by Vikki Vaught
Great sobs erupted from Melody. The pain and anguish in her voice tore at his soul. Trying to comfort her, he cradled her in his arms, but his anger still seethed under the surface. He had to rein it in.
“It’s all right. We’ll get through this somehow. It took me weeks to get everything settled before I could come for you because of my father’s death. I saved Doncaster Stables for last. When I arrived in Lincolnshire and found out your parents had died and that you had moved, I was beside myself. That’s when I came here and found you so ill.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she cried. “I…I t-thought you were d-dead.” She buried her head against his chest and cried.
Although he did not want to distress Melody further, he had to get some answers. He raised her chin and searched her eyes. “Why didn’t you contact Nelson when your parents died? You didn’t return any of my solicitor’s letters. You inherited everything I owned.”
“W-what are you talking about?” she asked.
Beginning to shake from his anger, he released her, then stood and began pacing. “What were you thinking? I do not understand why you felt you had to marry. Please tell me what you were thinking because, for Christ’s sake, I don’t know.”
Tears continued to fall. She took a shaky breath. “Henry. Please sit. You’re scaring me.”
He returned to the chair beside her bed and folded his arms across his chest. “Is this better? I don’t mean to scare you. I promise to keep my anger under control. Please, continue.”
She began speaking. “I was devastated when I received the news of your demise. After the funeral, I just wanted to be with my parents.”
He looked at her tear-filled eyes and willed himself to relax. “I’m sure it was difficult. It makes sense that you needed your parents.”
Melody gazed at him. “Although Nelson was so kind, I needed my mother. The trip there was miserable because I kept getting sick, but didn’t know why. After Nelson left, my parents called in the doctor. That’s when I found out I carried your child.”
“Mary Elizabeth is beautiful.” His tone softened. “She looks so much like Helen. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell my family?”
She drew in a tremulous breath. “I decided to wait a while. I told myself I would tell them in the next letter. Then I grew afraid that if your parents found out, they would take our child away.”
Trying to keep his anger in check, he looked directly into her eyes. “You should have had more faith in Nelson. He would never have let that happen.”
“You have to understand,” she pleaded. “Your father was a powerful man, and he detested me. I became convinced I could never tell them. Several months after her birth, I quit answering Helen’s letters altogether. I feared I would say something accidentally, and then they would come and take our daughter.”
“You should have written my brother,” he retorted. “He would have protected you and our child with his life.”
Beseeching him with her eyes, she implored, “So much had happened, you have to understand. As you learned, my parents died. The church owned the house, so I couldn’t stay there. All I had to my name was three hundred pounds—”
He burst out, “You could not have been thinking. I would never leave you without resources!”
“That may be true, but at the time that’s what I thought. I never received any letters from your solicitor. God knows, I would have answered a letter like that, especially after my parents died.” Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she added, “Now do you want to hear the rest or not?”
“By all means, please continue.” He straightened in his seat and waited for her to speak. Melody was still weak, and the last thing he wanted to do was upset her and make her sick again. She leaned against her pillows, looking so pale and weak, it made his heart ache.
Oh, why did this have to happen to us?
“After my…parents died,” haltingly, she continued on, “I found a small cottage on the edge of town. Brandon helped me move and checked on me a couple of times a week. When he decided to take the position here, he didn’t want to leave me alone, so he asked me to marry him.”
He erupted. “God, Melody, how could you do it?”
Pain showing in her eyes, she cried, “I didn’t want to. I knew I would never love him. He told me he understood. He pointed out you were gone and nothing would bring you back. At least, we cared for each other, and there were worse reasons to marry than friendship.”
“Friendship…oh, that’s rich,” he shouted. “You had a damned child together. Obviously, more than friendship was involved!”
“I know. I’m sorry. I married Brandon so Mary Elizabeth would not grow up without a father,” she implored. “I tried to do what was best for her. I knew he would make a good father. If it had only been me to consider, I would never have married again, but I’ve always been a practical woman. I hope you can accept my reasoning.”
He leaned forward and ran his fingers through his hair. “I can understand why you wanted a father for her.”
“Thank goodness.”
He bit his tongue to keep from shouting.
Damn it.
“But, I’m still in a quandary over why you didn’t get my solicitor’s letters.” Standing, he began to pace yet again, having lost his tenacious hold on his anger. “Did you think I would die and leave you nothing? I can’t believe you were that slow-witted. You should have known better!”
Melody sat up straight, incredulity written across her face. “I am not slow-witted! I don’t know why I didn’t get those letters. We never discussed finances. I had no idea what you owned or how much money you had. I didn’t even know who your solicitor was. You should have told me before you went off to war.”
He stopped pacing and looked at her. “You’re right. I should never have gone off without explaining everything to you. I suppose I was so concerned over what was happening, I didn’t think of the future or what would happen if I died. I’m sorry for that, but you still should have realized I would not have left you without resources.”
“I did what I felt was best for Mary Elizabeth and myself,” she replied. “I don’t know what else to say. I’ll understand if you want to divorce me. I’m sure there must be some way to end our marriage without a scandal.”
