Match For Melissa (3 page)

“There! You see?” Jane turned to Regina. “Think of the advantage this plan will provide for Melissa. Though she will not be formally presented this Season, she shall have the opportunity to mingle with the best of London society. Perhaps your dear stepsister will even form a
tendre
for one of your rejected suitors.”

Melissa kept her lips pressed firmly together to stifle her urge to laugh derisively. Jane was desperate to find suitable matches for Regina and Dorothea. If she saw fit to reject any gentleman, he would be the most miserable of husbands, indeed!

“We shall depart at daybreak tomorrow.” Jane rose gracefully to her feet. “Come, girls. There is much to do in preparation. We must begin straight away.”

“Yes, Mama.” Dorothea’s eyes began to glow with excitement as she rose from her place on the sofa. “Regina and I shall select the gowns we wish to take.”

Jane nodded her approval and swept toward the door, but she turned for one last word with Melissa. “Go up to the attics and collect the holland covers for the furniture. When you’ve put them in place, you may begin the packing. Everything must be in readiness before we sleep tonight.”

Dorothea followed in her mother’s wake, but Regina placed her hand on Melissa’s arm to detain her. When her mother and sister had left the room, Regina spoke up, in a voice that trembled with emotion. “I hope you’re not overly disappointed in me, Lissa. I’m truly sorry I failed to convince Mama to give you my Season.”

“Your mother is a very difficult woman to convince.” Melissa favored her stepsister with a forgiving smile. “You tried your utmost, Gina, and that does signify.”

“But I know how much you wanted to be presented this Season! I should have argued longer.”

“To what purpose? Your mother’s mind was firmly set. Any further disagreement from your quarter would only have served to anger her.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Regina nodded thoughtfully. “Mama is easily angered, and when she is overset, it causes distress for all who are…oh, Lissa!”

Melissa gasped as her stepsister sank back down on the sofa. Regina’s complexion had paled and her hands were trembling. “What is it, Gina?”

“I gave my promise to Mr. Watson!” As Regina uttered his name, color flooded over her pale complexion. “I assured him that I would accompany him when he visits the sick, and now I shall be unable to do so. I do so hate to break a promise, Lissa! He will think badly of me, I know.”

Melissa reached out to pat Regina’s hand. “I am certain he will not. Breaking this promise is in no way your choice. You must go to him and explain.”

“But what if he should suppose that I desire this Season?” There was anguish in the depths of Regina’s brown eyes. “I should hate for him to believe that I am as frivolous as the other young ladies who court favor with the
ton”
.

“He could not think that, Gina. The reverend is aware of your commitment to good deeds and I am certain he would not suspect you of being in the least bit frivolous. It is simply not in your nature.”

Regina thought about this for a moment and then she nodded. “It is possible that you are right.”

“Of course I am. Do not forget that the reverend is well acquainted with your mother. When you tell him that she has ordered you to London, he will appreciate your dilemma.”

“Perhaps.” Regina nodded and then she began to smile. “Now that I consider it, I am certain that you are correct. The Reverend Mr. Watson is the most understanding of men. I dare say he will commiserate with me when he learns of my circumstances.”

Melissa drew a deep breath of relief. Regina’s hands had ceased their trembling and she looked much more composed. “Perhaps you had best tell him straight away so that he can find someone to help him in your stead. If your mother inquires as to your whereabouts, I will tell her that you have left on an errand and will return shortly.”

“Thank you, Lissa.” Regina rose to her feet and fairly flew to the door. “If I hurry, perhaps Mama will not even take notice of my absence.”

There was a thoughtful expression on Melissa’s face as she watched her stepsister rush out of the room. The color had been high in Regina’s pale cheeks when she’d spoken of Mr. Watson. And though Regina had insisted that she wished to forgo her Season to continue her charity work, Melissa wondered if her stepsister was doing it up much too brown. Could it be that Regina’s heart was already engaged? Perhaps by the young man of the cloth who had so recently come into their midst?

Melissa sighed, hoping this was not the case. Even if the
Reverend Mr. Watson should come to offer for Regina, Jane would never approve the match. The resulting quarrel would leave her stepsister with naught but a broken heart, and dear Regina deserved a much better fate than that!

