by Vikki Vaught
Melody returned his gaze, and with joy glowing on her pretty face, she said, “Henry, I’m more than willing. Whether you believe this or not, I love you, and I’ve never stopped loving you. Even when I thought you were dead, I still loved you. I agree, making love is not going to fix our problems, but maybe evenings like this will. I enjoyed myself tonight, and it brought back some good memories. It’s become quite late, and I’m getting tired, so I’m going up to bed. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Why don’t we go riding? We haven’t done that for a while. I would also like to take the children to the lake again. We had fun that day. Let’s meet at the stables tomorrow at ten o’clock. Will that be agreeable to you?” he asked, as he walked with her to the stairs.
“That’s fine, I’ll be there.” Then Melody kissed him on the cheek and went upstairs to bed.
Henry watched her and knew he had made the right decision. Tonight had been pleasant, and he would make sure they had more evenings like this one in the future.
They went for their ride, and they talked about many things. This was the way they could begin to mend the break in their relationship. Later in the afternoon, they took the children down to the maze and let them play in the center, by the fountain. Brandon did his best to climb in, and Henry kept running after him to keep him out of trouble. For a child that had just learned to walk, he certainly moved very fast. Melody had brought a blanket, so she spread it out under the oak tree. Roderick, Mary Elizabeth, and Angela started playing hide-and-seek. It was so cute to watch the two little girls try to count.
“One, fieu, two, fouw, six, thwee, weady or not heyo I come,” yelled Mary Elizabeth.
She would run as fast as her little legs would carry her. When she caught up with Angela, she would giggle. Of course, the little girls were easy to find, since they would giggle and give themselves away. Roderick would find them every time, and Henry found that he enjoyed watching the children. His daughter was so beautiful, and she was getting so big; it was hard to imagine that she was already over two and a half years old. He had missed so much. He certainly planned to take an active role with any future children they had, and he did not want to miss a single minute.
Brandon was an adorable child, and he looked just like Melody, but it was extremely difficult for Henry to feel close to him, because he was a constant reminder of the life Melody had while he was gone. He knew that it was important to Melody that he accept Brandon and treat him as a son, so he was trying to get close to him. In some ways, he owed it to Brandon’s father, because he had been a good father to his daughter. Henry had never looked at it that way before, so maybe he was beginning to accept what had happened. There was no way to change the past, so all they could do was move forward.
Henry walked over to Mary Elizabeth and kneeled down. “Are you having a good time, little one? If you’re getting tired, I would be happy to have you sit in my lap under the tree?”
Mary Elizabeth looked at him, shook her head, and then she ran over to Melody. Melody hugged her, then Mary Elizabeth ran back to Angela, and they started playing again.
Henry walked over to where Melody was sitting. With a despondent expression on his handsome face, he said, “I can’t get her to interact with me. Other than a few times in the nursery, she won’t even smile at me. What am I doing wrong?”
Melody gazed up at him and answered, “You’re trying too hard to get her to respond to you. The best thing you can do is make sure you spend time with her, everyday. She needs to get used to you, and that will only happen with daily contact.”
In frustration, Henry ran his fingers through his thick hair, causing it to look tousled as he replied, “Brandon comes to me, and I haven’t spent any more time with him than I have with Mary Elizabeth.”
Melody said, “Brandon is too small to remember his father. I know it’s hard for you to hear, but Mary Elizabeth thought Brandon was her father. It will take a while for her to accept you. She’ll eventually warm up to you. Just be patient.”
Henry thought about what Melody was saying, and he knew she was right. “I told you I learned patience while I was with the monks, but I guess I still need to have more. I’ll start spending time with her each day. When would be the best time of the day?”
Melody leaned back on her hands, crossed her ankles, and she had never looked lovelier to Henry. She looked thoughtful, and then she replied, “Definitely mornings, right after she has had breakfast is when she is most receptive. She has a full tummy, and she’s wide awake. She takes her nap in the afternoons around one o’clock, and she usually sleeps for an hour. After her nap would be all right, but mornings would still be best.”