Fury blazed through him faster than a forest fire.
He took several deep, cleansing breaths, trying to control himself.
Returning to his pacing—if he did not keep moving, he would put his fist through the wall—he bellowed, “That’s ridiculous. Divorce is out of the question. Even though I will probably never understand why you felt your actions were necessary, you’re still my wife, and you will be until the day you die. I will hear no more talk of dissolving our union. We shall move beyond this some way.”
With sadness shadowing her face, she sighed. “Neither of us can go back and change anything, so it serves no useful purpose to continue to argue. I need to concentrate on getting my strength back.” She looked directly into his eyes. “You need to be very sure you don’t want out of this marriage. I’ll be a terrible duchess. It’s not something I ever wanted.”
He folded his arms and returned her stare. “Well, I never expected to be the duke either, but here I am, and I have no choice but to meet my obligations, and so will you. The important thing now is to get you well. So you’re right, we’ll not talk of this anymore. Later, after we arrive at Sanderford Park, we can sort it all out.”
Henry knew they could not end their marriage, and he did not want to anyway. He would find a way to get past Melody’s decision to remarry. Worst than that, she had given her body to another man. The thought of her with Brandon sent a blast of pain straight to his heart. He had liked the man when he’d met him, but that did not mean he wanted to share Melody with him, or any man for that matter.
The next morning, he found his wife in the parlor. Dressed and looking much improved. He joined her on the sofa. After inquiring after her health, he men
tioned the subject of divorce again and further explained the ramifications if they separated.
He cleared his throat. “We must stay together. We’re legally married, and the only way to end our marriage is for me to accuse you of adultery. We must put Mary Elizabeth’s best interests first. It would definitely not benefit her if her parents went through a scandalous divorce.”
“Oh, dear, of course I would not want to embroil us in that kind of scandal,” she replied. “You’re right, we need to concentrate on what would be best for our child.”
“I’m relieved you agree,” a ton of bricks lifted from his shoulders, “so no more discussion. I would much rather talk of our beautiful daughter. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the thought of fatherhood, nonetheless, thrilled. I do hope she’ll warm up to me eventually.”
She started to reach for his hand, then must have thought better of it because she laced her fingers and settled them in her lap. “You will adjust without a problem,” she assured him, “and Mary Elizabeth will warm up to you, once she has time to get used to you. She is beautiful, is she not?”
He smiled. “She is, and she looked so much like Helen. As far as you and me, we’ll take it one day at a time. We need to spend time getting to know each other again. After all, we’ve been apart for several years. It’s only natural to feel almost like strangers.”
Melody gazed at him with apprehension in her eyes. “I’m pleased to hear that. I need time to get used to you being alive, and I need your patience while I adjust. I’m overjoyed you survived, but nonetheless, it’s extremely overwhelming. Please understand, my feelings for you are as strong as they were before you left. I agree we need to take things one day at a time, and I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
He reached over and touched her clasped hands. “I understand all of this is rather shocking. It’s unusual for someone to come back from the dead. I hope it doesn’t take you too long to adjust. I want you to be my wife again in every sense of the word.”
She shyly looked at him from the corner of her eyes. “Even though I want that as well, we do need to reacquaint ourselves with each other. I’m sure we can do that if we put aside what has happened. At least for a time. Now, shall we visit our daughter?”
They spent an hour with both children. Mary Elizabeth clung to her mother during the entire visit, but hopefully that would change once she became used to him. He had to remain optimistic. He would give Melody the time she asked for, and hopefully he would be able to sort through his feelings as they began to get to know each other again.
They spent the next two weeks in Doncaster so Melody could regain her strength. Since her house was so small, he stayed at his stables. He spent part of each day with her so they could grow accustomed to being with each other again. The rest of the time, he spent with his stable manager. He also visited Hyatt Hall and met with his steward. He found two coaches there, had them repaired, and made ready for the long journey. He hired a dray wagon for his wife’s belongings.
Mary Elizabeth did not want to have anything to do with him. Melody tried to talk to her, but she refused to believe he was her father. She kept insisting her papa was in heaven with the angels. Little Brandon was so young, he seemed to accept him without question. The child was adorable with big soulful brown eyes and blond curls floating around his face. While he was not enthused to have a stepchild, he reined in his jealous thoughts. After all, it was not the infant’s fault.
Millie and Mrs. Worth packed up the cottage. Since the housekeeper’s children were grown and her husband gone, she agreed to come with them as the children’s nurse. This seemed to please his wife, since the woman was wonderful with the children.
They left the first part of June. Henry and Melody rode in the first carriage, and the children rode with Millie and Mrs. Worth in the second. The trip was long and exhausting, primarily due to the children, and Melody still grew tired easily, so they could not travel very far each day.
Henry suspected the upheaval was making his wife’s recovery take longer. At least she had regained some of her weight, but she was still far too thin. He was still trying to move on from what he saw as a betrayal. He should not feel so resentful, but damn it, if he could just forget.
