Page 49 of Rescued from Betrayal
She shrugged. Everything felt rusty. Her natural knack for conversation was slipping and her ability to banter was falling flat. Is that what weeks of seclusion did to a person? Why had it not made her sharper? She’d had plenty of time to reflect on the words and motives of all the people still going about living their lives.
Uncle Percy spoke up. “Sir Nathaniel, I had not pegged you as one who enjoys reading as a leisure activity.”
Melior shot her uncle a look, praying he would not give her away. Of all the people in the room, only he knew how much she loved the written word, or that she had such a great need for spectacles.
Sir Nathaniel sat in the chair next to hers. “I enjoy it immensely and read whenever I find time. Do you take pleasure in a good book, Your Grace?”
The conversation turned to the books the men had read and ones they wished to read. With each passing moment Melior found herself more and more tempted to impart her own reading preferences, but she bit her lip in an effort not to give away her weakness. Several titles were mentioned that piqued her interest and she wished she had a pen and paper to write them down so she might search them out later.
After several minutes the conversation rounded back to the book Sir Nathaniel had in his lap. “The villain is quite chilling. I would never wish anyone to meet with a person so callous in real life.”
Eddie directed his gaze at her. “Speaking of villains, Mel. What was the name of that lady who you disliked so much?”
The sharp turn in subject left Melior confused. “I do not follow.”
“You know, the one that you always tried to outshine in the ballrooms.”
Angry dark brown eyes in a well-proportioned face swam in Melior’s mind. “Are you implying that I would stoop to compete with Lady Jane? You should know that I am a far cry better than that.”
“Lady Jane?” Nathaniel asked. “Do you mean the Duke of Rothland’s daughter?”
Mr. Roberts nodded. “The very same. I had heard she was quite taken with Lord Caraway this season. Claimed he was the only man worth having.”
She dug her fingernails into the arms of the chair. Of course Lady Jane would say such a thing. That Melior had felt the same was beside the point. How much Lady Jane must have crowed with those perfectly plump lips of hers when she found her way opened up by Melior’s removal from the ballrooms.
“I know of this Lady Jane,” Uncle Percy said. “Tall, handsome blonde who always wears white with silver accents?”
“Yes.” Mr. Roberts held his hand out in front of him inspecting his nails. “Although I have seen her in pearl and eggshell.”
Eddie’s dark eyebrows furrowed. “Are those not different shades of white?”
“Au contraire, my friend. They are important colors all on their own.”
“Melior,” Uncle Percy said, cutting through the discussion of whites and creams that ensued between Mr. Roberts and Eddie. “How much does Lady Jane dislike you, do you think?”
“Enough that she would gouge my eyes out if she had the chance. I have never been in a room with her that she did not say something cutting to or about me.”
“And you about her,” Eddie said with a grin. “We all know the feeling is mutual.”
Melior shrugged again. There was no use in denying it. She had never gotten on well with Lady Jane.
Mr. Roberts leaned forward, his gaze intent on Sir Nathaniel. “And she has been frequenting the ballrooms and operas where Lord Caraway has been seen. Plus she has danced with the man multiple times.”
Lord Caraway was courting Lady Jane? Melior’s heart sank. Could her life get any worse? Not that she still pined after the man. She had let him go the moment she’d realized his connections with Mr. Fairchild. But to be replaced in his heart by the one woman she could not stand was quite lowering.
Sir Nathaniel gave a little shake of his head and Mr. Roberts suddenly sat back, returning to his inspection of his hands. What was this all about?
“That is a fine necklace,” Uncle Percy said.
Melior’s fingers came up to touch the amethyst beads, but instead her fingers grazed the gold chain with the little cross on it. The confusion lasted only a moment until she remembered that she’d had to switch adornments because her beads were missing.
Perhaps her uncle would be a better person to confide in about the missing pieces, but one glance at Sir Nathaniel silenced her on the subject for the time being.
He was dedicated to his staff. He’d not take kindly to her supposition that one of them had been pocketing her possessions.
The corners of her mouth pulled down at the thought that she may never be able to recover her jewelry, most of which were family heirlooms.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Uncle Percy appeared alarmed.
