Mr. Malcolm's List, page 12
Both Henry and Julia brightened at the suggestion but Julia politely refused, and Henry and Selina set off on their walk.
There was a strained silence between them at first, the only sound the gravel crunching under their feet. Selina finally broke the silence to ask, “I thought we were friends, Henry.”
“What? Of course we are friends,” Henry said. “It’s just—”
“It’s just now that Malcolm is no longer interested in me you’re afraid I may expect you to fulfill your aunt’s expectation that we marry, is that it?”
“Well, yes, and I would not have minded a bit a week ago, but now…”
“Now you find yourself attracted to Julia?” Selina offered when Henry seemed unable to complete his sentence.
“No, not at all!” Henry said. “Well, perhaps just a little, but that is not to say that I will marry her. Although I am not saying I would not marry her.”
Selina laughed. “Well, as long as you are clear on the subject.”
Henry smiled ruefully. “I sound like an idiot, don’t I? I really don’t understand it myself. I didn’t even like Julia a week ago.” He sounded genuinely confused, and Selina laughed again.
“I think that her association with you is bringing her better qualities to the fore,” she told him.
“I hope so. I must say, I was completely appalled by her behavior last night. But I believe she sincerely regrets it.”
“I agree. And I cannot blame her too much, because it has revealed Malcolm’s true character to me. I now think that Julia may have been more correct in her reading of his character than I was.”
Henry shook his head. “I do not believe so, Selina. Julia’s actions were prompted by selfishness and pride. She never truly permitted herself to know Malcolm. I think you did know the real Malcolm. And I think his behavior now is in reaction to the tremendous wound he received.”
“Yes, the wound to his pride,” Selina said.
“Perhaps his pride was wounded, but I think that it goes deeper than that. He was prepared to marry you, Selina. That must illustrate the depth of his attachment to you.”
Selina sighed. “I thought so, at first, but the way he looks at me, the way he speaks to me!”
“It has only been one day. Give him time, Selina.”
“I don’t really have a choice, do I? My mother and Julia have hampered my efforts to leave.”
“They are only looking out for your best interests.”
“And is that why you’re out walking with me, as well?” Selina asked.
“Well, Julia thought it may make Malcolm jealous if I showed you some attention. But I am very pleased to walk with you.”
“But you’d rather be walking with Julia.” Selina stopped him when he would have protested. “It is perfectly all right. I must admit if I had my choice I would prefer to be walking with Malcolm. If he did not despise me, that is.”
“If it’s any consolation, Cassie was very willing to walk out with you, but Julia did not feel that would have the desired effect.”
“Not to mention that my toes would be in danger the entire time.”
Selina and Henry returned to the drawing room in obvious high spirits. This had the unusual effect of depressing at least two members of the party. It caused Mrs. Dalton, however, to begin looking Mr. Ossory over more carefully. Selina saw the direction of her mother’s gaze and realized she needed to speak with her. She did not want her mother thinking if Malcolm did not come up to scratch Mr. Ossory would provide a replacement son-in-law.
Fourteen
The following morning passed in much the same manner, with Malcolm and Selina politely ignoring each other. Selina returned to her room after luncheon to find a note had been delivered to her room. Selina told herself not to become excited over nothing, although her first thought upon seeing the note was that it was from Malcolm. When she opened it, she found it was an invitation from her hostess to tour the conservatory at two o’clock. Selina was to meet Lady Kilbourne and the rest of the party there.
A servant directed Selina to the conservatory and left her at the door. When she opened the door to the conservatory she was immediately hit with a gush of warm, scented air. Selina looked around her in amazement at the variety of exotic plants and trees, many of which were blooming, and most of which she had never before seen. She began to walk slowly down the first aisle, before eventually ending up in the middle of the conservatory, which had a high, pointed ceiling made of glass.
She had begun a tour of that area as well, when she was startled by the sound of someone clearing his throat. Looking up, she saw Malcolm standing by one of the stone benches that formed a circle in the middle of the room.
