Mistletoe Mischief

unknowingly.

Oliver cleared his throat. 'Lady Garsington, I realize that what I am about to say is rather, er, delicate, but I think it only right that you should be acquainted with the full facts where Miss Mortimer is concerned. You see, until very recently she was Lady Jane Strickland's companion.'

Lady Garsington froze. 'Lady Jane Strickland, you say?'

'I fear so.'

Her ladyship's nostrils flared, and her lips pursed as if her mouth were full of vinegar. 'That- that creature is the harpy who endeavored to wreck my dear Sophia's marriage?'

'Indeed so,' Oliver said.

Mr. Mellish's eyes brightened, and he hoped some suitably salacious details would be forthcoming. He raised his quizzing glass and made much of studying Megan as she whirled to the invigorating reel.

Sybil gave a horrified gasp. 'And Thir Gweville knowth of thith?' she demanded.

'I believe he must, as indeed must Lord Rupert,' Oliver replied ambiguously, hoping to cause a little trouble for those two gentlemen while he was about it, but then added quickly. 'However, I cannot imagine that Lady Evangeline is aware.' Evangeline was held in such too high regard by the Holcrofts to risk implicating her as well.

Sybil pouted disappointedly, but then her speculative glance returned to Oliver, who happened to be looking at her mother and so missed it. If he had seen, he would have been greatly alarmed, for it heralded the full resumption of her interest in him.

Lady Garsington's fan snapped open again, and she wafted it busily before her face. 'I will not suffer a servant to ape the lady and get away with it! How dare she intrude upon Polite Society!'

Mr. Mellish was all shocked concern as he probed for more information. 'But my dear Lady Garsington, how can such a dull mouse possibly have caused any alarm to one as beautiful and vivacious as your daughter Sophia?'

Lady Garsington, ever susceptible to flattery of any description, was unwisely tempted into revelations. 'That dull mouse endeavored quite shamelessly to seduce my son-in-law, but failed because he was too noble and faithful. He told my poor darling Sophia, of course, and demanded that his mother dismiss the wench forthwith. Miss Mortimer was sent packing, but it would seem she was not sent far enough because she is now nicely inserted at Radcliffe House. Well, I will not put up with it. Indeed I will not! I shall see to it that the little slyboots is frozen out of Brighton. Sir Greville and Lord Rupert will not escape my revenge either. Come, Sybil, we have whispers to spread.'

Mr. Mellish bowed to them both. 'I am your fervent ally in this, Lady Garsington, and will labor most strenuously on your behalf.' With that he set off eagerly to commence his tittle-tattling.

It was then that Oliver's little plan with the eastern tincture went gravely wrong. He had been standing with the tray throughout, and as Sybil got up from the sofa, she suddenly reached out for a glass. Before he realized what was happening, she'd taken the one intended for Rupert, and had drunk it in one rather unladylike gulp.

Oliver was rooted to the spot. There was nothing he could do, for the deed had been accomplished. Now, instead of Lord Rupert Radcliffe making a very public spectacle of himself, it would be Sybil Garsington! He returned to Evangeline's sofa in dismay, watching as Sybil, her mother, and Mr. Mellish flitted from one person to the next, whispering eagerly to each one. More and more people turned to watch Megan, but Oliver's attention remained upon Sybil. It wouldn't be long now before the tincture started to work.

Sir Roger de Coverley came to a breathless end, and Rupert and Sir Jocelyn led their respective partners back to Evangeline's sofa. Almost immediately another reel was announced, Chichester Bells this time, and as soon as Sir Jocelyn and Evangeline had refreshed themselves from Oliver's tray, they hurried back on to the crowded floor to break into one of the sets. Oliver's smile was very forced as Chloe, Rupert, and Megan gratefully partook of the apple cup as well. His only consolation now was that his verbal troublemaking was going on handsomely; Megan might not yet know it, but the ball was positively buzzing about her.

Chichester Bells was a very hectic dance, with much whooping, stamping, and general merriment. Silk skirts fluttered, jewels glittered, plumes jiggled, coattails flapped, and beaming faces grew ever more red as the orchestra increased the tempo. Megan sipped the apple cup and watched the happy glances Evangeline was bestowing upon Sir Jocelyn. She was in love with him, Megan thought. She hoped the feeling was mutual, for she had swiftly become very fond indeed of her new mistress.

But then something happened to banish all pleasant thoughts from her mind. Drawling female voices carried loudly from the sofa on the other side of the ferns, where two very superior ladies were seated. One was in a cloth-of-gold gown and matching turban, the other in blue-and-cream stripes with enormous plumes springing from her hair, and they were passing some very cutting comments about Megan's appearance and situation. They did not mention her by name, but then they did not need to, for it was only too obvious of whom they spoke.

The lady in gold could not have been more condemnatory. 'Well, I suppose her gown is well made enough, but so unutterably dull! Not a jewel to behold, and those pansies in her hair are so provincial, if not to say bucolic! Did you ever see anything so gauche?'

'In my nursery days, mayhap.'

'My dear, did you hear she is only a companion?'

'So I understand. C'est incroyable, n'est ce pas?' The lady in blue-and-silver tinkled with spiteful laughter.

The lady in gold laughed too. 'What can Sir Greville be feeling? The poor lamb is having to lower himself to such a degree that he is all but underground. One could not help but notice how he positively fled from the floor at the end of that last minuet. I dare say he could not bear her a moment longer. And then she had the gall to deliberately trip poor Sybil Garsington in order to keep her from him!'

'Did you also hear that the creature made a play for Ralph Strickland, and under his mother's roof as well? Not only that, but his Sophia was staying there too! The trollop has no shame, no shame at all! I am sure that if Evangeline were aware of it all, she would send the little baggage packing!'

Megan's eyes stung with tears, and she wished she had chosen to wear a domino that would have hidden the mortified color that now stained her cheeks. Rupert and Chloe exchanged shocked glances, but Oliver smiled. Society's grapevine was bearing fruit more swiftly than he had dared to hope.

Chloe put a reassuring hand out to Megan. 'Ignore them, for they are nasty tabbies.'

'I can't ignore them, Miss Holcroft.'

'Yes, you can.'

Megan looked at her through her tears. 'But there is a grain of truth in what they say! I was at the center of an embarrassing stir at Lady Jane's house, and I did cause Miss Garsington to fall tonight!'

Chloe's fingers rested kindly over her arm. 'I am acquainted with Mr. Strickland, and know him for the lecher he is, so I do not for a single moment believe that you pounced upon him. As for what happened tonight, it was hardly your fault. It was an accident, pure and simple. So please don't let those dreadful old biddies upset you!' She then raised her own voice in the full intention of being heard on the other sofa. 'They are only annoyed because unlike you, their lumps of daughters do not merit a second glance from Greville!' The ladies gave outraged gasps and got up to stalk haughtily away. 'Serves them right!' Chloe breathed, so angry on Megan's behalf that she was trembling.

Megan was already distressed, but became more so as she ventured to glance around the ballroom. Misery struck through her as she realized she was the subject of a great many conversations. Faces were turned toward her, quizzing glasses flashed, fans hid whispering lips. This was what she had dreaded.

Chapter 25

Chichester Bells finished, and Evangeline and Sir Jocelyn began to return to the sofa, but before reaching it they were accosted by Mr. Mellish. Megan was to learn later that under the guise of righteous concern he was informing Evangeline what 'some persons' were stooping to spread about her companion.