“When?” Melanie insisted.
“In a couple of weeks, my sweet. I’m too busy at the moment. I’ll be in touch later on, to work out a suitable date. It’s been a real pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Munro.” Richard picked up her hand and raised it to his lips and she forced herself not to snatch it away and wipe it on her skirt. “A great pleasure,” he said, his voiced lowered so the others would not hear. His eyes rested briefly on her lips before focusing on her breasts, not caring that his wife and her husband stood a few feet away from them. The rotten cad.
She eyed him coldly, almost trembling with outrage, then with haughty disdain, turned and walked away. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how his uncouth behavior upset her.
After kissing Melanie goodbye, she let Adam help her into the buggy and waited for him to make his farewells. They didn’t speak until they drove through the gates of Ravenswood.
“What do you think, a woman’s perspective?”
“I’m not sure, but Melanie loves him.”
“A blind man could see that,” he bit out. “Your overall impression.”
“I’d get her out of that place, it’s shrouded with evil.”
Adam gave a grim chuckle. “Women, what fertile imaginations they have.”
“I’m telling you, there’s something not quite right. I can’t explain it, but I know there’s something wrong. Sinister, that’s the word I’m after.”
“I’ve never liked Jarratt, the man’s got an unsavory background. But Melanie seems happy enough.”
Men, Tommy sighed, they always took things on face-value. She didn’t know why, but she was glad Jamie had not accompanied them.
Chapter Fifteen
A few days after their visit to Ravenswood, Tommy noticed a horse heading towards the homestead. Slumped in the saddle, the rider left the horse without guidance and it walked in a zigzag pattern. When the horse stopped in the front yard she received the shock of her life. The rider was Melanie, exhausted and distraught beyond anything Tommy had ever witnessed before. The girl kept giving shuddering, heart-rending sobs, yet no tears fell.
“Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Rogers,” Tommy yelled at the top of her voice. She rushed out and supported Melanie so she would not topple to the ground.
“What is it, Mrs. Munro?” The housekeeper appeared on the front steps. “Good Lord, who’s this?”
“Adam’s cousin, the one we visited the other day. Help me get her into the house before she collapses.”
Between the two of them they assisted Melanie off the horse and inside to a bedroom. Thank goodness she was a slight little thing otherwise they would never have managed. She appeared to suffer from shock, incapable even of walking on her own.
When Mrs. Rogers went to get some tea, Tommy helped Melanie out of her clothes and slipped one of her own nightgowns over the girl’s head. She helped her into the bed they always kept ready for guests and propped her up against several pillows.
“Melanie dear, what is it? You can tell me.”
“I caught Richard in bed with another woman,” she whispered.
“Oh no.”
“I-In bed with another woman. In my own house.” Her voice sounded husky, broken. Gazing into the big brown eyes, Tommy had never seen such pain or anguish.
Mrs. Rogers brought in the tea and Melanie’s hands trembled so much Tommy steadied it for her.
“I’ve put some of my special herbs in it to help settle her down, Mrs. Munro.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe any man could be so vile as to bring his mistress to share a house with his wife.”
“Are you sure? It’s just too shocking.” The housekeeper stared at Tommy in disbelief.
“That’s what she said.”
“Perhaps we should get Mr. Munro.”
Tommy shook her head. “What could he do? Better if we try to calm her down ourselves first. Adam says she’s sixteen, but she looks about twelve.”
Tommy sat with Melanie holding her hand and talking quietly until the girl fell into an exhausted sleep.
Where had the poor little thing got the strength to ride so far on her own? No man with an ounce of decency would have treated his wife in such a vile, contemptible manner.
If Jarratt rode up to the homestead right now, I’d be hard pressed not to get a gun out and shoot him.
She paced up and down the verandah waiting for Adam and Jamie’s return.
Jamie dashed up to her and she leaned down to give him a kiss and a cuddle. “Have you been working hard?” Hot, tired and grubby, he grinned broadly. “Listen, my lamb, run inside and ask Mrs. Rogers to organize your bath. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
“What? No welcoming kiss for your husband?” Adam’s lips had a bitter twist.
