“And at long last too.” Linus sighed and led him to the door.
Fifteen
“Well?” Melanie asked as she settled into a chair and poured from the second pot of tea.
Julia flicked the curtain closed. “I can’t see him still. Oh, this waiting is torture.”
“He will be back soon.” Melanie breathed a heavy sigh before sitting forward and holding out a piece of paper. “In the meantime, I know you won’t lack for advice but the first thing you really must do after the wedding is invite these women and their husbands to dinner.”
The list was intimidating, all the more because she had to make a good impression for Valentine’s sake. “I don’t know if I can do this alone.”
“Of course you can. You have my brother, don’t forget,” Melanie chided. “Just remember, these women, when they get to know you, have exactly the same hopes and dreams as you do.”
“They dream of besting Valentine?”
Melanie burst out laughing but quickly recovered her poise. “Perhaps not that, but having a happy, harmonious home, respect of their peers. They long for acceptance just as you do. It is what every woman wants.”
The front door opened and banged closed and they both glanced toward the sound.
Valentine grinned. “Found you at last. What are you pair doing here again?”
“I wanted a private word and arranged to meet here instead of the hotel. I hope you don’t mind.” Melanie held out her hands. “I came to congratulate my future sister again and offer a small suggestion to ease her way before I depart Brighton.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“Father insists on an early start tomorrow. Teresa supports his decision to go, so we will.” Her smile was a touch tense at the mention of Mr. Merton Senior and her cousin. “I don’t believe I will be allowed time to see you both again in the morning.”
Valentine’s gaze snagged on hers and she could tell he was struggling against the idea of his sister leaving again, and likely for good this time. Melanie had surprised her with her cunning and unflinching support of her brother’s ambitions. The least she could do was make things easier for the pair.
She nodded, keen to prove that no matter what he decided to do, it would be right.
Valentine crossed the room. “Stay with us instead of returning to Oxford.”
Melanie shook her head. “It’s not necessary to say such things. I will be in the way, and so long as you do marry Julia, I will be happy.”
He knelt and caught Melanie’s hand. “Brighton isn’t the same without you.”
“Valentine. You should only worry about your future. You and Julia have a lot to do in the coming months and years.” From her reticule, Melanie produced the bribe her father had forced on Julia and held it out to him. “Here, this will help you start your shop. Father forced it on Julia before she realized his intent. I’ve had the money all along but I don’t want it either. It would have been yours anyway. Consider it a wedding gift.”
The large pouched contained more money than she’d ever seen in her life. A third viewing didn’t make the insult Valentine’s father had delivered any easier to bear.
Valentine took it slowly, and nodded. He glanced at Julia, his expression troubled. “Father mentioned this today.”
“We thought he might.” She sighed and flopped onto a chair. “He took advantage of my shock. I should have tossed it at his head like I tossed those oranges at that thief.”
“I’d have liked to have seen that.” He grinned and then glanced at his sister. “My future wife might value your advice from time to time. Oxford is such a long way away when hosting a dinner you’re nervous about.”
“Can I think about it?”
“Indeed you can,” Julia answered, and then she tugged her pocket watch from Valentine’s waistcoat pocket and stared at the hands. “You have until I finish speaking to form your answer. I hope you remember I’m not a complete chatterbox.”
She looked expectantly at Valentine’s sister and waited. Melanie didn’t seem to know what to say, and Julia smiled warmly. Melanie had been the confident one. A seemingly unflappable woman. But Julia suspected she’d only ever seen the surface.
“I understand now what Teresa has said of you to others, sister,” Valentine murmured. “How she twisted your words and made everyone believe the worst of you behind our backs. Let her have our parents’ undivided attention if she is so desperate for their approval. She will one day discover how little comfort those expensive trinkets they buy her can be when they are given without love and only growing expectations.”
Julia leaned forward in time to see tears fill Melanie’s eyes. “Please stay. I would like to get to know my new sister and I cannot do that by letter. I promise to pay attention to your instructions and to try not to embarrass you.”
Tears slipped down Melanie’s cheeks and she turned her face to wipe them away. After a moment she turned back, her control restored. “I’m more concerned at being an embarrassment to you. I don’t do well around people our age, but it’s home. However, I can promise to keep out of your way and only step in if you need my guidance.”