Page 57 of Elixir of a Duchess' Passion
“Mel, it’s me!” came the hiss through the door as she clambered from the bed and hurried over to it. The voice and the words were so familiar from her childhood that she couldn’t help smirking as she imagined Daisy huddled against the door, anticipating the moment she would open up.
Doing so, Melissa bundled her friend into the room and demanded, “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”
Daisy grabbed the door from her and closed it carefully before she turned to Melissa and stated, “I’m worried about you.”
Melissa cringed. She hated it when her friend worried.
“Why?”
“You haven’t been yourself of late, and since dinner, I have been more determined than ever that it has something to do with Lord Spurnrose,” Daisy said, cocking her head to one side, her hands upon her hips.
Melissa closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip before finally deciding it was time to tell the truth. With eyes still shut, she exclaimed, “Lord Spurnrose asked me to marry him.”
The shocked gasp that erupted from her friend made Melissa open her eyes. The excitement and elation on her friend’s face were almost too much to bear, and she insisted, “Don’t look so pleased. I said no.”
“What?” Daisy practically yelled the word at the top of her lungs. Then, seeming to remember it was the middle of the night, she hissed under her breath, “How could you reject him?”
“I have no need of a husband,” Melissa said, shrugging, though the words threatened to choke her.
Daisy crossed her arms over her chest. “Mel, I have had quite enough of you sabotaging yourself.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Melissa turned away and wandered over to the bed to sit back down. Daisy followed and dropped down beside her.
“Melissa, you’ve been alone for long enough. It’s time you remarried and finally got your happily ever after,” Daisy insisted. Melissa was about to protest that there was no such thing when Daisy grabbed both hands and squeezed tightly. The sensation caused Melissa to look directly into her friend’s eyes. “Mel, listen to me. Thomas and your father wouldn’t have wanted this life for you.”
Melissa snatched her hands away. Scowling, she said, “I’m happy with my life.”
Daisy’s brow furrowed. “Keep telling yourself that, and perhaps you shall believe it one day.”
Melissa’s insides twisted. Flit raised his head and looked at them both as if he sensed Daisy was right too.
“Stop being so fearful of allowing anyone close,” Daisy pushed. “I hate to think that one day you will look back on your life and realise just how lonely you have been all these years.”
Melissa’s throat constricted. She hated it when her friend was speaking so much sense. She was so used to being the one to give advice, yet she had never been able to take any of it, even when offered.
“I am not fearful,” Melissa insisted.
“Stop!” Daisy snapped back, becoming quite irate. “Don’t deny yourself a future simply because you are frightened the past will repeat itself.”
Nausea threatened to overwhelm Melissa then. How could her friend have got it so right?
Pain clawed at her gut. Unable to handle it, she shook her head, “It is not like that.”
Daisy didn’t say anything else. She didn’t need to. Her thoughts were made clear with her disgruntled expression. It was quite apparent that she did not believe a single word from Melissa’s mouth.
Instead of speaking, Daisy gripped Melissa’s hands again and squeezed tightly. She looked deep into her eyes as though she wished her to finally admit the truth. And in the silence, Melissa began to.
“If it isn’t like that, then what is it like?” Daisy asked after several moments.
Melissa’s jaw clenched. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Why?”
“Because you aren’t like me.” The moment she said the words, Melissa regretted them.
“What does that mean?”
Melissa sucked in a breath, debating whether to answer. “Your life is practically perfect with your wealthy husband, your fancy houses, and half of thetoneating out of the palm of your hand.”