“Don’t go inside yet.” She grabbed his arm. “Something terrible has happened.” In a few words she told him about Jarratt.
“Is she all right? There’s the child to consider as well.” His eyes darkened with concern.
“Oh, Adam.” She almost tucked her arm through his but drew back at the last minute. “It’s the most shocking, filthy thing I’ve ever heard of.”
“He’s a sadist,” Adam snarled.
“Why did her father ever agree to let her marry him?” Tommy asked as he stepped back to let her enter the homestead first.
“They’ve been married a little over four months.” He grimaced. “I’d say Arthur didn’t have much choice, Jarratt made sure of that.”
Yes. He would have got her with child on purpose, leaving her father no option but to give his consent.
While Adam got changed for dinner she went to check on Melanie. The girl still slept, so tragically beautiful, tears burned at the back of Tommy’s eyes.
After two days Melanie got up and dressed but she rarely spoke, just drifted around like a sad, beautiful ghost. The only time she showed any animation was with Jamie. She would give him a soft, sweet smile when he stood in front of her pulling faces as he tried to make her laugh.
After Jamie went to bed one evening, Adam turned to his cousin. “Would you like Tommy to play the piano, Melanie, my dear?” He spoke with such gentleness Tommy’s heart turned over. Why couldn’t he speak to her like that?
She walked over to the piano and started playing. Some light classical pieces, followed by simple folksongs.
“Come along, we’ll read the words off the music sheet and have a sing-song.” His suggestion shocked her so much she nearly toppled off the piano stool.
Adam helped Melanie out of her chair and guided her over to the piano. He stood behind Tommy with one hand resting on her shoulder. When he leaned over to flick through the pages until he found what he wanted, her fingers trembled on the keys. His body brushed up against hers, his breath smelling faintly of his after dinner brandy fanned her cheek. The heat of his body seared into hers and it took all her strength not to lean back against him. She had to remain aloof, her only defense against such lethal magnetism.
“This one,” he decided.
She began playing a tune about some wild colonial boy who got shot by the troopers and Melanie started singing the words in a soft, melodious voice.
“There you are, my dear, I remembered it used to be your favorite.”
Tommy nearly fainted with shock when Adam joined in. He had a pleasant rather soulful voice. “Come on, Tommy, why don’t you join us?”
“I’m sorry; I’ve got a dreadful singing voice. David says I wail like an out of tune violin.” She laughed, feeling happy for the first time in ages.
Perhaps things might improve. Adam did have a soft, caring side to his nature, recognizable by his compassionate treatment of Melanie. Was his harshness towards her a form of self-defense against his uncertainty?
Just give me a sign, the faintest hint you feel something for me and you regret discussing our wedding night with some drunken oaf.
She dared not make the first move in case she had misread the signs. To lay her heart bare again an
d have him scorn her would be the ultimate betrayal. She would never be able to survive such pain a second time.
When she told him about the baby she wanted to do it safe in the knowledge that he cared for her.
“Why don’t we take a stroll in the garden, ladies? You won’t need a cloak, it’s quite mild.” He held out an arm to each of them. They stepped out of the double glass doors leading to the garden. Tommy breathed in the delicate scent of roses and lavender wafting on the cool night air. No perfume manufactured by man smelled as sweet as this. They didn’t speak but the silence seemed somehow calming as they strolled along. Stars dotted the sky and a fat lazy moon hovered over the distant mountains.
“Thank you for the walk.” Melanie spoke, after a time, in the soft, tremulous tones of one overwhelmed with grief. “I feel weary. I might retire now. Goodnight.”
“As you wish, my dear. It’s not often a man gets to enjoy the company of two beautiful women on his own.” Adam could pour on the charm when he wanted to.
Tommy went to follow Melanie indoors.
