Read Online A Wicked Deception by Margaret Tanner - Free Book Online Page A

Smith prepared picnic hampers bulging with cold chickens, pressed tongue, several varieties of cheese, fruit and salad vegetables. Fresh scones with tiny pots of jam were packed into wicker baskets, as well as several varieties of cakes and biscuits, plus eight bottles of French champagne.
    Melanie stared at the baskets enviously. A few years ago she and James had spent many a happy day with Michael, shared his picnic hampers, and rode his thoroughbred horses.
    Wandering to the window , her eyes were drawn to Michael, resplendent in beautifully cut breeches and jacket, mounted on a grey stallion. The women rode sidesaddle, and wore the most fashionable riding habits, with pretty feather-trimmed felt hats.
    E ight people had assembled, but from this far away she could not see any of the other guests clearly enough to recognize them. Not much chance of her having met any of them before, though. Michael numbered titled gentry amongst his friends now. Doubtful whether the ladies would go on the hunt with the men, more likely they would find a suitable place to relax until the hunters returned.
    The hunting party did not arrive back until late afternoon. While the ladies rested, the men relaxed with drinks on the side verandah. Michael’s valet organized refreshments from a private cellar, in another wing of the house.
    Dinner was served promptly at nine o’clock. Melanie followed Juliet into the dining room. She carried a Crown Derby tureen with the lid lavishly decorated with flowers.
    Lady Priscilla sat resplendent in a gown of white organdie. A gold choker encrusted with rubies encircled her throat. Sitting at the table, wearing a burgundy jacket and a leer on his handsome face was Tom Ogilvy. Melanie’s hands shook so badly the soup almost slopped out of the tureen.
    The colorful gowns of the women, the perfect tailoring of the men’s clothes, would normally have interested her, but not any more.
    As she served Tom his soup, his hand, hidden by the tablecloth, grabbed her skirt.
    She sprang back, almost upsetting the tureen in her hurry.
    “Take your filthy hands off me.” Conversation at the table ceased abruptly, followed by a shocked silence.
    “How dare you , a mere servant, abuse a gentleman?” Priscilla’s voice rose shrilly.
    “A gentleman? You call him a gentleman?” Melanie glared at Priscilla. “What gentleman would go about insulting young women? Would victimize and persecute innocent miners because they don’t carry their licenses with them? He’s nothing but a sadistic, brutal, slave owning pig,” she recklessly shot the words out.
    “Apologize to Mr. Ogilvy at once.” Michael leapt to his feet. “I will not have such vile talk in my home.”
    “Why should I? It’s the truth.”
    Priscilla looked ready to swoon, while Michael’s face turned white with rage, and a vein pulsed in his neck.
    “ This man took a whip to my brother. Did it give you satisfaction putting welts all over his face?” Angry tears filled her eyes.
    “Melanie, I demand you apologize to my guests.”
    “I’d burn in hell before apologizing to the likes of him.” She raced out of the room and down the hallway, half expecting to hear Michael dashing after her.
    She rushed through the kitchen on her way to the back door. The cool evening air brushed her face, and as she hurtled into the darkness, tears scalded her cheeks.
    H er headlong flight stopped beside a huge gum tree down the farthermost end of the garden, and she rested her damp cheek against the rough bark of its trunk. An owl hooted, the howl of a wild dog echoed mournfully in the stillness, answered immediately by the barking of station dogs. Stars twinkled and the moon bathed the garden in silver light.
    “Melanie ! Where are you?” Annie’s voice floated on the night air.
    “I’m over here, next to the big gum tree .” She tried to pull herself together so as not to upset her young friend.
    “Did you ever cause a fuss? Juliet had to get the smelling