Melinda Hammond Read Online Free Page A

You are ruined, child, ruined! And you, madam. What were you about to allow Melissa to meet such a man?’
    ‘Indeed I did not know his reputation!’ cried Lady Fryer, breathless with the effort of keeping up with her husband. ‘Pray you sir, slow your pace, for we are attracting even more unwanted attention by this unseemly haste.’
    ‘Thank God I decided to look in upon you before going on to supper. Heaven knows where it was leading, with the man blatantly seducing the girl in the middle of the dance floor. He is a rake, Melissa! A hardened libertine. The ruin of more than one poor female’s reputation can be laid at his door! One dance with such a man is enough to risk your good name, miss, but three! And everyone watching the pair of you - you have laid yourself open to the most abhorrent speculation.’
    ‘Uncle, I beg your pardon. I have no wish to disgrace you - or myself! I cannot tell how it happened that Lord Aldringham persuaded me to dance with him again when I had decided to stand up with him for only one dance. Indeed, sir, if you wish to confine me to the house and forbid the earl to speak to me again I should not object.’
    Sir Joseph’s frantic pace slowed a little.
    ‘Well, puss, I do not wish to punish you, after all you were not to know Aldringham’s reputation. But I do think your acquaintance with the earl should cease.’
    ‘Well that will be no hardship, Uncle. I truly do not wish for an acquaintance with the man!’
    Sir Joseph shook his head. ‘Aye, but there’s the problem. The earl is very powerful; I should not like to cross him. He would make a dangerous enemy. We cannot cut him direct.’
    ‘Well, I wish you will tell me what we are to do!’ demanded Lady Fryer. ‘First you drag Melissa off the dance floor before the eyes of everyone in Bath, now you say we must acknowledge the acquaintance!’
    ‘Melissa must avoid the man. You say you met him at the Pump Room? Then you must both stay away for a few days, and if you meet him in the street, a common, distant bow will suffice. Your aunt tells me you have spoken to the earl but twice, Melissa, so let us hope that we have quelled his interest before it becomes too fixed.’
    Sir Joseph seemed perfectly satisfied with this solution, but Melissa wondered just how successful such tactics would be if the earl was determined to pursue her.
    * * * *
    A week of living indoors followed for Melissa, who tried not to spend too long each day looking out at the inviting May sunshine. After two days, Lady Fryer resumed her visits to the Pump Room, reasoning that they could not all live as hermits. Having procured vouchers for the Assembly Rooms, Lady Fryer was disinclined to forego the treat. Promising to chaperon her niece very closely, she overcame Sir Joseph’s reluctance with a day of tears and sulks and the following week Melissa found herself once more accompanying her aunt into the crowded ballroom, Miss Langham’s eyes darkening angrily as she realized those around her were whispering behind their fans. She knew that the gossip would eventually be pushed aside by some other scandal, but it was difficult to ignore the giggles and glances.
    It was quite late in the evening when she saw the earl. Even as she spotted him, a cluster of diamonds winking from the lace at his throat, she was determined to speak no more than two words to him. Yet a moment later she found herself again accompanying him on to the dance floor. She could never afterwards be sure how he had contrived to take his unwilling partner to join a set that was forming. She had certainly tried to snub him.
    Remembering their last encounter, she kept her eyes lowered and refused to allow herself one glance at his face.
    “You have not been to the Pump Room recently, Miss Langham?’
    ‘No, sir. I did not choose to go.’
    ‘That is unfortunate, since I extended my visit here specifically to further our acquaintance.’
    Melissa closed her lips firmly against a reply.