Page 29 of A Sonata for the Fiery Lady
She thought it rather strange since all the servants used the side entrance in the kitchen to come and go, and Mr Moses was always ready to answer the door when the bell was rung. But it sounded like no one was aware that the door had been opened as footsteps were heard on the stairs.
Melisa backed away from her door then as the sound of footsteps came down the hallway, approaching her bedchamber. Frightened that it might be a burglar, thinking that the family was out for the night, Melisa quickly went to the side of her bed and pulled the servants’ cord just as her bedchamber door was pushed open.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Melisa demanded as Lord Smithers stepped into her room and quickly shut the door behind him.
“What can I say, my sweet Melisa,” the Duke replied as he neared her slowly. “I just don’t think I can wait till our wedding night.”
Melisa’s eyes grew large as she crossed her arms over her chest, seeing no way to escape the Duke’s pursuits as he came to her and pushed her roughly onto the bed.
“You can’t do this! We’re not married yet!” Melisa cried out as she tried to get away by rolling off the other side of the bed, but the Duke grabbed her nightdress and pinned her to the bed.
“What does a few days matter anyway?” Lord Smithers said with a wild expression as he started to climb on top of Melisa. She thrashed and kicked, trying to get the Duke off her, but when he slapped her across the face, she became very still as the pain shot through her head.
“Now be still, you wench,” the Duke commanded as he started to push up her nightgown with one hand while he started to unbutton the front of his trousers.
The bedchamber door was opened then as Miss Thorsten came into the room. Melisa looked to her lady-in-waiting with pleading eyes as Miss Thorsten took in the scene before her before running out of the room, crying for Mr Moses as she went.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Lord Smithers yelled at Melisa as he quickly climbed off the bed and crossed the room to lock the door. Melisa tried to get off the bed, but her head hurt from the blow she’d taken. She could only stumble onto the floor as she tried to crawl away.
“Where do you think you could possibly go?” the Duke said as he stepped over Melisa, laughing as he pulled Melisa to her feet by grabbing a fistful of her hair. Melisa cried out in pain as she was tossed onto the bed, landing on her stomach. She then felt the Duke on top of her as her nightgown was forced up once more.
Melisa began to cry as a large commotion came from the hallway. Someone started banging on the bedchamber door, but she feared that no one would be able to come to her rescue as the Duke exposed her core and began to touch it with his greedy fingers. She started to thrash again, panic and adrenaline coursing through her body as she tried to avoid being forced upon.
It wasn’t until the lock was being turned on her bedchamber door that the Duke hesitated in his pursuits. When Melisa’s father came into the room, she cried out to him. “Father! Help me!” she called as the Duke quickly got off the bed.
“What is the meaning of this!” Lord Stanton called out as Melisa moved as far away from the Duke as possible on the bed and began to pull her nightclothes down again.
“We were simply having a discussion about what happens between a man and a woman when they are married,” Lord Smithers said as he finished buttoning his trousers. All Melisa could do was sob as she held her knees to her chest. She watched as her father looked at her, his own tears forming in her eyes.
“My daughter is unwell and needs her rest,” Lord Stanton said as he opened the bedchamber door all the way and pointed for the Duke to leave.
Lord Smithers dipped his head towards Melisa and gave her a sneer before he left the room. Lady Stanton came into the room then, shocked to see Melisa in such disarray. But they didn’t say anything till they all heard the front door opening and closing again, signalling that the Duke had left.
“Now do you believe me!?” Melisa cried out as she looked to her father.
“Oh, calm yourself, child. The Duke is only excited for the wedding night. It’s not an uncommon thing to seek a private moment with your intended,” Lady Stanton said as she placed her hands on her hips and glared down at Melisa.
“He forced himself on me while I screamed!” Melisa yelled at her mother, appalled that she would say such a thing. She looked to her father then, knowing that he’d seen what was happening when he came into the room.
“I believe that we all need some rest,” Lord Stanton said then as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “I shall post men at the doors to ensure that we all get a good night’s rest.”
“Father, please. See reason. Lord Smithers is a dishonourable man, and you should not allow me to marry such a person,” Melisa pleaded, hoping this one last time that her father would see the truth and officially call off the wedding.
“Oh, hush now, child. Get so sleep and you’ll be perfect in the morning. No need to go through all this trouble to have the servants up all night guarding the doors like we’ve been robbed. It’s just time to get some sleep, is all,” Lady Stanton said with a humph before leaving the room in a hurry.
Tears slid down Melisa’s eyes as she watched her father lower his head and let out a long sigh. He looked at Melisa one last time before saying, “Try to get some sleep, my dear. We’ll talk again in the morning.” He left her then, shutting the bedchamber door firmly.
Melisa buried her face in her pillow as she wept. She felt overwhelmed with the fear of being forced upon and thanked God that she’d pulled the servants’ cord before the Duke had intruded on her. She wondered if this event had been enough for her father to see that the Duke was a horrible man, but she knew she couldn’t wait any longer to give her father time to see the truth. Melisa felt determined to escape this hell once and for all, and she’d need to get ready to leave shortly.
A soft knock sounded on the door, forcing Melisa to lift her face. “Miss Melisa, it’s just me,” came the voice of Miss Thorsten. Melisa quickly rose from the bed and unlocked the door, pulling it open just enough to allow Miss Thorsten to come in before she shut and locked it.
Before Melisa could say a word, Miss Thorsten threw her arms around Melisa, hugging her close as she wept. “I feared for your life when I saw him on top of you. Just when I told Mr Moses what was happening, your parents returned from the opera. I know it was forward, but I pulled your father by the arm after me so he could see for himself,” Miss Thorsten said into her hair as she cried.
“Thank you, Miss Thorsten, for saving my life once more,” Melisa said as they cried together. After a time, their tears were spent, and they were able to part.
“Now, let’s get you ready. I’m sure the master has gone to bed, but I will make sure the coast is clear,” Miss Thorsten said as she helped Melisa change into a travelling gown. It was one of the gowns she’d purchased at the second-hand store so she could be disguised as a commoner. After Melisa had washed her face in the basin and was completely dressed, boots and all, she pulled the trunk from underneath her bed and set it on top of it.
“There is one last thing I must do before I go, Miss Thorsten,” Melisa said as she looked down at her packed trunk. She wished beyond hope that she had everything she’d need.
