Page 14 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
Perhaps it was merely because Melody was feeling more sensitive than she normally was or maybe she was simply imagining things but as she and her mother walked side by side, she felt the eyes of every single person they passed meet hers with utter disgust. And whenever she glanced over her shoulder, she was quick enough to catch a disgruntled comment or two.
“How dare they show their faces here?”
“When shall they realise they are not welcome in polite society?”
“Can you imagine what the other servants must think of her?”
“Just imagine what Mr Thornton's servants must think of her playing the high and mighty wife of a nobleman!”
Though she had heard all these comments and far worse, Melody felt as though she was having an exceptionally hard time of fending off the words. And though none of them were physically spoken to her, people seemed to be talking more loudly than ever.
“Melody, are you well?” her mother asked, making Melody almost jump right out of her skin. She had been so intent upon those around her, she had almost forgotten that her mother was even at her side. “Perhaps we ought to turn around and return home?”
The way her mother glanced past her told Melody that she too had noticed the gossip and the way they were being looked at.
Determination settled itself firmly in Melody's stomach and she shook her head. Slipping her arm through her mother's she linked the crook of her elbow with hers and squeezed her closer. “You wished to walk, and we shall walk. I shall not be cowed by the rest of theton.They cannot take everything from us.”
The look her mother gave her then suggested that in truth they both knew that thetoncould and would take everything from them if they were so inclined, that was if anything ever happened to her father.
Bile rose in her throat at the thought and not only because deep down she knew that one day it was inevitable. More than that, one day she would lose them both and then where would she be?
The daughter of a nobleman and a maid could make it nowhere in life even though her father had already promised her everything in his will. It would not matter much to the rest of theton.They would have no business with her once he was gone.
It didn't bear thinking about, and her bottom lip started to quiver with emotion whenever she did. She tried not to do so very often, but occasionally, something would cause the thoughts to pop into her mind and then it would be almost impossible to remove them.
It was only someone calling her name that distracted her at all. She was only relieved that the tone of the voice appeared, even to her distracted mind, to be friendly. And when she turned to see her friend hurrying towards them, she breathed a deep sigh of relief.
“Miss Blackford!” Melody called, greeting her friend formally yet with affection, knowing that there were people within earshot who would likely have something to say if she didn't.
At the top of that last was Petunia's own mother who walked behind her daughter along with a young gentleman that Melody vaguely recognised. Lady Blackford did not look best pleased at all as her daughter hurried forth and hugged Melody. In fact, her disgusted expression was mirrored upon the face of the man walking beside her.
“I was not expecting to see you here today!” Petunia said loudly enough for her mother and the gentleman to hear before she leaned in, hugging Melody again as she whispered, “Thank heavens you are. I am living in a nightmare.”
She flicked her gaze in the direction of the gentleman to determine exactly why she was having a hard time of it.
It was when she saw the look on Petunia's face as she pulled away that Melody realised why she had recognised the man. Though fairly handsome and tall, he was not at all the kind of man Petunia would have liked to court.
That much had been made evident when they had been introduced to each other several balls ago by Petunia's own mother. And it had been made clear to Petunia and Melody that Jonathan Baldwin, the Marquess of Worthing was Petunia's parents' choice of match for their daughter.
It mattered not that the daughter herself found him quite boring and not at all what she would consider her soulmate.
Though Melody felt quite sorry for her friend, she was also a little envious. She would have given anything to have the attention of just one man and yet Petunia had them practically falling at her feet thanks to her family's high reputation and the dowry her father had promised.
Loudly, Petunia suggested, “Mrs Thornton, Miss Thornton, please won't you join us to finish our turn about the lake? Lord Worthing was just telling mama and I all about his latest investments.”
In a way that neither her mother nor the nobleman could see, Petunia rolled her eyes. Clearly, she was bored with the conversation she had been forced into.
Looking at her friend, Melody thought that for once she had been lax in her appearance, no doubt with a view to putting the marquess of a little. If that were true, then she had to have been desperate to avoid his attention.
Melody was about to accept, always eager to help her friend, when her mother gripped her arm firmly and pulled her back a little. “Actually, Miss Blackford, my daughter and I were just considering leaving.”
When Melody looked back at her mother, she saw that the woman's eyes were not actually on Petunia. And when she followed her mother's gaze, she found that they were instead looking upon Lady Blackford. The woman was glowering at them from behind her daughter. She looked as though she was silently warning them away, demanding that they not get in the way of her daughter making a fine match for herself.
It was clear from the dark look upon Lord Worthing’s face that he was the kind of man who would undoubtedly decline any thought of marriage to a woman who made friends with someone such as her.
And though her friend had already made clear that she had no interest in the man, Melody couldn’t stop from feeling guilty. The very last thing she ever wanted to do was get in the way of her best friend’s future.
Now she might well not like the man her parents had their eye on but what if one day they suggested someone she actually admired? What would happen to Melody and Petunia’s friendship when her chosen suitor made it clear such a thing was not welcome?
