Midnight Masqerade Page 11

  She had never been entirely alone with him before, though, and she was suddenly uncomfortably conscious that they were very much by themselves-Zack and Etienne had gone into Baton Rouge to the dry-goods store, Frances was up at the house with Ada, and the other servants were busy on the few acres of cotton which had been planted in the spring. The fact, too, that Latimer was effectively blocking the only way out of the tack room made Melissa a bit nervous. She didn't honestly think that he was going to attack her, but she would have preferred to have been out in the open-and within calling distance of the others.

  Giving him a smile that betrayed none of her inner warinset, she said, "There is no costume ball. My uncle has been hounding me again about getting married, and I decided that if I made myself as unattractive as possible, the probability of finding a gentleman who wished to contemplate marriage with such a dowdy-looking woman would be greatly reduced."

  "Hmm, I wouldn't say that," he drawled mockingly. "This disguise of yours might tempt a man to discover for himself the beauty that lies behind your outward trappings of homeliness." He moved slightly, his long fingers lightly touching her delicate jaw. "I have always thought that you are very lovely and, even looking as you do now, my opinion hasn't changed." He seemed to hesitate a moment, as if contemplating a course of action, and then a curious expression came into the blue eyes. "You know, there are all sorts of offers," he said softly, "besides marriage that a gentleman might make to a girl such as you....'

  An angry sparkle glinting in her amber-gold eyes, Melissa jerked her chin away from his caressing fingers. "A girl like me?" she said in a dangerous tone. "What precisely do you mean?"

  Julius looked pained. Idly brushing away a nonexistent bit of lint from the sleeve of his elegantly cut bottle-green coat, he complained, "Oh, come now, Lissa! You must have some idea what I'm talking about. Lord knows, I've hinted enough these past weeks. Must I say it out loud?"

  Her heart beating in thick, heavy strokes, her throat suddenly painfully tight, she said levelly, "Yes, I do believe that you must."

  His aristocratic features stiffened and something very ° unpleasant flickered in -his eyes. "Very well, then, my dear," he said in a bored voice. "You owe me a considerable sum of money, and while I have been very patient, I'm afraid that my patience has run out, or rather, that my time here in America is coming to a close."

  A frown between her eyes, Melissa said, "You're leaving?"

  A cold smile curved his full mouth. "Not until the fall or early winter . . . it all depends on-" He stopped abruptly, before saying smoothly, "In the meantime, I am beginning to settle my affairs ... which brings me to you. "

  Ignoring her attempt to escape his touch, he very deliberately grasped her chin and forced her to look up at him. "I find you extremely desirable, Melissa-even in this ridiculous garb-and for the pleasure of your charms over the next few months, I would be willing to tear up that voucher signed by your father." His lids dropped, his gaze fastened on her mouth. "I want you for my mistress. Our time together must naturally be of brief duration, but I'm sure that I shall find your many delectable attributes well worth the money."

  Melissa tried to break his hold on her chin, but he tightened his grip brutally and her efforts were in vain. Latimer put his free arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. The desire he felt was obvious in his look, and a coaxing note came into his voice as he murmured, "I am prepared to be generous with you, my dear . . . and if you are, as I suspect, a virgin, I even would be willing to pay you for your loss. I want you very badly, and these weeks of biding my time have only whetted my appetite for you."

  Outraged, insulted and frightened, Melissa acted without thinking, twisting her head and sinking her teeth into his wrist. A feeling of immense satisfaction swept through her when Latimer cursed viciously and instantly released her. Dancing several steps away from him, her bosom heaving under the faded material of her gown, she grated, "You'll be lucky if that is the only mark upon you before you leave here today."

  Assessingly, he regarded her across the short distance that separated them, his handsome face marred by a black scowl. Rubbing at his wrist where her teeth had broken the skin, he snarled, "I had assumed we could discuss this politely, but I see I was wrong!"

