Page 32 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
As soon as her father rounded the door frame and stepped into the room, Melody jumped to her feet and exclaimed, "Papa, you are home early!"
For just a moment, she hoped her father might be an ally. That perhaps he might actually agree with her. That he might understand she did not wish to entertain Mr Colton's supposed attentions towards her simply because she needed to make a match, even though he might be the only one available.
"Sweetheart, oh, aren't you looking beautiful today," her father said, coming forth to give her a warm hug before holding her at arm's length. "My business trip was concluded early so I thought I would return home to spend some time with my two favourite girls before I have to head back out again."
Bile rose in Melody's throat. She half wondered whether her mother had sent word to him after what she had blurted the day before about his never being around.
Yet, if she had, he did not mention it as he turned to kiss his wife on the forehead where she remained seated before he twisted on his heels to greet Mr Colton, "Well, if it isn't little Andrew Colton! Not so little nowadays, I see!"
He offered the man his hand and when Mr Colton leapt up to shake it, Melody felt her hopes dashed to the wind. The way her father greeted the man, shaking his hand and pulling him into a brotherly - or perhaps even fatherly—embrace terrified Melody.
"It is good to see you also, Mr Thornton," Mr Colton stated as he pulled back from her father's embrace only to grip and shake his hand once more with both of his own. "I wish to thank you and your beautiful wife, your daughter also, for welcoming me so warmly into your home."
"Any son of Andrew Colton Senior is always welcome in my home!" Her father bellowed and a renewed disappointment hit Melody.
She sighed deeply, knowing that this visit of Mr Colton's was going to be even longer and more uncomfortable than any that had come before it.
"So then, what have I missed?" Her father asked as he straightened his jacket and dropped down onto the couch beside his wife, opposite her and Mr Colton.
At an encouraging look from her mother, one tinged with warning, Melody dropped back down onto her seat. Mr Colton, still smiling, dropped down beside her. She noticed that he was slightly closer than before, as though he had taken her father's interruption to make his move to draw nearer.
Melody carefully inched away, hoping that nobody would notice. And it was clear from the looks on everyone's faces that they didn't. In fact, Melody almost felt invisible as Mr Colton began to regale her father with tales of all he had accomplished in the last few years. Going to Oxford, travelling Europe, getting involved in all the workings of his father's, and consequently her father's, business.
And the longer she sat, watching how her father listened intently and how her mother gushed fondly, she became all too aware of just how much they both fancied him for a match for her.
Neither of them needed to speak it out loud, she could see it written plainly upon their faces.
And it was that knowledge that caused Melody to suddenly burst up from her seat once more. "Please, forgive me," she said quickly when all three of them turned to look at her in surprise.
The way her mother's face paled suggested she knew well what was coming.
"Melody, are you quite alright?" Her mama asked but the edge of her tone was sharp, as if warning her not to do what she was about to.
But Melody could not take a moment longer in Mr Colton's presence. Nor could she keep the false smile plastered upon her face. It had grown quite painful indeed.
"Forgive me, father, I am so glad you are home but I fear I may be coming down with something," she said, inching across the room under the steady gaze of her mother to press her lips to her father's balding head, as she had done since she was a little girl whenever she was saying farewell.
At least ever since she had grown tall enough to do so while he was sitting in a lower position. Otherwise, he was far too tall for her. "I have a most terrible headache and my eyes are quite sore. I do believe I need to rest."
"Oh, you look quite well to me," her mother protested, and the two women glowered at each other. Melody's stomach clenched. She and her mother had never been against each other in such a way before. Of course, they'd had mild disagreements over the years but none that had ended in her screaming and running away as had occurred the day before.
"Yes, your mother is right, Miss Thornton," Mr Colton put in sweetly, "you are quite radiant today."
Ordinarily, a compliment from a gentleman might have made her blush or even swoon. It wasn't often that a man even looked in her direction, let alone offered her a compliment, and yet the more she wondered what Mr Colton's intentions were, the more she shut herself off from his niceties.
And the little voice in the back of her head again reminded her that he was not the duke. But truly, what did that matter?
She didn't know. What she did know, was that she couldn't stand another second in that room.
"Thank you, Mr Colton, but I do believe it has come over me all of a sudden," Melody stated, swatting at her face with her hand and giving a gentle blow as if to cool her face. "I would hate to pass whatever this is on to anyone else. Forgive me, sir, but I hope you will be in good company without my presence."
With that, she offered the gentleman a curtsey, starting towards the door before she had even fully straightened up.
"Melody, come…" her mama called but it was Mr Colton's voice she heard above all else.
"Do not worry, Miss Thornton, I shall call again to make up for it!"
And suddenly, she wondered whether she ought to have just gritted her teeth and sat through one lousy visit just to avoid another.