Henry continued to watch Melody, and he wanted her so badly that he thought he would die if he did not make love to her soon. He brought his thoughts back and asked, “What time does she eat breakfast? I can usually take a break from my work at ten o’clock.”
She drew her knees up, put her arms around them and said, “That would be an excellent time. I think it would be better if you go to the nursery without me. If she sees me, she’ll want to stay by my side, and she’ll be less likely to interact with you.”
“I’ll start going to see her each day as you have suggested. It does make sense to spend more time with her. I just love her desperately and long for the day when she will call me Papa. Well, as much as I’ve enjoyed this afternoon, I need to return to my study for a brief meeting with Stallings. We need to take the children back to the nursery, because it’s also close to teatime, and you know how upset my mother gets if anyone is late.” Melody folded up the blanket and took the children back to the nursery while Henry went to his meeting with Stallings.
When she arrived in the drawing room for tea, everyone was already there. Mary was staring out of the window with a woebegone look on her face. Helen and Kathryn were discussing the new bonnets and ribbons they had just bought in the village, and the dowager duchess was sitting on the settee ready to pour.
Henry’s mother looked at Melody with venom in her eyes as she said, “Where have you been? Your hair is hanging around your face, gel. You should have fixed it before you came to tea. I see that you have put on some weight. You were looking slimmer when you first came back, but now you are getting plump again.”
Henry sternly stared directly into his mother’s eyes and said, “Mother, I don’t want you talking to Melody that way. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. I will no longer tolerate you treating her like this. She is not a girl; she’s my wife and you will address her in the manner she deserves. Now may I have my tea?” The dowager duchess poured Henry his tea and handed it to him. Everyone sat drinking in silence.
Melody walked over, stood by Mary, and asked, “How are you feeling today? We just came back from the maze. We took the children there to play, and they had a delightful time. Mary Elizabeth enjoys having Angela as a friend, and she likes Roderick also. Would you like to come with us the next time we take the children out?”
Mary sighed deeply, looked down at her hands, which she was twisting nervously, and said, “I know that I need to do more with the children, but I’m just too blue most of the time, and children need someone who can laugh and play with them.”
“Mary, Nelson wouldn’t want you to grieve so for him. You brought joy to his life when he had none. He would want you to be happy. You have two beautiful children to live for, and that’s a blessing,” Melody gently replied.
With tears in her deep brown eyes, Mary answered, “I know that you’re right. I’ll try to do better, and I’ll come with you the next time you take the children out to play.”
Everyone finished their tea. Kathryn and Helen decided to go for a walk, and they convinced Mary to come with them. Melody excused herself and went to her room.
Melody thought about the conversation she had had with Henry. She hoped he would follow through with his plans to spend more time with Mary Elizabeth. He did seem to be trying to forget a
bout her marriage to Brandon, but only time would tell if he was ever going to forgive her. She did not want to live the rest of her life waiting for that to happen. If he was unable to forget, then after she gave him an heir, she would ask him for a legal separation. It was just too difficult to love him and not have her love returned.
The first two weeks of September went by quickly. Henry was very busy with the harvest, but he still found time to go to the nursery and visit his daughter. He asked Melody to organize the Harvest Feast, so she was extraordinarily busy. She went to the village and met with the innkeeper to make sure there would be enough ale and food for all the tenant farmers and villagers. Cook was very helpful, because she had participated in many Harvest Feasts. All the wheat and barley were harvested by the middle of September, so they held the feast on Saturday. All the women of the village brought baked goods, and Henry supplied the rest of the food. They held the feast in the evening, and there was a huge bonfire with musicians so there could be dancing. Melody was excited, because she remembered how much fun she had at Harvest Feasts when she was a child. They arrived just as the dancing started. Henry grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto the dance area. It was so much more relaxed than the formal dancing at a ball. She and Henry danced every dance, and she loved every minute of it. By the end of the evening, many of the men of the village and tenant farmers were definitely feeling no pain from all the ale they were drinking. Henry had indulged with the men. There was a lot of backslapping and congratulations, because the harvest had turned out to be so bountiful. They would not have to worry about the upcoming winter.
