In Pursuit of Miriam (10 page)

They travelled to Yorkshire in a covered carriage, and Vincent's valet, Mason, and Miriam's maid, Susan, followed in a separate carriage with their luggage. Miriam wore a warm cloak and kept her feet warm on heated bricks. A travelling blanket over her knees provided additional warmth.

Vincent planned to reach the town of Bawtry by the early evening and spend the night at the White Swan Inn. If needed, they could have a short break somewhere along the way to refresh themselves and rest the horses. At Vincent's request, Miriam told him a little about her childhood and home life, and how close she and her father had been right up to day he died. Vincent sympathized with the loss of her father, as he, too, had lost his father recently.

“How both our situations have altered in the last months!” sighed Miriam. Vincent solemnly nodded his agreement.

They stopped at a local hostelry about three hours into their journey to stretch their legs and have a drink and some cake before continuing on their way. It wasn't long before darkness began to fall.

Miriam pulled the travelling blanket more tightly around her as the temperature dropped. She looked across at Vincent, seated opposite her, and saw that he had fallen asleep. This gave her the opportunity to study his features without embarrassment. His wavy, light-brown hair fell just short of his shoulders, and his eyelashes were thick and brown. His nose, she noticed for the first time, had a slight bump in the middle, but did not distract from his looks in any way. His mouth was relaxed and his lips were parted slightly as he breathed. Her gaze next travelled down his body, and she admired his broad shoulders and muscular arms. His thighs were well defined through his tight breeches. Just looking at him made her pulse quicken. It still seemed incredulous that she had become the wife of such a fine man.
What a pity the marriage was to be in name only.

Miriam quickly averted her eyes when he shifted his body, but listening to his gentle breathing, she realized he had not awoken. She let her thoughts wander through the recent, remarkable events in her life, what the future may have in store and drifted into sleep herself. The next thing knew she was awakened by Vincent softly calling her name. They had arrived at the White Swan Inn in Bawtry, and she was surprised to find it was almost nine o' clock.

Vincent had sent Mason and Susan on ahead to ensure their rooms were ready prior to their arrival. When they were introduced at the inn as Lord and Lady Chantry, the enormity of what she had done suddenly struck Miriam. She began to panic about the sleeping arrangements their servants had made on their behalf. She tugged at Vincent's sleeve to attract his attention.

Vincent had anticipated her concern. “We've had a long, tiring day, Miriam, and so I have arranged for us to have separate rooms tonight. I thought it would be better if we shared our first night together as man and wife in the comfort of Maudley Castle.” He met her gaze. “Do you agree to this, my love?” The endearment was added for the benefit of their onlookers, as was the way he took her hand and, with a flourish, raised it to his lips in an extravagant display of affection.

“I think that is an excellent plan,” Miriam replied, “especially since it is late and we have to make such an early start tomorrow.” She gave him a shy smile for the benefit of those watching.

Susan accompanied her to her room and helped her to wash and get ready for bed before finding her own accommodation. Miriam did not think she would sleep a wink that night with so much having happened that day, but she fell asleep almost the moment her head touched the pillow. In what seemed like no time at all, it was time to get up, dress and eat breakfast, then set off on the last leg of their journey.

The weather was equally chilly that day. About two hours into the journey Vincent noticed that Miriam was trembling with the cold.

“Take my blanket—I am warm enough,” he offered, giving up his own travelling blanket.

Th-th-thank you,” Miriam replied through chattering teeth.

Vincent took his time carefully tucking his blanket around Miriam's knees. When he saw her cheeks redden, he wondered if she was blushing at his touch or just feeling warm from his blanket.

“We will have the bricks reheated when we stop for lunch,” he promised.

“Tell me what Maudley Castle is like,” Miriam said. She was now feeling more comfortable and wanted to become acquainted with some facts about her future home.

“You may be disappointed,” Vincent said. “It is not as gracious and well-appointed as Charlwood House, although the lands and estate are probably about the same size, maybe a little bigger. The castle was first built in the 1400s to enable the first earls of Chantry to defend their lands. Over the years successive ancestors of mine added to the castle in a fairly ad hoc style as the fashions and trends of the times dictated. Some parts are almost Gothic in appearance; inside though, the rooms are comfortable. We keep large fires alight in each room for most of the year, as the Yorkshire climate can be somewhat harsh.” He saw that Miriam was paying close attention to all these details.

“I hope I'm not painting a bleak picture, even though I prefer my time in London,” continued Vincent. “I do love my ancestral home, and the grounds and surrounding countryside are particularly beautiful. I just did not want you to be expecting the castle to look like those described in romantic novels.”

When Vincent told her about his mother and his younger brother, Charles, who was studying at Oxford University but came home during the holidays, Miriam asked, “How do you think your mother will find me? I need you to tell me the truth about this. It is only fair that I know what to expect.” She was beginning to feel a little anxious about meeting her mother-in-law.

“My mother did know before I left Yorkshire that I had asked for your hand and that if you accepted me, we would be married. I cannot pretend that she was happy,” warned Vincent. “I think she always felt that
she
would choose my intended, and to this end, has been parading eligible young ladies in front of me for many months. When my father died she expected that I would settle for one of our neighbour's daughters, but the particular young lady she had in mind did not appeal to me.”

“So did she try to dissuade you from marrying me? Did you tell her the true nature of your proposal?” asked Miriam.

“She had a similar reaction to your aunt and cousin, and seemed to think I had been obliged to offer for you. Rest assured, I put her straight on this and made it clear that I had offered because I simply wished to marry you,” explained Vincent. “She certainly does not know the nature of our arrangement and she will not find it out from me. I intend that, other than Robert and Lucy, who know otherwise, people will believe we married because of our affection and regard for each other.”

