Alfie wasn’t alone, of course, but dragging Caroline, who, as always, appeared full of purpose, behind him.
Running her hands along Alfie’s back, Melanie found herself grinning. She’d been so focused on the ruckus coming from the duke’s residence, she hadn’t even heard her older sister arrive.
Before Melanie could manage a greeting, Caroline tilted her head, a lock of light brown hair curling around her chin.
“Is that a baby crying?” Caroline asked, her voice more than a little hesitant.
Melanie caught the flicker of pain in her sister’s deep blue eyes—there for an instant before it was gone, replaced by her usual composure.
Alfie jumped onto the bed, lazily stretching and glancing toward the window, indifferent to the sound, and Melanie swallowed hard.
Caroline rarely spoke of the child she had lost early in her marriage to the Earl of Helton. True to her nature, she had pressed forward, her resilience unshakable—or at least, that was how it seemed. But now, hearing the baby’s cry, Melanie wondered if that strength was just another way of protecting them all from further heartbreak.
“I... didn’t hear you arrive,” Melanie managed, her voice uneven.
Caroline turned from the window, surprised by the effort. A small, pleased smile crossed her face, but it quickly faded.
“I need to talk to you,” her sister said. “About Mother.”
Melanie raised her brows but didn’t speak again. Already, she could feel that pressure in her throat worsening.
“When we first arrived in London last year, I know we all believed that her… enthusiasm for Society was harmless—a mechanism for coping with Father’s death, right? But—oh, Melanie, she’s… on the ropes.” Caroline brushed past Melanie as she paced across the room, her hands flailing. “Maxwell and I hear things, you know, at the Gazette. It comes with the business. And you know I love Mother with all my heart. I assumed she’d settle down, but people are talking… It cuts.” Caroline paused her pacing and sent Melanie a distressed look.
“What…?” …are they saying?
“Nothing good.” Caroline answered. “That she’s rattle-brained—mad—to allow her youngest daughter to come out when an elder one remains unmarried. That she speaks too loudly. That she is reaching too high. And honestly, I could live with all that. The trouble is, her reckless behavior, and the resulting talk, it also hurts…”
“Reed,” Melanie finished for her sister. Which was far worse than if it were only hurting her or Josephine’s reputations.
“Yes.” Caroline’s gaze landed on Melanie, and they shared a look of mutual understanding.
It had taken nearly a year for the suspicions surrounding Reed to fade into obscurity—ridiculous rumors that he’d killed members of his own family!
And now their mother’s…hysteriawas stirring them up again.
But Caroline wasn’t through. “If only you could attend some of these events with them, it might quiet some of the talk.”
No. No. Please, no!
“Melanie, you know I’d normally turn to Reed for help, but until he and Goldie return from Seabridge Manor, she needs a calming influence…”
Melanie shook her head. Because she knew what Caroline was going to ask, and Melanie could not! She could not! The mere thought of accompanying her mother and Josie totonfestivities was enough tobring on that familiar choking feeling.
She pointed at Caroline, but her sister shook her head.
“I’ve tried, believe me, but it isn’t working. The fact that I married an earl, that she has a daughter who’s a countess now, it only seems to feed into her frenzy.” Caroline’s cheeks were flushed, which was unusual. She really was concerned.
“I’m not asking you to flirt, or to evenattemptconversation with anyone. Just please, attend a few of these parties with her. Drop a quieting hand on her arm when she…” Caroline closed her eyes, looking frustrated but also a little mortified. “When she references the amount of money she spent on new furnishings last summer, or the size of the Standish seal on her carriage.” She exhaled through her nostrils. “Or the size of Josephine’s child-bearing hips,for the love of God.”
Melanie had suspected something like this might be happening, but she hadn’t realized the extent of their mother’s indelicate behavior.
Josphine had hinted at it, but Melanie simply hadn’t…heard.
Which was ironic.
“And don’t even suggest I talk with Josie about any of that. I already have. She said she’d do her best, but you and I both know she can’t stand up to Mother.”
Caroline was not wrong.