The house Jane had rented in Belgrave Square was nothing if not impressive. As Melissa carried her modest carpetbag up the brick steps and stepped inside, her eyes widened at the opulence she saw displayed before her. The entrance hall was paneled in the richest of mahogany and the floor was laid with an intricate pattern made up of colorful marble tiles. Gold-framed paintings of lords and ladies who Melissa assumed were the owner’s ancestors graced the walls, and tall porcelain urns, at least four feet in height, held lovely arrangements of dried flowers. Two chairs, covered in blue and white striped satin, flanked a small round table that was inset with a design of delicate gold filigree. A silver salver, overflowing with cards and invitations, sat on its highly polished surface and Melissa moved closer to examine the contents. If sheer quantity was an accurate indication, the current Season was off to a successful beginning for her stepsisters.

Dorothea, who had emerged from the coach carrying the box of sweets she had insisted they bring in the event they required sustenance on their journey, was the next to enter the house. The moment she spied the contents of the silver salver, she gave an excited exclamation. Then she rushed back to her mother, who was just coming through the door, and gestured toward the array of envelopes. “Look, Mama! Invitations have already begun to arrive!”

“Yes, indeed.” Jane smiled with evident satisfaction as she
picked up several of the envelopes to examine them. “There are even more than there were last Season. We are being very well received by the
ton
this year.”

Melissa nodded pleasantly, and successfully managed to curb her tongue. It wasn’t Jane and her stepsisters who were being well received. The members of the
ton
were merely paying their respects to the widow and family of a man they’d loved and respected, Melissa’s father.

Jane glanced at Regina, who had been the last to enter, and she frowned as she saw that her eldest daughter was attempting to carry her own portmanteau. “There’s no reason to exhaust yourself, Regina. Melissa will see that our baggage is carried inside.”

“But the trunks are much too heavy for Melissa!” Regina defended her stepsister. “Surely you don’t expect her to—”

Jane held up her hand to silence Regina’s objections. “The postilions will carry in our belongings. Melissa will merely supervise their placement.”

“I’ll help her.” There was a determined expression on Regina’s face.

“That is not wise for you.” Jane gave her daughter a disapproving glance. “I fear you must be quite exhausted as your complexion is a most unbecoming shade of white. If you do not spend the afternoon resting, you will be a sorry addition to Lady Farthington’s dinner party this evening.”

Melissa took one glance at her stepsister and rushed to help her to a chair. “Don’t make a cake of yourself, Gina. You must sit down and gather your strength.”

“Here, Gina.” Dorothea rushed forward with her box of sweets. “You must take one of these to restore you. Chocolate is said to have curative powers.”

Melissa surmised that the last thing Regina wished for was something to eat, but she took a sweet from the box to please her sister. “Thank you, Doro, but I am perfectly well.”

“How can that be true?” Dorothea frowned. “There’s not a drop of color in your cheeks and you appear as pale as a corpse.”

Regina gave an embarrassed laugh. “You have all forgot that I am prone to succumb to motion illness. I shall recover nicely now that we have reached our destination and my feet are once again upon firm ground.”

“Of course!” Dorothea clapped her hands. “You are right, Gina. Your affliction had entirely slipped my mind in the excitement of the moment. It is no wonder that you seldom wish to venture far from home.”

Jane did not look convinced as she studied her eldest daughter. “Are you certain, Regina?”

“Yes, Mama.” Regina nodded. “I promise that I shall recover long before this evening. And I shall act lively so that my dinner partner will not suspect that he’s dining with one who’s already stuck her spoon in the wall.”

Melissa and Dorothea burst into peals of delighted laughter and even Jane had to smile. But she sobered as she turned to Melissa.

“If Regina has not fully recovered by the time we are to leave, a touch of the rouge pot may serve. Which gown shall you press for her, Melissa?”

Melissa mentally reviewed the gowns she had helped Regina pack. The colors her elder stepsister had chosen were all drab and dowdy, more suitable to a widow just emerging from mourning than to a young lady who was to attend a lively dinner party. “Perhaps I could alter Dorothea’s pink gown for Regina. I should think it would suit her very well.”

“The pink will lend her complexion more color.” Jane gave a nod of approval. “Yes, I should think it would do very nicely. And for Dorothea?”

