Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Melody was infuriated. She didn’t understand why Lord Emberly thought he had a right to tell her what to do. He had gotten his way again, which only added to her exasperation. From the moment she had met him, she found him to be the most vexing of men. The only reason why she had agreed to work with him was because she wanted to do more than what was expected of her.
As she walked away from Lord Emberly, she was entirely displeased by the situation. Lord Emberly was staying, and she would be forced to endure his presence for the foreseeable future. He didn’t seem to believe she could care for herself despite her insistence. How she hated to be underestimated. It had been that way her entire life.
A footman opened the door to the manor and Melody stepped inside, where Elodie met her.
Her sister had a bemused look on her face. “Why were you speaking to the boring Lord Emberly in the gardens?”
“I thought he might like a tour of the gardens,” Melody lied.
Elodie didn’t look convinced. “While our gardens are expansive, they are nothing special,” she said. “You aren’t going to marry him, are you?”
Rearing back, Melody repeated, “Marry him? I would never marry Lord Emberly. Not even if he were the last man on earth.”
“Then why did he call on you?”
Melody should have known that Elodie wouldn’t let the matter drop, so she decided to change topics. “Why are you not with the dancing master?”
That was the right thing to say because Elodie let out a loud, decisive huff. “I am hiding,” she revealed.
“Hiding?” Melody repeated. “Whatever for?”
“Mr. Durand hates me,” Elodie declared. “He thinks I am hopeless.”
Melody laughed. “How could he determine that in such a short time?”
“I am not quite sure, but I slipped out when he turned his attention to the window,” Elodie revealed. “Now, I am hiding in the shadows.”
“Mother will find you,” Melody said.
“Perhaps, but it might take some time before I must return to performing like a monkey,” Elodie remarked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Melody gave her sister a knowing look. “Mother is only doing what is best for you.”
An undeniable sadness came to Elodie’s eyes. “I doubt that,” she said. “Do you ever wish you could leave this life behind?”
“What is wrong with this life?”
“Nothing, but I want to do more than what is expected of me,” Elodie replied. “I want to go on an adventure.”
Melody knew precisely what her sister felt, considering she had felt the same way before being recruited by the agency. She wanted to help Elodie but wasn’t sure how to do such a thing. It wasn’t as if she could ask her to be a spy alongside her. Not that Elodie wasn’t capable of being a spy. But the dangers of espionage were too great to risk involving her sister.
Elodie continued. “I should be grateful for what I have, but I want more. Is that wrong of me?”
“No, it isn’t,” Melody replied. “And I think it is perfectly normal.”
“Mother doesn’t think so,” Elodie muttered.
Melody placed a hand on her sister’s sleeve. “Just be patient with yourself and Mother. She only wants what is best for you.”
Elodie offered her a weak smile. “I know. You are wise, Sister.”
Melody dropped her hand to her side. “Offering brilliant advice is the job of any older sister,” she remarked.
Elodie’s smile grew genuine. “You are only a few minutes older than me.”
Glancing down the corridor, Melody asked, “Shall we go to the music room now?”
Her sister’s smile vanished. “Do we have to?” she asked. “I think it would be far better to go on a ride.”
“Mother would be furious.”
“Do you intend to always follow the rules?” Elodie asked.
Melody bobbed her head. “I do,” she replied. “Besides, you don’t want to risk Mother’s ire. Do you?”
“I hate it when you are right.”
“I am surprised you aren’t used to it by now,” Melody quipped.
As they started walking down the corridor, Melody saw her mother approaching them with a stern look on her face. “Girls!” she shouted. “Do not dilly-dally. Mr. Durand is waiting for you.”
Elodie grew visibly tense. “What if we forgo the dancing master today?”
“For what purpose?” her mother asked.
“I just don’t feel like dancing today,” Elodie responded.
Her mother was not swayed by Elodie’s remark. “You need to practice before the upcoming Season. I have never met someone that has such an aversion to dancing.”
“I just feel like when I am dancing, I am on display, almost like a prized stallion going to auction,” Elodie said.
Melody’s lips twitched. “Are you truly comparing yourself to a stallion?”
“I am trying to make a point,” Elodie argued.
Her mother interjected, “A poor one, at that. Stop arguing and go to the music room.”
“Yes, Mother,” Elodie said with a mock salute.
Turning her attention to Melody, her mother asked, “Will you ensure Elodie arrives at the music room? I am having tea with Mrs. Walker.”
Melody locked her arm with Elodie’s. “I accept the challenge.”
