Melanie’s legs gave out beneath her, dumping her into a chair at the worn kitchen table, her mouth agape. She stared at her father. “You did what?”
“I lost it.” Her father, the strongest and most dependable man Melanie had ever known, looked as though he were in hell.
“How much, Papa?”
“The next three months’ rent.”
“Papa!” Melanie gasped. “How could you? What are we going to do?” He father could do no more but look miserably at her with tears in his eyes. She covered his calloused hands with hers. “We will figure something out. We’ll talk to the steward. Or the duke himself, if Mr. Cox won’t listen. We’ve never been late with the rent before, I’m sure he will understand.” Melanie wasn’t at all sure he would understand, but she couldn’t bear the bleakness in her father’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mellie. It was a stupid thing to do. I don’t know what I was thinking. Money has been so tight this year…I guess I got some crazy notion in my head that if I could just win one hand, that would be enough to see us through.”
“Oh, Papa, gambling is never the answer when you don’t have money to lose.”
“Forgive me, Mellie. Please.”
Melanie stood and wrapped her arms around her father. “Your heart was in the right place…this has been a difficult year, we are all tired of struggling. We will find a solution somehow, just promise me you will never do something so dunder-headed again.”
“I promise, my dear. Cards are fun but I sure don’t enjoy them when so much money is involved. It was stupid to try. And now look what I’ve done.”
His voice broke, and Melanie squeezed harder. She loved her father deeply. Her mother’s death had taken a toll on him, and he hadn’t been quite the same since. The choices he made weren’t always the wisest, but she would stand by him till her dying day. He was all she and Bea had left. She stiffened her spine, as she always did when faced with a problem. “I’m going to see the steward right now and request an appointment. With any luck, we can work something out with him by the end of the week. I’ll request an audience with the duke if I have to. Don’t worry, Papa. It will be all right.”
“You are truly a blessing, Mellie. So much like your mother.”
Melanie’s heart squeezed and she blinked against the sting of tears. “I know you miss her, Papa. I do, too. Every day. I know she’d be proud of us for carrying on as we have.”
Chester grabbed his daughter’s hand, giving it kiss and holding it against his cheek. “Thank you, my dear. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that. Come now,” she said, dropping a kiss on top of his head. “I’m going to visit Mr. Cox while you pull yourself together. I’m sure he will be willing to work with us. We have always been good tenants. I’ll be back before supper.”
She headed out to the village, the weight of her father’s foolish lark resting heavily on her shoulders. How were they supposed to cover such an enormous loss? Even if the duke were gracious in granting them more time, with winter approaching, she didn’t see how they could possibly make up that amount of money. She might be able to borrow some of it for a temporary fix, but the poor crop yields had made it a tough year for everyone.
She was mulling over any possibility when she heard someone call her name. Snapped out of her reverie, she realized she was standing in front of Robert Fielding’s shop. Robert was the local wheelwright, and her best friend since they were both in leading strings. Though lately, if she were being honest, her thoughts had strayed out of friend territory and into something she didn’t want to examine too closely. Her heart gave an unfamiliar blip when he smiled at her, wiping dust from his hands.
“Where are you headed, Mel? You look like a storm cloud.”
“I’m off to see if Mr. Cox is available, and if not, I’m heading to Hawthorne House.”
Robert raised his eyebrows. “You’re to see the duke?”
“If he’s in residence, and if he’ll see me.”
“Is something amiss?”
Melanie bit her lip, debating what to tell him. “I just…need to speak with him.”
Robert eyed her, his all too perceptive gaze telegraphing his skepticism. “You’re headed out there by yourself? If you can wait a moment, I’ll go with you.”
“That’s really not neccess—”
“I think it is. On the way, you can tell me what’s troubling you.” He turned and went into the shop. Melanie sighed. Ever her protector, she could hide nothing from Robert. He could read her better than anyone she knew. Two peas in a pod, everyone said.
But lately, something Melanie couldn’t quite put her finger on had changed. Robert seemed more protective, more…intense. He looked at her differently, as though he were trying to puzzle out a problem. He seemed to draw back a little from their friendship, and carefully keep her at arm’s length. She supposed it might just be that they were of marriageable age and he didn’t want to start rumors, but she missed the freedom their youth had given them. Now she had to be ever conscious of her reputation, lest she ruin her chances for marriage.
Though if she were honest with herself, she’d always rather thought she’d marry Robert. She watched as he moved about the shop, checking on his partner, pointing out something that she couldn’t see, but obviously he thought was flawed. His partner nodded and went back to work, and Robert turned to her, a shaft of afternoon sunlight sneaking through a crack in the wood wall, threading his dark hair with auburn highlights. She felt that odd little patter in her heart again. He really was a handsome man, and a good man, too. He would make a fine husband. Sadly, he showed no romantic interest in her whatsoever.
“Shall we go?” He indicated the back door, which opened into a field with a path that led to the main road. No one would notice them slip away. She stepped into the shadows of the shop and followed him out the back. The tall grasses pulled at her skirts while birds chirped overhead, the sun warming her back as she meandered along the path, the whisper of their footsteps the only other sound. She swiped a piece of grass and rolled it between her fingers as she let her thoughts wander with the summer breeze.
“A heavy burden is lighter when shared, Mel,” Robert said after they’d walked some way in silence. “How can I help you?”
Melanie smiled. “You are always so quick to lend a hand, Robert. I’ve always admired that about you.”
