“Why do you think I invite you along to dine with us so often?” Valentine slapped his shoulder. “You seem to be the only man within three miles who hasn’t the least bit of interest in Melanie romantically. I am always assured Melanie has an enjoyable evening in your company.”
Walter was surprised by that claim. He had always assumed his presence made little impression on her mood. He could have stood on his head, for all the notice she took of him. “Who else is on the guest list?”
“Mr. Hartwood and his wife have consented to come.”
“I know them well, but they are an unusual choice as Julia’s first dinner guests.”
“The choice was my sister’s suggestion, actually,” Valentine confessed. “She thought a series of small, informal dinners would strike the right note to win back goodwill. Plus it’s an opportunity to casually promote the shop to someone with funds to spare.”
“Clever thinking.” Despite the frost in her manner, her choosiness about finding a husband, Melanie was well regarded by the older set of their town. She had certainly been of help in improving Valentine and Julia’s standing in society of late. “As good a place to expend the effort as any I can think of.”
“She is determined that Julia make a good impression.”
His mind jerked back to Melanie Merton and her refused suitors. Why did she not want a husband of her own yet? As far as he could tell, she rebuffed all romantic overtures. Had any of those fellows ever stood a chance to win her affections? Had any of them kissed her?
She could probably use a good kiss to loosen her corset strings. Walter imagined…
“Why are you pursing your lips?” Valentine asked suddenly.
“What?” He quickly adopted a thoughtful expression. “Oh, just thinking an idea through. There’s a factory in Portslade I heard about. Could be a good investment.”
Valentine stopped and stared at him. “How do you have money to spare for another investment already? I swear, everything you touch must turn to gold.”
“Not quite.” He grinned. “I am still eating off porcelain dinnerware.”
Valentine questioned him about the property while Walter scolded himself silently. It was a very bad idea to turn his mind to Melanie Merton, a woman who had hurt his sister so very badly in the past. Despite the friendly façade he affected before others, he was still extremely annoyed with her. Luckily, he wasn’t the sort of man she would ever notice was constantly biting his tongue rather than sharing his real feelings.
Two
Melanie Merton hated her life. She hated the clothes she wore. The house she lived in that was no longer hers to manage. The smiles she had to bestow upon her brother’s friends while overlooking their scowls. Even without the responsibilities she’d always enjoyed, and the hours on her own, she never had a moment’s peace. She just wanted a quiet morning, and that never seemed to happen lately unless she confined herself to her bedchamber.
Today, she was entertaining Mr. Linus Radley until his sister, Julia, her new sister-in-law, came down that morning. The forms of proper behavior that had been drilled into her head since she was a young girl made it impossible for her to say what was really on her mind, even when she wanted to. She was too polite to ask Mr. Radley to go away until a more reasonable hour of the day, and had ordered tea and cake to fill the endless minutes until Julia relieved her of this duty.
“It looks to be a lovely day for a stroll,” Mr. Radley said suddenly. “Might I entice you to venture out with me to look upon the sea? With your maid, of course.”
Melanie sighed with what she hoped sounded like regret and not irritation. She would not go out walking with Linus Radley, with or without a suitable chaperone. She had seen enough of him in the past weeks not to want anything more to do with him than she absolutely had to. He was a bully. “Unfortunately, I am otherwise engaged today.”
“Oh?”
Dear God, the man wants particulars.
She searched her mind for the least interesting activity she could think of that might dissuade his interest. Mention of a charitable project always seemed to bore most gentlemen into leaving her presence. “I am to visit the vicar in an hour to discuss the needs of the poor. I do what I can in my own small way but there are so many families in need. I truly hope some kind and generous benefactor comes forward soon.”
As hoped, the mention of money and needy families blunted Linus Radley’s interest in the subject. He asked no more questions and indeed seemed decidedly uncomfortable in his chair. She’d never met a more tight-fisted man and his inclination to help those less fortunate wasn’t anything ever boasted about. She glanced at the clock. Almost ten. Julia was truly dragging her feet.
Melanie poured a second cup of tea for Mr. Radley but then discovered there was not enough for a second cup for herself.
“Will my sister be joining us soon, do you think?”
She smiled. Thinking fondly of her sister-in-law was easier now that they’d spent a little more time together. Julia had her moments but rising early without prompting from Valentine wasn’t one of them, apparently. Linus, being Julia’s brother, should have known of her inclination for late starts. Yet here he was, sitting expectantly in her company. “Our maid assured me she would be along soon.”
“And your brother is out?”
“Yes, swimming, as is his usual habit.” She handed him a cup. “I thought you would have joined him and the others.”
“Not today.” He set his cup aside untouched. “I cannot lie any longer. It was really
you
I wanted to speak with. I have a favor, a question to ask you if I might, and it is quite a personal matter, so please forgive my unconventional calling hour.”
“Oh,” Melanie said, but inside she groaned. She did not want to do him any favors. She simply wanted him to go away. Instead, she said, “How can I help?”
“I’d like you to be my wife.”
His statement, and his eager smile, caught her off-guard. A marriage proposal from Mr. Radley was the last situation she ever imagined herself in when she rose this morning. She forced her breath to calm, to not snap “absolutely not”. She held her tongue those precious few moments and all for the sake of peace within her family. She didn’t really like him but she hadn’t wanted to reveal the depths of her loathing.
“You are overcome,” he murmured, and then he switched seats to sit at her side. “I completely understand, but you should not be surprised.”
