‘Not this evening for we must be quiet now the lights are going down,’ he whispered, ‘but perhaps I can take you driving in the park in the morning...’

      She indicated that she would love that above all things and then was silent for the play had begun and Melia, like everyone else, was soon laughing at the scandalous romp Mr Sheridan had written for their amusement. Melia knew that it had first been acted upon the stage in 1777 and was much admired, but she had not expected to be so amused by the intrigues unravelling upon the stage.

      When, after the performance, she and Lady March were taken for a light supper consisting mainly of ices, sweet trifles and jellies for the ladies, and bread, cold meat and cheese for the gentlemen, accompanied by wine or a cool, crisp sweet cider.

      Later, after they had been escorted home in Lord Frant’s very comfortable carriage, the gentlemen СКАЧАТЬ