It seemed that no matter the subject Ben and she were destined to exist on two different planes. Their rationales weren't meant to mesh and make sense to the other because they were never meant to be together. The events of 1887 had been romanticized to the extent of delusions in her head and they never could've been happy. How was it that she — the supposed smart one of the pair — had been blind to the truths before her all along? The same truths Ben tried to explain time and time again since their reunion last summer? Melody dropped her gaze from him to the plate before her, her hands itching for the comfort of a wine glass. They would never be happy — she would never be happy.
What was she meant to do if not work, though? It wasn't as though she was welcomed in her social circles. None of her friends would acknowledge her now, and those who did either had to do so in secrecy or had even worst reputations than she. Melody was at a loss. What was worse, though, was Ben's determination to keep her there — to continue to ignore her presence and go about life as though he weren't a married man. The chivalry keeping him bound to her wouldn't last forever. Eventually &mdash: perhaps later than sooner — he would cease to accept the reality she subjected him to, and then what? What would become of her then? At least with a job she had some sort of fallback. Some sort of way to regain a semblance of control over her life.
Melody bit back the bitter retorts and the flash of anger poised on the tip of her tongue. A fight would get them nowhere. A fight would forcefully shove him towards his hopes of an affair. A fight would be another lengthy step towards unhappiness. "I need to do something other than exist alone in this house." She stated quietly, her eyes still locked on her plate. "I don't resent you for any of this, it wasn't your fault. If anything, you were trying to dissuade me all along. I simply need something to do other than the intense loneliness I've subjected myself to. If the book shop isn't suittable please tell me so and I'll seek out another avenue."
![[Image: dqAG6wz.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dqAG6wz.png)
beautiful set by mj
What was she meant to do if not work, though? It wasn't as though she was welcomed in her social circles. None of her friends would acknowledge her now, and those who did either had to do so in secrecy or had even worst reputations than she. Melody was at a loss. What was worse, though, was Ben's determination to keep her there — to continue to ignore her presence and go about life as though he weren't a married man. The chivalry keeping him bound to her wouldn't last forever. Eventually &mdash: perhaps later than sooner — he would cease to accept the reality she subjected him to, and then what? What would become of her then? At least with a job she had some sort of fallback. Some sort of way to regain a semblance of control over her life.
Melody bit back the bitter retorts and the flash of anger poised on the tip of her tongue. A fight would get them nowhere. A fight would forcefully shove him towards his hopes of an affair. A fight would be another lengthy step towards unhappiness. "I need to do something other than exist alone in this house." She stated quietly, her eyes still locked on her plate. "I don't resent you for any of this, it wasn't your fault. If anything, you were trying to dissuade me all along. I simply need something to do other than the intense loneliness I've subjected myself to. If the book shop isn't suittable please tell me so and I'll seek out another avenue."
beautiful set by mj