“Wait.” He grabbed hold of her arm and swung her around to face him. “I’m going up into the high country for a couple of days chasing wild cattle. If I find any decent ones I’m going to round them up. David’s giving me a hand.”
He stood so close she could smell his male scent, feel his potent aura.
“I spoke to your brother who has no objections, so I promised Jamie he could come along with us.”
“He’s too young.”
“He’s a normal, curious little boy, it would do him good. I don’t like him spending too much time around the house with poor Melanie the way she is. David agreed with me when I told him.” He sighed. “It’s not good for the boy to witness such abject misery.”
What about me, she nearly said. He didn’t care what she had to put up with. Sweet, brokenhearted Melanie couldn’t help it. Any woman would be devastated to catch her husband in bed with his mistress, especially if it happened in your own home. The feeling of degradation and betrayal, the foulness of such a bestial act would haunt you forever.
“All right, as long as you keep a close watch on him.”
“I’ll take care of him. Tommy.” He lowered his voice on her name and it came out on a soft sigh as he pulled her into his arms.
His lips claimed hers, gently at first. But soon he started kissing her with a desperate, urgent hunger, his tongue darting and thrusting, probing the deepest recesses of her mouth.
She couldn’t breathe; stars inside her head were exploding so brightly she closed her eyes. She returned his kisses wantonly, letting her tongue entwine with his.
His body shuddered against hers. His hand cupped her breast. “Oh, God, I need you,” he rasped.
Her desire was shocking in its intensity, overwhelming, all-consuming. Suddenly she struggled to push him away. If he took her to his bed he would discover her secret.
“Let me go.” She started beating at his back.
He lurched away, dropped a shocking obscenity, turned on his heel and stalked off. She trembled, on the verge of collapse.
****
Tommy didn’t hear Adam and Jamie leave the next morning as she tossed and turned half the night. She’d called herself all kinds of fool for believing he wanted anything more than male gratification. He needed her, so she was expected to drop into his hand, or more precisely his bed, like a ripe plum. Her eyes felt heavy and sticky from weeping, her head ached and she swallowed down on her usual morning nausea.
A sudden commotion in the passageway brought her to full awareness.
“Mrs. Munro.” Mrs. Rogers banged on the bedroom door as Melanie’s terrible screams rent the air.
Fighting her nausea, Tommy struggled out of bed and put on her dressing gown. “I’m coming, what is it?” She opened the bedroom door to a frightful sight.
Melanie was doubled over screaming with pain, Mrs. Rogers trying to help her. Blood soaked the bottom half of the girl’s nightgown and an ever widening pool of red spread out on the floor.
Between the two of them they managed to carry Melanie back to her bedroom. Tommy snatched up some towels to try and stem the bleeding but it proved futile. Melanie had gone into premature labor and they could do nothing except deliver a tiny stillborn boy.
This would have to be the worst moment in her whole life. God, how could you let this happen Tommy railed, as she helped Mrs. Rogers clean up the mess.
“Where’s my baby, where’s my baby,” Melanie cried out piteously.
“I’m sorry,” Tommy whispered through her tears. “We couldn’t save him.”
Melanie’s face could have been carved from white marble, her eyes full of grief and pain yet she didn’t cry. She didn’t shed even one solitary tear. Melanie Jarratt was already dead even though she still breathed.
Mrs. Rogers pushed open the window to let in some fresh air. The sun streamed in, but its warmth did little to erase the cold aura of death hanging over the room. Tommy wrapped the baby in a pillowcase just leaving his face peeping out. He looked like a little doll, with a head of black hair and a white porcelain face.
“What are you doing?” Mrs. Rogers cried out in shock as Tommy took the baby over to Melanie. “You can’t, it’s not decent.”
She ignored the housekeeper. “Here’s your baby, Melanie dear; hold him for a moment then you must rest.”
Melanie took the baby in her arms and rocked him gently. “How beautiful you are,” she crooned. “Your mama’s here, she won’t let anything harm you.”
“Mrs. Munro.” In the hallway Mrs. Rogers gave vent to her feelings. “I’ve never seen the like of it, it’s…it’s unchristian.”
