Rumors of a genteel lady wandering into the heart of Malum’s empire—no matter her intentions—weren’t the sort a young woman could come back from.
Helton’s frown deepened as he considered the weight of Malum’s words. “Are you certain it was her?”
“Oh, quite,” Malum answered, his tone firm. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I wasn’t.”
Helton set his glass down a little too forcefully, his frustration evident. “She’s never been reckless, Malum. Why wouldn’t she just go to her mother? Or send a missive, for God’s sake?”
But Malum knew why she hadn’t. “She acted in the best interests of the child—said it was urgent. And I appreciated that. But I thought you should know.” Malum shrugged, keeping his expression neutral.
A long silence followed. Helton’s brow furrowed as he mulled over the situation.
“Wait. Shesaidit was urgent? She spoke to you?”
“Of course. She’s not mute.”
“…Right.” Helton removed his spectacles and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “None of this makes sense. She’s hardly said more than two words at a time…”
At this, Malum could only raise his brows. Lady Melanie had seemed quiet, but she’d certainly spoken more than two words to him.
Malum watched as Helton mulled over the implications. When the earl donned his spectacles once again, he looked disappointed and possibly a little angry.
“She isn’t the sort to keep something like this from her sister,” Helton said.
Half-regretting bringing it up, Malum kept silent.
“Is it possible she’s pulled one over on us? She doesn’t want to marry, and struggling to speak is a convenient excuse to avoid Society…” Helton’s lips thinned and his eyes narrowed, and Malum didn’t think he liked where this was going. “It seems my wife and I need to have a word with Lady Melanie. By God.” Heshook his head. “I appreciate you telling me,” Helton said at last, though his voice was tight.
Malum nodded, his gaze never leaving Helton’s. “Of course.”
Still, Malum felt uneasy. He had only spoken the truth, however, and matters like these ought to be left to the family to sort out. Shouldn’t they?
Helton stood then, though not without a small, lingering glance in Malum’s direction. “This is unusually... considerate of you, Malum.”
Malum dipped his chin.
As the door closed behind the earl, Malum sat back, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest of his chair as his thoughts returned to the intriguing young woman.
Something about her unsettled him, a gnawing sense of concern he couldn’t quite place. She was more than just his neighbor, more than a potential scandal. She was...
Complicated.
Malum’s jaw tightened as he pushed the thought away. He had no room for complications.
AS YOUR FAMILY…
The following morning, Melanie awoke in her chamber to nothing more than the sounds of a few birds chirping outside. Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
Which meant that the duke had, in fact, likely hired a competent nursemaid for little Ernest.
And that was a good thing. It meant that the child was being cared for properly. It also meant that she, Melanie, wouldn’t have to leave the comfort of her mother’s townhouse again.
After pushing the coverlet off and then swinging her feet over the side of the bed, staring at the slippers she’d left on the floor, she experienced a sense of emptiness, an odd sort of… restlessness.
She understood the emptiness right off. How could she not have fallen more than a little in love with him?
With his adorable toothless mouth, the feathery softness of his head, and eyes that gazed up at her filled with an abundance of trust? The image of his arms flailing about after she’d placed him on the changing table jumped into her mind. She smiled, recalling the sight of those naked little legs when she’d changedout his nappy—and how he’d been so brash as to send urine shooting into the air.
Something that should have repelled her had only made him seem more endearing.
