In Pursuit of Miriam (14 page)

Early the following morning Vincent again saw Miriam and Charles walking across the courtyard together, and again, neither mentioned this in conversation during the day. He saw little of his mother, Miriam or Lucy, because they were busy with the arrangements for the ball that evening. The ladies said they were having an early supper before changing into their gowns, and so Vincent decided to spend the afternoon with Robert at Fairleigh Manor, away from all the frantic activity.

Miriam was glad to be busy the day of the ball, because it gave her something to think about other than why Vincent was behaving so coldly towards her. She had believed that one of the arguments in favour of their marriage was that they were so comfortable in each other's company, but since his return from London, this was obviously no longer the case. She did not know what she could do about it.

Miriam knew that Vincent had been surprised and annoyed when he had caught them laughing in the drawing room on his return, but they had all apologized. Surely this could not be the sole reason for his change in behaviour towards her, could it? She had wracked her brains trying to think of what else she could have done to displease him so. He appeared to be his usual self with the other people in the castle, but not with her. The unwelcome thought that he was already regretting marrying her niggled at the back of her mind.

By six o'clock, all the last-minute arrangements for the Christmas Ball were in hand. The wood floor of the ballroom shone with polish. The candles burned brightly in the three huge chandeliers that hung from the ceiling and were reflected in the large mirrors on the Wedgwood blue-and-white decorated walls. Neat rows of finely carved Chippendale chairs were placed around the perimeter of the room to seat their guests. The musicians were starting to tune up their instruments, and it was time for Miriam and the ladies to put on their ball gowns. Miriam and the countess would need to be ready in good time so they could greet the guests as they arrived.

Miriam's ball gown was a soft pink in colour, and Susan pinned tiny pink rosebuds in her hair to match the trimming on her gown. Miriam had never worn pink before, as she usually favoured blues, yellows and greens. However, the pink crepe material of her gown had been picked out for her by the countess, and she had not wanted to cause offence by rejecting her choice. As she looked in the mirror, she saw that the colour suited her complexion; it gave her face more colour and this became her well. The gown itself was most elegant, with the delicate fabric falling from the high waist in soft drapes around her body. The back of the gown dropped gracefully into a train on the floor. She pulled on her long, white, kid gloves and slipped her feet into white satin slippers before leaving her bedroom.

Miriam found the countess already waiting in the ballroom as she entered. The older woman was dressed in a magnificent layered gown with an underdress of cream satin and a lilac gauze overdress. A diamond tiara sparkled on her head.

“I think I will find tonight difficult as last year my husband stood next to me to greet our guests the countess confessed. “It will be you and Vincent who will have to take on this task tonight.”

Miriam knew she would not be able to stand for the prolonged period of time it would take to welcome people as they entered the room. “I was hoping you and Charles would join us in greeting the guests. Then, if I need to sit down for awhile, Vincent will not be left alone with this task. You both know all the people who will be attending, whereas I will only know the Bright family.”

The countess agreed but insisted that Vincent should take his place as the first in line to greet people. She cast a worried look at Miriam—she'd observed the strained tension between her son and daughter-in-law. “However, if he does not show his face here soon, it will be you, Miriam, who will be the first to greet people as they arrive.”

Just before the first guests were announced, Vincent and Charles appeared. The sight of Vincent caused Miriam's heart to flutter. Although both men were handsome and dressed finely in their formal evening attire, she only had eyes for Vincent.

“You must be very proud of your sons,” Miriam said to the countess. “They are both such fine-looking men.”

“I am indeed proud of them, but as Vincent's new bride, it will be
you
that everyone will be curious to meet,” the countess warned her.

“I know and it makes me nervous. I am more used to sitting in the background on such occasions and I worry that people will find me a disappointment,” admitted Miriam.

“That is as may be,” said the countess not unkindly, “but you are now Vincent's wife, and regardless of what people think of you, they must give you the deference that your position deserves.”

