Page 41 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
“For…for my hand in what?” Melody asked. It was not because she was a fool but simply because she could not believe what she was hearing.
No! No, this cannot be happening!
Her mother shook her gently by the upper arms and raised an eyebrow before she said with such happiness, “Why, he has asked for your hand in marriage, of course!”
Melody thought there was nothing obvious about it. After all, no man had ever showed an interest in marrying her before. Why should he now?
“Wha…what was papa’s answer?” Melody asked though she suspected that from her mother’s excitement she already knew the answer.
“Well, what answer could your father give but yes?” her mother asked, looking quite suspicious and perhaps even a little upset. “Mr Colton’s father is one of his closest friends and this marriage shall only bring them closer. It is such a wonderful thing after all the trauma that has been thrown our way.”
“He…he said yes? Just like that?” Melody asked, feeling shaken to her core.
Her mother pulled back, face paling. “What more could he have said?”
“Oh, no, nothing,” Melody said, shaking her head and averting her gaze. The disappointment that bit her insides was likely an overreaction on her part. It had to be. Deep down, deep deep down, she knew that this had to be a good thing. Of course, it was. After all, it might be her only chance at ahappyending.
Yet, she couldn’t help but think that after all her parents had been through to fight for their own love, she would have thought her father would allow her the chance to make her own choice.
Her mother pursed her lips, and a concerned expression crossed her wrinkled face. As though she sensed Melody’s conflicted feelings, she said, “There isn’t anything that says youhaveto accept Mr Colton’s proposal when he does come to ask.”
Melody opened her mouth to say that she didn’t really wish to but before she could, her mother added, “But I would caution you against refusing his offer. He is a good and wealthy man and, though I hate to admit it, he may be your only good option with…”
“Mama, I understand,” Melody put in quickly. She did not want to traumatise her mother by making her relive the fact that thanks to her and her father, Melody’s entire existence was nothing but a scandal.
With a sad smile, Melody’s mother reached up and stroked a strand of hair back from her daughter’s face. When she met her gaze, Melody could see a wealth of pain and emotion in the depths of her similar grey gaze.
“We have had to work exceptionally hard for every little thing we have,” her mother explained with a deep sigh. She gripped hold of both Melody’s hands and added, “It would be nice for you to finally get something without having to sacrifice for it.”
“True,” Melody said, shrugging her shoulders and forcing a smile for her mother. But inwardly, she thought,is it really worth having if I haven’t had to fight for it?
Again, she thought of all the romance novels she had been reading of late and knew that there was one main point to them all. The happy ending never came without having to fight for it.
And yet, Melody knew her mother was right. They had been fighting for so long, she wasn’t at all sure she had any fight left in her.
Besides,how am I supposed to fight against the likes of Lady Florence?
With bile in her throat and a pain in her stomach, she realised that Mr Colton might well be the best she could hope for.
“Get cleaned up,” her mother said gently, stroking her cheek. “It is almost time for dinner. We can talk about this some more in the morning after you’ve slept on the idea.”
Melody nodded, forcing another smile. Suddenly, she didn’t even have the energy to argue that she did not want to go down to dinner. All the resistance had gone right out of her. What point was there to arguing? She had no real control over anything anyway. Why even try to tell herself that she did?
Chapter 21
Only the morning after Lady Florence’s visit, James received yet another, this time from his cousin. Deciding it was best not to give the man too much of his focus, knowing well why he had come—likely on behalf of his mother—James chose instead to keep his concentration on his business, as usual.
Edward sat in the armchair where his mother often sat, watching James quietly for some time before he said, “I suspect you know why I am here.”
James scoffed. Meeting his cousin’s gaze for only a second, he returned to his work. “Either you have come to tell me of your mother’s wishes, as if I don’t know them or you have come to tell me I am the subject of yet another scandal.”
He gritted his teeth as soon as he had finished speaking, preparing for whatever his cousin would respond.
“Then you must know that it is time to face the consequences of such things,” Edward said, sounding ever more like his mother. “The entirety of London is talking, James, especially after Lady Florence was spotted leaving here yesterday.”
James could not stop the growl of agitation that slipped between his gritted teeth. “Perhaps the gossips ought to begin focusing on their own lives instead of sticking their oar into mine. Whatever they have to say, it is not true.”
“Then you ought to make it so!” Edward insisted. “Everyone is already adamant of what is going on between the two of you and if you allow this to go on much longer without making comment your reputation and the reputation of our entire family shall be in tatters.”