  Incredulously, Melissa glared at him. "Politely!" she echoed furiously. "I don't think your suggestion was very polite at all. In fact, sir, it was grossly insulting!"

  "I'm sorry you feel that way," he replied coolly. "But since you find my offer not to your taste, I assume that you will be willing to pay your debt to me, in gold, before the week is out."

  Melissa took a deep, steadying breath, her hand itching to slap the smug expression from his arrogant features. Trying not very successfully to keep her temper under control, she said icily, "You know that what you request is impossible. There is no way I can raise that amount of money in such a short time."

  He raised a slender eyebrow. "Would you like me to give you an extension? I am a reasonable man, so shall we say by the first of July?"

  Angrily aware that she was being baited, she lifted her chin pugnaciously and snapped, "You already know the answer to your question!"

  "I'm afraid that I do, and if you do not have the money by then or are unwilling to take the alternative course I have offered you, then on that date I shall begin proceedings to have Willowglen sold under the gavel." Smiling mirthlessly, he added cruelly, "I always get my way, Melissa. One way or another . . . and if you would rather see your home sold out from under you"-he shrugged carelessly-"well, then, that is your choice."

  Hopeless rage churned in her breast as Melissa glared at him with loathing. Either one of the choices offered to her was unthinkable. She could not bear to consider what would happen to her and Zachary and the others if Latimer carried out his threat, but the other avenue open to her was equally unthinkable. Whatever liking she might have had for the elegant Mr. Latimer had vanished the instant he had made his despicable suggestion; the thought of becoming any man's mistress, let alone a man she despised, was utterly repellent. Yet what could she do? The Manchesters could not give her the money, and a bank would certainly Shiriee Busbee not loan such a large amount to her. She laughed bitterly to herself. Even if she could find a man willing to many her in an instant, the trust could not be ended and dispersed in less than two weeks. Wild, -impracticable schemes whirled dizzyingly in her brain as she sought some escape from the trap she saw closing in on her. There was only one way that she might be able to salvage the situation. Swallowing an acrid taste in her mouth, she said defeatedly, "Folly is worth a handsome sum, although not as much as my father's voucher. I could give him to you as partial payment."

  "A horse? Partial payment, my dear?" Latimer drawled. Shaking his head, he said, "No, that won't do." Then he added harshly, "And I think you overestimate the value of your horse. But that aside, the entire debt must be paid-either in gold or by you-and by the first of July. "

  Melissa was almost relieved that he had turned down her desperate offer of Folly, and she wasn't at this moment exactly certain which would be more terrible to comtemplate-the loss of the horse which represented the only hope of keeping their home or the loss of her virtue. Despair filled her. What was she to do? Frantically in need of time in which to think, she asked reluctantly, "May I have some time to consider your offer?"

  Relaxing slightly, Latimer smiled confidently. "Of course, my child! I am not a heartless monster!" His voice dropped and he muttered huskily, "Lissa, I want you very badly and I would treat you well. Our time together would be only a few months ... I would be discreet-no one need ever know of our arrangement." When she remained silent, her face turned away from him, he grew bolder, sidling closer to her. "There is a cottage, not a mile from here. I could secure it for us and you could meet me there ... it would be for our secret rendezvous."

  Choking back the bile that rose in her throat, Melissa horrified herself by actually considering what he was saying. The greatest threat t
o her and Zachary's security would be gone, and since she didn't ever plan to marry anyway, what did it matter whether she remained a virgin or not?

  it was Latimer's touch upon her arm that brought her unhappily back to the present situation, and with growing revulsion she stared at his slim, pale-fingered hand, imagining it upon her body. Violently, she threw his hand away. Driven by fear and anger, she snatched up a quirt that was lying nearby.

  "Get away from me!" she raged, striking him soundly as the shoulder. "You're vile, and I will not listen to your ticked proposition any longer!"

