Chapter 5 #2
“It’s fine.” Kingston’s gaze darkened slightly as he nodded.
“Besides, it’s not Finley I have an issue with,” he muttered, turning his gaze back toward the door, already dreading what lay beyond it.
“It’s Oakley.” With that, they made their way to the stables, the cool breeze offering a fleeting moment of reprieve from the tension that had settled deep in Kingston’s chest. He only hoped he could keep his emotions in check, for everyone’s sake—including his own.
Sunlight filtered softly through the trees, casting long shadows on the path as Jaclyn strode briskly through the garden, her skirts swishing with each step.
The day had promised to be a pleasant one, one she hoped would provide some peace and distraction from the unending frustration of sharing a bedchamber with Melisande.
She had not wanted to share a room with that girl but one did not disagree with Mrs. Havenwood’s decisions.
Not if she hoped to have a reasonably pleasant stay while she attended the school.
Melisande was driving her mad and testing her patience though.
Some might consider Jaclyn to be a hellion, but those individuals had never met Lady Melisande Burton either.
Everything that Melisande did only served to heighten Jaclyn's irritation with the girl and the situation she must endure.
Melisande was a spoiled brat who had gotten far too used to getting her own way, and Jaclyn was growing weary of her antics.
As she walked toward through the garden, Jaclyn noticed Ella sitting on a nearby bench with a book open before her.
She was a calm presence that contrasted sharply with the storm known as Melisande.
She had begun to grow close with Ella. She was a sweet-tempered girl with a wicked streak that came out when Jaclyn least expected it.
Jaclyn found Ella’s normally composed nature a relief from the chaos that surrounded them with all of Melisande’s drama.
She walked over to Ella and sat beside her. It took Ella a moment to notice her because she was so engrossed in her book. Slowly, she turned toward her, the book still open, and her eyes a little dazed. She blinked a few times, then said, “Jaclyn?”
“Yes,” Jaclyn replied with a little humor in her tone. “The book must be quite good.”
Ella grinned and that wicked nature of hers came to the surface. She said in a hushed tone, “It’s a gothic novel. I so adore them. Would you like to read it after I am finished?”
Jaclyn considered it. “Perhaps.” She wouldn’t mind a little escape from her own life, and a book always offered a good respite.
“It’s such a beautiful day, don’t you think?
I thought, if you’re interested, you might with to go for a walk with me.
Like we did when you first arrived.” Jaclyn was feeling a little restless.
“That would be lovely,” Ella agreed.
"We could take a basket with us and have a little picnic." Jaclyn said a little hopefully. She wanted to avoid Melisande for as long as possible. They had the afternoon to do as they pleased, their lessons for the day completed.
Ella smiled, the invitation clearly a welcome one. "A picnic sounds lovely. A break from everything would do us both some good."
But before Jaclyn could say another word, a noise drew their attention from behind them.
They both turned toward the sound and groaned.
Melisande flounced before them with an impish grin on her face.
That did not bode well for them. "It does sound lovely. I’m coming, too," Melisande announced, as brash and resolute as ever.
Her arms were folded over her chest and she wore a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
How long had Melisande been behind the listening to their conversation?
Jaclyn’s smile tightened as she gritted her teeth. "You’re welcome to join us, Melisande,” she offered reluctantly though she would have preferred to be rude and tell her to remain behind.
Melisande tossed her head, a dramatic flair in her every movement. "Excellent, where shall we go then?"
“There is a lovely meadow not too far from the woods,” she offered. Not that long ago Charlotte, Georgina, and Jaclyn had had a picnic there. “It’s peaceful and a nice place to rest.” And it would have been a nice respite from Melisande…
Melisande wrinkled her nose. “That sounds boring. We should go to the pond instead.”
“I don’t know…”
“It will be all right,” Ella said trying to soothe her. “Melisande wants to go to the pond. We should do that.”
Jaclyn nodded, too tired to argue further.
What Ella did not say was that it would be easier to just agree; otherwise, Melisande would make a scene.
Sometimes it was just simpler to go along with what she wanted.
As long as it did not lead them to something they would regret anyway—though she hoped that they would not cross paths with anyone at Easton Abbey again.
She had no luck with that every other time they went to the pond.
They were not supposed to go there. With a resigned sigh, Jaclyn turned back to Ella and said, “All right, we can go to the pond. Do you mind retrieving a blanket for us to sit on, and I’ll have a basket of food packed for our picnic. ”
"I can do that," Ella agreed. “We can meet back here in a half hour.” She turned to Melisande. “Is that all right with you?”
“It’s perfect,” Melisande said. “I’ll wait here for you both.”
Of course she would not help them with anything.
Sometimes Jaclyn thought Melisande treated them as if they were there to serve her.
She rolled her eyes and turned away from the girl.
Jaclyn and Ella walked together back to the school.
Their paths diverged once they were inside to see to their tasks.
It did not take long for one of the kitchen maids to pack a basket of cold foods for them to take on their picnic.
Jaclyn left the kitchen and met with Ella and Melisande in the garden.
“Shall we go then?” Ella asked.
“Of course,” Jaclyn agreed.
They walked mostly in silence toward the pond. When they reached the water, she breathed a sigh of relief to find it unoccupied. Ella set about laying the blanket under a nearby tree and then sat down. Jaclyn set the basket on the blanket and then joined her.
"I’m going swimming," Melisande announced, her voice floating across the air with a defiance that made Jaclyn’s heart sink. What was that hellion thinking?
"That is not a good idea…" Jaclyn said. "We’re supposed to have a picnic—don’t be foolish. You don’t want to swim in the pond."
But Melisande was already darting toward the water.
She had unbuttoned her gown and pulled it over her head faster than Jaclyn could have imagined.
She sat down at the bank of the pond and removed her boots and stockings.
She sat there in nothing but her shift. "I do want to swim," she replied in a decisive tone. She glanced over her shoulder at Jaclyn and stated, "I don’t see why I shouldn’t. "
Jaclyn’s stomach clenched. This was not a good idea. She glanced at Ella, whose eyes were wide with concern. "She cannot swim there," Jaclyn said quietly. "This is Easton land, and it’s right next to the Havenwood property. If anyone sees us here…" Not to mention the scandal it would cause…
"I agree," Ella replied, her voice low. "But I do not think we can stop her."
Jaclyn bit her lip. She had been trying to keep the peace, to make the best of the situation. But now it seemed everything was beginning to unravel. "You’re right," she murmured. They stared in horror as Melisande leapt into the pond.
With a heavy sigh, Jaclyn and Ella sat down on the blanket Ella had brought and began to prepare the picnic, hoping that, somehow, they could enjoy it without drawing too much attention to their presence.
Let Melisande swim… Perhaps it would not be as terrible as Jaclyn believed.
But it wasn’t long before the sound of hooves reached her ears, signaling the arrival of some unwanted guests.
Jaclyn’s stomach twisted as the Marquess of Easton, the Duke of Amberwood, and Viscount Kendal appeared in the distance.
The men were all far too familiar to Jaclyn.
Lord Easton would not be pleased to discover them there.
Melisande was completely oblivious to the scandal she was about to cause.
Jaclyn’s heart sank as she realized, with sudden clarity, that their little picnic was about to turn into a much larger problem.
She had to get Melisande out of the pond and fast. She raced toward the pond to tell Melisande to exit the water, but as she neared the bank she slipped and went flying into the water.
Horror filled her as she landed in the water with only one thought racing through her mind—she was going to strangle Melisande.
If not for her none of this would have happened.