The Black Lotus (Night Flower) (25 page)

“Unless that’s an apology, you can hold your tongue, y
ou sad, pathetic excuse for a man.”

And with that, she turned and ran, back towards the front of the building and Rachel
. She heard Justin call out behind her, but she kept going and did not stop until she reached the side of the buggy.

“
Miss?” Rachel asked with alarm as her mistress pulled herself into the small cart. “Are you hurt?”

“Never mind that just give me the reins!” Melissa called back as she settled into the seat and took hold of the leather strands. Clicking to the horses, she started to turn the carriage.

“Miss DeVire?” Justin appeared around the side of the building and raced to the slowly moving carriage. Melissa kept the carriage turning, ignoring his cries and the prickling tears of anger that were slowly flowing from her eyes. In the seat beside her, Rachel huddled into the confines of her cloak, almost hiding herself in her fear.

“Please
Miss?” His voice was soft, gently pleading and Melissa relented, pulling the carriage to a stop. “I’m sorry…”

“You can’t apologise for him.” She snapped back, her eyes flashing. “That’s for him to do.”

“I wasn’t…” Justin reached forward and placed a hand on hers. “I’m apologising for me. It was wrong of me to bring you into my life, to expose you to him.”

“Then why did you?”

“Why?” He sighed and glanced over his shoulder. Alistair appeared around the corner of the house and began to walk across the space between them. “I can’t talk of this with you now. I will be at Lord Horvath’s party and I hope I will see you there. We’ll talk then.” He stepped away from the buggy and smiled at her. “Get home safe.” Melissa hesitated for a brief moment.

“Miss?” Rachel gently prodded as she watched Alistair slowly head towards them.

“All right Rachel.” She murmured, before turning back to face Justin. “I’ll see you at the party.” Casting a disgusted look at Alistair, she lightly flicked the lash across the backs of the two horses and steered the buggy away from the house.

Justin watched the small vehicle trundle clear before turning to face his younger brother.

“I’m sorry Justin, did I ruin your little tryst?” Alistair noted with a vicious glint in his eyes. “Terribly sorry and all that
, though I can certainly see why she has your interest. Has a spark about her, she reminds me so much of Anna.”

“Was there something you wanted?” Justin asked, coolly,
cutting off Alistair’s words with a biting note to his voice. His hands moved to his cuffs and with careful, precise movements he straightened them. “Or did you just wish to play?”

“Why there was actua
lly.” Alistair replied, heavy emphasis in his voice. “But if you’re busy..” His voice fairly sparkled with malicious glee. “I’m sure it can wait.” He turned back towards the house and began to walk away.

“Alistair!” Justin snapped. “Out with it.”

“Alright.” Alistair reached down and plucked a swaying weed from the choked ground. “But you’re not going to like it.” Justin hissed with exasperation and Alistair hastily continued. “I saw
John the other night.”

Justin’s hands stilled as his eyes found his brother’s face. “Are you certain?” He asked slowly, gauging his brother’s reactions as he hoped that
Alistair was joking.

“Positive.” Alistair replied, his voice amused and fearful at the same time.

“Did he see you?”

“No. Do you
think me that much of a fool?” Alistair turned and began walking towards the house. “But it’s a safe bet that he knows that we’re here. You haven’t exactly made yourself inconspicuous.”

Justin ignored his brother and stared out across
the estate, watching the buggy roll out of sight.

“So will you be running brother?” Alistair called back over his shoulder as he reached the front doors of the house. “I would.”

“What and leave you here?” Justin finally turned to face his brother. “You’ve already caused enough trouble.”

Alistair whipped around and marched forwards, his face dark with anger. “So you’re blaming me for your lady love’s problems?”

“Well it was not I who broke into her room.”

“And you think it of me?” Alistair retorted as he stopped just shy of his brother.

“Frankly yes.” Justin responded, his voice calm and untroubled.

“
Have I fallen so far in your esteem that you would accuse me like this?” Injured pride rang through Alistair’s voice.

“Oh stop. Don’t forget I know about
Paris and what you did to Claudine.” Justin stepped forward and seized hold of Alistair’s shirt. “Innocence does not become you brother. And you’ve pulled this stunt before, I take it you’ve become bored with the appearance of piety.”

Alistair
sniffed disdainfully as he glanced down at Justin’s hands, unimpressed by the strength that held him. “So what if I warned the whore? It’s bad luck to get involved with you. Consider Honesty and all those other blue blood sluts connected to you that have tragically died,” He raised his eyebrow at his brother. “I consider it my duty to remove these unfortunates from your path. Though..” He smiled cruelly. “I do admit it’s entertaining watching your women flap about like injured ducks after receiving my missives.”

“Well stop or..”

“Or what? You don’t frighten me Justin.
You’re too tender hearted to do anything to me properly and let’s face facts, you can’t.”

