Montgomery Family 01 - Lost Pleasures Found (23 page)

Henry laughed as he said, “Good, because I like you much better a little plump! Would you like to go riding this afternoon? I can probably break away around two o’clock. Would that work for you?”

“I would like that, Henry. Just be patient with me, for I haven’t been on a horse for a long time. Well, I’ll let you get back to your work, see you later.” She turned and with a wave of her hand, she walked out of the study.

Henry watched as Melody left the room.
God, she was so lovely.
He wished they could go back to before Waterloo! Henry knew he had to find some way to forgive her. That was the most promising conversation they had had since they had found each other again. They just needed to take some time to get used to each other again. He knew that Melody was very uncomfortable about being a duchess, and he could not blame her. He was still getting used to being the duke, and he had had over two months to accept it.

Melody made her way to the breakfast room and both Henry’s sisters were there. As she walked into the room, she was greeted enthusiastically. Helen and Kathryn both came over and gave her a hug, and then she hugged them back as she said, “It’s so good to see you both. I’ve really missed both of you tremendously. I’m sorry I quit writing to you. I was so scared when I found out about the baby. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly. I hope you’ll forgive me?”

Helen smiled reassuringly at Melody and said, “Henry told us about everything. Since I know how poorly you were treated by my parents, I can understand why you did it. But, Melody, surely you realized that Nelson would have protected you. He wouldn’t have let them hurt you.”

“I know that now, but at the time, I was still grieving the loss of your brother, and all I wanted to do was feel safe. I was just too afraid your parents would take my daughter away that I wasn’t thinking rationally.” It relieved Melody tremendously that Helen seemed to understand why she stopped writing to them.

“Well, I’m just glad you’re back with us, and I don’t want you to ever leave again,” Kathryn said.

Melody turned to Kathryn and smiled, then said, “Just look at you! Kathryn, you’re all grown up and so pretty. Are you still planning on being an artist?”

Kathryn smiled enthusiastically as she replied, “Yes, and Mother and Father let me continue with my art lessons. I’m much better than I was when I painted that portrait of you back in 1814, and I can’t wait to paint your beautiful children. We peeked in on them this morning before we came down for breakfast and they’re adorable.”

“How is Mary taking the loss of Nelson?” Melody asked. “I was so pleased to hear that they had married. I’m sure they loved each other very much. I met her children this morning, and they both seem to be well-behaved children. Angela looks so much like Mary and so does Roderick. Where is she this morning?”

“Mary hasn’t taken losing Nelson well at all. She rarely comes down for meals, and she doesn’t even spend much time with the children. Hopefully, you can help her learn how to cope with her loss,” Helen explained.

Helen and Kathryn sat back down, and Melody went to the sideboard and filled a plate. She made herself eat some coddled eggs with bacon and toast, and of course, she had cherry preserves with her toast. After they finished their breakfast, Helen and Kathryn decided to take a walk in the gardens and Melody went back upstairs to her children.

Melody met Henry at the stables at two o’clock so they could go riding. Her old riding habit was very loose on her, but at least, she could still wear it. After she returned from her ride, Millie would take it in so it would fit better in the future. They decided to ride down to the lake. When they got there, Henry helped her down from her horse. Melody felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her veins as Henry placed his hands around her waist to lift her down from her horse. He held out his arm for her to take, and they started walking around the lake. They soon came to the spot where they had spent many a happy moment together laughing and making love. It brought back so many wonderful memories.

Henry stopped and turned toward her, then said, “I remember this spot well. In fact, when I was getting my memory back, this is what I dreamed we were doing. We had many wonderful afternoons here, did we not?”

As Melody gazed up at him, she replied, “Yes, we did. I feel so strange being here. I never thought I would ever see this place again, much less be here with you. I never stopped loving you, Henry. Brandon understood that you would always have my heart.”

Henry looked out at the lake, and then he answered, “I’m beginning to understand that, but it will take time for me to accept that you were with another man. I find it hard to believe there was no love between you. Melody, I know you couldn’t have been with him if there had been no feelings.”

Melody earnestly said, “It was different, Henry. Brandon was my best friend and I had known him all my life. Of course, I loved him, but I just wasn’t in love with him, not in the same way I love you. It’s hard to explain, but we did have a good marriage, and he was such an honorable man. I wish you had had a chance to know him better. When I first returned to my parents, Brandon helped me deal with my grief. Since he had recently lost Lily, we consoled each other.”

“I’m relieved that you had someone whom you could depend on. I just wish you hadn’t married him. I’m trying to move past this, but it’s going to take a while. Well, enough about that. Did you enjoy spending time with my sisters?” he asked.

“Oh yes, Henry, and they’re so beautiful. I always knew Helen was beautiful, but Kathryn has really grown into a lovely young lady. She still seems a little shy, but not as much as she used to be. I haven’t seen Mary yet. They told me that she isn’t handling Nelson’s death well at all. I hope she can find it in herself to begin to move on. It does take a while, and it has only been a little more than three months. I was still grieving deeply, even a year after I thought I had lost you. The only thing that helped me was our daughter. Of course, when my parents died, I had to make some very difficult decisions as you are well aware of,” Melody explained.

