Benevolence wanted to cry and hug her friend, it seemed so unfair to have seemingly found love and not be able to enjoy that love because of some ridiculous decision by someone who clearly did not care for your happiness in the least. It was frustrating, how little control girls like Mel seemed to have over their own life. It made her strangely grateful for hers. Her father would surely have planned a match for her, but he never did – and as such her life was her own. She could become a spinster and no one would care one bit. She couldn’t imagine how it must feel for Melody. But what was her choice? Not that she wanted that of course.

’Could you go to the American? Perhaps he would reconsider the match?’ she said, ’perhaps his better nature will stop him if he knows you would be unhappy, or at the least his pride! What man wants a wife who is in love with another man?’ she explained.