“Don’t test me brother. John is not the only immortal you should fear.” Justin released his brother’s lapels and headed to the stables. After a few moments Alistair followed, a thoughtful expression on his lips.

Chapter 26:

Melissa finally pulled the buggy to a stop once they were out of sight of the large ruin. Her heart still beat at an increased tempo and she took several breaths before she felt able to continue. Around them the trees swayed lightly in a low breeze.

“Are you well Miss?” Melissa glanced at Rachel and nodded, barely able to trust herself to speak. The things she had discovered flew through her mind in delirious circles, making her head swim, Could it really be true? Was Justin immortal? She wished she could deny all she had seen, but the facts had been laid before her in black and white. His skin had knitted together before her eyes and she couldn’t forget that image. Then there was Alistair, his words made her blood burn with indignation and anger. He had not the right to chastise her.

“
Miss?” Rachel asked, her open face curious and concerned. “Did Lord Lestrade do anything….”

“He was a perfect gentleman.” Melissa
answered. “It was his brother that caused the problem.” She slowed the horses as they moved deeper into the copse. “That man is vile.” Like the shutting of a keep door, her voice signalled the end of the conversation. Both servant and mistress lapsed into silence as the gloom of deep woodland descended over them. The trap trundled over the rough ground in a bone rattling jarring motion and all of Melissa’s attention was on guiding the animals across the hard mud.

“
Miss!” Rachel’s startled cry caused Melissa to jump, pulling the reins tightly and drawing the horses to a sudden halt.

“God
curse it Rachel, what the devil is the matter?” Incensed at the abrupt stop, Melissa turned to her maid.

“I’m sure there’s someone out here.” Melissa
took a breath, remembering her late night visitor, and slowly cast her gaze out around them, taking in the gently swaying greenery carefully. Silence settled once again on the pair as they looked into the cool dim forest. After several moments of careful speculation and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Melissa turned back to the girl beside her now thoroughly annoyed.

“It’s probably the gamekeeper or a stray pheasant. For heaven’s sake girl there’s enough trouble at the moment without you jumping at shadows.
” She clicked to the horses and the trap moved off. Rachel slumped back in her chair, her eyes all over the forest. She was convinced she had seen someone following them, someone who stayed back out of sight, yet Melissa was in a foul temper and she dared not annoy her further. So Rachel kept a careful watch on the surrounding woodland until they broke from the tree line and trundled over the smooth lawns of the De Vire estate. As the horses moved into a rolling trot, a dark form detached itself from the upper branches of a nearby tree and watched as his quarry reached her home.

The trap drew up before the large doors and Melissa pulled the buggy to a stop. As the footman helped her down from the cushioned seat, a loud cry echoed from the door.

“Where have you been girl? I’ve been waiting for an age.” Melissa lifted her face to

the door and smiled as Sarah hurried from the main house to see her.

“Out for a drive.”

“Well I can see that, I’m not blind.” Sarah caught Melissa’s arm in hers and they moved towards the house together.

“What brings you here?”

“Well
Mother is going to the country for her nerves.” Sarah snorted as she spoke the last word. “And I hadn’t seen you for several days, so I asked to visit. And what happens after I trudge all the way over here? I find you gallivanting around the estate and not ill at all. You utter fraud.”

Melissa chuckled as Sarah’s well meaning gush of words drowned out her thoughts and worri
es about her trip out. “I am not. Jane managed to stab me in the side with her knitting needles. I still have bandages.”

“Hmm.” Sarah replied. “I’m not convinced, but whatever you say.” They moved through the doors and headed towards the parlour. “I have had a wonderful few days and I must tell you all about it.”

“Oh ho, I knew there was another reason for your visit. So who are you romancing now?” Melissa chuckled as a look of chagrin crossed her friend’s features. They traversed the long hallway and Melissa removed her outer coat, handing it over to a servant.

“Don’t be so nasty. It’s not a romance.”

Melissa raised her eyebrows, disbelief implicit in every line of her face.

“Oh all right.” They moved into the parlour and Sarah sat on one of the long couches. “It is a man, but it’s not a romance.” She shifted excitedly on the brocade seat, clearly eager to impart her news. Melissa waited, knowing that silence would be intolerable to her friend.

“Well go on make a guess.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“I’m getting married!” A delighted shriek poured from her mouth and Melissa found herself smiling in return. Behind them, a tray of sweets, cakes and tea were placed on the nearby tables.

“Oh I’m so glad. Who to? Henry Wickford or Anthony Cornridge?”

Sarah waved her hands dismissively as Melissa said both names. “Neither, Percy Chalmsford.”

Melissa found her mouth dropping open in pleased surprise. Percy Chalmsford was Sarah’s preferred choice and not one that had particularly pleased her mother. “Oh Sarah I’m so pleased for you.”