At the end of the evening, they gathered up Helen and Kathryn and headed home. They were all tired, so they went straight upstairs to bed. Henry knocked on Melody’s door, and she opened it so he could come in. As Henry entered, he asked, “Did you have a good time tonight? I’m feeling the effects of all the ale that I drank.”
Melody gave him a brilliant smile as she said, “Oh, Henry, I had a marvelous time. Thank you for asking me to help. I used to love the Harvest Feasts we had at home, so this brought back fond memories.”
“I’m glad you had such a good time. I appreciate what you have been trying to do for Mary. She seems a little bit better. I know you have encouraged her to join you when you take the children out to play. I believe I’m getting somewhere with Mary Elizabeth. She actually let me hug her today!” Henry said with a huge grin on his handsome face.
Melody was so pleased for him. She knew how much he wanted Mary Elizabeth to call him Papa. She looked lovingly at him as she said, “That’s wonderful, Henry! I told you that if you were patient, it would all work out. I feel sure she’ll accept you as her father soon. Before you know it, she’ll be calling you Papa!”
“Melody, I would like to spend the night with you tonight. I’ll understand if you don’t want to, but I miss sleeping with you. Remember how it was in Canterbury?” he asked. “We shared a bed every night. We don’t need to make love … I just want to hold you in my arms as we sleep.”
Melody quietly said, “Henry, I’ve missed sleeping with you too. I would love to sleep in your arms, and I want to make love with you. I would never deny you my bed. I know that you need to have an heir, and that won’t happen if we don’t share a bed.”
Henry looked deeply into her eyes as he said, “Melody, as much as I want to make love to you I don’t want you doing it out of a sense of duty. I want you to desire me the way I desire you.”
“Oh, Henry, I do desire you desperately.” Henry walked over to Melody, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her passionately. She returned his kiss with all the love she had in her heart. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Then he lay her down and got into bed with her. They started kissing each other, with their tongues entwined. Melody almost forgot to breathe, in the glory of his kiss. He pushed her nightgown off her shoulders and unbuttoned it down to her waist. He opened it up and gazed at her lovely breasts.
“Melody, I have always loved your delectable body, and you’re getting those luscious curves back again! Don’t ever think that you are too plump. I love every beautiful inch of your body. Your breasts have the prettiest nipples: all rosy and puckered up ready for my touch. They look like tight little rosebuds.” And he bent down, took her nipple into his mouth, and suckled on it. His hand was gently twisting her other nipple. “I could feast on your breasts all night, and your sweet aroma of lemons arouses my desire to fever pitch. I’ve always loved the smell of lemons, and your own special essence just drives me insane!”
Henry caressed her belly, and soon his finger slid down to her golden curls. He touched her sweet spot, and Melody began to writhe. She pushed her pelvis against his hand as his fingers found her entrance and slid home. Melody could feel her passion escalating higher and higher, and soon she was falling off the edge into ecstasy. He pushed her thighs wide apart, moved in between them, and thrust into her hot sweet passage. “Oh my darling! It feels like heaven to be inside you like this! I … can’t hold out … much longer. Oh god!” He began to move in and out, over and over again, and Melody felt her body responding. Before she knew it, wild sensations rolled over her as Henry thrust one more time and then let out a shout, “Melody, my sweet!” just as he emptied his seed into her. He rolled to his side, taking Melody with him, and they lay there in peaceful surrender as they fell fast asleep.
Melody woke up, just as dawn was breaking and looked at his face. He looked so young and peaceful. She knew then that she could never live without him. There would be no legal separation. She would make him love her again. Surely, if they could feel this level of passion, there must be some love left in his heart for her. All she needed was just a small piece, and she would make it grow.
As he opened his eyes, he smiled at her as he said, “Good morning. Did you sleep all right? This was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in over three years. It’s so nice waking up to your smiling face.”
