No.”
“Or am I the reason? Do I repel you, Melody?”
“You are very handsome, Mr. Melshem, and kind; but I cannot return your feelings.”
“So, all I can hope for is your brother’s friendship?”
“And mine too!”
“But nothing more! You know,” continued George, “that I can provide for you and your family, if we are married.”
“Yes, I do,” said Miss Fellows.
“And do you know that both our families are looking forward to this marriage?”
“All, except my father. He asks me to follow my heart.”
“If one listens to what you say, one might think Mr. Fellows is a righteous man.”
“I’m sorry if offended you, Viscount…”
“George!”
“George,” continued Melody, “but this conversation is pointless.”
“In this case, let me take you back. Just remember that I know how to wait!” and the girl’s companion kissed her hand.
On her return to the house, Miss Fellows burst into tears. That was the state the maid Megan found her in the sitting room.
“What is the matter?” she asked and rushed to the master’s daughter.
“I am distressed by my conversation with Countess Melshem’s son.”
“Was he rude to you?”
“No, not at all! It is just that he… insists on our marriage.”
“But you do not love him, do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I have no right to say that, milady, but you better accept him.”
“Why?”
“Because he will provide for you, and you position in society will be elevated.”
“It is not important to me.”
“Yet. But as time goes, your beauty will fade, and earls and viscounts will no longer make you such offers.”
“But I will be with my father and mother.”
“What about after they are dead?”
“Do not say that!” exclaimed Melody.
“Apologies, Miss Fellows,” said Megan. “I spoke out of turn.”
At that moment, they heard loud voices, and a footman came in with Rebecca Fellows’s purchases. “This conversation never happened,” whispered Melody to the maid just in time and went to see her parents and her brother.
Chapter III
One early spring day Ralph Fellows and Georgia Melshem were walking along the neighborhood and came upon a wonderful park with flowerbeds inside. The young man offered his companion to sit down on the nearest bench exactly opposite a wild rose garden.
“I have to admit, I had not expected an invitation to take a walk with you, Master Fellows,” said Miss Melshem and inhaled the fragrance of flowers.
“A s long as I live under my parents’ roof, I must obey their will,” casually mentioned the companion, thus making the girl wonder.
“Do you not find me pretty?”
“I do. I should even say that you are much prettier than an average English woman aged 15 years and older.”
“Why are you not attracted to me then?” his companion took the liberty of asking.
Ralph was silent.
“My parents hold you in high esteem,” continued Georgia. “I, as well as you, am used to obeying their will. Although, my sympathy towards you is sincere.”
“Thank you,” replied Mr. Fellows chilly.
“So strange that my brother and I are drawn to Melody and you with all our hearts and both of you reject us. Why?”
“I cannot answer for my sister, Miss Melshem. As for me… perhaps, I am too young for love.”
“But not too young for friendship,” finished his companion. “You lavish my brother with your attention.” She gave the young man a red rose that she had picked a minute ago.
Ralph took it, stroked its delicate petals with his fingers, and unexpectedly for his companion put the bud into his mouth and ate it.
“What are you doing?” exclaimed Georgia and sprung to her feet. “I do not want to see you ever again!”
Crying as she went, Miss Melshem ran out of the park and out of sight.
This escapade did not go unpunished for the young Fellows. In the evening of the same day, Bradby was visited by angry George Melshem. He threw his glove in his friend’s face and offered a choice.
“Pistols, sabers or swords?”
The Fellowses could not utter a single word out of astonishment for several minutes. They were all in the sitting room, everyone doing their thing. The head of the family was reading a newspaper, his wife was embroidering, Melody was looking at her father at one moment and into the book at the next, and Ralph was drinking tea with milk.
“What happened, George?” he asked, standing up.
“It is enough that you sister disregards my company!” was the answer. “But I will not allow insulting my sister!”
“My dear boy,” interfered Rebecca Fellows. “Could Ralph really dare insult Georgia? It is impossible!”
The guest did not grace her with an answer and continued his dialogue with the younger Fellows.
“I am asking you to come outside, Ralph! I will wait for 5 minutes, and if you are not there, I will take you for a coward.”
When the viscount left, the entire family rushed to Ralph.
“What have you done?” exclaimed Melody. “Have you offended Georgia?”
“Son, I am sure, that is a misunderstanding,” Mrs. Fellows attempted to protect her son. “Your father and I will speak with Earl and Countess Melshem, and we will clarify everything.”
“We shall not speak with anyone,” said the master of the household calmly. “They are grownups, they will handle everything themselves. Now go and talk to George, Ralph. He is waiting for you.”
His son nodded and went out. The young Melshem was waiting for him in the courtyard. He stopped where the view from the windows did not allow their neighbors to see them.
“George, I did not insult your sister,” the young Fellows tried to reason with his friend. “Indeed, our conversation was within the bounds of decency. I did not even touch her.”
“What about the flower! Do you think that eating a rose, given to you by a girl in love is supposed to bring her joy?”
“I do not know what possessed me then, George. I… I did it spontaneously, without any intention to offend Miss Melshem.”
“Well, allow me to inform you, that you did offend her!”
“Forgive me, George!”
“It is not my forgiveness you are to seek, but Georgia’s. And how could you let her run away in tears without any escort? What were you thinking?”
Ralph looked down.
“Have you chosen a weapon?” persisted the countess’s son.
“George, I beg you! I do not want to lose our friendship!”
“Our friendship? Do you think it is possible, after the recent events?”
“I will do anything to save it!”
The viscount took a deep breath, kicked a stone under his foot with a toe of his shoe and mercifully said:
“All