Read Online Miss Merton's Last Hope by Heather Boyd - Free Book Online
Authors: Heather Boyd
Tags: Romance, Historical
Ads: Link
eleven.
Imogen had possessed terrible aim and had been responsible for the broken ornaments. Hitting Melanie had been entirely his fault. Melanie hadn’t been expected that day and had been caught by a misaimed shot of his. He winced, remembering her tears over her ruined dress.
Did she remember her part in it? He glanced at her but could detect no recognition in her expression. Perhaps she had forgotten all about it, along with her friendship with Imogen. It had been a long time ago.
“Well,” Melanie set her napkin aside, “I hope there will be no similar incidents in this house tonight.”
Her gaze lingered on him briefly before she turned to Julia. At the subtle rise of her brow, Julia urged Mrs. Hartwood to the parlor for tea, leaving Walter puzzled and eager to know if the family secret was out or not. He truly couldn’t accurately gauge Melanie’s mood tonight and that meant he’d have to try to find out if she would make trouble for Imogen. He’d have to get her alone again.
He couldn’t wait.
Eight
“We simply must find that darling man a wife, and soon,” Mrs. Hartwood gushed as Melanie stirred half a spoonful of sugar into her cup of tea. There was always a point in every evening entertainment when matchmaking came up, so she wasn’t surprised. Since the remark was directed at Julia, and not to herself, she kept her mouth closed and her eyes down.
Julia had made a great start on winning over Mrs. Hartwood, a woman who could help her become a fixture in Brighton society one day if she cultivated a friendship with her.
“I do agree,” Julia enthused. “Mr. George would make a wonderful husband indeed.”
Melanie set her cup aside, waiting, bracing herself for the suggestion that a match be made between her and Walter, since they were so well acquainted. She lifted her gaze slowly.
“I think Miss Langston would be perfect,” Mrs. Hartwood suggested.
“There is always Miss Harrow, and of course Miss Enid Vickers has many fine qualities.” Julia shook her head. “What do you think, Melanie? You’ve known Mr. George much longer than I have. Who do you think he should marry?”
That was a question she’d never been able to answer to her own satisfaction and it troubled her now. “I’ve known him perhaps a year longer on account of my being marginally older than you.”
Such a good and amiable man should have married already. Over the past weeks, she’d come to appreciate Walter. He deserved the perfect wife. But now that she had heard the names of other young ladies thrown about as a match for him, she was outraged on his behalf. Those young ladies would never do.
“Well, I have no doubts he’s considering making a match now.” Mrs. Hartwood beamed. “Did you hear he’s given thought to having children? There are not too many gentlemen so obviously meant to be a father as our Mr. George. My grandson’s adore his visits, as do many of the young boys living about us. He’s always so very tolerant of their requests he join their games, no matter how silly.”
Melanie’s heart squeezed tight. The moment Walter had spoken of children at dinner, she’d known he was eager for a family of his own. He was always tossing a ball back to some boy or little girl. Kindness was so very easy for him that children adored him. He would be a good father.
When the gentlemen joined them and much teasing ensued between the married couples, she tried not to stare at him. Seated opposite her, Walter seemed so far away. So very different, and yet the more she considered, the more she saw that their interests and attitudes were very similar.
In everything but the one area that would matter so much to him. Children.
Mr. Hartwood approached her and she forced herself to put that unsettling word into its proper place.
“Would you do an old man the honor of a performance on the pianoforte, my dear?” he asked. “I have not heard you play in many months and I am lonely for the sound.”
“We
Imogen had possessed terrible aim and had been responsible for the broken ornaments. Hitting Melanie had been entirely his fault. Melanie hadn’t been expected that day and had been caught by a misaimed shot of his. He winced, remembering her tears over her ruined dress.
Did she remember her part in it? He glanced at her but could detect no recognition in her expression. Perhaps she had forgotten all about it, along with her friendship with Imogen. It had been a long time ago.
“Well,” Melanie set her napkin aside, “I hope there will be no similar incidents in this house tonight.”
Her gaze lingered on him briefly before she turned to Julia. At the subtle rise of her brow, Julia urged Mrs. Hartwood to the parlor for tea, leaving Walter puzzled and eager to know if the family secret was out or not. He truly couldn’t accurately gauge Melanie’s mood tonight and that meant he’d have to try to find out if she would make trouble for Imogen. He’d have to get her alone again.
He couldn’t wait.
Eight
“We simply must find that darling man a wife, and soon,” Mrs. Hartwood gushed as Melanie stirred half a spoonful of sugar into her cup of tea. There was always a point in every evening entertainment when matchmaking came up, so she wasn’t surprised. Since the remark was directed at Julia, and not to herself, she kept her mouth closed and her eyes down.
Julia had made a great start on winning over Mrs. Hartwood, a woman who could help her become a fixture in Brighton society one day if she cultivated a friendship with her.
“I do agree,” Julia enthused. “Mr. George would make a wonderful husband indeed.”
Melanie set her cup aside, waiting, bracing herself for the suggestion that a match be made between her and Walter, since they were so well acquainted. She lifted her gaze slowly.
“I think Miss Langston would be perfect,” Mrs. Hartwood suggested.
“There is always Miss Harrow, and of course Miss Enid Vickers has many fine qualities.” Julia shook her head. “What do you think, Melanie? You’ve known Mr. George much longer than I have. Who do you think he should marry?”
That was a question she’d never been able to answer to her own satisfaction and it troubled her now. “I’ve known him perhaps a year longer on account of my being marginally older than you.”
Such a good and amiable man should have married already. Over the past weeks, she’d come to appreciate Walter. He deserved the perfect wife. But now that she had heard the names of other young ladies thrown about as a match for him, she was outraged on his behalf. Those young ladies would never do.
“Well, I have no doubts he’s considering making a match now.” Mrs. Hartwood beamed. “Did you hear he’s given thought to having children? There are not too many gentlemen so obviously meant to be a father as our Mr. George. My grandson’s adore his visits, as do many of the young boys living about us. He’s always so very tolerant of their requests he join their games, no matter how silly.”
Melanie’s heart squeezed tight. The moment Walter had spoken of children at dinner, she’d known he was eager for a family of his own. He was always tossing a ball back to some boy or little girl. Kindness was so very easy for him that children adored him. He would be a good father.
When the gentlemen joined them and much teasing ensued between the married couples, she tried not to stare at him. Seated opposite her, Walter seemed so far away. So very different, and yet the more she considered, the more she saw that their interests and attitudes were very similar.
In everything but the one area that would matter so much to him. Children.
Mr. Hartwood approached her and she forced herself to put that unsettling word into its proper place.
“Would you do an old man the honor of a performance on the pianoforte, my dear?” he asked. “I have not heard you play in many months and I am lonely for the sound.”
“We
Similar Books
