Their maid appeared and Melanie stepped aside so Julia could be changed. When Julia wa
s free of the plain gown, Melanie requested it and rolled it into a ball. “Never wear this again. I cannot bear it.”
“Yes, Melanie.”
The maid suppressed a relieved smile and took the gown away when Melanie handed it over. When they were alone again, she caught Julia’s chin gently. “Beautiful. You have such a lovely figure and you should always wear the clothes that accentuate your beauty rather than hide it.”
Julia’s fingers crept into hers and squeezed. “I am very glad to have you as a sister, Melanie.”
“I am glad too. No one could love my brother more.” Melanie moved back a bit and found the pocket watch that Valentine had given Julia on their engagement. She pinned it to her waist and slipped it into the hidden pocket they’d fashioned for the purpose of holding it securely. “I was on my way downstairs.”
Enthusiastic as always, Julia snatched up a light shawl. “What were you going to do today?”
She had little to do, in truth. Julia’s presence denied her many responsibilities and she was finding it hard to fill the hours of her days. “After breakfast, I was going to read today’s paper if Valentine did not take it with him. And, if there are no callers, I will resume my embroidery.”
Melanie hoped no one came today.
Julia slumped against the bedpost. “Embroidery again? Please, please don’t suggest I join you in that.”
Melanie chuckled softly. Sitting still for the morning was not Julia’s favorite activity. And when she did turn her attention to her embroidery, Julia often ended up stabbing her needle into her finger more times than into the piece she’d been assaulting. The complaints were endless. “I would never suggest it. Perhaps we could convince Valentine to take you for a stroll along the shore when he comes back.”
“We have not decided on Lady Watson’s birthday gift as yet. Last year she was a miss and now she’s a baroness. I have no idea what to give her this year. Her party is the day after tomorrow.”
“Yes, I remember.” That was a party she wasn’t invited to, not that she didn’t understand why Imogen would exclude her. She didn’t deserve an invitation, not after the way she’d behaved. Walter might have suggested making up for past mistakes would be easy, but in her experience, it was terribly hard. She didn’t know how to even start with Imogen.
Julia twirled a red curl around her finger. “What about dance instruction as something to do today? You wrote your parents that you could help me prepare for the Oxford Ball next year and Imogen is sure to want to dance at her party. I should practice.”
Melanie winced. Dancing would deny her the quiet morning she’d been hoping for, but this was not her house anymore. Julia was mistress of it now and her own needs came second. “I told my parents a great many things. There really isn’t anything wrong with your method.”
“But I’m not as graceful as you.” Julia nodded. “You look very elegant when you dance. I don’t want to embarrass the family when we do visit Oxford.”
Melanie thought a moment. “All you really need to do is be a little less enthusiastic. You’re supposed to let your partner lead you, not you lead him around the dance floor.”
Julia winced. “I’ll have to practice. Valentine will be home soon. I want him to see that I’m trying.”
Melanie stared at Julia, a girl she’d once dismissed as hopelessly wild but now saw simply had lacked a good example to mimic and someone to please. She was willing to try to change a little and all because of Valentine’s love.
The discovery made her feel a trifle envious. There was no one she’d change herself for; well, not so far. There wasn’t one man who had sincerely tried to claim even the tiniest portion of her heart, and as had been pointed out yesterday, there might never be. That fact should comfort her, but it didn’t. After all, she was trying to avoid becoming a wife. “Very well, we can practice dancing today.”
Julia clapped her hands. “This is going to be so much fun. Thank you.”
Five
“You are not getting out of here without taking a turn,” Valentine whispered as the sound of the pianoforte once again filled the room with beautiful sound. The parlor had been cleared for dancing and Valentine’s wife was waiting in the center for a partner to come back to her, looking incredibly lovely and altogether anxious. Why Valentine wanted another man here was a complete mystery. He should want to be alone with his wife.
Well, more or less alone.
Walter cast a second glance at the other occupant in the room. Always lovely, always elegant and unruffled, Melanie Merton had largely ignored his arrival in favor of choosing music to play. “What do you need me for?”
Valentine frowned. “To keep Melanie company while we dance.”
He raised a brow. His head was still spinning from Valentine’s accusations yesterday that he was interested in Melanie. He most assuredly was not. Yesterday he’d done no more for her than he would have done for any of his friends’ sisters. And then today, he’d only stopped in on his way back from the vicar’s because he’d heard the music.
However, discovering an impromptu dance lesson in progress had been too amusing to walk away from immediately, so he had stayed a while. A decision now he should perhaps regret. “Will I be accused of having designs on her later?”
“Of course not. I don’t know what I was thinking to say that. You’re a good friend to all of us. I’m very lucky she’s so comfortable around you that you managed to find out what troubled her.”
“Fortunate timing. Nothing more. I caught her at a weak moment.” Walter shrugged.