She was not overcome; she was in shock. This would be her twelfth refusal—and possibly the most awkward. Linus Radley was family by virtue of their siblings’ marriage. Melanie had turned down enough suitors that the necessary words sprang from her lips easily. She did not want children of her own although everyone expected her to marry and do her duty. Her only recourse was outright denial of any man’s suit so she would avoid conception altogether. “Mr. Radley, while I appreciate the honor you do me, I cannot accept.”
His mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”
The idea of a woman refusing to marry wasn’t as easily accepted as she might wish. If she ever dared hint at a disinterest in bearing offspring, she was usually stared at as if she were out of her mind. She had learned, early in her life, to keep her feelings about the matter to herself as a consequence. Usually she claimed other reasons for her refusal, and would again today.
“You have long been my brother’s friend and you are family since his marriage to your sister. We have been acquainted many years and while I have always thought very well of you, I do not believe we would suit as husband and wife.”
His jaw set and Melanie could see hints of his temper rising. This she also knew about him, from Julia and Valentine’s passing comments about Julia’s life before her marriage.
A volatile man would not suit her as a husband if she were ever inclined to marry. She did not approve of men who could fly into a rage so easily as to make a woman afraid. She did not fear Linus, but she would never place her well-being in the keeping of a temperamental man.
She folded her hands in her lap and patiently waited for him to understand her refusal was final, and there was nothing left to do but to take his leave.
“I see.” He glanced around, his eyes narrowing. “So you are nothing but a heartless tease.”
Melanie gaped at him. “I am not. Why would you say such a thing?”
“We are alone, and have been alone on many occasions in the past weeks since your return. Do you not think you make a man hope for a more intimate acquaintance, given your behavior?”
“You are family.” She stood, infuriated that her kindness had been twisted into something she’d never once intended or imagined. “I had no thoughts of a change in our relationship beyond ensuring your comfort in my brother’s home.”
Linus stood too, moving closer so they were eye to eye. His nostrils flared as he raked her with a harsh glance. “I think you like the attention of so many men dangling after you.”
She blanched at his accusation and took a pace back. She did her best to dissuade the most insistent of gentlemen callers by any means necessary. She had been very inventive. “I do not.”
“Then why flirt with every man you meet to the point where so many have proposed, only to decline them?” Radley took another pace toward her and her breath came too fast at the look in his eye. “Do you imagine yourself irresistible to all, but so far above us that our feelings matter so little? You must know everyone expects us to wed.”
She shook her head violently. “That is untrue. No one expects it.”
“Everyone expects a match to be made between us. Who else would you marry?”
Of all the nerve. She was almost rendered speechless by the suggestion. Almost. “I will not marry to please other people.”
“The size of your dowry and your beauty can only grant you so much latitude. Remember that when you throw your wiles at the next handsome man who comes calling on you.”
Melanie was astounded by his arrogance. He was passably handsome but no more than many men. “You flatter yourself.”
Her words had no affect.
“You might not find life with an ill-favored man as comfortable as with me. But then, it is always the overparticular ones who die alone and miserable.”
“Radley! Apologize!”
Melanie jumped at the force behind the outraged demand. At the door, Valentine and Mr. George stood slightly unkempt after their trip to the sea. To her surprise, it had been Mr. George who’d spoken and demanded the apology. She’d never heard him speak quite so loudly before, and the expression of fury on his face was quite unfamiliar too.
Valentine appeared stunned, but she hurried to him because he was her brother and she felt safer far away from Linus Radley.
“What has happened?” Valentine asked her quietly, catching her fingers in his. Melanie cringed and wiggled free of the grip. She certainly had never enjoyed confessing she’d turned down a suitor before, and this time was far worse than any other. She knew her brother hoped she’d find her own life, her own happiness one day, but it certainly wouldn’t be with Linus Radley, given all he’d just said to her.
She took a breath to start the confession, but Mr. George cut her off with a softly spoken murmur, “I think number twelve is just as unlucky as the eleven prior suitors for your sister’s hand.”
Melanie shrank behind Valentine as she realized her romantic life, or lack thereof, was a subject of discussion among their neighbors. Men did talk and, over the years, Melanie had certainly given them ample proof she was particular in that regard. It was just rather horrible to hear Walter George could know the exact number of men she’d refused. She had not imagined Valentine would have told anyone.
Valentine took a pace toward Linus. “If my sister has refused you then I imagine your business here today is done. If you’d be so kind as to apologize for your outburst and be on your way, there is no need to ever discuss this matter again.”
Linus tossed his head arrogantly. “I will not apologize. It would have been a good match, if her vanity weren’t so overblown. You said it yourself more than once, she will end up an old maid before she finds a husband she deems worthy of her hand.”
Valentine’s jaw clenched. “Sir, you go too far to think you have the right to speak for me.”
“Oh, come now,” Linus shot back. “I only voice what you have alluded to over the years.”
Valentine stayed silent and Melanie wrapped her arms around her chest, hurt to the quick. Valentine must think the same if he didn’t deny Mr. Radley’s words. Had she made a mistake in staying in Brighton?
“I think I see the problem,” Walter George said as he glanced between them all, his eyes narrowing. “You’re family, and you certainly don’t care to upset the applecart when it has only just started to roll along smoothly again.”
“Oh, shut up,” Mr. Radley snapped at him.
Rather than be intimidated, Mr. George stepped forward. “You should apologize to Miss Merton now.”
Melanie shivered at the menace in his tone. She’d never heard that from him before either.
“What has this to do with you, George?”
Mr. George set his hands to his hips. “If you consider yourself in any way a gentleman, you will retract your words before this goes any further. Remember, I’m
not
family and I have the luxury of not caring that I offend you, especially when you are so far in the wrong.”