Vincent took his place near the door, Miriam stood next to him and then Charles and his mother. At first the guests arrived at a steady pace and then slowed to a trickle. Charles nudged Miriam and she followed his glance at the door.

“It is Lord and Lady Cloves making their way in. See Miss Cloves behind them? She is their only daughter. I am not sure I should tell you this, but we all expected she and Vincent would marry,” Charles whispered.

Miriam found herself looking at one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Miss Cloves was tall, perhaps five-foot-nine or -ten. Her low-cut gown with its tight-fitting bodice showed her slender figure and long, graceful neck to full advantage. She had thick, dark hair piled on her head in an elaborate style and decorated with pearls to match the colour of her ivory ball gown.

Miss Cloves greeted Vincent warmly and they spent a few minutes deep in quiet conversation. Miriam watched as Vincent smiled at the woman as they spoke. She felt a sharp stab of jealousy.
He has not smiled at me in such a way since his return from London
. She realized sadly that Miss Cloves was everything she was not—tall where she was short, dark where she was fair, and graceful where she was lame.

Lord and Lady Cloves greeted Miriam formally and quickly moved on to speak to the countess. Miriam expected the same from Miss Cloves when she stood before her. After the formal greeting, however, Miss Cloves went on to say, “I have been a neighbour and
very close friend
to Vincent for many years, and I hope you will understand that I do not wish this to change now he has married you.”

“I am sure my husband would not want it otherwise,” replied Miriam, not sure if Miss Cloves' remark had any underlying meaning. Did she imagine that Miss Cloves had stressed the words “very close friend”?

Feeling shaken by this encounter, Miriam asked Vincent if he would mind if she went to sit down for awhile and rest, as she had stood for too long. Vincent agreed and asked Charles to see her to a seat. Miriam had hoped that Vincent would have done this for her himself, especially as at the moment, there were no guests being announced. She sat alone, feeling quite despondent.

By eight-thirty, most of the guests had arrived and the orchestra began to play. Etiquette demanded that Vincent and Miriam, as his new wife, should take the floor first for the first dance. Miriam, however, had already explained to the countess that, due to her lameness, she would not be able to perform this duty. Vincent already knew this, for the waltz with him at the Brights' earlier this year had resulted in her leg giving way after only a few bars. She watched as Vincent took his mother onto the floor to dance a quadrille.

Robert took Lucy onto the floor, and she saw Charles dancing with a pretty young lady whose name she could not recall. As the first dance ended Lucy came to sit with her but stayed only briefly, as she had promised the next dance to Charles.

“My dance card is nearly full already,” Lucy excitedly told Miriam. “I do hope you don't mind me rushing off from you so quickly. It is such a shame you can't join in.”

Miriam was happy to see Lucy enjoy herself before she returned to Derbyshire the next day. “You must enjoy yourself, Lucy. I really am all right sitting here. I enjoy listening to the music and watching the dancing. Also I can keep an eye on things from here to check that all runs smoothly.”

The second dance, a cotillion, was announced, and Miriam watched as Vincent led Miss Cloves onto the dance floor. She heard a woman seated near her remark to her companion what a striking pair they made. Miriam did not hear the response, but watching them dance, she had to admit that they did indeed look striking. Miss Cloves danced well and she nearly matched Vincent in height. And from their smiles and conversation, it was obvious that they were enjoying themselves.

Between dances, Charles and Lucy came over to talk to her. The countess was at ease being the hostess on Miriam's behalf—it was a role for which she had many years' experience. Miriam saw little of Vincent. His company was obviously in demand by all the people attending the ball.

The orchestra stopped for a break just before ten, and refreshments were set out in the dining room. Vincent came over to Miriam for the first time since the dancing had started. She smiled, pleased to see him, but he did not respond. He did ask if she wished for him to fetch a drink for her, and she gratefully accepted this offer. By the time he returned to her with a lemonade, Lucy and Robert had come to sit with her, and as there was not another chair, he gave her the lemonade and moved away to talk to a group of people standing nearby. She felt bereft.