Melissa sighed. Dorothea owned only one gown without flounces, furbelows, or ruffles. It was most unfortunate that her stepsister disliked it so. “I believe the white would be most appropriate.”

“But it makes me look like a child!” Dorothea voiced an immediate objection. “I wish to wear the red sarcenet with the blue underskirt.”

“That gown is much too elaborate for this evening’s dinner party.” Jane dismissed Dorothea’s choice with a wave of her hand. “Melissa is right. You shall wear the white.”

Tears rushed to Dorothea’s eyes. “But the color will not set off either my hair or my complexion to advantage. Please, Mama…I should rather
die
than wear the white!”

“Do not put yourself in a taking, Doro.” Melissa spoke up quickly to calm her stepsister. “I shall embellish your gown to suit your complexion and the color of your hair.”

Dorothea turned to look at Melissa hopefully. “How will you accomplish this, Lissa?”

“I shall dress the neck with a wide green ribbon and sew another around the hem. With a sash of the same deep green hue, it should be perfect for you.”

Dorothea gave a tentative smile. “Green is one of my favorite colors. But I should not like to be out of fashion.”

“I am certain you will not be.” Melissa hastened to reassure her. “I studied a gown such as the one I envision in the most recent copy of
La Belle Assemblée.
You will look your best, Doro. I will promise you that.”

Dorothea’s eyes began to sparkle. “How will you dress my hair, Lissa?”

“I’ll fashion it in a twist, wound round with streamers of the same ribbon. You will be all the crack, Doro.”

Dorothea’s smile was joyful as she turned to her mother. “Isn’t Lissa wonderful, Mama? Oh, I am so glad you thought to bring her along as our dresser!”

“Yes, indeed.” Jane had the grace to look slightly embarrassed, but she quickly regained her composure. “Come along, Dorothea, and we shall examine my jewels. You may choose something to wear with your gown tonight…perhaps the emeralds would be appropriate.”

“Oh, Mama.” Dorothea’s eyes were shining. “I should like to wear the emeralds above all things.”

Regina and Melissa exchanged a speaking glance as Jane swept up the staircase with Dorothea following closely at her
heels. When they had disappeared from sight, Melissa turned to Regina with a question. “Do you think your mother will give her permission for Dorothea to wear the emeralds?”

“I am certain that she will not.” Regina shook her head. “Mama values the emeralds too highly and though they should look lovely with the gown you have described, she is not well known for her charity. I wager to say that if Doro wears any of Mama’s jewels, they will be the pearls.”

There was a bit of color in Regina’s cheeks by the time the postilions had brought in their baggage and placed it according to their directions. After the men had been dismissed, Regina rang for the maid-of-all-work and asked her to bring them some light refreshment. Once the tray had been delivered and they had availed themselves of its contents, they climbed the staircase to their bedchambers.

“Do come in for a moment, Lissa.” Regina opened the door to her bedchamber and motioned Melissa inside. The small room was filled with bandboxes and trunks and Melissa perched on the largest of them while Regina sat on the edge of the bed. “I do wish Mama would see fit to excuse me tonight. I fear I am not pleasantly anticipating this engagement.”

Melissa nodded. She knew how reluctant Regina was to begin her second Season. “I understand, Gina, but you are obliged to attend. Is it not true that Lady Farthington’s dinner unofficially opens the Season?”

“You have the right of it.” Regina sighed. “Tonight’s entertainment serves as the proving ground for this Season’s debutantes. Any young lady who commits a
faux pas
tonight will be roundly snubbed by all the old tabbies for the remainder of the Season.”

Melissa was perplexed at her stepsister’s anxious tone. “But that will not affect you, Gina. You attended the dinner last Season and you were not snubbed…were you?”

“No. Mama cautioned us to be on our best behavior and we followed her advice to the letter. Both Doro and I came through unscathed.”

Melissa was confused. “Then why do you appear anxious when you and Doro have already been accepted?”

“Perhaps I am so highly sensible to the feelings of others, that I cannot allow any comfort to myself. It distresses me to see the young hopefuls with their trembling hands and their distressed expressions. They live in fear that they will commit a social infraction and thus waste the money their families have spent on their Seasons.”