Page 14 of Rescued from Betrayal
The dance ended and Lord Caraway led Lady Jane off the floor to her mother. Melior watched him exit the ballroom and smiled. This was her chance. She would excuse herself to the ladies’ retiring room and then meet him before he reentered the ball.
Glancing over her shoulder, Melior caught her mother’s eye. The nod of encouragement was all she needed to make her way toward the doors that led into the long hall.
Once outside, however, she was unsure which direction to go. The ladies’ retiring room was to the left and the men’s to the right, but she could not go that way without appearing brazen. She wandered to a picture on the far wall and gazed up at it, hoping if she stayed in the open area he’d have to pass her at some point.
“He is that way,” Edith said from behind her.
She spun around to see her indicating the third hall, the one they had spoken in at the beginning of the night.
“Third door on the right.”
Melior brightened. “Thank you, Edith. You are a gem.”
Edith smiled. “Anything to help my dearest friend.”
Melior wrung her hands together and perspiration dripped down her back. This felt so wrong, but how else would Lord Caraway have the privacy needed to confess his feelings and make certain of hers?
She looked at Edith.
“You can do this,” Edith said. “Now go show how superior you are.”
Her friend gave one short nod and Melior straightened her posture. This was it.
She marched down the hall to the exact door Edith had indicated. It was ajar, but only by a small crack. A soft glow came from within. She pushed the door open but saw no one.
Stepping in, she inspected the cloaks that hung along the back wall. Was this the cloakroom her mother had indicated? The door clicked shut behind her.
A man stood in the shadows, but his build was completely different than Lord Caraway’s. “You wanted to meet with me.”
Melior recognized the voice. Mr. Tom Fairchild.
“You are mistaken, sir. I did not request your company.”
“Then why are you here, Miss Kendall?” He slowly advanced on her, a swagger in his step. “Come, you need not be modest.I have seen the way your eyes follow me. We could be a good match together. What with your uncle soon to be wed, you could do worse than a future earl.”
She stumbled back a step. “I…” How had he known of her uncle? They’d all kept it so quiet.
Sir Nathaniel’s words filled her mind.The servants, of course. He’d been trying to warn her.
“I see you are speechless. I have that effect on women.”
Melior balled her fists at her sides. “Mr. Fairchild, I thank you for your kindness, but I believe you have been mistaken about my interest in you. Now, if you would be so kind as to move so I can exit before anyone finds us thus.”
He gave a low chuckle. “Oh come now, it is not so bad. How about a small kiss for my troubles? It is not every day that I speak of marriage with a needy female.”
Needy? She was far from destitute. Mr. Fairchild continued to advance on her. This was not how this night was supposed to go. Where was Lord Caraway?
She raised her hands in front of her to stop Mr. Fairchild’s progress, but he kept coming.
“You are the loveliest creature that has ever graced the ballrooms of London, Miss Kendall. So beautiful you’d probably put the Goddess Venus to shame.”
“Do you use that sort of flirtation on all women, Mr. Fairchild, or only ones you trap in cloakrooms against their will?”
“You entered of your own accord; I should say that is consent enough.”
“It is not, I do not wish to be here with you, so please step aside.”
His hand came up to caress the base of her neck. She jerked away at his touch, but an ominous tearing sound accompanied the motion as his fingers caught on the neckline of her dress. She cried out in surprise at the same moment the door flew open.
