The paper passed to his hand and he sighed in relief. He nudged Imogen out the door. “Run along home now, little sister, and put your feet up. We have business to discuss.”
Imogen gripped the doorway tighter. “But I didn’t tell you the worst part. Does one nice thing and before I can get used to the idea I found out she’s returning to Oxford. So inconsiderate.”
“Whom are you babbling about?”
“Well, Melanie, of course. She leaves Brighton tomorrow. Valentine arranged it despite Julia being very upset to see her go. Melanie refuses to reconsider, even if she’s obviously very sad too.”
His stomach lurched. “That is news to me.”
“I expect Valentine will tell you all about it tonight at cards.”
He had other plans for tonight that did not need cards but was just as risky. He hoped to lure Melanie out tonight for another private conversation. “I must give my apologies, actually. I have something to do that cannot wait.”
Imogen kissed his cheek. “Come and have luncheon with me tomorrow and tell me about your business. I’m hosting a small dinner tomorrow night, but there will likely be no chance for private conversation.”
“No matchmaking, Imogen,” he reminded her quickly.
She merely smiled.
As soon as Imogen slipped out, Hawke closed the door. “Why is Melanie Merton leaving Brighton if she’s to be your wife?”
He did not know exactly, but he feared she was trying to run from her feelings. He sighed deeply and turned back to his desk. “She hasn’t agreed.”
“Not agreed? But I thought it was all settled. That’s why I secured a license for you to marry.”
He looked at Hawke in astonishment. “I didn’t ask for that. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
“Our new partner at the bank has excellent connections.” Hawke set his hand to Walter’s shoulder and regarded him sadly. “Does the lady even know you wish to marry her?”
He shook his head and unfolded the paper Hawke had given him. He’d never seen a special license before. They were so rare outside of London. However, having one meant he could press his case without delay if he could catch Melanie first. “I wrote to you before I discovered she did not want children. Indeed, that is why she’s refused so many suitors. She would refuse me for the same reason, I fear. You might have wasted a favor for this.”
“So, no little heir to the George family fortune. Hmm,” Hawke murmured before settling himself before the desk. “You couldn’t change her mind?”
“I don’t see how I can convince her in one night.” He shook his head. “She is utterly determined on her path to live alone.”
Hawke nodded. “Marriage is not an easy adjustment. Sacrifices must be made. Let me ask you this: what would you rather? Melanie, or to have children with someone else?”
Walter closed his eyes. The answer was so quickly presented in his mind that he almost swore. “Mellie, of course.”
“That is what I thought you’d say.” Hawke chuckled. “Let me know if I can be of any service for the wedding arrangements. I’ve not told my wife why we have come, by the way, so you still have the element of surprise.”
“I might have to travel to Oxford tomorrow if I want to convince her.”
“That’s the spirit. Don’t let her get away. As soon as I started reading your letter, I knew who your wife would be before I saw the name. An excellent choice.”
“I hope you are right.” When Hawke wandered out a few minutes later, Walter stared at the pile of correspondence on his desk. He didn’t have much time to attend to his business before tomorrow if he intended to follow her but there were certain things he had to do.
He tucked the special license into his coat pocket and reached for the topmost letters. One was addressed from a Mr. Clemens of Southampton and it took a moment for the name to register. How could he have forgotten that the late Mr. Clemens had an older brother? He’d moved away many years ago and Walter had not heard him mentioned since.
He quickly scanned the note but then frowned at the message within. Mr. Daniel Clemens had written to enquire after his brother’s widow and offered to help support some of the children. But his help came at a high price. Perhaps too high. He wanted to bring half of them into his home and had even chosen them by name. The two eldest were to be his.
Walter folded the letter slowly, astonished by such an offer. It would be hard for anyone to give their children away, but to lose so many, and at once. He scraped his hand over his jaw. He needed advice before he proceeded—and he knew just the woman to offer it.
He left his home and knocked soundly on the Mertons’ front door. Valentine greeted him after a short wait. “Good afternoon.”
“Hello there. I need to speak to your sister.”
Valentine folded his arms across his chest. “Concerning?”
“Mrs. Clemens and her brood of children. I need her advice on a proposition I received in the post today.”
Valentine frowned, clearly suspicious, but sent him into the parlor to wait while he went to fetch Melanie from above. He paced impatiently as the minutes ticked by, and only when she entered the parlor did he realize how much he’d feared she wouldn’t see him.
His heart thudded hard against his ribs. “Miss Merton.”
“Mr. George.” She dipped a curtsy and bid him to sit. “My brother suggested you were in a hurry and needed advice.”
“Not so much in a hurry but I do need your advice.” He dug into his pocket. “I have a letter from the late Mr. Clemens’ older brother.”
“I did not know there was a brother.”
“Estranged.” He handed over the letter. “Mrs. Clemens does not read so the man, remembering our past connection, wrote to me instead when he learned of his brother’s death. He has offered his assistance.”
She unfolded the letter and frowned at it. “What sort of assistance does he offer? Funds? A larger home?”
“He’s offered to take on half of the children and raise them as his own, if I’ve read that letter correctly.” He bit his lip. “He particularly asked for the elder two.”
Melanie held the letter to the light and read through the single page quickly. Her eyes widened impossibly by the end. “She’ll never agree.”
“I expected as much, and I do not particularly care for the offer myself.” He shook his head. “However, I feel bound to offer her the choice and I am concerned she might feel pressure to comply in order to keep her current abode.”
“You could be right.” Melanie stared at him a long moment then looked down. “I saw her yesterday afternoon, and while she appears content enough in her new home, she also cannot stop praising you for what you’ve done to help her. She might feel obligated to lighten the burden on you.”
