Chapter 3
Chapter Three
The sun was setting as Melody sat in the library, staring intently at the coded message in front of her. The secret message seemed to mock her, but it was only a matter of time before she deciphered it. She had never failed before and didn’t intend to start now.
Melody leaned back in her seat, feeling a wave of discouragement washing over her. Perhaps she was just distracted. Her thoughts drifted back to the unexpected dance she had shared with Lord Emberly. She had always kept her distance from him, finding his demeanor infuriatingly arrogant. He may be deucedly handsome, but she had no interest in him beyond their professional interactions as spies.
So why did she feel so comfortable in his arms?
No.
She refused to think there was anything more to it than two people sharing a dance. It may have been the waltz, but she had danced it before without a second thought.
The door swung open and Elodie stepped into the room with a determined stride. “There you are,” she said. “I have been looking everywhere for you.”
“Well, here I am,” Melody said, hastily slipping the coded paper into the folds of her dress.
Elodie settled into the chair beside her, her eyes curious. “What were you doing?”
“I was just reading a letter from Josephine,” Melody replied, hoping the explanation would satisfy her sister’s curiosity.
Fortunately, it did, because Elodie did not press her. “How did the dancing lesson go?” she asked.
“It went well,” Melody said.
Elodie’s expression turned skeptical. “I saw you were dancing the waltz with Lord Emberly. That must have been awful for you.”
Melody shrugged one shoulder. “It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be.”
“Is it because he is so handsome?” Elodie teased.
With a blank look, Melody asked, “Is he? I suppose some people might consider him handsome.”
“And you are not one of those people?”
“Absolutely not!” Melody lied, a little too forcefully. “I have no interest in Lord Emberly.”
Elodie leaned back, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “You can still find someone handsome, even if you have no interest in them. You protest too much, making me think you find him handsome.”
Melody gave her sister an exasperated look. “Is there a point to this conversation?” She didn’t dare reveal that she found Lord Emberly to be the most handsome of men with his dark hair, strong jaw, and straight nose.
“No, but I do think Lord Emberly isn’t as boring as I thought he was,” Elodie responded. “He has the uncanny ability to tell us apart, despite only being acquainted with us. It is impressive, to say the least.”
“I do think you are giving Lord Emberly far too much credit,” Melody said, trying to dismiss the topic.
“Or you are not giving him enough.”
Before Melody could reply, their mother entered the room and met Elodie’s gaze. “How did the lesson go with the dancing master?”
“It went well,” Elodie said.
Their mother didn’t look convinced. “Truly? I only ask because Mr. Durand informed me that Lady Elodie dances like an angel. Which we both know isn’t true.”
Elodie’s mouth dropped, feigning outrage. “Why is it so impossible to believe I dance like an angel?”
“You dance like a wounded duck,” her mother replied matter-of-factly.
Melody couldn’t help but giggle. “It is true, Elodie.”
Elodie shot her a frustrated glance. “I will have you know that I have improved significantly.”
Their mother smiled indulgently. “I’m sure you have, but I must assume you two switched places again.”
Melody knew there was no point in lying, especially since her mother was no simpleton. “We did, but it was only for this afternoon.”
“It better be,” her mother said. “Elodie needs to be proficient in dancing if she ever hopes to secure a match.”
Elodie rolled her eyes. “Yes, because dancing is more important than my intellectual prowess.”
Her mother stepped closer to Elodie. “My dear child, you will debut with many other eager debutantes who are all searching for the same thing—a husband. You must stand out.”
“I play the pianoforte,” Elodie attempted.
Melody gave her sister a knowing look. “That means little, since every debutante plays the pianoforte.”
“What if I learn the bagpipes?” Elodie asked.
Her mother did not look amused. “Your father would never allow such a thing,” she replied. “Furthermore, bagpipes are not played in the drawing room.”
“What if—” Elodie started.
“No,” her mother said, cutting her off.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” Elodie declared.
Her mother lifted her brow. “I know you, and I am sure it was something nonsensical.”
Elodie smirked. “It was, actually.”
The faint sound of the dinner bell could be heard in the distance, beckoning them all to the drawing room.
Her mother turned her head towards the door. “Come along, girls. We mustn’t keep anyone waiting for dinner.”
“You mean Lord Emberly,” Elodie said.
With a slight nod, her mother responded, “Yes, he is our guest, after all.”
Melody rose from her chair. “Why did you have to invite him to remain here?”
“I only thought it was prudent,” her mother replied. “His mother is a dear friend of mine, and I thought it was best if we all became better acquainted with him.”