Her mother didn’t look amused. “What am I going to do with you two?” she asked, almost to herself.
Melody started leading Elodie towards the music room and she could sense the dread coming from her sister. “It will be all right,” she encouraged.
Elodie shook her head. “I doubt that. The dancing master truly does hate me.”
“How could he hate you?” she asked. “He doesn’t even know you.”
“He knows enough.”
Melody knew what she needed to do to help her sister. She glanced over her shoulder to ensure they were alone before saying, “Go on your ride. I will pretend to be you.”
Elodie came to an abrupt halt. “Pardon?”
“There are some advantages to being identical twins,” Melody said. “I doubt the dancing master would even notice.”
A bright smile came to Elodie’s lips. “Are you in earnest?”
“I am. Now, go, before I change my mind,” Melody replied. “And do not let Mother see you. She would not be amused.”
“No, considering she does not like when we trade places,” Elodie said, excitedly dancing on her two feet.
“Enjoy your ride,” Melody encouraged, returning her smile
Melody headed towards the music room with a determined stride as her sister hurried off. She knew her sister well and did not doubt that she could accomplish this simple enough task.
Once she stepped into the music room, she saw a short, stout man with slicked-back black hair dressed in fine, tailored clothing. He held a violin in one hand, and as he turned to meet her gaze, she could see the flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Lady Elodie,” he snapped in a thick French accent. “It is about time you showed back up, and I see you have changed gowns.”
Melody smiled, hoping to disarm him. “I do apologize for running off earlier.”
The dancing master approached her, and his gaze swept the length of her. “You are a pretty enough thing, and I do not doubt you will attract many suitors.”
“Thank you—” Melody began.
He put his hand up. “I am not finished,” he snapped. “But they will lose interest the moment you step on their boots. Now, dance!”
Melody’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Dance!”
“Now?” Melody asked, glancing around the room.
Without another word, the dancing master brought the violin up, tucking it snugly beneath his chin, and began to play a lively tune. “Yes, now.”
Melody stared at him, utterly confused. “What dance would you like me to execute? The quadrille? The waltz?”
The dancing master spun on his heel, gliding across the floor with effortless grace. “Let your feet do the talking, my lady. Feel the music inside of you.”
“What if I don’t have the music inside of me?”
Ignoring her question, the dancing master closed his eyes and continued playing as he danced around the room.
Melody wasn’t quite sure what she should do. She was quite sure that this dancing master was rather mad, but she didn’t dare contradict him. Tentatively, she took a few uncertain steps, trying to follow his lead as best she could. With awkward movements, she began to dance, mirroring his motions while feeling completely ridiculous.
Time seemed to stretch on as she danced, though it couldn’t have been more than a few moments. Finally, the dancing master abruptly stopped, lowering the violin. He studied her with an unreadable expression before giving a curt nod. “Well done, my lady,” he praised. “You are not quite as useless as I believed.”
“Thank you?—”
He cut her off once more. “Enough talk. We must express ourselves through music.” He raised the violin again, the bow poised to strike the strings. “Dance!”
Melody sighed inwardly, but she knew what was expected. As he began to play again, she resumed dancing, her feet moving across the polished floor, feeling more absurd with every step. She resisted the urge to question his methods, especially since she was impersonating her sister, and any misstep on her part could get Elodie in trouble. But this aimless twirling around the room, with no direction or purpose, seemed utterly pointless.
Just as she was beginning to wonder how long this charade would last, a flicker of movement outside the window caught her eye. Peeking through the glass, she saw Elodie riding freely through the open fields. Melody couldn’t help but smile.
Perhaps this ridiculous dance was worth it, after all.
Wesley’s sole responsibility was to protect Melody—at all costs. Despite her resistance to his protection, she would receive it, nonetheless. The haunting image of Dinah flashed through his mind, but he swiftly pushed it away. He couldn’t afford to think about her now. Dinah’s death was his fault. She had been his responsibility, and he had failed her. He couldn’t repeat that mistake. The fear of failure pestered his soul, a constant reminder of the price of a lapse in vigilance.
The door to his bedchamber opened, and his short, light-haired valet, Watkins, entered with a grave expression. Watkins was more than a mere valet. He was Wesley’s confidant and a fellow agent of the Crown.
Wesley turned to face him, his voice tense. “What did you discover?”
“Nothing,” Watkins replied, frustration evident in his tone.
“That is not the least bit helpful,” Wesley muttered.