“That is what friends do for each other, is it not?”
Melanie chuffed a breath. “Friends. Yes, I suppose we are that.”
“I certainly hope so or I’ve been misled all these years,” he said, nudging her with his elbow. “Tell me your troubles, Mel.”
So she did, embarrassing and uncouth as it was. To his credit, Robert didn’t rail or scold, he just nodded his understanding.
“I have some you can borrow, but at this particular moment most of my cash is tied up in an investment. It should pay soon, but I don’t have a lot on hand.”
“I couldn’t borrow money from you, Robert.”
“Of course you could. Your stubborn pride might interfere, but you could. I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” They’d reached the main road, so they headed away from town. “But this situation has made me think that maybe it’s time to throw myself on the mercy of my cousin. She always said I could come to London any time I’d like.”
Robert mulled that over. “I’d forgotten about her. Do you think she would lend you money?”
“I wouldn’t be going to ask for money. I’d be going to find a husband.”
Robert stopped in his tracks. “What? Mel. No.”
“What? It’s time I get married anyway, and if I can find a man who is in a better situation than mine, I can solve all of my family’s troubles.”
“Isn’t there anyone…here…who interests you?”
Mel thought she saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, but it was gone before she could be sure. “I need to marry well, Robert. It won’t do much good to marry a man who can’t support my family. Who around here could do that? We are all humble folk here.” She turned away and resumed their walk, a little more brisk than moments ago. “No, my mind is made up. I will write to cousin Pamela and see if her offer still stands.”
“Mel, this is a terrible idea,” Robert called, hurrying to catch up with her. “There must be another solution.”
“I am open to suggestions,” she snapped.
“I’m sure you could borrow—”
“No.”
“Then you can talk to the duke’s steward. Perhaps he can help.”
“That would only be a temporary fix. I am tired of struggling, Robert. Bea’s medications are growing ever more expensive, and I need to keep a constant eye on her. She’s not like the rest of us…she tries, but she can’t help being slow. It’s hard for me to get any work done when I must look after her all day, too. With Mama gone, it’s just gotten too hard. Papa does his best, but he’s getting older too. Pretty soon he’ll need to slow down as well, and then where will we be? No, I am the hope of my family’s future. I have to find a rich husband, and that is that.”
“Do you even have the funds to get to London? Or do you think you are going to tempt a rich man into this little country village?” Robert asked, anger coloring his voice.
They’d reached the bend in the road. “I don’t know, but I will fig—” Melanie stopped so suddenly, Robert nearly fell over her. He followed her gaze down the road to where a fancy carriage sat at an odd angle, apparently having broken an axle. Two men were bent over, studying the damage. One was clearly the driver, but the other…
The other man straightened and Melanie’s heart stopped. He waved them down, but Melanie lacked to power to move. He was impeccably dressed, and perhaps the most handsome man she had ever seen in person…that was obvious, even from a distance. Robert muttered an oath beside her.
Melanie grinned. “I think I have a plan.”
* * *
“Good afternoon. Looks like you could use some help,” Robert noted.
“That would be an understatement,” the man responded, smiling. “How do you do? Lord Loxley, at your service.”
Robert took in the chisled jaw, the aquiline nose, the blond hair that was the perfect mix of wheat and honey. Even his teeth were perfect. Everything about him spelled trouble for Robert. “Pleasure to meet you, milord. I’m Robert Fielding.” He nodded at the carriage. “Broken axle?”
“I’m afraid so.” His eyes wandered over Robert’s shoulder and an appreciative light came into them. Robert turned to see Melanie aiming a brilliant smile at Lord Loxley. Apparently Melanie’s plan to visit the steward was temporarily forgotten.
He sighed inwardly. “Lord Loxley, please meet Miss Melanie Ames.”
“How do you do, Miss Ames,” Loxley said, stepping forward to press a kiss to the back of her hand. “Perhaps today is not a total loss after all.”
Melanie blushed to the roots of her hair. “I am sorry for your trouble, but your luck isn’t all bad. The town is but a mile from here, and Mr. Fielding just so happens to be our wheelwright.”
Loxley’s perfectly groomed eyebrows shot up. “Is he?” He looked at Robert, who nodded. Loxley smiled at Melanie. “Perhaps you are correct, Miss Ames.” The tone of his voice shifted from commanding to a caress. “Today’s luck isn’t all bad.”
Robert’s fists tightened at his side as Loxley gave Mel a bold perusal, which she didn’t seem to mind in the least. Foreboding crept over him at the look of delight on her features. Robert had to talk some sense into her, or he was going to lose her to this handsome stranger.
He cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should be on our way back to the village. I’m afraid this is going to take a day or two to fix.”
“But what a perfect time to visit!” Melanie exclaimed. “Our midsummer festival is in three days, you must stay to enjoy it!”
Alarm zinged through Robert. “I’m sure Lord Loxley is a busy man, Mel—Miss Ames. He was clearly on his way somewhere.”
“Nonsense. I can spare a few days to enjoy the village and its charming residents. A festival sounds quite diverting,” he added, winking. “Perhaps you can show me the way to the village?” He asked, offering Melanie his arm.
“It would be my pleasure, milord.” She linked her arm through his and they set off down the road, completely forgetting about Robert and the coachman. Robert ground his molars as he turned to the coachman. “I’ll help you get the horses unhitched.”