Caroline (38 page)

"You have every right to want to show him off," she said firmly. "If you had seen how women pursued him in the past
,
you would be impossibly smug and self-satisfied."

The day of the party was warm, even for April, with white puffs of clouds floating in the clear azure sky. Caro bustled around the house all morning with several of the serving girls at her side, while Alec retreated to his office outside.

"Flowing bowls" of port and rum punch were prepared for Alec's approval, with a dozen varieties of tea cakes and cookies. Caro had decided to leave the front and rear doors open, so that the guests could mingle wherever they chose.

Crabapple, magnolia, and dogwood trees were in full bloom across the velvety lawn in front of Belle Maison, and the air was filled with their sweet fragrance. It was as beautiful and inviting there as in the garden.

Alec returned to share a light midday meal with his wife, then accompanied her upstairs to dress. Caro went into her adjoining bedchamber where Rose was waiting to assist her, while Pierre was on hand to help Alec, a task that he seldom performed now that his master was married.

Rose arranged Caro's hair so that it fell in a cluster of soft loose curls, intertwined with narrow yellow ribbons and magnolia blossoms. Honey-colored tendrils curled against her cheeks, accentuating her fresh beauty. The gown she wore was light muslin sprigged in yellow that made her look as lovely as any spring flower in the garden. Rose fastened a lace-edged yellow ribbon around her neck, and the only jewelry she wore was the stunning emerald-and-diamond ring. When Caro stood back to regard herself critically in the glass, Rose clasped her hands with a rapturous sigh.

"Madame, if I may say so, you look truly beautiful! You have always had rare good looks, but there is something in your eyes now—"

"Love," Caro replied with a wide smile. She paused at the faint sound of laughter outside and ran to the window. A carriage stood outside that she immediately recognized as belonging to Gouverneur Morris.

"The guests are beginning to arrive!" she exclaimed, and was running to the door when Alec's voice drifted up the stairs. "He has gone down without me!"

Since Gouverneur was such a good friend, Caro felt no need to stand on ceremony and decided to join them without waiting for Alec to return to escort her. Lifting her skits, she hurried down the hall to the top of the stairs, but froze there as the smile died on her lips. Lydia Chamberlain stood in the middle of the sun-drenched entry hall, her red hair gleaming as she gazed up at Alec. Caro took in the white hand that she laid on his arm as well as the spark that seemed to flare in Alec's eyes. In the back of her mind, she could hear Mary Armstrong laughing, "I've yet to have him bestow on me one of those burning looks that Lydia Chamberlain is always receiving... he adores her body."

As she faltered, Gouverneur glanced up and spotted her. "Ah! Here is our little buttercup! Lydia, doesn't Caro look lovely?"

Leveling her violet eyes at Caro, she purred, "She does look rather sweet, Gouverneur. So charmingly girlish."

His eyes danced as he replied, "Do try to keep your claws concealed, my dear. Next you'll be hissing aloud."

Alec laughed and went to the stairway to meet his wife. "You look enchanting, my love," he told her. "Like a ray of sunshine straight from heaven."

Lydia declared, "I'm so sorry I did not make arrangements sooner to introduce little Caroline to some young men. It seems that she had to settle for the first thing that came along,"

"Good God!" Alec exclaimed dramatically. "I think I have just been insulted!"

Caro ignored him. "Perhaps I am an excellent judge of quality," she replied. "After meeting Alec, I realized that to look further afield would be a waste of precious time."

"And of course you were placed in such a convenient position, living here under the guise of being his ward."

"It did rather help to fan the flame," she agreed frankly.

Alec was watching this exchange in utter amusement, finally deciding that enough veiled insults had been traded. "This is all very entertaining, ladies, but I must call halt. I see the Shippens alighting from their carriage."

Gouverneur tactfully drew Lydia into the parlor for a glass of rum punch while Alec grasped his wife's arm as she started out to greet the new arrivals.

"I'll not be judged guilty yet, m'lady. Lydia's presence here is purely Gouverneur's doing—I had no knowledge of his plans."

