Page 19 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
Melody squeezed her eyes tightly shut as soon as she had said the words but not quite before she saw Petunia's eyes grow wide with shock. Nor did it stop her from hearing her friend's sharp intake of breath.
“You were invited to a ball by aduke?” Petunia exclaimed, sounding utterly shocked and far more excited than even Melody had anticipated.
When Melody dared to open her eyes again, she immediately wished that she hadn't. Petunia looked so excited that she might burst.
It was at that very moment that Jenkins arrived with the tea and Melody was forced to bite the inside of her lip to stop from saying anything until he had poured two cups and retired from the room once more.
“This is wonderful news, Melody!” Petunia insisted the moment he was gone. The way she grabbed hold of Melody's shoulders startled her. “Why don't you look pleased?”
“I…I am not certain if I should take him up on the invitation,” Melody admitted, her gut churning to even say the words.
When she squeezed her eyes shut again, she could see the disappointment upon the duke's face when she had suggested that she needed to think about it. The thought of disappointing him all over again made her feel quite ill indeed.
“Why ever not?” Petunia protested, flabbergasted. “I cannot imagine any woman turning down the invitation of a duke!”
Melody cringed at that. Her friend was entirely right but there was one catch. “It is not the duke's ball.”
“No but heisa duke and last I checked, duke trumps earl,” Petunia pointed out, wagging her brow at Melody with a little too much enthusiasm. “You wouldn't be the first woman to have been invited to a ball via another guest. The more the merrier, they always say.”
Melody could think of all too many people who would argue that fact when they heard she had been invited by the duke. And yet, she couldn't help but ask her friend, “So you think I ought to go?”
There wasn't even a single moment's pause before Petunia snapped back, “Of course I think you should go! You cannot turn down the invitation of a duke, especially not one as handsome and eligible as the duke!”
Melody quivered. Her friend was right, but she still felt more than a little apprehensive. “What about all the bad blood?”
Petunia rolled her eyes at that and gripped hold of Melody's shoulders just a little tighter. “Do you honestly believe that your uncle would make a scene in front of the entireton? Especially when he realises someone as influential as the duke has personally invited you?”
The lump in Melody's throat only grew but again, she realised her friend was right.
“Besides,” Petunia added before Melody could say anything to protest, “It means that the two of us can travel there together and we can keep an eye on each other.”
It was certainly a relief to know that if she did decide to attend then her friend would be right there with her. But still, Melody wasn't one hundred percent sure that she should even be considering it.
“So, you think I ought to go?” Melody asked.
Petunia cocked her head to one side and responded, “Do you honestly believe it would be a good idea to turn down a duke's invitation? Especially given your already precarious situation?”
Melody's throat constricted painfully. She hated it so much when her friend was justsoright.
“You should go home directly and send a messenger with word of your acceptance,” Petunia suggested suddenly. She grabbed Melody by the hands and pulled her to her feet with her. “Before you have the chance to change your mind.”
Again, it was made abundantly clear to Melody that her friend knew her all too well. Though she was still slightly uncertain, she felt her friend's excitement rubbing off on her and she knew that Petunia's suggestion was valid. She must accept the duke’s invitation before she lost her nerve. This might well be her one and only chance to find herself on the right side of society for once.
Upon returning home, Melody found she did not have the chance to send any kind of letter. No sooner had she stepped through the front door of their townhouse than her mother appeared from the drawing room.
“Melody! There you are,” her mother said, sounding almost frantic.
Heart racing with concern, Melody hurried down the hall towards her. “Mama? What is it? Whatever is the matter?”
At the very last second, her mother sidestepped out of the door and gestured her inside. “You have a guest.”
Melody's heart skipped a beat. Had the duke bypassed her need to send him a letter of acceptance by turning up on her doorstep to ask her personally for her final decision?
The thought of finding him sitting in the drawing room, awaiting her, propelled Melody forward. But the second she stepped into the room, her heart sank in disappointment.
Though mildly handsome and smiling with welcome, the man sitting before Melody was most definitely not the duke.
He jumped up from his seat the moment that Melody's mother discreetly urged her into the room with a prod of her fingers in the small of her back.