“What’s unchristian about letting her hold her baby for a short time? What harm can it do? She’s got nothing now, no husband and no child.” Tears ran down Tommy’s cheeks and she brushed them away with her sleeve. “It isn’t fair.”
“I know, I know.” The housekeeper wrung her hands. “Go and have a lie down before you collapse.”
“We’ll have to send one of the men for the doctor.”
“Good idea, she’s lost a lot of blood. I’ve delivered plenty of babies in my time, but nothing like this.” Mrs. Rogers shuddered. “Goodness knows what damage has been done to the poor girl’s insides.”
“I know.” Tommy fought to control her emotions. Falling apart now would do none of them any good. “I wish Adam was here.”
“Better that he’s not, men are so useless in these situations. There’s Master Jamie too…”
“You’re right.” She patted the housekeeper’s arm. “I wouldn’t want him to witness such terrible happenings.”
While Tommy dressed, Mrs. Rogers organized for one of the men to ride into town for the doctor. They shared tea and toast in the kitchen.
“As soon as you’ve finished, go and sit with her, Mrs. Munro. I’ll make sure everything is cleared away.”
“Thank you. I don’t know how I would have coped if you hadn’t been here to help me.” She had delivered Mary Cavendish’s baby, but this was different.
“What about the husband?”
“That beast? Adam will have to see him when he gets back. I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions if I saw him now. I swear it. This tragedy is his fault.”
Back in the bedroom, Melanie rocked the baby gently, her eyes fixed on his tiny, exquisite face.
“Give him to me, you need to rest.”
“Just a little while longer,” she pleaded in a whisper. “Is Richard coming to see us?”
“We haven’t told him yet. I’ll get you some tea now.”
“Thank you, Tommy. Everything is going to be all right now,” she said drowsily, giving a tired smile. “I’ve got my baby.”
Tommy left the room. Had she done the right thing letting Melanie hold her tiny dead son? Mrs. Rogers thought it wrong. But how could it be, if it gave the girl a little happiness? Getting the child away from her might prove to be a problem; they would h
ave to wait until she fell asleep.
This wee mite was going to have a proper burial, even if he wasn’t born alive. She’d pick out a special place in the Munro family cemetery. Somewhere close to Adam’s mother so he could be near the roses. It would be some consolation for Melanie if she could visit her baby whenever she wanted to.
Adam would insist Melanie stay with them, only proper that she did so, unless her father could offer a better alternative.
****
When Mrs. Rogers poured out a fresh cup of tea Tommy took it into Melanie. She slept, smiling sweetly, her face serene and peaceful as she held her baby close. Tommy stood there for a moment staring in wonderment. The sun, casting a soft warm glow over the room, chased away the cold somber shadows of before.
Realization slowly dawned on her. Melanie wasn’t asleep. The angels had touched her face and re-united her with her baby. They would be together for all eternity. It seemed in death Melanie would find the happiness that eluded her in life.
Tommy tiptoed out of the room. It felt as if a great burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She would mourn dear Melanie’s passing, but surely it wasn’t wrong to be glad her grief and suffering had ended.
“Mrs. Rogers.” She hurried into the kitchen. “We won’t bother about the tea; Melanie won’t be needing it now.”
“You mean, she’s…”
“Yes. You’ll think I’m dreadful. I still can’t believe I’m thinking in such an ungodly manner. Go in and see her, then tell me whether it isn’t better this way.”
“Mrs. Munro!” A shocked Mrs. Rogers hurried off muttering under her breath. The housekeeper returned with tear-filled eyes. “I know what you mean; she looked so happy and serene with her baby. A person would have to be heartless to wish her back to endure all the heartbreak and suffering that awaited her in this world.”
“I believe God acted with mercy taking both of them together,” Tommy whispered. “No one will ever convince me otherwise.”
It took Dr. Brannigan three hours to arrive. He could do nothing. Melanie and her child had passed beyond earthly help.
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