Rising, Elodie said, “Well, I think it would be best to lock our doors and pretend we are not home when the other guests arrive.”
“That would hardly work. Besides, think of the fun we will have,” her mother remarked with a flourish of her hand.
As they made their way to the corridor, Elodie leaned closer to Melody and whispered, “Moo.”
Melody laughed. “We are not cattle,” she responded.
“Then why do I feel like Mother just wants to marry us off to produce offspring?” Elodie asked.
Her mother’s chiding voice came from behind them. “Why must you insist on being so dramatic about everything?”
“Mother isn’t wrong,” Melody pointed out.
Turning her head, Elodie spoke over her shoulder, addressing her mother. “We all know that Melody will be the diamond of the first water and I will just fade into the background.”
“I did not raise you to blend in,” her mother responded. “I daresay that you are not giving yourself enough credit.”
“You have to say that because you are my mother,” Elodie countered. “You have to pretend I am the greatest thing since the discovery of biscuits.”
Melody placed a hand on her stomach. “I do enjoy a good biscuit.”
“As do I,” Elodie said. “My favorite is the millefruit biscuit. I should ask the cook to make us some for tomorrow.”
“I think that is a splendid idea,” Melody agreed.
Her mother sighed. “You two digress, as usual,” she said. “I am your mother, which means I am your biggest supporter, but I am aware of your flaws, as well.”
Elodie looked stunned. “I have flaws?” she asked. “As in, more than one? Why haven’t you said something before now?”
“You are hopeless, Child,” her mother muttered.
Melody started to descend the stairs as she remarked, “Everyone has flaws. Some are just more obvious than others.”
Her mother bobbed her head. “Well said, Melody,” she praised. “I do hope that you both will behave while our guests are here.”
“How is that possible, considering I just learned I have flaws?” Elodie insisted. “My whole world has been turned upside down.”
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Melody noticed Lord Emberly standing in the entry hall, his gaze fixed on them. He offered a polite bow as they approached.
“Good evening, ladies,” he greeted.
Her mother responded with a gracious nod. “Good evening. I trust you are finding everything to your satisfaction?”
“Indeed, Lady Dallington,” he replied.
Melody’s heart gave an unexpected flutter at the sight of him, but she quickly reminded herself of her resolve. She had no interest in him. None at all.
“Shall we wait in the drawing room?” her mother suggested, gesturing towards the door just off the entry hall.
They entered the drawing room, and Elodie addressed Lord Emberly. “Were you aware that I have flaws?”
Lord Emberly furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by Elodie’s question. “I was not.”
“I was just as surprised as you were,” Elodie quipped.
Lady Dallington pressed her lips together, saying, “Child, please do not bother Lord Emberly with this nonsense.”
Elodie brought a hand up to her chest. “Oh, no! Did I just let one of my flaws show?”
Lord Emberly turned his attention towards Melody. “Did I miss something?”
Taking pity on him, Melody replied, “You did. Elodie is just upset that our mother said that she had flaws. Apparently, it is news to her.”
“I see,” Lord Emberly said.
Her father stepped into the room with his usual commanding presence. He was a tall man with a stern countenance softened by kind eyes. His gaze landed on Lord Emberly and a smile spread across his face. “Welcome to our manor,” he greeted.
Lord Emberly bowed. “Lord Dallington, it is an honor to be here.”
Her father tipped his head in acknowledgment. “It is good to see you looking so well. Last I saw you was at your father’s funeral, which was some time ago.”
“I have been rather busy running my estate,” Lord Emberly explained. “I must admit that my father made it look easy, considering he spent so much time away serving as an admiral in the Royal Navy.”
“Your father was a good man,” Lord Dallington expressed, a touch of sadness in his voice. “But enough of such talk. We have many things to be grateful for.”
Elodie spoke up, a teasing lilt in her voice. “Not me. I have too many flaws.”
Lady Dallington groaned, her patience clearly wearing thin as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Grant me patience with this child,” she muttered. She then straightened, regaining her composure. “Let us adjourn to the dining room.”
After Lord and Lady Dallington departed from the drawing room, Wesley stepped forward and offered his arm to Melody. “May I have the honor of escorting you to the dining room?” he asked.
Melody’s lips tightened into a thin, white line as she accepted his arm. “Thank you, my lord,” she responded, though her tone lacked enthusiasm.
As they moved through the dimly lit corridor, Wesley leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Were you able to decipher the code that was sent to you?”
“Not yet,” she replied, her voice equally hushed. “But I will.”