“I suppose I have you to thank for this,” he said, holding out a slip of paper.
“I beg your pardon?” Selina said.
“If you thought to entrap me by arranging a compromising situation, I must say I had believed you a great deal cleverer than this. If anyone found us alone together, it is hardly a situation that would warrant a marriage proposal. Or perhaps you planned to throw yourself into my arms when given a signal by your accomplice. Who is it, by the way? Julia?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Selina said. “I received an invitation to meet at the conservatory for a tour at two o’clock. I assumed it to be a group tour. I certainly did not plan on meeting you here.”
“And I suppose it is a coincidence that I received a note as well. However, mine did not mention anything as innocuous as a tour. Mine spouted some nonsense about ‘a discussion that will promise great future benefit.’ It was quite gothic, now that I think on it.”
“Then I am surprised you bothered to come,” Selina said.
Malcolm shrugged. “My curiosity was piqued.”
“Well, if you are so frightened of my treacherous schemes, why don’t you just leave?”
“I will,” Malcolm said, but made no move to do so.
“I am glad to hear it.”
“Are you remaining here?” he asked.
“No, I shall leave as well,” Selina said. “The conservatory has lost some of its charm for me.” She flounced off, walking back the way she came, traversing the distance much more quickly than she had earlier. She grasped the handle to open the door, and it refused to open. She pulled again, but it still remained closed.
Malcolm was standing directly behind her. “Well? Did you change your mind?”
Selina pulled again, rather desperately, but the door still did not budge. “The door appears to be stuck,” she said. “It must be the humidity.”
“Let me try,” Malcolm said impatiently, reaching for the handle. He, too, could not open the door. “Well, it is certainly stuck, but I rather doubt it is the humidity,” he said, turning to look at Selina, his arms folded across his chest.
“What do you think it could be?” she asked, before realizing he was accusing her again of attempting to compromise him. “You, you arrogant, conceited coxcomb! I would rather marry the gardener!”
“I will be sure to inform Thompson of your regard,” Malcolm said.
Selina did not reply, but walked regally back to the stone benches and sat.
“What are you doing?” Malcolm asked, following her.
“I am waiting for whoever locked us in to return, and I’d rather do so sitting, if you don’t mind.”
“Is there a certain time they are scheduled to return?” Malcolm asked, dropping down onto a bench opposite Selina.
“For the last time, would you please rid yourself of any notion that I had something to do with our predicament? I do not enjoy being forcibly confined, and I am getting rather tired of the experience.”
“I am afraid I do not understand. Have you been incarcerated in the past for some crime you committed?”
“Of course not. Julia locked me in her room the night of the masquerade so that she could pose as me. If I find she is behind this as well, I will not be so quick to forgive her a second time.”
“I must say, you do seem to have rather unfortunate taste in friends.”
“So I have recently discovered,” Selina replied, with a significant glance at Malcolm.
Her remark seemed to have made a small dent in his reserve, for his face took on a startled, conscious look which he quickly hid by coughing into his hand. They both sat there quietly for a few minutes, Malcolm casting several quizzical glances at Selina.
“Well, if we are to be cooped up here for a while, we may as well converse. So why don’t you tell me about yourself, Miss Dalton.”
“I believe you made a similar request at the beginning of our acquaintance, and I told you such a blatant request was unlikely to be fulfilled.”
“Yes, I remember. No doubt you were trying to conceal your background at the time.”
Selina gave an exasperated sigh, and then began retelling the events of her life in a sing-song fashion. “I was born in Chailey, Sussex on March 28, 1796. My father served as vicar, and his living was supplied to him by a relation of his, Lord Musgrove. I had one younger brother, Charles, who died from typhus fever when he was only three. I attended Mrs. Finch’s Lady’s Academy from the ages of twelve to seventeen, where I made the acquaintance of Julia Thistlewaite. At the age of eighteen, I accepted a position serving as companion to Mrs. Ossory of Bath. She died less than a year ago, at which time I accepted an invitation from Julia to come to London. While in London, I made the acquaintance of a gentleman who invited me and my family to his estate in Kent, apparently for the sole purpose of tormenting me.”
