“Please. A reprieve for my toes is needed,” Valentine whispered. “I don’t know why Melanie allowed this.”
“The Oxford Ball is important to your parents. Besides, how could Melanie say no to what your wife wants? It is Julia’s home now and this is how it’s supposed to be,” Walter murmured out the side of his mouth.
Valentine appeared startled by his observation and stared across the room. “Do you think she’s upset about that too?”
“How could I know, but it doesn’t take a brilliant mind to see the situation has changed due to your marriage. The ladies are smiling at each other still so I don’t believe there’s anything to worry about. Let me tell you now, though, that it is not easy to be the odd man or woman around newlyweds.”
He moved toward Julia. What could it hurt to stay a while longer? “Mrs. Merton, forgive my presumption but would you be agreeable to having tea sent in? Dancing is thirsty work and I understand you’ve had a very busy day so far.”
Julia Merton grabbed her husband by the hand and towed him back to the center of the room. “If you insist.”
“That is a fine idea, Mr. George,” Melanie said, glancing up swiftly at the squabbling couple then back down to the keys with a frown. “Or any moment there might be no marriage,” she muttered.
He laughed quietly so the warring spouses didn’t hear and hurried to find the housekeeper, who was more than happy to serve something very quickly to ensure the peace was kept.
When he returned, he caught Melanie staring at her brother and his wife as they bickered over whose fault the latest stubbed toe was with such a strange expression on her face that he froze. She appeared almost wistful. He hoped bringing up the past as he had yesterday hadn’t been a mistake.
Her head snapped around and she spotted him staring at her. She chose new music and set it precisely before her.
He stopped close to her and she began to play, one eye on the keys, one on her brother and sister-in-law as they fumbled through the steps of a waltz. Over the years, Imogen had dragged him to many a public recital, but the ones he had enjoyed most always included Melanie’s performances. She played so effortlessly he couldn’t help being impressed, even when he’d wanted to find fault with her for that too.
Valentine winced and started to hop. The music ceased.
“Forgotten how to dance, Val?” he teased.
The look Valentine sent him was pure irritation. “I would dance perfectly well if my wife would let me.”
That remark brought a chill into the new bride’s expression. He moved nearer to them, puzzled at how two people so obviously in love could not perform the simple function of dancing together. Julia was one of his favorite partners. She wasn’t at all relaxing, but she certainly did know the steps of every dance.
He bowed to her extravagantly and held out his hand. “May I?”
Val backed away quickly with a disgusted scowl and Melanie commenced to play once more. As he’d expected, Julia followed his lead but he did need to keep a firm grip and force her to bend to his pace and style of dancing. After a few turns about the room, he bent his head. “You’re doing well,” he whispered.
“Tell him that,” she grumbled.
Her posture changed after her words and he quickly guessed she was much too tense to enjoy herself. When he’d danced with her before the marriage, she’d been bubbling over with excitement at every step, but now she was trying much too hard. “My dear, could you ease your grip on my hand the tiniest amount? You have nothing to prove to me.”
She bit her lip and glanced past his shoulder to where her husband stood waiting with such a tortured expression that he brought them to a halt again. She winced and whispered, “Do you think he regrets he could not have done better?”
Walter had thought the marriage had ended Julia’s doubts, but apparently not. “Stuff and nonsense. Since you are asking me, I think you are exactly what he needed in a wife. He’d be much too boring otherwise.”
“I’ll never be as elegant as Melanie.” Her shoulders sagged. “I’m a disaster.”
“If you were beyond help, he would probably love you more.” He glanced up and met Melanie’s gaze over Julia’s shoulder. “He would be a fool to want you to mimic her. You have as many worthy accomplishments as she does.”
Julia blushed. “I wish I’d had you for a brother instead of Linus. Imogen was so lucky to have you in her life.”
“She would laugh to hear you say such an outrageous thing and come after me with pins to deflate my ego.” He smiled as he caught Melanie watching them, her frown proving she was trying very hard to hear their conversation. “My sister only sees my faults.”
“What are they again?” Julia asked and then laughed, and the
moment of dissatisfaction on her part appeared to pass.
After a time, Melanie surrendered her position at the instrument to Valentine and as he took up the tune, she stepped up behind Julia. “Relax your shoulders, Julia dear.”
Julia took a breath and her shoulders dipped the smallest amount. Walter’s ability to lead seemed now less of a struggle with Melanie guiding his partner.
He nodded slowly, pleased with the change. “You see, only a little adjustment is needed. Dancing, like marriage I suppose, is an act of faith and compromise. Just be yourself and all will be well.”