“I believe you.”
Melody looked sideways at him, her brow slightly furrowed. “You do?”
Wesley’s lips curved into a smile. “I am not sure why you are surprised. You have successfully deciphered every code the agency has ever given you.”
“One of the more common codes is when letters of the alphabet are shuffled in a particular sequence, and I just have to work out the key,” Melody said. “But this particular coded message is proving to be more complicated.”
“You will figure it out,” Wesley assured her. “You always do.”
Melody met his gaze briefly. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”
They entered the dining room, the rich scent of roasted meats and herbs filling the air. Wesley led her to her seat at the long, rectangular table, pulling out the chair with a smooth, practiced motion. As she settled herself, he made his way around to his place at the table, directly across from Lady Melody and Lady Elodie.
A comfortable silence enveloped the room as the footmen moved quietly, placing delicate bowls of steaming soup in front of each of them. The flickering candlelight danced off the silverware, casting a warm, golden glow across the table.
Wesley picked up his spoon and began eating, content to observe in silence, but his reprieve was short-lived.
Lady Dallington shifted in her seat, her gaze landing on Wesley. “I do hope your bedchamber is to your liking,” she inquired.
He placed the spoon down and dabbed the sides of his mouth with his linen napkin. “It is, very much so. Thank you, my lady.”
Lady Dallington’s smile widened, satisfaction evident in her expression. “We are rather pleased you decided to join us for these few days,” she said. “I hope your mother won’t miss you terribly while you are here.”
Wesley’s expression softened at the mention of his mother. “I doubt it, since she is rather independent.”
“Yes, I do remember that about her,” Lady Dallington said. “Does she still wear trousers to ride horses?”
Wesley chuckled softly. “No, I’m afraid her days of riding horses are long over. These days, she spends most of her time reading.”
“A fine pastime to have,” Lady Dallington remarked approvingly.
“It is,” Wesley agreed, “though I could do without the cats. She has two rather dysfunctional cats, Bella and Tiger. She adores them, but they rule the manor.”
Lady Dallington laughed. “I do recall her fondness for cats. She snuck one into our room when we went to boarding school. The headmistress did not find it amusing, but she somehow convinced the woman to let the cat remain with us until we went home.”
Elodie leaned forward and interjected, “Can we have a cat, Mother?”
Lord Dallington, who had quietly observed the exchange, spoke up with a faint frown. “We already have a cat, Elodie. He is in the barn where he belongs.”
“But I want a cat that I can cuddle with in the mornings,” Elodie pressed, her tone imploring.
Lord Dallington’s frown deepened. “If you want something to cuddle, get yourself a husband.”
Elodie gave her father an exasperated look. “That is hardly the same thing.”
With a disapproving shake of her head, Lady Dallington went to take control of the conversation. “Perhaps we can discuss this later,” she suggested, her tone firm with a hint of warning.
“Yes, Mother,” Elodie muttered.
“Why don’t we go around the table and share one thing that we have learned recently?” Lady Dallington suggested.
Melody let out a soft groan. “I hate this game. I never know what to say.”
Lady Dallington offered her daughter an encouraging smile. “Yet you always find something to say, don’t you? Who would like to start?”
An awkward silence descended as Lady Dallington’s gaze swept around the table, waiting expectantly. Wesley racked his brain for something to contribute but was at a loss for what he should say. Discussing estate management seemed dreadfully dull, and he certainly wasn’t about to divulge anything from his covert activities as a spy.
Finally, Lord Dallington cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “I will start.” He paused. “The price of a bushel of hay has gone up… again.”
“That is… interesting,” Lady Dallington remarked, her tone indicating it was anything but.
Elodie raised her hand.
Lady Dallington sighed. “Yes, Elodie?”
“I have one,” Elodie replied. “I recently discovered that ostriches run faster than horses.”
“Truly?” Melody asked. “They don’t appear that fast.”
“That is because you have only seen them at the Royal Menagerie in cages,” Elodie explained. “They run extraordinarily fast in the wild, and the males can roar like lions.”
Lord Dallington raised a skeptical brow. “I believe they are fast, but to roar like lions? Where did you hear such nonsense?”
“I read it in a book,” Elodie replied.
“You can’t believe everything you read in a book,” Lord Dallington said.
Elodie shrugged. “I could always ask one of the keepers at the menagerie when we go to London for the Season.”
“Yes, you could, but until then, we have no reason to doubt the authenticity of your information,” Lady Dallington said. “Do we, Dear?” She gave her husband a pointed look.
