Page 58 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
He shall never be mine,she reminded herself, knowing it was likely best for her to never see him again. Maybe then she might one day be able to forget about him.
“Melody,” her mother said in such a gentle tone, so different from the one she had been using since the night before, that Melody looked up in startlement. The sad look upon her mother’s face was enough to make a tear roll down her cheek. “The duke is a well-known rake. It would be best for you to forget about him entirely.”
Bottom lip trembling, Melody held her breath and nodded. “I know, mama.”
There was sympathy in her mother’s eyes then, as though she sensed the pain that her daughter was going through. She watched her father reach across his chest and place his hand on top of his wife’s.
For just a second Melody thought to remind her mother that she had once told her of her father’s past, that he had been a rogue and a rake when they had met, that their very marriage had been borne of such things.
It could never happen that way again,Melody told herself, knowing that the chances would likely be far too good to be true. It was best not to try to fool herself into believing such things.
She was about to ask instead if she might be dismissed, hoping to rush off to her bedroom and release the tears that were bubbling up at the corners of her eyes, when there was a harsh knocking upon the door behind her. The noise made her jump and another tear rolled down her cheek.
“What is it?” her father yelled loudly, clearly unhappy that they had been disturbed.
Jenkins entered sheepishly. He bowed low to Melody’s parents before straightening up and turning towards her. “Forgive me, sir, madam, but miss, a letter has just arrived for you.”
With head still dipped, the butler produced a letter from behind his back. The moment that Melody saw the handwriting upon the front, her name written in clear cursive, she recognised the penmanship.
“I shall read it later,” Melody insisted. She did not have the heart to open it right there and then.
“You shall open it this instant and read it aloud!" Her father demanded. Melody felt sick. Never before had either of her parents tried to steal her privacy away from her.
It was made abundantly clear to her just how angry both her parents were when she glanced to her mother for help only for the woman to give a stern nod of encouragement. "Open it. Do as your father says."
Again, there was a sympathetic sadness to her mother's gaze, but it would do no good as her father glared at her, awaiting her to follow his orders.
It was only when Melody took the letter from the butler and looked at him expectantly that her father said, "Thank you, Jenkins. You may retire outside the door."
Melody breathed a small sigh of relief. At least she would not be forced to read her private correspondence aloud in front of the butler. Whether he had always been kind to her or not, she did not like the thought of the entire household finding out what was going on. God forbid one of the maids might take it upon themselves to have loose lips.
It was only when the door clicked closed behind the butler that Melody found the courage to break the wax seal upon the letter.
Closing her eyes, she sucked in a deep breath, and opened them again to read.
Dear Miss Thornton
Immediately upon reading the very first part of the letter Melody knew that something was wrong. Never had the gentleman addressed her so formally in correspondence.
I regret to inform you that I must rescind my marriage proposal.
It has come to light that we may not be as well matched as I had at first believed.
I shall retire quietly from this situation and leave you with best wishes.
Mr Colton Junior
"Mr Colton!" Her father exclaimed. "I believed it a letter from the duke!"
It was clear from her mother's expression that she had believed so too. Though their shock that it hadn’t been was quickly overwhelmed by the realisation of what had been said within the letter. Both of her parents looked as though they had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
“This cannot be,” her mother insisted, skirting around the desk with her hand extended for the letter. “Does it say nothing else? Give no reason?”
Melody shrugged, offering the letter freely. There was nothing she could say that she hadn’t already. She had kept nothing of the letter to herself. She might have called it short and sweet were it not for the sender.
Her mother looked as if she were reading the letter over and over while her father remained stoically silent.
After she had read it several times, her mother turned on her once more and demanded, “Whom have you told of yourattachmentto the duke?”