  He fell back in furious, painful surprise, but he made so attempt to fight with her. Eyeing the quirt held ready in her hand, he said grimly, "I would be careful how you deal with me. I am not easily thwarted and I will give you allowances by being surprised by my offer, but strike me again . . ." A dangerous gleam in his cold blue eyes, he ° promised, "I can make you very sorry, Melissa. There are so many things that can go wrong ... a fire ... a lamed horse ... a word here, a word there. ..."

  Melissa's face was white and she stared at him as if she had never seen him before. He was, she realized, utterly ruthless.

  There was an ugly silence and then Latimer said quietly, "Think about what I've said, Melissa. You may have a week to come to a decision, but on the first of July, either I have the gold owed to me ... or you become my mistress." He gave her a polite bow, murmuring sardonically, "Good day, my dear. Pleasant dreams."

  Stunned and sick, Melissa watched him walk away, almost not able to believe the repulsive scene that had just passed. Weakly she sagged onto the stool on which she had been sitting what must have been only minutes before. Despairingly she dropped her head into her hands. Dear God! What was she to do?

  It was not her nature to listlessly allow others to rule her fate, but she seemed unable to think of any way in which she could avoid Latimer's plans for her ... unless she was ready to sacrifice everything she and Zachary had worked for. So desperate was her situation that she seriously thought about what Latimer had offered, his comments drearily spinning in her brain.

  Perhaps it wouldn't be too terrible, she mused misera bly. He had said it would be for only a few months ... he would be discreet ... no one would know.... She and Zachary would finally be free of the crushing burden of debt left to them by their father.

  Appalled at the nature of her reflections, Melissa shuddered and her mouth tightened. There must be some other way out of her dilemma!

  But by the end of the week that followed, she discovered that if there was another solution, she hadn't found it.

  Swallowing her pride, she dressed in her best gown and rode into town to talk to the local banker. She could not reveal why she so suddenly required such a large sum of money, and in view of the circumstances, it was not surprising when Mr. Smithfield, who had known her since birth, said kindly, "Melissa, you know that if I could help ' you, I certainly would. But what you ask is impossible. A small loan, yes, especially since you have been so diligent in paying off your father's debts. But the amount you ask for today is simply out of the question." He shook his head sadly. "Even offering Willowglen as collateral would not be enough. If the plantation were productive . . ."

  "What about the horses?" she asked helplessly. "Folly is worth several thousand dollars by himself, and we have eight fine mares."

  "My dear, I know that you have great hopes for your horses, but I am in the banking business, not the horsebreeding business. While Folly and the others are a good investment, you simply do not have enough assets to support a loan of the size you request."

  Hiding her growing agitation, she bent forward across Mr. Smithfield's wide oak desk. "What about the trust? If I could prove that I intend to many soon-could I have a loan against the trust?"

  Worried about the desperation he could sense lay just under the surface of her lovely face, Mr. Smithfield frowned. "Melissa, are you in serious trouble? I thought that the plantation and your horses were doing well for you and Zachary. Perhaps I could personally advance you a few thousand dollars."

  Melissa bit back a bitter laugh. Mr. Smithfield was a good man-he had been extremely understanding while she had struggled to bring Willowglen's finances into order. As her banker, he knew of the money owed Latimer and also how seemingly considerate the Englishman had been about not demanding payment. Telling fat old Mr. Smithfield about Latimer's demands would accomplish nothing-except to create scandal on a large scale. He would be outraged at Mr. Latimer's perfidious suggestion, but he would still be unable to loan her the money. And if the solutions offered to her were known, she couldn't bear to think of the speculation that would come about when July came and went and Latimer had still not been paid.

  It was an ugly situation, and with a dejected slump to her slim shoulders, she left the banker's office. There was one other place to try, and with little hope of success, she guided her small black buggy down the red dirt road to Oak Hollow. Smiling bravely, she sat sipping a tall glass of lemonade in her uncle's study. Josh was pleased to see her, and she was conscious that much of his pleasure was in her changed appearance, his fond gaze lingering on her tawny hair curling gently around her face and on the fairly stylish cut of her sprigged muslin gown. She had laid aside the large straw bonnet with its wide green satin ribbons that she had worn to avoid the heat of the sun, and setting down her glass on the table where the hat lay, she began quietly. "I suppose you wonder why I am here."