Caro turned blazing eyes up to him and whispered, "That strumpet! How dare she set foot in my house and act as if I am the intruder! I would like to—"

"Yes, I can well imagine! For right now, you shall have to settle for bestowing your most charming smile on the Shippens."

Caro turned to find their guests already in the doorway and blushed as Alec led her over to them. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Shippen were the parents of Peggy, who was now in exile with her husband Benedict Arnold. Mount Pleasant, the magnificent home that Arnold had obtained for his new wife, was located not far from Belle Maison. Ironically, Peggy was destined never to live there.

While Alec and Caro exchanged greetings with the Shippens, two more carriages drew up in the drive, and the party grew lively. Within an hour, elegantly garbed figures with powdered hair were strolling through the house and garden, carrying on polished conversations as they imbibed freely of the punch. Caro found herself constantly separated from Alec, and she could not refrain from watching for his broad shoulders and raven hair every time the crowd shifted. All the guests seemed to want to talk to her, but she knew that she would have enjoyed herself more if not for Lydia Chamberlain's presence. More than once, she saw her with Alec, chatting brightly, and Caro's heart constricted painfully at the sight of them together. The fact that they made a strikingly attractive couple did not help. Lydia was clad in sultry plum silk, while large, brilliant sapphires gleamed against her creamy skin. Alec, in a handsome dark-gray suit and Prussian-blue waistcoat, could have dressed with the intent of coordinating with her.

It was evident that there was no romance brewing between Gouverneur and Lydia, which made Caro wonder all the more what could have possessed him to bring her to Belle Maison. He was off in a deep conversation with Natalya or Mary Vining most of the afternoon, seldom even giving notice to Lydia. She, in turn, only had eyes for Alec, and as the hours passed, Caro's imagination was fully engaged as she watched her husband's reactions to his old flame.

By the time dusk began to cloak the garden, she gave up her hope that the guests would leave by evening. Alec went back to speak to the cook, and before long, hot food began to appear on the tables to replace the little teacakes. The men were now freely indulging in brandy as they ranged through the parlors, smoking cigars and long-stemmed pipes and discussing the latest financial crisis.

Antonia came to Caro's aid, seeming to sense that her thoughts were elsewhere. Candles were lit, and couples were seen sitting close together on the garden benches. It was a marvelous, starry night, perfect for love, Caro thought dismally.

She tried to console herself with the fact that her first party was an obvious success and everyone seemed charmed by the new mistress of Belle Maison. Also, Nicholai was constantly at the side of Mary Armstrong, and Natalya was unusually ebullient under the attention paid her by three or four handsome men. Even Grandmere was in high spirits as she won game after game of piquet from John Dunlap, who was the successful publisher of the
Pennsylvania Packet.
He remained cheerful in the face of defeat, and they laughed together through the evening.

Alec was not altogether inattentive. Caro found that this was particularly true whenever he noticed her in the company of another man. One after another they engaged her in conversation, staring at her golden beauty with open admiration. If Alec was in sight, he would suddenly loom up behind her, encircling her with a possessive arm while giving the gentleman in question a pointed look. Then, just as Caro found herself cheering up, someone would appear to lure him away and Lydia was usually lying in wait nearby.

It was almost eight o'clock when Nicholai interrupted her conversation with Philip Freneau to tell her that he and Mary were about to leave. Several guests had already departed, and Caro was immensely relieved to see the party coming to an end. Alec was nowhere to be found, so she went to search him out so that he might bid his brother good-bye. After passing through the south parlor without spying his dark head, Caro realized with a qualm that she had not seen Lydia for a time either. The garden appeared deserted at first, but a voice from the furthest shadows reached her ears and she backed up against the arbor wall, helpless to stop herself from listening. As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she made out the figures of Alec and Lydia standing close together on the footpath farthest away. She strained to make out their words, but could only recognize the teasing caress of Lydia's voice. Then, as Caro's heart rose to catch in her throat, Alec grasped Lydia's arm and they disappeared into the greenhouse.