They turned around and started walking back to their horses. When they got to them, Henry pulled her into his arms and gave her a gentle kiss. Melody responded immediately and returned his kiss. It felt so good to have her in his arms again; he might not have forgiven her, but he definitely still wanted her very badly. Melody melted in his arms; he deepened their kiss, and she responded by putting her arms up around his neck and pulling him close. Soon their tongues were dueling as Henry took his hand and kneaded her breast. It was as if they could not get close enough. It was the best feeling that either of them had felt in three years. Melody’s knees gave out, and Henry pulled her to the ground. He pulled up her habit and found her sweet spot. She was dripping wet and ready for him; he ripped open the buttons on his breeches and surged home. He was in heaven. He pumped into her forcefully, and Melody went wild; she grabbed his buttocks, pulled him tightly against her, and met him stroke for stroke. All of a sudden, she stiffened in his arms and went soaring, just as Henry made a final thrust and his seed spilled into her. They went limp and clung to each other as if they never wanted to let go. They both just lay there in shock. It had been such an electrifying experience. Gently, Henry pulled out of her and sat up. He looked at Melody and she blushed.

“Melody, I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked. “I didn’t mean for that to happen and certainly not so roughly.”

Melody couldn’t look at him, for she was so embarrassed. “No, Henry you didn’t hurt me, far from it. I wanted you as much as you wanted me.”

God,
she
was
so
beautiful
with
her
cheeks
flushed
from
the
passion
that
had
just
taken
them
away
from
all
their
problems.
“You’re right. I did want you desperately, but I promised you that I would give you time to adjust, and what do I do? Ravish you the first time we’re completely alone. I hope you can forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Henry. I’m your wife, and as I told you earlier, I never stopped loving you. You’re the one who can’t forgive me.” He felt a stab of pain when she said this.
God,
why
did
this
have
to
happen
to
them!

“I know, Melody, but I just can’t get the picture out of my head. I keep seeing you in Brandon’s arms, and I just burn up. I have never thought of myself as a jealous man, but when it comes to you, I just don’t like sharing.”
Oh,
why
could
he
not
let
this
go!

Melody looked at Henry with sadness in her beautiful eyes, and it just about tore him apart. He had to move beyond this, if they were going to get back to the way, they were. He stood up and offered Melody his hand so he could pull her up. Melody straightened her clothes, and Henry tried to button up his breeches, but some of the buttons had come off. He did get them fastened, eventually. He helped her mount her horse, mounted his, and they headed back to the house. They didn’t talk on the way back because they were both deep in their thoughts.

Once they got back to the stables, they both dismounted, and Henry turned to Melody. “I need to get back to my study. I told Stallings that I would be back by three o’clock, and it’s after that now. Let me escort you to the house so that you can go freshen up and change your clothes. I’ll see you this evening at dinner.”

Melody went up to her room and had Millie draw her a bath. She got undressed and slipped into the tub. Millie left her to soak and took the riding habit with her so she could take it up for Melody. What an exhilarating experience. She had never felt so much passion, and she had definitely felt passion before, but nothing so intense. Melody thought about the afternoon with Henry and wished there was something she could do so he would forgive her. She guessed he was right. She just needed to give him time. She thought about the fact that she had not realized she would have inherited everything Henry had. She was amazed that she did not think of it at the time, but she realized she still did not regret marrying Brandon. She felt it had been the right thing to do for Mary Elizabeth. She just hoped that eventually, Henry would realize it. Melody finished her bath and dressed so she could go and visit her children.

The children had just gotten up from their naps. Mary Elizabeth came running over to her and cried, “Mama, I have fun. I have new fiend and hew name is … is An … ge … wa. Can I wealwy pway witf hew evee day? She live heyo too.”

“Yes, darling, she’s your cousin, and I’m glad to see that you like each other. Have you been playing with Brandon?” she asked.

Mary Elizabeth looked up at her and said, “Mama, he just wittle. He don’t know how to pway. All he do is cwawl. He puw my dollhouse down.”

“I know that he is little, but he is your brother, and you need to help Mama take care of him.” Mary Elizabeth nodded her head, and then the little girls ran back to the dollhouse and started playing with it again. Melody picked up Brandon and turned to Mrs. Worth. “Have they been behaving themselves for you?”

Mrs. Worth curtsied and answered, “They’re little angels, your grace. The girls have been playing together all day, and they’re getting along well. Roderick was feeling a little left out because he doesn’t have someone his own age to play with, but he’s a good boy. His mother came and got him so she could spend some time with him.”

Melody went over to where the girls were playing and kneeled down. They showed her the dollhouse and all their beautiful dolls. Then they went to the little table and chairs, and invited Melody to tea. She spent an hour, watching and playing with her children, and then she left to go back to her rooms.

Mary was in the drawing room, along with the others, when Melody joined them. She could tell that Mary was having a difficult time of it. Her eyes held so much sadness that Melody’s heart went out to her. The duchess was sitting in her usual place and had a condescending expression on her face. It was clear that she did not think very much of either of her daughters-in-law. It seemed some things never changed. Henry came in, and then Simpson announced dinner, so he escorted his mother to the dining room, and the other ladies followed.

Dinner was pleasant, and the food was marvelous. Cook made all of Henry’s favorite foods, and she even fixed cherry compote for dessert, which had always been Melody’s favorite. When the meal had ended, the duchess stood up and indicated it was time to leave Henry to his port, so all the ladies went to the drawing room.

Mary sat alone, so Melody went over and sat beside her, then said, “It’s good to see you again. The last time we saw each other was in London, shortly before I received the news about Henry’s supposed death. I’m so sorry for your loss. I thought the world of Nelson and was very saddened when I heard he had passed away. I understand what you’re going through, and if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. When I thought Henry had died, I felt such incredible pain that I wasn’t sure I could go on. The only thing that held me together, was knowing that I was going to have his child. You were visiting your brother, Lieutenant Bronson, when he was stationed in Canterbury. How is your brother, ma’am?”