Melinda Hammond by The Dream Chasers Read Free Book Online Page A

— in disguise.’
    The silence stretched for a full minute before Mrs Lagallan spoke. Without taking her eyes from Eustacia, she said carefully, ‘I think you had best explain, Vivyan.’
    Mr Lagallan guided Miss Marchant to a chair and obliged her to sit down. The cloak fell open, and Vivyan bit back a smile as he observed Mrs Lagallan’s look of surprise as her guest’s breeches and stockings were thus exposed.
    ‘Darling Caro!’ He pushed his sister-in-law gently on to the sofa, and sat down beside her. ‘I knew you would not disappoint me! Any other woman would have fallen into hysterics at this point.’
    ‘And I may well do so if you do not explain immediately!’
    ‘Very well. I was returning from Combe Charlton, having proposed to Miss Pensford, when Stacey — Miss Marchant — fell into my arms.’
    Frowning at Vivyan’s levity, Eustacia judged it time to speak.
    ‘You see, ma’am, I was stuck, in a tree. Viv — Mr Lagallan — rescued me and, and then, because I would not let him take me home, he offered to escort me to London, which was excessively kind of him.’
    ‘Y-yes, wasn’t it?’ murmured Caroline.
    ‘Stacey has come to Town to find a certain gentleman. She thought it safest to travel as a boy, but I immediately saw through her disguise, and thought that if I could discover her secret so easily, on no account should she wander the country unprotected.’
    ‘No,of course not.’
    Observing that his sister-in-law was far from happy, he said quietly, ‘Miss Marchant has a little baggage with her, Caro. Perhaps it would be best if she changed into her gown before we continue this discussion, for I feel sure it would be more comfortable — for all of us.’
    Recalled to her duty, Caroline rose.
    ‘Of course, how thoughtless of me.’ She glanced at Eustacia and, observing the young lady’s anxious countenance, smiled at her, saying gently: ‘Come, my dear. I will show you to one of the guest rooms and my maid shall help you to change. You must not worry, for she is the very soul of discretion…’ The two ladies left the room, but Caroline reappeared a few minutes later, and advanced upon Vivyan. ‘Now, sir, let me have the truth, if you please!’
    ‘No need to look so fierce, Caro. I vow I positively quake at the sight of you.’
    ‘Don’t try to turn me up sweet, Viv. I am inured to your charms.’
    He led her back to the sofa.
    ‘Very well, Caroline. Sit down, and you shall have the word with no bark on it.’
    Mrs Lagallan listened in silence while Vivyan described his meeting with Eustacia, and their journey to London. When he had finished, he reached for her hands, saying coaxingly, ‘I need your help on this, Caro. If you will not support us, the child’s reputation is ruined.’
    ‘With no thanks to you! In heaven’s name, why did you not take the child back to her grandfather?’
    ‘She would have objected most strongly to that, and in any event I have no doubt she would have run off again as soon as I was out of sight. No, my dear, Stacey was determined to get to London. But you have talked to her, you must see that she is such an innocent she could not be allowed to travel alone.’
    ‘Are you sure she is such a babe, Vivyan? Perhaps she is set on entrapping you.’
    Mr Lagallan smiled, a rueful look in his eyes.
    ‘Lord, Caro, when you have been in her company a little longer you will know that she is head over heels in love with this Mr Alleyne of hers. She has no thought of me, other than as a friend.’
    ‘A novel experience for you,’ she said, an answering gleam in her own grey eyes. ‘Well, we had best do what we can to unravel this coil. The girl must be handed over to her godmother, and if we can do that without a breath of scandal, we are home free. You are sure no one saw Miss Marchant in your company?’
    Vivyan thought of the meeting on the road with Nathan MacCauley.
    ‘No one of consequence.’
    ‘Good. Then I think it will be best if we tell