“We exchange letters only because we value one another’s friendship,” Melody replied, her tone measured. “I assure you that there is nothing romantic in nature.”
Winston frowned. “Your reputation is at risk if anyone discovers the truth. After all, a woman should only write to a gentleman once they are betrothed.”
Melody looked amused. “You are lecturing me on propriety now?”
“Will you at least tell me the name of the man you are writing?”
The amusement slipped from Melody’s face, replaced by a solemn expression. “I trust that you will keep this between us, for now.”
“I give you my word.”
Appearing satisfied with his response, she replied, “It is Lord Emberly.”
Winston was well acquainted with Lord Emberly, having spent time with him at Eton. He considered him to be an honorable person, but that didn’t mean he liked knowing his sister was exchanging letters with no formal understanding between them.
“I would proceed very cautiously,” he advised. “I would hate for you to be trapped in a marriage that neither of you want.”
Melody huffed, a touch of indignation in her voice. “I would never marry Lord Emberly. Just that mere thought of a union between us is ludicrous.”
“Yet you write to him, constantly,” Winston pointed out.
She waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, but it is purely innocent.”
“Are you sure that Lord Emberly feels the same?”
“Quite sure,” Melody responded quickly. Too quickly.What was his sister up to? His sister always followed the rules, almost to a fault. So why was she risking her reputation to write to a man that she claimed she would never marry?
Melody smiled, no doubt in an attempt to reassure him. “You can stop worrying, Brother. I know what I am doing.”
“How do you know I was worrying?”
“Because I know you,” she simply replied. “Do you intend to call upon Mattie tomorrow?”
Winston knew what Melody was truly asking but wasn’t saying. “I am, but only so I can speak to Lord Wythburn about the upcoming Season.”
“If that is the only reason…” Melody’s voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
He let out a sigh. “Just as you and Lord Emberly do not have an understanding, neither do Mattie and I.”
“Yes, but you and Mattie belong with one another,” Melody pressed, her voice filled with conviction.
Winston was done with this ridiculous conversation. It was late, and he wanted to retire to bed. Perhaps if he slept long enough, he would forget that he desperately loved Mattie. But he doubted that.
“Goodnight, Melody,” he said, standing up and heading for the door, hoping to escape the turmoil in his heart, if only for a few hours.
After he departed from the library, Winston headed towards his bedchamber but remembered he had left the ledger for his sheep farm in the study. He decided to retrieve it before retiring for the night. Changing course, he descended the stairs.
As he approached the study door, he noticed a shadow moving from under the door. Was his father up at this late hour?
Winston slowly opened the door and was taken aback to find Isaac rummaging through the drawers ofhis father’s desk. A lone candle flickered on the desk, casting eerie shadows on Isaac’s face.
“What in the blazes are you doing here?” Winston shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor.
Isaac looked up from the desk, unfazed. “I would think it was clearly obvious,” he said. “I came to find what is rightfully mine.”
Winston turned and shouted, “White! Get in here now!”
Isaac slammed the drawers shut. “Just tell me where Sarah is and this will all be over,” he growled. “I hate this godforsaken village. I want to go home.”