Melody stretched and sighed as she replied, “It was the best night’s sleep for me also. I’ve missed waking up in your arms. Those first months after I thought you had died were excruciating. My sleep was constantly tormented with images of us making love. I burned for your touch, and most nights, I ended up crying myself to sleep.”
“Well, going forward, we’ll just have to make sure we do this, every night. As much as I would like to lie in bed all day, I have to meet with Stallings early this morning. We’re going over the harvest figures, and the yields were much better than expected. God, I hate to get out of this bed.” Henry leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, got out of bed, and left to go get ready to face his day. She noticed that he had a bigger smile on his face than he had had in a long time.
After that night, Henry came to her bed every night. After they would make love, they would sleep in each other’s arms all night. He did not bring up her marriage to Brandon, so Melody left well enough alone. She sensed that he still struggled with the thought of her being with Brandon, and he had not accepted that she had done no wrong by marrying again after his reported death, but she hoped he would soon.
Throughout the fall, they settled into a pattern. They went riding whenever the weather permitted, and then Henry would spend an hour with Mary Elizabeth. She was finally warming up to Henry, and she had even allowed him to give her some hugs. They spent their evenings together either playing chess or cards in the drawing room. Some evenings they would read to each other in the library. Henry’s mother kept to herself and made no more derogatory comments. Melody actually felt sorry for her, because she had to be a very lonely woman. She tried reaching out to the duchess, but she was always rebuffed. Melody spent quite a bit of time with Helen and Kathryn. They would go into the village a couple of times a week, and even got Mary to come occasionally. Mary was beginning to get over her intense grief. Every time they took the children out to play, Melody saw joy in Mary’s eyes as she played with her children.
Melody was now overseeing the manage
ment of the household. Henry had insisted that his mother turn everything over to her. Henry and his mother got into a heated argument, but he persevered, and Melody got the keys. It would have been so much easier on her if the duchess had been willing to help, but the housekeeper Mrs. Milton had been invaluable to Melody. Everyday, she would meet with her and decide on the agenda for the day, along with reviewing the menus that Cook had suggested. Running the household was very enjoyable to Melody, and she found it much less daunting than she had expected. She was concerned about taking her place in society as the Duchess of Sanderford. Here in the country, she had not found it difficult, but she knew it would be quite different with the ton. She had been corresponding with Susan and looked forward to having at least one friend when they went to town in the spring. Aunt Miriam had returned from the continent, so she would be there to help Melody navigate through society. Overall, she was fairly content. If Henry would only show more emotion, then she would be much happier. He was still holding a piece of himself apart from her. Their lovemaking was incredible, but Melody needed his love, and she was beginning to feel that it was not going to happen.
CHAPTER 22
December 1818
DECEMBER WAS AN incredibly busy month, because they began preparing for the holiday season. They were going to have the annual Christmas party, but because they were still in mourning, none of the ton would be attending. All of Henry’s family would come, and most of them would need accommodations, since they would be staying for the entire Christmas season. She met with Mrs. Milton and discussed which bedchambers should be used, and Mrs. Milton even knew who should be placed where. Melody had Mrs. Milton see to cleaning all the rooms, so they would be ready for their houseguests. All the housemaids were very busy getting all the public rooms prepared. Simpson had the footmen cleaning the silver, which took several days. Everything was ready by December 18, and then it was time for Henry and his workers to gather the greenery and the Yule log that would be needed to decorate the house. Helen, Kathryn, and Mary helped out, but the dowager duchess refused to participate. Melody was saddened over this, because she remembered how much Henry’s mother had enjoyed the Christmas season. She tried to reach out to her, but again, she was rebuffed. By the day before the party was scheduled, the house was ready and it looked quite festive. Greenery and holly adorned all the mantles and the banisters. Wreaths hung above all the fireplaces, and mistletoe hung from the crystal chandeliers. Everyone had worked together decorating all the rooms, and it all looked splendid.