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She had to get to the bottom of this mess and set things right. Herrington had a grudge against her, and she was the only one who could make peace between them and save Charlotte. And David as well. If she could just bring them together and make them both see reason...
Such good intentions could not be acted upon immediately, however. As soon as Herrington spotted Mélisande, he came looking for Charlotte. Sneaking in behind the young ladies, he swooped down and tossed the sprite over his shoulder with a loud growl. Her squeals of delight could be heard across the room as he spun her about, then boldly kissed her full on the lips in full view of everyone.
A few partygoers raised their glasses at the sight, giving hearty cheers of encouragement. All manner of impropriety was sanctioned at a masque ball.
Charlotte, pink cheeked and grinning beneath her mask, introduced her friend Mistress Butterfly.
Angelica curtsied, looking as though she wished she was somewhere else.
Mélisande knew he’d been among th
e foremost of the contenders for her hand before she’d decided to follow her heart and accept Reggie’s suit.
As politely as possible, the girl excused herself.
Mélisande watched as Herrington led Charlotte away, his hand resting boldly at the small of her back, propelling her forward. Helpless to prevent it, she joined her friend Mrs. Montagu while Alessandro went to find David.
The dancing began and the celebratory atmosphere heightened. There was food and drink aplenty for all, and as the sun set, the general mood grew more and more uninhibited.
At the height of the revelry, the king at last made his appearance. Resplendent in a costume of tawny amber velvet trimmed with a real lion’s mane, his snarling, golden mask turned him into a ferocious caricature of the king of the beasts. At his side walked Spring, the Countess of Yarmouth, swathed in pale green silk and pink satin petals.
Alessandro reappeared just as His Majesty gestured to the orchestra. Everyone cheered as a waltz was struck and the king stepped out with the countess to lead the dance.
Mélisande and Alessandro joined them, along with a surprising number of others.
“I believe we started a trend,” she laughed as they swept across the floor. “London’s dance instructors must be making a fortune this Season.”
She kept close watch on Charlotte, making certain there were no more disappearances while awaiting the opportunity to make her move. Much to her frustration, the besotted sprite remained at Herrington’s side almost the entire evening, but at long last the girl finally deigned to dance with another gentleman.
“I must go at once,” Mélisande whispered to her lover. “I fear there may not be another chance.”
Alessandro made to come with her, but she stopped him with a gentle hand. “You cannot accompany me—I must speak with him alone,” she said in response to his frown. “I’ll suggest that we take a walk through the courtyard statuary. That should afford us a small measure of privacy without any real danger. People are wandering all over the palace grounds tonight; he won’t risk exposing himself here.”
He nodded, releasing her.
Approaching her mark carefully from behind, Mélisande touched Herrington’s shoulder.
Startled, he turned, his hawk’s eyes immediately narrowing. “If you are here to again try and dissuade me, you have come in vain—unless...” His gaze raked her costume. “Unless you agree to my terms.”
Mélisande’s flesh crawled, but she mastered her disgust and stared him down. “I wish to speak with you privately. Might I suggest we take a brief stroll through the sculpture gardens?”
Wordlessly, he held out his arm.
As Mélisande picked her way through the crowd, Alessandro signaled Pelham and then casually moved to a position where, between them, they could observe all the exits leading out to the gardens and statuary.
OF MONSTERS AND MEN
TOGETHER, MÉLISANDE AND Herrington wended their way through the jubilant throng and out into the night. Stars pierced the darkness high above, laughter echoed from within the garden maze, and the flickering light of the torches along the pathway caused their shadows to chase each other as they passed. It would have been very romantic had it been Alessandro at her side.
After several unsuccessful attempts to find a private corner, they at last found a small, unoccupied alcove. In it, standing between two low stone benches, a tall marble angel reached toward the heavens.
Releasing Herrington’s arm, Mélisande moved in to explore, feigning interest in the statue as an excuse to put some distance between them. The angel wore a look of despair on its carved face; the stone tears welling in its eyes and streaming down its cheeks were exquisitely crafted.
Her enemy cleared his throat, removing his mask.
She followed suit and faced him. “I’ve come to make peace with you before it’s too late,” she stated, keeping her voice steady and low.
His strange eyes mocked her. “Then you agree to my terms,” he murmured, taking a step forward.
