An Unsinkable Love(55)
At Malcolm's prompting, Melody explained she'd run into Eldon while in town and when he invited her to dinner, couldn't wait to see Elizabeth and hear all about their trip to the Continent. Elizabeth seemed a bit perplexed at Melody's gushing enthusiasm, but obliged with details about their time in France.
"And what about when the Titanic sank? The papers said hundreds of people drowned. Did you know any of them? Did you see them? It must have been horrible." Melody's eyes were bright with prying curiosity and she pressed Elizabeth 184
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for details until the older woman kindly, but firmly, told her the memories were too painful to discuss.
Bree was confused at Eldon's manner during dinner. He seemed to take every opportunity to bring up how close Malcolm and Melody were and how much they had in common, while emphasizing how little his stepson knew about his fiancée. It seemed to her Eldon subtly hinted Malcolm might simply be bewitched with her for the moment, and what he felt was only gratitude for saving his mother.
Malcolm and Elizabeth didn't seem to notice, and Bree chastised herself for reading more into Eldon's words than what was really there, but felt exhausted and depressed by the time the table was cleared. When Elizabeth suggested everyone make an early night of it and steered Melody to the door a short time later, she mentally cheered.
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185
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Chapter 26
Bree woke later than usual the next morning, disoriented from a nightmare. She shook her head to clear it from the vision of her brothers and father smiling down at her over the gunwale of a lifeboat as she sank under the dark waters. She climbed out of bed, missed the step stool and landed in a painful heap. Tears threatened and, in her depressed mood, required unusual effort to quell.
Pulling on her wrapper, she walked over to the window and pushed back the curtain, hoping to be soothed by the beautiful garden. But then she saw two figures walking close together.
Malcolm and Melody. The blonde's arm looped in his and she leaned into his shoulder. He stared down into her upturned face.
An icicle of cold fear hardened in Bree's chest. Melody was beautiful, she and Malcolm had grown up together, and she obviously wanted him for herself. Their families were close. In contrast, Malcolm had only met Bree a few scant weeks ago and they really had little in common—she came from poor people and a messy family life. He was rich, had a loving mother, and a business to run. Did he already regret his decision to marry her? He had defended her, and was still tender and loving. But would it last?
Her musings only sucked her deeper into despondency.
She jerked on the first dress she touched in the closet.
Instead of leaving her hair loose, she wrenched it back into a 186
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simple braid, giving up battling tendrils that kept escaping around her face. The small dining room was empty when she wandered in, and she picked at eggs and maple-cured bacon heaped on her plate by a solicitous maid. Malcolm was conspicuously absent. Were he and Melody still in the garden?
Realizing her second cup of tea had gone cold, she went to the parlor and looked out the window. Seeing no sign of the pair, she found the latch and opened the big door. She hurried down the wide flight of shallow steps to the path, and swiftly walked through the gardens. Her feet moved faster and faster, neck craning to see over the carefully tended topiaries. But they weren't there. Feeling alone in the world, she turned her steps over to the oversize stone barn, seeking solace in its dark corners. As she drew near, she heard voices.
Just inside the big sliding doors she came upon Malcolm and an older man standing with a horse. The mare turned her head at Bree's approach, drawing the men's attention.
Malcolm smiled and walked toward her. "There you are, sleepy head. I was beginning to wonder if I should check on you."
Bree forced a smile. Would he mention his early morning tryst with Melody? She couldn't bring herself to ask, fearing his answer.
"I want you to meet Murray. He's the head stable boy."
Bree thought it odd to call the old man a stable boy, but her mind was still wrapped around Malcolm and Melody and what they were talking about earlier. She nodded absently in his direction. He touched his cap and gave a bob of a bow.
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"I've never asked. Can you ride?" Malcolm questioned.