Horrified, painful shock overcame her as she leaned against the cool stones, fragrant wisteria brushing her cheek. Through eyes blurred with tears, Caro saw Nicholai's handsome face swimming above her.

"Caro!" he exclaimed in alarm. "What is wrong? Are you ill?"

* * *

Alec watched Lydia through narrowed eyes, wondering how a woman so coldly conniving could have ever managed to warm his bed so effectively. He thought of Caro's sweet, responsive body and guileless smile, and his annoyance grew. Lydia was clutching at the lapels of his coat, cooing:

"My darling, I have been positively
ill
these last months. All I could think of was you,
married,
and I have been existing only on the hope of seeing you alone. Why did you not call on me?" Her voice broke dramatically as she squeezed out a small tear. Alec's lip curled in an expression far from sympathetic. "I know that that child must have trapped you somehow—there could be no other explanation. But that does not mean that it must end between us! I cannot see why you should be imprisoned in a marriage with someone so ill-suited, so unsophisticated—"

His fingers closed around her arms as he thrust her away in disgust. "Please spare me the rest of this performance. I only brought you here to avoid making a scene outside where someone might hear me. I have something to say to you that has been on my mind all afternoon."

"Of course, darling...." she faltered, trying to ignore the painful grip of his lean brown hands.

"It is this: I want you to stay out of my life and if I never see you again it will be a relief. You've insulted Caro countless times, and since I've known her I've grown increasingly revolted with myself for ever having succumbed to your charms. I must have been mad."

Her violet eyes darkened with fury and disbelief. "I don't believe you!" she shouted. "This is impossible! I refuse to take this from you, you bastard—or from her! That simpering—"

Alec was enraged, but before he could respond Nicholai burst through the doorway. His fists were clenched and veins stood out on his neck as he strode up to his brother, ignoring the Lydia. Over Nicholai's shoulder, Alec perceived Caro, ethereal in her white dress, coming toward the greenhouse through the darkness. He did not even see Nicholai's first punch, which caught him squarely on the chin. Momentarily, he staggered into a bank of orchids, but regained his balance. Raising a hand to rub his jaw, he regarded his brother in irritated perplexity.

"What the devil is going on here? Has the whole world gone mad?"

Nicholai advanced toward him, fists raised warningly. "I have wanted to do that for a long time. You may have caught me at a bad moment that night last December, but this time it will be a fair fight!"

"Are you suggesting that Caro should serve as the prize again? You never learn, do you? I'll be damned if I can figure this out—"

He ducked neatly as Nicholai swung at him again, then brought one hard fist up into his brother's chin, sending him reeling back against the wall. Nicholai's eyes blazed while a thin stream of blood trickled from the side of his mouth.

"You are the worst sort of scoundrel, Sacha," he said in a choked voice.

"And you are the worst sort of fool," he replied coldly. "Do not force me to humiliate you any further."

At that, an enraged Nicholai jumped out and began to circle around him. When he made his move this time, Alec dodged him easily and brought one fist in hard to his stomach. Nicholai crumpled on the dirt floor, groaning aloud, while Alec turned away to find Caro standing in the doorway, her face paper-white. Lydia had disappeared. His eyes were stormy as he walked over to her, leaving Nicholai where he had fallen.

"What do you know about this? Have you been leading him on again?"

Caro could barely comprehend his words, but as they began to sink in she felt all her hurt and anger explode. Without a moment's hesitation, she raised her little hand and slapped him with all the strength she could summon. For Alec, it was the last straw. With one sweeping movement, he caught both her wrists and held them fast.

"What in the name of God is going on here?" he shouted, his eyes two blue flames. Caro saw the muscle in his cheek move warningly.

"You should know! You are the one carrying on clandestine trysts with Lydia Chamberlain in the greenery while I entertain our guests! And
you—
you devil!—you have the audacity to accuse me—" As words failed her, she stamped her foot for emphasis, adding a frustrated "ooh!"