Everyone turned toward the new interruption. Lady Garsington did not dare to look, for she shuddered to think what her daughter had done now, but Lord Garsington and Sigismund made all haste to the entrance hall, where they found Sybil standing over Oliver's prone body.
Mr. Mellish, who had witnessed everything, dashed back into the ballroom. "She's laid March out! As neat a bunch of fives as I ever saw!" he cried, and a babble of conversation broke out as everyone began to surge forward to see. This year's Christmas bal masque was by far the most memorable anyone could remember; indeed, when it came to scandal Brighton society found itself spoiled for choice!
Chapter 27
Brighton lay beneath a carpet of white, and street-lamps cast pools of warmth around the Steine as Evangeline's carriage drove back to Radcliffe House in the early hours of Sunday morning. Greville and Megan were avoiding each other's eyes, both feeling a little awkward now that the spur of the moment had passed. Neither of them quite knew how to proceed from here, and Megan feared that come the cold light of day he would rue choosing that particular way of proving all the whispers wrong. Evangeline, however, was well pleased with things, although she paid belated lip service to the rules of society by delivering them both a mild lecture on what was and was not an acceptable way of going on.
Rupert was in another world of happiness, because as far as he was concerned the night could not have gone better. The Old Ship's annual bal masque had finally degenerated into so many sparks and shocks that it resembled a fireworks display, but fortunately for Megan and Greville it was all due to Oliver and the Garsingtons. After giving Oliver a bruised chain and broken tooth, to go with the grazed forehead he had already received from the falling ladder, Sybil sobbed to her outraged family that he must marry her. She said she had succumbed to complete temptation in his arms, and therefore he must be persuaded to do the honorable thing. Lady Garsington had the vapors, and Lord Garsington shrieked to a footman to bring cognac, which when brought he drank himself, such consideration being a male trait in the family.
Oliver hotly denied everything, and accused Sybil of wishful thinking, for which insult Sigismund Garsington promptly gave him a bloody nose as well. By then Oliver looked so like a casualty from Trafalgar that Megan could almost have felt sorry for him-almost, but not quite. Besides, Oliver foolishly insisted on protesting his innocence, even though Sigismund Garsington looked on the point of tearing him limb from limb. To be fair to Oliver, there were a number of people who thought he was probably telling the truth. After all, they all knew that until tonight Sybil had been pursuing Greville; now, all of a sudden, she hinted of being in an interesting condition by Oliver? Everyone knew that Oliver had been the first man she had fallen head over heels in love with, and that tonight was the first time she had come face-to-face with him again since he ended matters with her in order to pursue Chloe. Perhaps seeing him again had made Sybil realize she was still in love with him. Whatever the truth, her claims smacked of female wiles; not that anyone would have dared suggest as much in front of Sigismund, who was only with great difficulty restrained from issuing a challenge. Sybil's brother confined himself to warning Oliver that his second would call if a proposal of marriage were not forthcoming by the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve. He also warned him not to leave Brighton if he knew what was healthy for his hide. With that he grabbed Oliver's lapels, propelled him backward to the main entrance, and threw him out into the snow, where a sore rear end was added to the catalog.
Greville would dearly have liked to deal out Oliver's punishment himself, but he had promised Megan he would not do anything, and he was a man of his word. So he had to content himself with watching someone else do the honors, and at least had the comfort of knowing that Sigismund Garsington was a very thorough fellow!
Rupert was delighted to see his rival routed, but then his cup almost overflowed with exultation when Oliver received a very curt conge from Chloe. Oliver begged her to believe in his innocence, but Sir Jocelyn told him that if he ever spoke to his daughter again, Sigismund's would not be the only second to call!
The ball had eventually come to an end. There had been carol-singing by the light of the Yule logs, then mulled wine had been served, and at last everyone had departed. There was much intrigued murmuring concerning the following night's planned musical entertainment at Garsington House, and human nature being what it was, many of those who had previously done their utmost to avoid an invitation, now decided to attend after all, the hope being that Sybil might treat them all to another of her shocking displays. On the other hand, there were certain guests who had now decided that on no account would they be going after all; the names Radcliffe, Holcroft, and Seton would definitely not be announced at Garsington House, because by the next night Oliver might have "come to heel" and be in dutiful future-son-in-law attendance.
As Evangeline's carriage drew up at Radcliffe House, and she looked up at the house that had been her home for such a long time, she knew the moment had come to tell Greville and Rupert of her decision. They heard the news with dismay, but did not attempt to change her mind because they knew there was no point. Once Aunt E had decided a certain course of action was the right and sensible thing to do, there was no budging her. She clearly felt that it was time to move on from Radcliffe House, and that was that. Little was said when they entered the house, which they all, even Megan, now saw with different eyes. This was its last Christmas before being signed away to a royal doom. Nothing would ever be the same again, either for the family or this corner of the Steine. Everyone went to the drawing room to talk a little before retiring, but Megan was still too embarrassed and awkward to join them for long. She excused herself at the first opportunity, but as she reached the staircase, Greville came out of the drawing room behind her.
"Megan?"
She paused with a hand on the garlanded newel post, then turned reluctantly. "Sir Greville?"
"Are we to be formal again?" he asked as he came toward her.
"I-I think it best."
"Why?"
She looked into his eyes. "Because you were merely making a point tonight, Sir Greville."
"I concede that is how it commenced, but-"
"And it is also best, because I am Lady Evangeline's paid companion whereas you are a titled gentleman of considerable fortune," she interrupted quietly.
"A titled gentleman of considerable fortune who is well able to decide for himself what is best."
"Yes, and I am sure that in the morning you will decide very differently from now."
Suddenly he put his hand over hers on the newel post. "You seem sure of how I will feel, Megan, but what of you? How do you feel?" he asked softly.
The warmth of his touch made the blood pulse more wildly through her veins, but she strove to appear calm. "I feel embarrassed," she said, trying to slide her hand away.
He would not let her escape. "Embarrassed? Is that all?"
She looked away. "Please, sir…"
"My name is Greville, Megan, and after the kiss we shared tonight, I rather think it appropriate if you address me by it, don't you?"
Her gaze fled to his again. "I can't! I am Lady Evangeline's employee, and you-"
He broke in. "I know, I'm a titled gentleman of considerable fortune who was only making a point, but I am also a man who found something wonderful beneath the mistletoe tonight. Do you imagine that such kisses are easy to come by? If you do, you are wrong."
"What are you saying?"
He smiled. "Simply that I do not wish to feel any differently in the morning," he replied, and stepped close enough to put an arm around her waist and pull her to him. His lips caressed hers for a long moment-long enough for him to know by the reeling of his senses that what had happened at the ball had not been a transient thing-then he released her. "Good, night, and the sweetest of dreams, Megan," he said huskily, then returned to the drawing room. Heart pounding, she fled up the stairs.