Page 45 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
From the looks of the pin cushion upon her wrist she did not need any more.
Though Melody averted her gaze at just the right moment before the curtain was pulled back and repositioned so that she could not see beyond, she could still hear the talk.
"What was that?" Lady Florence hissed immediately. "Don't you know that woman will gossip from here to Cornwall and everywhere between if she has a chance?"
"I'm sorry, Florence, I wasn't thinking," came the regretful response. It was clear from the view that whomever the lady was, she was fearful to upset Lady Florence.
"No harm done," Lady Florence scoffed as though pleased at having gained the upper hand in the conversation. Melody cringed at her cousin's conniving tone as she added, "Anyway, my plan is working perfectly. After my perfect performance in Lady Fyling's rose gardens and my visiting the duke at his home, I suspect that soon the rumours shall whittle him down to nothing and then he shall be desperate to marry me."
Melody had no need to see through the curtain, to picture the over-confident and evil-looking smirk that likely decorated her cousin's face.
"I still do not know how you did it," the other woman insisted and Melody's skin crawled when she added, "I would have been too frightened of rebuke to force myself onto a man in such a way."
Melody's throat grew so dry that she felt as though she could not swallow past the lump in her windpipe.
All this time, she had believed that it had been The Duke of Haston who had forced himself upon Lady Florence. She had refused to see him because of that very fact. And yet, here she was learning that the duke was not the rake or the rogue that thetonhad made him out to be. He was in fact the victim.
Bile rose in the back of Melody's throat. She had agreed to marry Mr Colton on the pretence that it had been her only option, all because she believed the duke was unattainable and yet, Lady Florence had orchestrated the entire thing.
"Melody? Are you well?" Petunia's voice didn't startle Melody half as much as her hand landing upon her forearm did.
Almost jumping out of her skin, she turned to face her friend, knowing quickly. "I am, I am."
Clearing her throat, she made to pick up a couple of ribbons from the wicker box in front of her, only pretending to look at them. "Forgive me, I was distracted by all the different colours."
It was entirely a lie, but it seemed one that Petunia could accept.
"I know. Who would have thought you could collect white in so many different shades," Petunia chuckled, rolling her eyes. Melody forced a laugh, still listening for Lady Florence to give further information.
But at that moment the modiste appeared beside them and said, "I shan't be a moment, ladies."
She then disappeared back behind the curtain and Melody knew her cousin would risk saying nothing more on the subject.
What did it matter anyway? Even if the duke had not forced himself upon her, every member of thetonbelieved it, and nobody would believe the likes of Melody were she to tell the truth.
Besides, there was nothing to say that revealing the truth would do anything but cause even more upset. After all, she had no way of knowing the duke's true feelings. Perhaps he did intend to propose to Lady Florence for all she knew, with or without a scandal.
Perhaps she truly only had been his plaything before he decided to settle down. And what of poor Mr Colton? He did not deserve to face the consequences of what might happen were she to reveal the truth. He deserved a good and humble wife, one who was loyal to him and kind, just as he had been to her.
"For goodness sake, Melody, are you quite certain that you are well?" Petunia demanded once more, and Melody became all too aware that she had lost herself in thought. "You are as distracted as a dormouse who has heard a cat lurking around the corner."
"I am fine," Melody assured her friend. Forcing a broader smile. "I do fear I have had too much wedding planning over the last few days. Perhaps we should go to the tearoom for a break?"
"Oh, yes, what a lovely idea," Petunia said with a smile. She turned on her heels and called to her mother, "Mama, perhaps we might go for a spot of tea and rest our feet? We have been shopping all morning."
Lady Blackford looked far less excited than her daughter at the prospect and Melody was relieved when she suggested, "The two of you go on ahead and I shall follow on."
It was as they left the modiste, knowing that Lady Blackford likely had no wish to be seen directly in the company of a woman surrounded by rumour, that she decided it was best to settle for what she had already been given. After all, she had been the focus of enough scandal during her short life. She did not need to risk ruining the reputation of her entire family, by trying to bring Lady Florence's actions to light.
The Duke of Haston is a grown man,she decided,he can fix his own problems.
Yet even as she followed her friend down the street, she couldn't help but think of how it felt to have that grown man press himself against her, pinning her to the tree in her garden. She couldn't imagine Mr Colton ever doing anything like that. Even if he did, she suspected it would not cause the kind of fluttering sensation within her that she experienced when the duke did it.
Even so, she deserved some small happiness in life, and she suspected that Mr Colton could give her that. It would be a quiet life as the wife of a businessman. Already, she sensed a slight difference in the way people were treating her. They were not entirely friendly though as they passed her in the street, several did make eye contact without looking entirely appalled, tipping their hats and bonnets to her as they went.
It was better to forget The Duke of Haston entirely. Her association with him had only caused her trouble and heartache so far.
He shall be happy one day,she thought, determined that what he deserved would one day find him.And so shall I.