Malcolm continued to eye Selina suspiciously. “You sound as if you are repeating what someone instructed you to say,” he said.
Selina restrained herself from screaming in exasperation. “I am done speaking with you,” she told Malcolm. “We can sit her in silence for the next fortnight, for all I care.”
“I am sure we will not be locked up in here a fortnight,” Malcolm said, but Selina maintained her stony silence.
She was not sure how long they sat that way—Malcolm casually sprawled on his stone bench, Selina sitting upright and tensely upon hers—when she became acutely aware of how very hot it was. There were beads of sweat trickling down the back of her neck and back, and her dress was sticking to her. She looked over at Malcolm, who also appeared to be suffering from the heat. His cheeks were flushed and he, too, looked to be perspiring.
“I had determined not to remove any clothing, for fear of how that might be construed, but I am afraid I must remove my jacket if I am to remain conscious,” Malcolm said, breaking the long silence. “Do I have your permission?”
Selina inclined her head slightly, determined not to break her vow of silence. She watched as Malcolm shrugged out of his tight-fitting jacket, and then his waistcoat, his linen shirt almost transparent underneath, he was so wet from perspiration. He removed his cravat as well, and she watched in fascination as a trickle of sweat slowly traced a path down his neck to finally disappear under his shirt collar. She was suddenly hotter than ever, and raised her hands to begin fanning herself.
He appeared to be studying her with equal deliberation, and Selina looked down to find that her thin muslin dress had become literally soaked with sweat. She hoped it had also not become as transparent as Malcolm’s shirt. She could not remove any clothing to make herself more comfortable, she was not wearing a spencer but only a light dress, but she did remove her bonnet and gloves, sighing with relief as she did so.
She was surprised when Malcolm shot up from the bench across from her and began pacing. She thought it much too hot for such exertion, although she watched him languorously, finding all of a sudden that it was too hot for her to remain angry, as well. She would rather think about how beautiful he was, one dark lock having fallen across his forehead, his tall, lithe figure displayed to advantage in his shirt and pantaloons. He stopped pacing all of a sudden, approaching her where she sat on her bench.
“You do not look comfortable, Miss Dalton,” he said, his voice a little raspier than usual. He cleared his throat. “Are you suffering from the heat, perchance?”
Selina forgot her vow of silence. “It is most dreadfully hot,” she whispered.
“There is a fountain about here somewhere,” he told her. “Perhaps if we were to rest our feet in the water it would have a cooling effect on the rest of our—that is, it would cool us down.”
Selina nodded, and followed him to another part of the conservatory, where a shallow granite fountain bubbled noisily. It was a large, circular fountain, and was the centerpiece of the room in which they found themselves. Selina felt that she had never seen such a beautiful sight, and wished for Malcolm to be gone so she could bathe more than just her feet. However, he was not, so she set on the edge of the fountain and removed her shoes. She turned to find that he was doing the same, but wondered how she was to remove her stockings with him present. He finished his endeavors and noticed her looking at him.
“I will turn my back so you can feel free to remove your stockings,” he told her, turning away. She quickly removed her stockings and called out to him when she had finished. He had rolled his pantaloons up to his knees and Selina hurriedly looked away from the sight. There was something altogether too intimate about their being alone together with bare feet and legs. She turned back to the fountain, pulling her dress up around her knees and stepping in, before sitting down on the narrow ledge.
The water was not as cold as Selina might like, but it felt like heaven to her overheated skin. Malcolm must have felt similarly, because he let out an ecstatic, “Ahhh.”
Selina reached down tentatively with one hand and rubbed some of the water on her bare arms. She was surprised when Malcolm appeared suddenly at her side, holding a wet handkerchief.
