Читать книгу Buried Jewellery Box - Reseda Shaykhnurova - Страница 4

During the dinner, the hosts and their guests were at ease. However, the Fellowses’ daughter and son did not utter a word, nodding in agreement now and then.

Georgia Melshem stole a glance at the object of her girlish dreams and could not understand why Ralph Fellows slighted her company.

“Master Fellows,” she addressed him, “if you intend to continue ignoring me, I think I will stop visiting Bradby!”

Countess Melshem looked at her daughter with displeasure.

“Forgive me, Miss Melshem,” Ralph said. “From now on I will be more attentive to you.”

“You did not do anything wrong, my dear boy!” Georgia’s mother intervened. “It is just that my daughter is too impatient. Now tell me someone, what are these wonderful meat rolls in the sauce?”

“Those are lamb meatballs in truffle sauce, Countess!” the master of the household said. “They were my idea!”

“Father likes to invent recipes and surprise our guests with delicacies,” commented Melody. “He’s a talented head of the family!”

“Miss Fellows praises her father at every opportunity,” the countess laughed.

“She is right to do so!” Mr. Fellows supported his daughter. “In our family, however strange it may seem, Ralph is closer to his mother and Melody is to me.”

“It is absolutely natural, my dear.” his wife stepped in. “It is the case in many families.”

When the dinner was over after a great amount of pleas and threats Ralph agreed to see the countess and Miss Melshem off to Melshem Hall. A closed gig had been readied, and the coachman happily seated the guests into the salon. Ralph accompanied the ladies on his horse.

After the guests’ departure, Rebecca Fellows went up to her room and decided to go to bed early. Mr. Fellows kissed his wife good night, as he intended to read in the library. Walking out of the bedroom, he bumped into his wife’s maid, who took a step back, looking somewhat strange.

“Is everything all right, Megan?” asked the master.

“Yes, it is, “answered the maid, looking down.

Henry Fellows looked at the servant in surprise, but did not ask any more questions, just told her to put out the lamp as soon as Mrs. Fellows fell asleep.

On the following day, the whole family decided to take a walk and do some shopping in Matlock, so from the early morning the servants had been busy, getting the stroller ready by their masters’ outing after breakfast.

Just before the departure, George Melshem appeared. He stopped near the couple and asked permission to invite Melody to the picnic.

“But I have prepared to go down town with my mother and father!” protested Miss Fellows.

“That is all right, dear,” responded Rebecca. “You can accept our neighbor’s invitation, and we will buy whatever you ask.”

“You give your permission, but Father will not.”

“Why wouldn’t I, my dear?” asked Mr. Fellows.

“But Father!”

“Melody, the viscount rode here specially for you, to say the least! And we shall go to Matlock again at the end of the month.”

“Do you object my company, Miss Fellows?” wondered Mr. Melshem.

“Not at all! I apologize if I have made you think so,” said Melody. “Of course, I will gladly accompany you and Miss Melshem to the picnic.”

The neighbor did not specify that there would be the two of them and the servant on the picnic.

“Georgia is late,” mentioned Miss Fellows, descending from her horse.

“To be honest, she is not going to join us,” admitted George Melshem.

“Why not?”

“You see, I wanted to speak with you alone.”

Melody looked away in embarrassment.

“You shouldn’t have,” she said.

“I shouldn’t have what?”

“Deprived me of my parents’ company by deceit.”

“Are you avoiding me?”

Miss Fellows was quiet.

“Has somebody taken your heart already?” insisted George.

“Yes. 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.