Valentine's forthcoming command performance at Windsor Castle is done, Melanie is removed from Huntersmoon never to return. For the meantime, Charlotte will go to London with Veronica for a visit to a doctor, but Valentine must stay at home to work on the cantata he is to premiere before the Queen. Melanie will stay with neighbours. With some flaunting words to the man with whom she is desperately in love and whom she is sure she can make love her, Melanie leaves Huntersmoon under compunction. But fate drives Melanie beyond the bounds of decency and reason. Later that night, as Valentine works over his music, she returns. She taunts him with his bovine fidelity to Veronica until, finally, he breaks out passionately with his long pent up feelings. Of course he wants her From the moment they came face to face there was something from the past and from the future that drew him irresistibly to her and her to him. In spite of Veronica, in spite of everything, they must be together, now and forever. The next morning Veronica returns from London radiant with good news which she cannot hold for her husband and must break immediately to her friend. After years of disappointment, at last she is with child. Valentine will be a father. But her news must wait, for today is Valentine's big day and nothing must distract him. She must not tell him her happy tidings until the command performance is over. Now it is time for him to go to Windsor and, when he returns... When he returns, Melanie will be gone. Her happiness, their happiness cannot, can never, be. Valentine must stay with sweet, happy Veronica and their child. Melanie's life is over, only her love will live on. `To our next meeting,' she whispers as Valentine steps into his coach. ACT 3 A century later Huntersmoon is a modern mansion and the descendents of the Rodneys and the Fayres are still in possession. Bay, the grandchild of Valentine and Veronica, is now the owner. On the walls hang portraits of his ancestors: Melinda, who died of a broken heart, and Melanie who drowned herself the night of Valentine's command performance. Both portraits bear a strange resemblance to Melody, Bay's fiancée. He met her for the first time in this room and it was as if some strange force from the past destined them for each other. They will be wed and, hopefully, put to rest the sad ghosts of Melinda and Melanie who may sleep at last, perchance to dream. FOR THE CHORUS A fair sprinkling of lushly harmonized numbers in, perhaps, the most romantic and musical of Novello's musical romances. His keen ear for the musical traditions of days gone by makes the pseudo-Victoriana of Act II especially evocative. Earlier, there is a lengthy chorus-backed ballet. The chorus appear as friends and guests of Sir Graham, his servants, Bow Street Runners, members of Valentine's choir, wedding guests, Melanie's friends, and as ghosts of their former selves. Singing Principals Lydia (afterwards Veronica and Iris). Ernestine, a friend of Sir Graham's (later known as Mrs Bridport). Melinda (afterwards Melanie and, non-singing, Melody). Mazelli, The Vicar (these roles are generally doubled). Straight Roles Lady Charlotte, Sir Graham's aunt. Sir Graham Rodney (afterwards Valentine and Bay). William Fayre (afterwards Bill). Smaller Roles Susan Pell, friend of Sir Graham. Miss Connors, chorus-mistress of Valentine's choir. Amelia, Vivien, Lucy, Lavinia, Latitia, Sophia, Elizabeth and Caroline - friends of Melanie Edgar Pell, Sir Amyas Wendall and Lord Failsham, friends of Sir Graham. Aiken, his butler
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