“If I may,” he said, holding it toward her. She nodded, and he placed the handkerchief on her face, tenderly wiping it.
“That feels wonderful,” Selina said, her eyes closed. She opened them quickly when the handkerchief traveled down her neck. Malcolm stopped, his hand resting at the base of her throat, and they sat like that for a moment, which seemed like an eternity, looking at each other, their breathing almost as loud as the fountain. Then somehow they were in each other’s arms.
Selina could not remember later how it happened; if he were the one to make the first motion toward her or if she were the one to throw herself upon his chest. It was too hot, too hazy to think clearly, and she only knew that she was right where she wanted to be. She wasn’t sure either how they ended up in the water. She thought in the beginning they were both sitting on the edge of the fountain, their feet still in the water, but at some point she found herself submerged in the shallow water, with Malcolm beside her, passionately kissing her.
It was in this state that the rest of the house party found them.
The sound of voices had just begun to register itself on Selina’s consciousness, when she heard her name spoken loudly. Still entangled with Malcolm in the shallow fountain, she looked up to see Mrs. Dalton staring at her in horror.
“Mama,” she said and closed her eyes, thinking perhaps when she opened them this would prove to be an illusion brought on by the heat. She opened them to find it was no illusion, and that her mother was still there.
Malcolm roused himself to action, disentangling himself from Selina and nearly drowning her in the process. “Madam, I assure you, this is not what it seems,” he told Mrs. Dalton, sitting upright in the shallow pool.
Selina raised herself up as well, trying to wipe the water from her eyes. When she was finally able to see again, she realized Julia was looking at her in horror while most of the gentlemen were averting their eyes. Selina quickly looked down at herself, before plopping back into the water. Her dress was clinging to her in a most embarrassing way, and she had no desire to parade before the house party in such a state.
She was thankful when Lady Kilbourne called for a servant and sent for some towels, before approaching Selina and Malcolm where they sat in the fountain. “Tell me, Jeremy, if this is not what it seems, what is it, exactly?”
“Selina and I were cruelly locked in the conservatory, which became dangerously warm. Fearing for our safety, we took refuge in this fountain,” Malcolm said, quite seriously, before coming to a stop and sighing. “Miss Dalton and I would like to announce our engagement,” he said, in resigned tones.
“Splendid,” Lady Kilbourne said. “That is exactly what it seemed.” Lady Kilbourne turned away from Selina and Malcolm to address the others. “I think that I should perhaps remain behind with Malcolm and Selina while the rest of you continue your tour of the conservatory. You really must see the Orangery,” Lady Kilbourne told her guests, literally pushing Cassie in that direction when he seemed inclined to linger by the fountain, gazing at Selina.
Selina found herself shivering, hardly able to believe that only a short while ago she had been overly warm. Now, completely embarrassed and acutely aware of the sordid appearance she presented, she wanted nothing more than to disappear. She put her knees in front of her, clasped them against her chest, and rested her head on top of them, still sitting in the shallow water. Malcolm made no move to leave the fountain, either, although he had managed to put a great deal of space between himself and Selina.
Lady Kilbourne, having seen her guests on their way, turned back to look at Selina and Malcolm, each sitting disconsolately on either side of the fountain, soaking wet.
“I do understand why you might entertain a certain fondness for that fountain, but do you plan on remaining in there the rest of the day?” she asked them.
Selina opened her mouth to speak, but fell silent when Malcolm said, “We are waiting for the towels.”
“Yes, I suppose you are. It might prove rather embarrassing for you to come out now, in all your glory. Ah, it looks like the towels have arrived.”
Selina thankfully accepted a towel from a footman, trying to ignore the look of curiosity he was unable to restrain. She supposed her escapade would be a topic of much discussion in the servant’s hall that evening. She held the towel in front of her like a shield while she rose, before wrapping it around her shoulders. Stepping out of the fountain, she reached for her shoes and stockings, and then turned, preparing to run to her chamber.
