Melinda Hammond by The Bargain Page B

rather overdressed in the earl’s presence. The immaculate blue frock-coat worn by the earl was very plain, relieved only by a minimum of snow-white lace. A single diamond winked from the folds of lace at his throat, and a heavy gold signet ring was the only ornament on the long fingers. Young Mr Fryer, with his elaborate bag-wig and profusion of ruffles thought that perhaps he had overdone the number of fobs and seals about his person, and the heavily embroidered waistcoat now seemed out of place for a country dinner. Simon had already decided he would dislike the earl for his scandalous treatment of his cousin, but finding himself faced with the epitome of grace and elegance, he was torn between a compulsion to make a mortal enemy of the earl and a desire to copy him slavishly. It was unfortunate for the young man, struggling with his emotions, that Melissa chose to enter the room at that moment. She greeted her cousin with a warm smile, and hugged him in her usual fashion.
    ‘Simon! How good it is to see you again.’ She stepped back, smiling. ‘And looking very smart, too. Is that a new waistcoat, Cousin? Very dashing!’
    Sir Joseph gave a crack of laughter.
    ‘Ha! That’s a joke, miss. A young coxcomb is what I would call him!’
    ‘No, no, Uncle,’ exclaimed his niece, her eyes twinkling. ‘A young man about town must be up to snuff, is that not so, Simon?’
    Mr Fryer mumbled a confused reply. He would have liked to say something witty, but in the presence of his father’s ridicule and the earl’s sardonic looks, he felt himself to be ill-used, seeing in Melissa his only ally. The comments on his dress touched his pride, and he thought that Aldringham was silently mocking him. His confusion turned to anger and his fevered imagination soon produced a reason: Melissa’s warm reception of him and her taking his part in the discussion convinced him that she felt more for him than for a mere cousin. The conversation had moved on to other subjects, but Simon brooded silently on the earl’s villainy. It did not take him long to conclude that Aldringham had stolen his future bride and was flaunting the fact before him.
     
     During dinner Simon convinced himself that Melissa had always shown him a marked preference. He conveniently forgot the many young ladies in Cambridge with whom he flirted regularly and the many occasions when he had accused Melissa of behaving like a censorious older sister. From his experience as a man of the world he could see that his innocent cousin had been tricked into marriage by an ageing rake. It also seemed perfectly clear to him that Aldringham knew of their previous attachment and was taking great delight in mocking his young rival. Simon was by nature a romantic, and the thought of rescuing his cousin from the clutches of a villainous creature such as Aldringham was one that appealed to his poetic soul.
    That Miss Langham returned his newly discovered passion he never doubted, and the practicalities of rescuing a married lady from her husband without causing a scandal never entered his head. Melissa was his childhood sweetheart, his promised bride, and now she needed his help!
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Lady Fryer was determined that dinner should be a lively affair, with no constraints, and she kept up a constant flow of small-talk, ably assisted by Melissa. A few attempts were made to include Simon in the conversation, but his answers were brief and his mama, a fond parent, remarked complacently that he must have the headache, a comment that did not endear her to her son. Left to himself, Simon studied the earl carefully, reading much into his teasing manner towards his wife. Melissa would have been amused if she had known that Simon considered Aldringham’s unusually mellow manner to be a sneering jibe at herself. Knowing Aldringham only by reputation, Mr Fryer had not yet incurred his displeasure. Melissa could have informed her cousin that Aldringham was at present in the best