“Oh so am I
.” Sarah rattled on, about how he had spoken well to her father. How he had made a good showing of himself, despite not having quite the fortune that Sarah’s ambitious mother had hoped for. As her friend babbled on, Melissa found herself tuning her out as her thoughts finally turned inward and what had happened to her that morning.

“Of course Percy isn’t exactly what
Mama hoped for but still it’s the best offer I’ve had… “Sarah’s voice stopped in mid flow and she stared across at her friend with an exasperated sigh. “You’re not listening…”

“Oh Sarah I’m sorry.” Melissa pulled herself out of her reverie and smiled apologetically at her friend. “I was somewhere else.”

“I’d say.” Sarah took a long look at her friend and began to smile. “You’re thinking about a man aren’t you?”

“Sarah…”

“Come on you can tell me..” Sarah hunched forward and stared eagerly across the room at her. “I tell you all about my loves, its time you told me about yours.”

“That’s not it.”

“Rubbish.” Sarah pushed aside the small pile of needlepoint and looked directly at her friend. “You’ve been in your own dream world all afternoon. Either it’s a man or..” she shrugged as though she could not conceive of anything else taking up her friends attention. “Well?”

“All right,
” Melissa finally said with a sigh of exasperation, “since you’re so insistent. I was thinking about Justin Lestrade.”

“Really… but you’ve only seen him the once.”

“Well not quite.” Melissa admitted as she tidied her skirts. “You remember the carriage accident several days ago.”
She certainly wasn’t going to admit that she had travelled out to meet him that morning.

“W
hat about it?”

“Justin saved us from a
long wait on the road. His carriage stopped and picked us up.”

Sarah was focused now, her attention now fixed on her friend. “And?”

“He was a perfect gentleman.”

“Oh lud Melissa do I have to beg for details?” Sarah dragged across the bowl of sweetmeats and delicately tasted one. “This is the first thing of interest that has happened to you, granted it is with that boorish fool but still.. You have to let me know what happened.”

“Nothing happened, Jane was there and we talked.” Melissa was reluctant to pass on details of her carriage ride, yet perhaps Sarah would understand more if she told her. She took a sip from the glass beside her and launched into the tale. She left little out save her trip that morning.

“So he then came here. Oh what did you talk about?” Sarah was gripped now, the sweetmeats forgotten on the arm of the chair.

“Nothing really.” Sarah clucked in impatience. “He does feel for me, but he doesn’t want to stain my reputation by courting me. Father would never allow his suit, so he doesn’t want me to be ruined by his attention.”

“I wonder.” Sarah settled back in her seat and stared at her friend. “I think you’re being startlingly
naïve.” As Melissa went to speak, she held up her hand peaceably. “Think of it. He just wants you both to sneak around. It makes it easier for him that way. He gets what he wants and you feel that your reputation is safe. You’ll probably be the talk of the clubs.”

“No that’s not it at all,
” Melissa stood up, colour flooding her pale skin. “You don’t understand him at all. I know that I can never be with the one I want to be with, I’ve accepted that.” She pushed aside the little voice that taunted her about her trip that morning. “But I can dream.”

“But Melissa, that’s all it is. A dream and while you have that dream, you won’t give another
man a chance. Believe me I know. This one will take advantage of you.”

“I don’t believe he will. You did not see the change in him.”

“Ahh yes, he changed out of sight of others. A calculated plan to gain your sympathy and eventually your virtue, I’d bet.” As Melissa shook her head, Sarah pressed her advantage. “Think. He is a seducer and a cad, I know the temptation of those but they are cruel in their schemes. I would not see you hurt Melissa. Please forget about Justin Lestrade while you still have a chance.”

Burning with humiliated anger
and the feeling that she had been treated like a child, Melissa sat back down and swallowed the torrent of angry words that hovered on her lips. Taking several deep breaths, she took a mouthful of tea and tried to calm down. Sarah did not know what she knew and couldn’t understand what she had seen. Quietly she fumed as Sarah moved rapidly onto other topics. As the afternoon wore on, the tense atmosphere faded as Sarah wisely steered clear of Justin Lestrade for the remainder of her visit. As the sun began to drop towards the horizon, Sarah made her apologies and headed home, leaving Melissa alone with her thoughts.

Stepping back into the parlour, she thought about what Sarah had said. Could this be an elaborate ploy to seduce her? Could Lestrade be playing the honourable soul with her, purely to ease her fears? She stopped that train of thought because that certainly did not include his claims to immortality. Troubled beyond thought, she ate a light dinner and headed to her chambers. Jane, having returned from her day out, fixed her a warm drink and tucked her into bed. Beneath the heavy cotton sheets, she tossed and turned as her mind refused to settle. As stillness descended over the large household, she gave up and sat on the window ledge, staring out across the grounds towards the boundary between their estates’ and his home beyond.