Watkins offered him an apologetic look. “The guests should be arriving tomorrow, and Lady Dallington sent for the dancing master. Mr. Durand doesn’t seem to pose a threat despite his eccentricity.”
Wesley frowned. “We will need to remain alert. I cannot lose Lady Melody,” he said with steely determination.
“Have you considered this might be a waste of time?” Watkins asked. “After all, there was a leak at the agency, but that doesn’t mean Lady Melody’s cover has been compromised.”
“I won’t risk it. We will remain here for the time being,” Wesley declared.
Watkins tipped his head. “Yes, my lord.” He paused. “If I may, if this situation is about Dinah…”
Wesley cut him off sharply. “I don’t want to talk about Dinah.”
A look that could only be construed as pity came to Watkins’s face. “You never do. But her death wasn’t your fault,” he attempted.
“Whose fault was it, then?” Wesley demanded. “After all, I was the one that recruited her to the agency.”
Watkins sighed heavily. “Yes, but Dinah knew the risks…”
Wesley put his hand up, stilling Watkins’s words. “I should have protected her,” he said. “I won’t make the same mistake with Lady Melody.”
“Yes, my lord,” Watkins responded with a resigned look.
Walking to the door, Wesley said, “I will be up to change for dinner.” He didn’t bother to wait for a response before he exited his bedchamber. He knew Watkins was only trying to help, but he couldn’t let history repeat itself.
As Wesley moved through the corridors searching for Melody, he spotted her emerging from a nearby corridor—or so he thought. Upon closer inspection, the slight sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose gave her away. It wasn’t Melody but her twin sister, Lady Elodie. It was just one of the many subtle differences he had begun to notice about the two sisters.
He bowed. “Lady Elodie,” he acknowledged.
Elodie stopped in front of him and curtsied briefly. “My lord. I must assume that you are looking for my sister.”
“I am,” he admitted.
She gestured towards a nearby door. “You will find her in the music room with the dancing master. She has kindly agreed to pretend to be me for the lesson.”
“And why, may I ask, would she do that?”
A sheepish smile came to Elodie’s face. “I am a terrible dancer, and I couldn’t take one more moment with Mr. Durand. The man despises me.”
“I doubt that is true,” Wesley attempted.
“Oh, he absolutely does,” Elodie replied. “He had me twirling around the room like a performing monkey, and when he got distracted, I simply danced my way out of the room.”
Wesley found himself curious about one thing. “Does Lady Melody often switch places with you?”
“More often than you would expect. Most people can’t tell us apart, so we take advantage of it when possible.” Elodie tilted her head thoughtfully. “How is it that you can?”
“You forget we have met before,” Wesley reminded her.
“I haven’t forgotten, but we were only introduced on that one occasion,” Elodie responded.
Wesley tipped his head in acknowledgment. “That is true, but I have spent more time conversing with your sister. Over time, the differences between you both become rather obvious.”
Elodie regarded him with newfound respect. “I must admit that I may have underestimated you, my lord. You are far more observant than I gave you credit for.”
“I shall take that as a compliment,” Wesley said.
“You should,” Elodie remarked with a smile. “Well, I think I will slip away to my room before my mother realizes I have escaped.”
Wesley bowed once more. “I wish you luck, my lady.”
As she walked away, Wesley found himself deep in thought. The twins’ similarities could be a danger. If someone were targeting Melody, it wouldn’t take much for someone to mistake Elodie for her. He would need to watch both sisters closely to ensure their safety.
With that thought, he made his way to the music room. As he approached, the gentle sound of the violin drifted through the partially open door. He stepped inside to find Melody gracefully moving across the room. The dancing master stood at the center, absorbed in his playing as his violin filled the air with a lilting melody.
Wesley leaned against the door frame, watching in admiration as Melody danced. Her movements were effortless, her grace undeniable, and Wesley couldn’t help but wonder if there was anything she couldn’t do.
Melody’s eyes widened when she saw him, and she stopped dancing abruptly. “Lord Emberly,” she said, surprise evident in her voice. “What brings you here?”
Not wanting to reveal that he had come in search of her, he replied, “I heard music and I found myself curious.”
“Well, as you can see, there is nothing to see here,” Melody said, gesturing around the room with a sweeping motion.
Wesley knew he should leave and let her continue her lesson in peace, but something kept him rooted to the spot. He wasn’t ready to let her out of his sight just yet. Deciding to play along, he changed tactics with a sly smile. “You are an excellent dancer, Lady Elodie ,” he said, adding a wink to let her know he was in on the ruse.