“It seems that most people other than our true friends have a very low opinion of your choice of bride,” commented Miriam with concern. “I will not let this upset me. All my life I have been treated differently because of my lameness and would not expect this to change now that I am a married lady. I have learned to ignore comments that may be hurtful to me. I only hope that you can do the same.”

“I have given you my name, and this as you know was done freely. I will not tolerate anyone speaking badly of you and the nature of this marriage. I can assure you I will always offer you the protection you deserve.” Vincent leaned over and patted her hand to convince her that he truly meant what he said. He truly thought highly of her and desperately wanted her to know this.

Miriam felt somewhat reassured. “I thank you, my lord. You are a good man and I am sure I will have no difficulty behaving as a dutiful wife should.”

The journey continued. They had two very short stops for refreshments and to reheat the bricks as they briskly covered the miles to Maudley Castle. They spent most of the time in comfortable silence, and eventually the movement of the carriage lulled Miriam to sleep.

Vincent awakened her with a gentle shake as they were approaching their destination. “Miriam, we are almost there.”

It was after ten at night when the carriage stopped in front of the castle. The carriage door was opened by a footman and Miriam saw her future home for the first time. It was dark and only one or two rooms looked to be lit. The whole silhouette of Maudley Castle looked black and forbidding. The weather was so cold that she could see her breath in front of her as Vincent handed her out of the carriage. It was as well he kept a firm hold, as her legs were almost numb with cold and from being seated for so many hours in the carriage.

They made their way to the front door and inside the entrance found a handful of servants waiting to greet them. Vincent introduced Miriam as his wife: the new Countess of Chantry. “Where is my mother?” he asked.

“The countess asked me to inform you that, due to the late hour, she has retired for the night and will greet you in the morning,” the butler replied.

Although aware that this was a direct snub, Miriam was relieved because she felt far too tired to face anyone after the long journey. She was also very aware that she was not looking her best after two long days of travel.

Now came the moment she was dreading. How would they manage the sleeping arrangements now they were here? She looked at Vincent but he did not seem concerned.

“I have arranged for our personal belongings to be taken to the master bedroom suite. I will take you up there and then leave you with your maid while I attend to a few domestic arrangements,” Vincent informed her.

Not only was Miriam far from reassured by this news, she realized as she looked up the magnificent staircase, that she felt too weary to attempt the climb. Miriam felt close to tears and could do nothing to stop them from welling up in her eyes. She could not look at Vincent as she admitted, “I am very tired.”

Vincent grinned and swept her up into his arms, saying (Miriam presumed for the benefit of the servants), “I feel it is appropriate, my lady, if I carry you upstairs on our first true night of marriage.”

Miriam blushed but found herself instinctively fastening her arms around Vincent's neck to steady herself. She felt safe in his strong arms, and he carried her up the stairs as if she weighed nothing. She took advantage of the heat from his body and snuggled up against him in an attempt to warm herself. She knew that her heart was beating far too rapidly because of his close proximity—and her concern about the sleeping arrangements.

Miriam had to hold on to Vincent even more tightly as he released one arm from around her to open the bedroom door. Once inside he put her on her feet and let the door close behind him. Miriam looked around the room. It was a large room with a grand fireplace where a fire was burning brightly; a writing desk and leather chair were in an alcove in front of a bay window. A large, comfortable-looking leather chair was placed by the fire. Her face paled and her heart beat even more rapidly as she saw the large four-poster bed with the draperies open and the bedding turned down in readiness.

“There is only one bed,” she said. “You promised me that you would not expect…” Her voice trailed away.

Vincent smiled down at her, amused at her reaction, and then took her hand and led her through to an adjoining room. “This will be your bedroom,” he explained.

This room also had a large bed, but with furniture and draperies that were more feminine in nature. She gave a sigh of relief. So this was where she would be sleeping.

She thanked him, then said, “This is a lovely room. I am sure I will be very comfortable. Has your mother had to move from this room to accommodate me?”

“Mother moved out as soon as my father died and took most of the furniture from this room to her new rooms in the west wing. As the new earl, I was expected to use the master bedroom, and I had both rooms refurbished before I felt I could be comfortable sleeping here.” Vincent added with a grin, “It is commonplace for husband and wife to have separate sleeping arrangements, and this could not be more convenient to our circumstances.”

Miriam was delighted with the room and glad that it was not as it was when Vincent's mother had occupied it. She could not, however, keep her gaze from straying to the door that connected her room with Vincent's room. Vincent followed her look.

Miriam found herself blushing again as Vincent said tactfully, “I think tonight we had better leave the connecting door unlocked, because the servants will be expecting us to be…celebrating our marriage. Tomorrow I will try to find a key for the door and I will leave it in your possession.”

“Although I do trust you,” Miriam said, “I do think I may feel a bit happier if I was able to lock the door.” She blushed again.
Honestly, he must think her complexion was permanently red because she had done nothing but blush since arriving at his home!

Susan knocked and came into the room to assist Miriam to get ready for bed. Vincent bowed and said, for the benefit of the maid, “I am going downstairs for a nightcap and will return shortly.”

Miriam put up with Susan's excited chattering as she helped her into her nightgown. In the end she dismissed her, saying she could quite manage the rest of her toilette on her own. The room was lovely and warm and Miriam crept into bed and lay awake, alert for any sound of Vincent coming to bed in the room next door. Over an hour went by and she had not heard any noise, and she finally gave into sleep.

 

The following morning Miriam awoke late, and by the time she and her maid had found where breakfast was being served, the butler informed them that Vincent and his mother had already broken their fast. She was invited to join them in the drawing room when she had eaten. At this, Miriam's mouth went dry and she lost all appetite. However, to delay the moment she would need to face the Dowager Countess of Chantry, she pushed some food around her plate for a good half hour.