Page 20 of A Sonata for the Fiery Lady
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“Are you finally ready, my dear?” Lady Stanton asked later that evening as she came into Melisa’s bedchamber. Melisa sat in front of the looking glass while Miss Thorsten pinned back her hair. She wore a jade gown made of silk and white lace, one of the finest that she owned. She wore lace gloves over her hands that were currently folded in her lap. Melisa was trying her best to remain calm as her mother came into the room.
“Almost ready,” Melisa replied as her mother approached, looking her over with a keen observation.
“My dear, you should really wear the diamond necklace that the Duke gifted you. The emerald is nice with the pearl earrings, but I think you’d honour the Duke if you wore the other ones,” Lady Stanton said with a reassuring smile.
“Forgive me, My Lady, but I could not find Miss Melisa’s necklace from the Duke,” Miss Thorsten spoke up as she stepped away from Melisa, having finished her hair.
“What do you mean you could not find them? The necklace has only been in this house for a few short days. It couldn’t have possibly disappeared in that short amount of time,” Lady Stanton said, completely surprised as she held her hand to her stomach as though she was going to be sick.
“Excuse us, Miss Thorsten,” Melisa said as she rose. Miss Thorsten did what she was told, curtsying before she left. Once they were alone, Melisa turned to her mother, her words already pre-planned. “I wasn’t sure when to tell you this, Mother, but I fear that the new maid, Miss Price, may have stolen them. She started yesterday, and today I have found them missing. I can think of no other reason.”
Melisa watched as her mother’s face turned red and her mouth gaped open. “I knew that we shouldn’t have hired another maid, but your father was so insistent that you become used to having many maids to tend to you. I shall speak to your father at once,” Lady Stanton declared as she quickly opened the bedchamber door and began calling for her husband.
Melisa could only watch in horror as her mother befell another tantrum. She walked carefully into the hallway as she watched the scene unfold before her, Lady Stanton yelling at her husband for hiring a thief while Lord Stanton defended himself once more. Eventually, her father came into her room while Melisa stayed in the hallway. She watched as he began to search through her drawers as though he was trying to find the necklace himself. But Melisa knew that it wasn’t there.
Appearing to be defeated, Lord Stanton left the room and swiftly approached Melisa. “Are you sure that it was Miss Price? I don’t fire servants lightly, and I will not be accused of being an unfair master. You must be absolutely sure,” Lord Stanton said sternly as he pointed his finger at Melisa threateningly.
“I am certain, Father. I trust Miss Thorsten with my life and could not accuse her of such a thing,” Melisa said with unwavering eyes. She knew that eye contact was the key to any lie.
“Mr Moses!” Lord Stanton bellowed as he neared the stairs and quickly descended them.
“Yes, My Lord?” Melisa could hear Mr Moses say below. Melisa shut her eyes against the tears for the horrible thing she’d done while she listened to her father’s raging voice.
“Have Miss Price fired at once without any references. She’s been accused of stealing Melisa’s precious diamond necklace from the Duke,” Lord Stanton explained. Even from all the way upstairs, Melisa could still hear Mr Moses gasp in surprise.
Melisa couldn’t take it any longer. She went to her room and found her handkerchief, quickly dabbing her eyes as she inhaled the peppermint scent. She took several deep breaths as she tried to still her nerves, to keep the tears from falling.
“Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Melisa,” Miss Thorsten said as she came back into the room, looking equally as distraught.
“Miss Thorsten, I want you to take twenty pounds from my reticule and give it to Miss Price. Even if you have to search her out, please do this for me,” Melisa said through her tears. Miss Thorsten looked shocked as she looked at Melisa. “It’s in the upper drawer. Please do this for me.”
“Yes, Miss Melisa. I’ll be sure to do so while the family is out of the house. I’ll ask Mr Moses to be the one to tell the young girl,” Miss Thorsten said with a frown. Melisa simply nodded her head as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
“Come now, my dear. We shall not speak to the Duke about this at all. I’m sure you’re rather upset over the whole ordeal,” Lady Stanton said as she came back into the room, no doubt having seen the distraught look on Melisa’s face.
“I simply don’t want to disappoint him,” Melisa lied as she hoped her mother believed her to be upset over losing the jewellery.
“Don’t worry, my dear. Men of wealthy rarely care about jewellery. I’m sure the Duke has something even finer for your wedding day,” Lady Stanton said as she led her daughter from the room, leaving Miss Thorsten behind. Together they descended the stairs.
As Melisa followed her parents from the townhouse and towards the waiting carriage, Melisa pleaded silently with her Heavenly Father, hoping that one day he’d forgive her what she’d done. She hoped that by giving Miss Price enough money, she’d be able to continue to live while she looked for new employment. She also hoped that Miss Thorsten wouldn’t expect anything, but feared that now she’d have to worry more about her lady-in-waiting than being discovered by her parents.
Chapter 12
As the carriage arrived at the Duke’s townhouse, Melisa reasoned that the only thing she’d have to do now was endure this dinner party. She had no idea who’d been invited but hoped that she could simply enjoy the food and leave with her parents before too long.
The carriage was greeted by the ready footmen who opened the door to the carriage and helped Melisa and her mother down. They waited for Lord Stanton to lead the way as they travelled up the walkway.
“What suburb roses. Don’t you think, Melisa?” Lady Stanton asked as she nodded her head towards the many rose bushes, white blooms filling the air with a light floral scent.
“I’ve never seen so many white roses before,” Melisa admitted, finding it rather odd since the Duke was such an unrighteous man.
They were greeted at the door by a butler, an older man who looked rather tired. He bowed to them and quickly showed them into the drawing room where several other families currently resided. The butler announced them, drawing the attention of everyone in the room before he quickly left again.
“Good day, Lord Stanton, Lady Stanton,” Lord Smithers called as he came over to them. He dipped his head towards Melisa’s parents before turning his eyes towards her. He reached towards her, causing Melisa to be surprised as she neared him and placed her hand gently in his. Where Mr Quinn’s touch was warm and sent a spark through her, when she touched the Duke’s hand, she felt nothing but coldness.
“And how are you doing this evening, my dear?” the Duke asked as he lowered his head to hers and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. Melisa was so surprised by the show of affection that she was speechless.