She folded the letter and handed it back.
“I hoped you might be willing to visit her, break the news of Mr. Clemens’ proposal, and lend assurance she did not need to take it. Her elder children are almost of an age where they will be able to find work soon. I’d like to help them stay together.”
A brittle smile twisted her lips before she glanced over his shoulder. “Might I go with Walter, Valentine?”
He turned toward the door. Valentine lounged there, listening to every word of their conversation avidly. He nodded slowly. “Be back in one hour. Take the maid.”
“Thank you.” Melanie left to collect her bonnet and gloves while Walter fidgeted under Valentines curious gaze.
“No detours.”
“Of course not.” He wouldn’t dare ruin Melanie’s last night in Brighton by doing something she would regret. “I find I have to go to Oxford suddenly and I wonder if I might travel the distance with your sister tomorrow.”
Valentine’s shoulders sagged. “It would be a relief to have you travel with her. Her maid is going along as chaperone but it’s a long way.”
“Excellent.” He dragged his gloves back on. “You have saved me the expense and bother of hiring a carriage for the trip.”
Melanie rejoined them, wearing a warmer-looking coat today, and he was pleased she had listened to him.
Valentine nodded. “How long did you say you’d be staying in Oxford?”
Melanie appeared startled and he smiled tightly. “I’m not sure. My business depends entirely on someone else, but I am sure we can come to some arrangement sooner or later.” He gestured to the door as the maid presented herself. “Shall we, ladies?”
The maid smiled warmly, but outside she fell back a few paces. “I hear Oxford is perfectly dreadful at this time of year,” he mused.
“You cannot follow me to Oxford.”
“You cannot stop me, and I have your brother’s permission to see you safely home. He’s agreed to let me travel in your carriage.”
“To travel with me will call our connection into question.”
“With a maid too, remember.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sure Miss Pond will beat me with your parasol if I overstep my bounds during the journey.”
“I know my duty, sir,” the girl promised.
He grinned, unsurprised by her loyalty to Melanie.
Once they were beyond sight of her home, the maid fell back a few steps more and he took a deep breath. “Imogen came to see me about you.”
“She did?”
“Your gift for the child she carries truly startled her.”
Melanie sighed. “I did not mean to make her uncomfortable but I wanted to know that she received the clothes I’d made for her children.”
He lowered his voice. “We should discuss Brahms, too.”
Melanie started to laugh softly. “And the mysterious Mr. Sandbottom? Could you not stop her from including you in her work with that description?”
“You discovered that too?” He glanced down at her in time to see a blush sweep her cheeks.
“Well, I would, since it was me who first described you that way to Imogen.” She glanced down at her hands. “It was very wrong of me to call you names, but in my defense I was only a girl at the time. I never thought of it again until I read
The Recluse of the Sea
. She describes you very well indeed. It is my favorite story.”
Melanie darted forward, headed toward Mrs. Clemens’ home at a fast walk. So fast he had to jog a few steps to keep up. “There are many months left until the child comes. Why would you give it to her so soon?”
“I thought it might be the only chance I have to know whether she could forgive me before I go home.”
“That might take time. Certainly more time than a single day, and I do think you have a chance to be friends again but only if you stay.” He glanced ahead and saw Mrs. Clemens and several children coming to meet them. He had no time to make his case now so he finished with the truth. “Running away will solve nothing. Please. I’m not willing to let you go, Mellie.”
Fifteen
Ignoring Walter after his confession that he wasn’t ready to let her go proved extremely difficult, but for Mrs. Clemens’ sake, Melanie buried her heartache deep and focused on the task at hand. “It is not settled that you must give up your children but he has expressed an interest.”
“No.” The woman stood and turned her back to them. “My Francis never had a kind word to say about his elder brother. Said he was a bully as a boy.”
“Sometimes what we perceive in childhood isn’t always the truth. Perhaps he has changed.” Melanie turned to Walter for his opinion. “What did you think of him?”
He described the man he’d known once. “His letter does sound sincere in his desire to offer aid.”
“By stealing my children.”
Walter stood. “I have your answer. Do not overset yourself. I shall write to him immediately and let him know you decline his offer.”
Melanie caught Mrs. Clemens’ arm and guided her back to a chair. “Kindly worded, of course.”
“I will be eloquent.”
He grinned and the pain of leaving him intensified. They worked well as a team. She turned her attention back to Mrs. Clemens. “Now I want your promise that you will not fret over the matter. Walter has delivered his message and that is that. The children worry so when you become upset.”
“I won’t.” Mrs. Clemens took Melanie’s hand. “Promise me you will take care of yourself too. You will be a long way away and you’ll be in my prayers every day.”
“As you will be in mine,” Melanie promised. She said her goodbyes and moved down the narrow hallway toward the front door to where her maid had waited. Walter followed close behind. He touched her shoulder briefly and an ache to seek comfort from him built. She always hated saying goodbye to her friends.
Words failed her and they returned to Cavendish Place in silence. Melanie was uncomfortably aware of Walter’s presence so close and yet so far away, and while she’d love to stay in Brighton for friendship’s sake, it would be impossible to change her plans now. Valentine would want to know why she’d changed her mind and she couldn’t tell him. Her parents had already been warned to expect her arrival.
Her doorway loomed. “Would you care to come in?”
“I intended to.”
In the entrance hall, he removed her coat and the brush of his fingers across her body sent a thrill through her. The maid smiled briefly then fled down the hall.
“Is that you, Melanie? Come quick!”
Her brother’s wail sent her flying toward the sound. Valentine was bent over the settee where Julia rested, pale as a sheet. “What happened?”