Page 102 of Rescued from Betrayal
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.
