Regardless of whatever Ben believed (and how well he thought he knew his sister) Melody was convinced of Mrs. Malfoy's hatred. Miss Finch still echoed through her ears as though the blond was shouting in her ears. It likely had been a blunder, a slip of the tongue due to Mrs. Malfoy being unaccustomed to her brother being married, but the insult had come when no correction was made. "I think your sister has some strong opinions towards me." Melody hadn't missed Mrs. Malfoy's reluctance to speak directly to her either — she was intimately familiar with a woman's brand of distaste and hatred.

She avoided looking at Ben sitting on the edge of her bed. The sight was too stark a reminder of the life she would never have — the love she had no privilege to. In another life, Melody wouldn't have hesitated before joining him on the bed. In another life, he wouldn't have had to knock.

"It was great though that they were willing to try. I know you were worried in Paris about selling this... the show of good faith will help." She too was worried but in a wholly different way. Ben was determined to be the lovesick couple, the lovers who eloped because they couldn't imagine life without the other. Outside of his compliments tonight, though, they should've just been close acquaintances for all the love they showed.