The dancing master clapped his hands together and turned his attention to Wesley. “My lord, you have arrived at the perfect time! Lady Elodie requires a dancing partner.”
“I do believe Lady Elodie is managing just fine on her own,” Wesley attempted.
Mr. Durand waved off the suggestion with a dismissive gesture. “Nonsense! Dancing is always better with a partner. It allows you to feel the music flow between the two of you.”
Wesley glanced at Melody, who looked equally uncomfortable at the idea. “I… um… I’m not much of a dancer,” he stammered.
The dancing master stepped forward with determination. “If you will, my lord.”
Wesley cast Melody an apologetic look before he went to stand by her. She leaned closer to him and whispered, “Thank you for not revealing me.”
Understanding her gratitude for keeping her identity a secret, he slightly nodded in response.
Mr. Durand approached them and declared, “Excellent. Let us attempt the waltz.”
“The waltz?” Melody repeated, her words holding uncertainty.
The dancing master seemed unbothered by her hesitation. “Are you familiar with the dance?” he asked, addressing Wesley.
Wesley nodded. “I am.”
“Good, that will save us considerable time,” the dancing master said. “Will you take Lady Elodie in your arms, and we will begin?”
Turning to face Melody, Wesley asked, “Are you agreeable, my lady?”
A myriad of emotions flittered across Melody’s face before she lifted her chin slightly. “I am,” she said.
Wesley offered her an encouraging look before taking her hand in his. He gently placed his other hand on her waist. He could feel how tense Melody was, and he didn’t blame her. He didn’t want to dance with her, either. But as he held her, he had to admit their closeness was oddly comforting. She almost felt like she belonged in his arms.
Mr. Durand clapped loudly, startling them both. “Dance!” he ordered.
As the dancing master began to play the violin, they started dancing around the room and Wesley felt Melody slowly relaxing in his arms.
In a hushed voice, Melody said, “I am sorry about this.”
“There is no reason to apologize.”
“You should have saved yourself,” Melody remarked. “I have to be here, but you don’t.”
He smirked. “Who says I don’t want to be here?”
Melody shot him a look of disbelief. “We are dancing the waltz, and I suspect Mr. Durand is a drill sergeant for Napoleon.”
Wesley chuckled. “The dancing master doesn’t seem so terrible.”
“I’m afraid he is far worse,” Melody responded. “At least my sister is safe from Mr. Durand.”
He found himself curious about one thing. “Why did you switch places with your sister?” he asked, his voice low enough to keep their conversation private.
Melody’s eyes darted towards Mr. Durand, who stood in the center of the room. “I worry about Elodie. She is struggling to find her place in the world.”
“And you feel you must protect her?”
“If not me, then who?” Melody asked. “I am her older sister. It is what I am supposed to do.”
Wesley offered her a reassuring smile. “I do not doubt that Lady Elodie will find her way. She will likely take the Season by storm, attracting more suitors than she will know what to do with.”
“I do hope so,” Melody murmured, though her tone was far from convinced.
“Isn’t that what you want, as well? For yourself, I mean?”
“All I truly want is for my sister to be happy.”
“You are a good sister,” Wesley pressed. “But I suspect you will be quite sought after in the marriage mart.”
A silence fell between them, and Melody’s expression shifted, her usual confidence waning for a moment. “I do want to marry,” she admitted. “But I worry that if I do, I will have to give up my work as a spy.”
“That is a decision only you can make. However, I know the agency would be disappointed to lose someone as skilled and dedicated as you.”
Melody studied him for a moment. “And what of you? Do you intend to marry?”
He glanced away briefly. “I do, eventually, but being a spy complicates things. It puts my family, anyone I love, at risk.”
Before Melody could respond, Mr. Durand clapped his hands loudly, his voice booming through the room. “Well done! That was brilliant.”
Wesley released Melody and took a step back. “Thank you for dancing with me,” he said with a slight bow.
Melody dropped into a curtsy. “The pleasure was mine, my lord,” she murmured.
“I think that is enough for one day,” Mr. Durand stated as he met Melody’s gaze. “I will expect to see you and your sister tomorrow. Now, it is time for me to rest. Good day to you both.”
With that, Mr. Durand departed from the room, his departure as abrupt as his commands. As the door closed behind him, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate.
Melody offered him a faint smile. “If you will excuse me, I think it is best if I retire until dinner,” she said before she walked swiftly out of the room.
Wesley debated if he should follow her to ensure she arrived at her bedchamber safely, but he thought better of it. With a quiet sigh, he let her go, trusting that she would be safe—at least for now.