“Not agreed? But I thought it was all settled. That’s why I secured a license for you to marry.”
He looked at Hawke in astonishment. “I didn’t ask for that. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
“Our new partner at the bank has excellent connections.” Hawke set his hand to Walter’s shoulder and regarded him sadly. “Does the lady even know you wish to marry her?”
He shook his head and unfolded the paper Hawke had given him. He’d never seen a special license before. They were so rare outside of London. However, having one meant he could press his case without delay if he could catch Melanie first. “I wrote to you before I discovered she did not want children. Indeed, that is why she’s refused so many suitors. She would refuse me for the same reason, I fear. You might have wasted a favor for this.”
“So, no little heir to the George family fortune. Hmm,” Hawke murmured before settling himself before the desk. “You couldn’t change her mind?”
“I don’t see how I can convince her in one night.” He shook his head. “She is utterly determined on her path to live alone.”
Hawke nodded. “Marriage is not an easy adjustment. Sacrifices must be made. Let me ask you this: what would you rather? Melanie, or to have children with someone else?”
Walter closed his eyes. The answer was so quickly presented in his mind that he almost swore. “Mellie, of course.”
“That is what I thought you’d say.” Hawke chuckled. “Let me know if I can be of any service for the wedding arrangements. I’ve not told my wife why we have come, by the way, so you still have the element of surprise.”
“I might have to travel to Oxford tomorrow if I want to convince her.”
“That’s the spirit. Don’t let her get away. As soon as I started reading your letter, I knew who your wife would be before I saw the name. An excellent choice.”
“I hope you are right.” When Hawke wandered out a few minutes later, Walter stared at the pile of correspondence on his desk. He didn’t have much time to attend to his business before tomorrow if he intended to follow her but there were certain things he had to do.
He tucked the special license into his coat pocket and reached for the topmost letters. One was addressed from a Mr. Clemens of Southampton and it took a moment for the name to register. How could he have forgotten that the late Mr. Clemens had an older brother? He’d moved away many years ago and Walter had not heard him mentioned since.
He quickly scanned the note but then frowned at the message within. Mr. Daniel Clemens had written to enquire after his brother’s widow and offered to help support some of the children. But his help came at a high price. Perhaps too high. He wanted to bring half of them into his home and had even chosen them by name. The two eldest were to be his.
Walter folded the letter slowly, astonished by such an offer. It would be hard for anyone to give their children away, but to lose so many, and at once. He scraped his hand over his jaw. He needed advice before he proceeded—and he knew just the woman to offer it.
He left his home and knocked soundly on the Mertons’ front door. Valentine greeted him after a short wait. “Good afternoon.”
“Hello there. I need to speak to your sister.”
Valentine folded his arms across his chest. “Concerning?”
“Mrs. Clemens and her brood of children. I need her advice on a proposition I received in the post today.”
Valentine frowned, clearly suspicious, but sent him into the parlor to wait while he went to fetch Melanie from above. He paced impatiently as the minutes ticked by, and only when she entered the parlor did he realize how much he’d feared she w
ouldn’t see him.
His heart thudded hard against his ribs. “Miss Merton.”
“Mr. George.” She dipped a curtsy and bid him to sit. “My brother suggested you were in a hurry and needed advice.”
“Not so much in a hurry but I do need your advice.” He dug into his pocket. “I have a letter from the late Mr. Clemens’ older brother.”
“I did not know there was a brother.”
“Estranged.” He handed over the letter. “Mrs. Clemens does not read so the man, remembering our past connection, wrote to me instead when he learned of his brother’s death. He has offered his assistance.”
She unfolded the letter and frowned at it. “What sort of assistance does he offer? Funds? A larger home?”
“He’s offered to take on half of the children and raise them as his own, if I’ve read that letter correctly.” He bit his lip. “He particularly asked for the elder two.”
Melanie held the letter to the light and read through the single page quickly. Her eyes widened impossibly by the end. “She’ll never agree.”
“I expected as much, and I do not particularly care for the offer myself.” He shook his head. “However, I feel bound to offer her the choice and I am concerned she might feel pressure to comply in order to keep her current abode.”