  Josh smiled at her waggishly. "Come now, Lissa. Have we gone so far that you have to have a reason to visit us.

  A small smile curving her soft mouth, she shook her head. But her smile faded the next moment and her beautiful eyes fixed beseechingly on his. She asked breathlessly, "Could you lend me twenty-five thousand dollars?"

  "Merciful heavens, Lissa, have you taken leave of your senses?" Josh bellowed, his air of joviality vanished. "You know that I cannot lay my hands on that sort of money right now." Almost peevishly, he added, "If I

  could, do you think I would be badgering you to marry as I have these past months?"

  Desperately trying to act as if this were a perfectly normal conversation, she swallowed with difficulty before saying huskily, "No, I don't suppose you would ... and ... I didn't really think that you could help me, but I had to try."

  Josh stared at her closely, seeing the lines of strain that were about her eyes and the pinched look to her mouth that had not been there the last time he had seen her. Something was obviously wrong. Gently, he asked, "Lissa, what is it, child? I know that we have argued considerably of late, but you must realize that I have only your best interests at heart and will do anything within my power to help you."

  For one long moment, Melissa actually thought of telling Josh everything, of throwing herself across his broad chest and sobbing out the terms of Latimer's despicable offer. But she could not. The words would hardly leave her mouth before Josh would be bellowing for Latimer's hide, and although she was certain that her uncle was a fairly competent shot, she was equally certain that he would be no match for Latimer. Besides, she admitted tiredly, she couldn't take the chance. If Josh knew of Latimer's plans, then Royce would, too ... and so would Zachary. The image of her young brother facing Latimer on the dueling field sent a shudder of fear through her. No. She dared not tell anyone.

  Hiding the terrors that beset her, she smiled warmly at Josh. "It is nothing, Uncle. I was just hoping that perhaps your own affairs were in better condition than my own and that you could forward me enough money to truly set up my stud farm."

  Josh was too familiar with Melissa to be entirely convinced by her reasonable statement, but Melissa could be utterly beguiling when she wanted and she deliberately set out to put his mind at ease. She succeeded admirably, and a scant hour later, a beaming and affectionate Josh escorted her to her buggy. She was even able to flash him a smile and say teasingly, "I think I shall do as you say, Uncle, and catch me a rich, rich husband! I find I do not like being poor." She dimpled an
d added dulcetly, "Especially when such a simple solution is at hand!"

  Extremely gratified, Josh helped her into her seat, approval showing in his blue-eyed gaze. Watching as she picked up the reins, he asked with apparent idleness, "What did you think of young Slade? I understand he rode over to Willowglen and talked to you about buying Folly."

  Glad that her uncle didn't know of the other time she had seen the infuriating Mr. Slade, Melissa replied tartly, "He seemed precisely what you said-a rake and a bounder! "

  "Eh?" Josh spluttered, dismayed. "Didn't like him?"

  "Not in the least!" Melissa said with a snap of her perfect white teeth.

  Wondering if he had overplayed his hand in blackening Dominic's character, Josh watched Melissa drive away, his mind already considering ways to rectify the situation. He'd have to be careful, he thought as he walked back into the house-couldn't, after warning her about Slade, suddenly start singing the fellow's praises to the skies!

  Josh was a single-minded man, and by now he was so intent upon having Melissa marry Dominic Slade that his own personal reasons for desiring the marriage had almost slipped his mind. Melissa, he decided doggedly, needed to marry a man like Dominic Slade! Aside from the fact that Dominic was handsome, charming and wealthy, there was another compelling reason for the match as far as Josh was concerned-the chances of another eminently suitable suitor appearing so providently on their doorstep were few. A good businessman wouldn't waste this wondrous opportunity, and Josh was going to see to it that Melissa didn't either-whether she wanted to or not!