Lord Dallington pressed his lips together. “No, we don’t.”
“Wonderful,” Lady Dallington declared with satisfaction. “Shall we move on to Melody?”
Melody winced. “I… uh… can you come back to me?” she asked. “I need more time to think.”
Noticing her discomfort, Wesley decided to step in. “I might have something of interest.”
All eyes turned towards him, and Wesley shifted uncomfortably in his seat, hoping his contribution would suffice. “For successful childbirth, Pliny the Elder recommended putting the right foot of a hyena on a pregnant woman to help with the delivery.”
“Why the right foot?” Melody asked.
“The left foot meant death,” Wesley informed her.
Melody reached for her glass, taking a small sip as she considered his words. “How did you learn of this?”
Wesley offered a brief smile. “My mother lost two children before she finally had my sister and me,” he explained. “My father was desperate for an heir and willing to try anything the doctors suggested.”
“I can respect that, but that seems rather illogical,” Melody said.
“That is precisely what my mother said,” Wesley shared. “My mother didn’t believe in those superstitions, but I know she was greatly affected by losing those two children.”
Lady Dallington nodded, her eyes holding empathy. “Any mother would be.”
Elodie chimed in. “What do you think would happen if pregnant women put the right foot of an ostrich on them during delivery?”
“Nothing would happen. It is just quackery,” Melody remarked.
Elodie tapped her lips thoughtfully with her finger. “But what if it made their child an incredibly fast runner? I think that is worth looking into.”
Lady Dallington leaned to the side as the footmen collected their bowls. “Melody?” she prompted gently. “Have you thought of one yet?”
Melody bit her lower lip. “I have been reading about the spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. Under the authority of Queen Elizabeth, Walsingham used his unique set of skills to protect the interests of the Crown. It was through his efforts that Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed.”
“Why would you read such a thing?” Lord Dallington asked. “Spying is such a distasteful thing to do, especially for someone of good breeding.”
“I found it rather interesting,” Melody admitted.
“You should stick to reading books that are more appropriate for a young woman,” Lord Dallington chided.
Wesley felt a surge of protectiveness for Melody and did not like how Lord Dallington was talking down to her. “I find it admirable that Lady Melody is interested in the history of our country.” “History is just fine for a young woman to read, but spying…” Lord Dallington’s voice trailed off. “It is not something I could ever condone.”
“Spies have been used since the beginning of time,” Wesley remarked.
Lady Dallington interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention. “I heard the most wonderful news today,” she started, her tone full of excitement. “A very handsome and very unattached vicar has just arrived in the village.”
Cocking her head, Elodie asked, “And why exactly is that ‘wonderful news’?”
“Mr. Bramwell, the vicar in question, is the grandson of a marquess. He comes highly recommended, according to Lord Wythburn,” Lady Dallington shared.
Melody raised an eyebrow. “I must assume you heard this news from Mrs. Walker, the village busybody.”
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Lady Dallington brushed off the remark. “It matters not where the information came from. Besides, you two are missing the point.”
“What exactly is the point?” Lord Dallington asked. “I sincerely hope you are not implying that our daughters should be interested in a mere vicar.”
“There is nothing wrong with being a vicar,” Lady Dallington defended.
Lord Dallington nodded in agreement, though his expression remained unconvinced. “I do not dispute that, but our daughters are in a position to make a much more brilliant match this Season.”
“It is true,” Melody said, her tone teasing. “Elodie might even snag a prince.”
Elodie let out an exaggerated, unladylike huff. “Good heavens, I would make a terrible princess. The last thing I want is to be locked away in some dreary castle.”
“Princesses are not exactly locked up, but they do lose certain freedoms we often take for granted,” Lady Dallington pointed out.
Elodie’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “What if they put a unicorn foot on me during childbirth?”
Wesley knew he would regret saying this, but he said it, nonetheless. “Unicorns aren’t real.”
Elodie didn’t look convinced. “Just because no one has seen a unicorn doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“Usually, that is precisely what that means,” Wesley countered.
Undeterred, Elodie continued with even more enthusiasm, her hands growing more animated as she spoke. “Regardless, if I use a unicorn foot, that will most likely grant my children magical powers! They might even grow up to be powerful sorcerers.”
Wesley didn’t quite know what to say at this precise moment. He wasn’t entirely sure if Elodie was joking or if she truly believed in her fantastical ideas. His gaze shifted to Melody, who was smiling at her sister, clearly amused by the whimsical turn of the conversation.
One thing was certain—he had never had such an interesting—or decisively odd—conversation over dinner before.