He could tell she realized he had not forgiven her. They tried to converse, but it was uncomfortable for both of them. Melody ended up reading or doing needlework, and he either read the newspaper or pretended to sleep.
Every night, when they stopped at an inn, she retired to her room and had a tray sent up. After she ate, she spent time with the children, then went to bed. He ate alone in the dining room, then drank until he could go to sleep. Normally, he was not much of a drinker. Lately, it was the only way he could sleep without having erotic dreams. Emotionally he might not have forgiven her, but his body disagreed. It craved her as a man in the desert who had lived too long without water.
By the time they drew close to Sanderford Park, the children were inordinately irritable and cried most of the time, which his wife fretted over. She had even taken to riding with them instead of him.
Thank God they finally arrived. Simpson had the servants standing in a line to greet them. He had sent word he was bringing his wife home. Melody acted gracious as she went down the line and met each member of the staff. She might believe she was not duchess material, but she easily handled what would be daunting to many women.
Once the children were in the nursery, he left her with them and went to find his mother. As soon as he started talking to her, it was obvious she had returned to her usual vindictive self. He should have known it was too good to last.
After listening to the duchess for several minutes, his patience wore thin. “This is not up for discussion. You will treat my wife with the respect she deserves. You have a beautiful granddaughter named Mary Elizabeth. Melody married her best friend when she thought I had died. The man passed away a short time ago. She has a son from that union. I expect you to treat Brandon as your grandchild. He is not to blame for this situation.”
His mother rose from her chair and marched over to him. “You are entirely too accepting of your wife. You need to be careful she does not wrap you around her little finger again. How can you be sure this Mary Elizabeth is your child? At least she is a girl, so she cannot inherit.”
He looked directly into his mother’s eyes. “There is no doubt of Mary Elizabeth’s parentage. For one thing, the timing alone is right. She is definitely my daughter. She also looks like Helen did as a child. So you can put that notion to rest.”
The duchess returned his stare, then grumbled, “Well, I suppose we will have to make the best of a bad situation. I will be polite, but do not expect me to like it. I have never understood what you saw in her to begin with. I suppose it is too late to do anything now.”
As he turned to leave the room, he retorted, “You’re correct about that. Going forward, you will be pleasant to my wife, and let me say this, if I find out you’ve said anything to hurt her, you will answer to me. I’m sure you could live quite comfortably in the dower house, if you do not do as I request. I am the head of this family now, and you need to remember that.”
He went to their rooms and found Melody asleep. She looked so tired, yet so lovely. He wanted to wake her up and kiss her, but he had promised her time to adjust. It also would not be right to make love until he could move beyond his feelings concerning her choices.
He went into his bedchamber to think about all that had gone on while he’d been gone. He felt overwhelmed and much older than his eight and twenty years. He truly found it amazing he was a father. He never doubted Mary Elizabeth was his child. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Melody had never been unfaithful to him before he left for the continent. There would be difficult times ahead, but he still loved her. He would have to try harder to get over his anger at what he irrationally saw as her betrayal.
He never expected to be the duke, nor had he ever wanted it. He was a soldier. He’d never wanted to be anything els
e. At least he spent that short period of time with his father, learning how to manage the dukedom. He went to what used to be his father’s study…it was his now. Stallings had left several reports on his desk that needed his attention, but he was too tired to peruse them. He poured himself a large snifter of brandy and proceeded to get royally drunk.
* * * *
The next day, Melody awoke to a room full of sunshine. At first she could not remember where she was, but then it came back to her. She was at Sanderford Park. She rang for Millie, and when she arrived, she hastily dressed and went to find her children in the nursery. Mary Elizabeth ran to her. She dropped to her knees and gave her a hug, then picked up Brandon and hugged him close.
“How are you feeling this morning?” she asked. “I know this must be a bit strange to you. This is your new home. Look at the lovely toys. They belonged to your father and his sisters when they were children. See these beautiful dolls. Won’t you enjoy playing with them?”
Mary Elizabeth looked at her mother with her large blue eyes and nodded. “Yeth, Mama, I tink I like it heyo.”
The nursemaid came over and curtsied. “I’m Suzie, and I takes care o’ Lady Wyndham’s children, Yer Grace.”
At first Melody thought her mother-in-law had walked into the room, and then she realized Suzie had addressed her. Hearing “Her Grace” as applied to her would be difficult.
She smiled at the young girl. “Have my children had breakfast yet? They usually eat porridge.”
“Yes, Yer Grace, and a fine breakfast it be. The children liked Cook’s special oatmeal,” she jovially replied.
“I’m glad they enjoyed it.” She turned to the children. “I shall leave you with Suzie, but I’ll return later after I talk to your father.” She looked at the nursemaid. “Where is Mrs. Worth?”
“She went t’ get somethin’. I’m sure she’ll be back any minute. Do ye want me t’ find ’er fer ye, Yer Grace?” she asked.
“No, I will speak with her the next time I come to the nursery.” After giving Mary Elizabeth and Brandon a hug, she turned and left the room. Once she closed the door, she inhaled, then straightened to her full five feet and two inches.