As the orchestra struck up after the break, Miriam tried very hard not to feel sorry for herself. Vincent was again dancing with Miss Cloves and she was feeling very neglected. She knew that the guests would see how little attention Vincent had paid her and would comment on this to one another.

Lucy had noticed. “What has happened between you and Vincent?” she asked in concern. “ He has barely spoken to you this evening.” Miriam did not have an answer because she simply did not know the answer, so she merely shrugged her shoulders. Lucy, seeing unshed tears brimming in her friend's eyes, did not press her further.

When Vincent danced for a third time with Miss Cloves, Miriam felt humiliated. She was shocked that Miss Cloves had agreed to this; surely her reputation must come under question by such an act.

After taking Miss Cloves back to her seat following their third dance together, Vincent came across to her. Miriam could not help but let him know her feelings.

“I don't expect you not to dance, because I cannot, but do you think it is wise to stand up for so many dances with Miss Cloves, who is an unmarried lady?” she chided.

“Miss Cloves and I are old friends and our guests are aware of this,” Vincent replied in annoyance. “It was not my intention to upset you.”

Miriam did not feel it was her place to protest any further and so remained quiet. When Vincent got up abruptly and left her side, she wished she had never said anything about Miss Cloves. He had come over to sit with her and she had immediately driven him away. She felt that she could not do anything right anymore and struggled not to give way to tears.

Vincent had not been gone from her long when he returned to her side. “You were right about it being inappropriate for me to stand up with Miss Cloves three times. Will you have the next dance with me so we can demonstrate to our guests our affection for each other?”

Was that sarcasm that Miriam detected in his tone? And she was confused by this request because Vincent was well aware that she did not dance. She would have been more pleased with his offer had he not made it quite clear he was only asking her to put on a show for their guests.

“Why do you ask me when you know I am unable to dance?”

“Miriam, you have danced with me before and I intend that you do so again now. I have asked the orchestra to play a waltz. As before you have my word that I will not let you fall.” Vincent held out his hand to escort her onto the floor.

Miriam did not want to dance with him, but she certainly did not want him to ask Miss Cloves, so she reluctantly took his hand and went with him. They reached the dance floor just as the first notes of the waltz were being played. She felt his arm go around her waist as they began the steps.

Initially Miriam held herself stiffly in Vincent's arms and neither of them made any attempt at conversation. Vincent was an excellent dancer. Miriam had forgotten how much his touch affected her—the heat that instantly suffused her body was not due to the warm temperature of the room. Gradually she relaxed as she listened to the music and concentrated on the dance steps. She was determined to dance to the end of the piece without her legs giving way beneath her, but as the music continued on and on, she felt her legs getting more and more tired.

“I am sorry, Vincent,” she said at last, “but I really think I need to sit down now. My legs are tiring.”

She knew that Vincent had heard her, but instead of taking her off the dance floor as she expected, he pulled her to him and held her closely as they continued to dance.

“You know I will not let you fall,” he whispered in her ear. “We will finish this dance.” He had forgotten how good she felt in his arms and the anger he had been feeling towards her was temporarily forgotten.

Miriam could feel his breath against her face as he spoke and longed to raise her mouth to his, but of course she did not. She enjoyed the feeling of his body next to hers as he held her so tightly there was no space between them. She relaxed against him, her mind empty of all but the pleasure of the moment.

When the dance finished she smiled up at him, and for the first time since he had come back from London, he returned her smile. She knew that, as in Bath, the guests would comment on how close he had held her during the dance, but as she was now his wife, she knew their censor would not be as great. Her overriding regret was the knowledge that he had only asked her to dance to put on a show for their guests.

Vincent assisted her back to her seat and moved on, explaining that he was engaged for the next dance. He did not come back to her that evening. Miriam felt a cold fear clutch her heart. She had known when they married that Vincent did not love her, but she had trusted him not to hurt her; yet since his return from London he had done just that. The way he was treating her was breaking her heart.