In Pursuit of Miriam (6 page)

Just after lunch on the following Saturday, Vincent and Robert set out to pay a visit to Lady Lucy Spencer, knowing that Miriam Knightly would also be there. Vincent had dressed in his finest jacket and tightest breeches and boots, hoping to make a good impression; it was, after all, the first time he had ever made a proposal of marriage.

On arrival, the gentlemen were shown into the drawing room, where Lucy and Miriam were sitting with Lucy's mother and sister. When Robert entered the room, Lucy's mother and sister withdrew to the window seat to allow the pair some privacy. When Vincent saw Miriam rise to do the same, he put out his hand and drew her onto the settee beside him.

“I have a very serious proposal to put before you, Miss Knightly.” He spoke quietly so as not to be overheard, and went on to outline his proposal of a marriage of convenience, telling her honestly of his situation and how his fortunes depended on this. When he had finished she did not speak. He therefore clarified, “I need a wife in order to inherit my fortune and I was hoping that maybe you would find me more preferable as a husband than Sir Thomas. I thought that my proposal may be mutually beneficial.”

Miriam looked into his face as if expecting some enlightenment, so he continued, “You would be Countess of Chantry and be well cared for throughout the rest of your life. If the arrangement did not suit either of us, we could live in separate establishments, you in the county and I in London. Failing that, in three years' time, when I turn twenty-five, as long as the marriage is not consummated we could ask for an annulment. In that circumstance I would ensure that it would be me and not you who would have to endure any scandal. It would, after all, be my impotency that was questioned.” Miriam still remained silent and he could tell that she was trying to make sense of what he was saying. He did not press her further but sat quietly and gave her time.

Eventually Miriam spoke. “I am sorry to disappoint you, Lord Chantry. As you are aware I am lame and I have for many years known that I would not easily find love and marriage in the same way that I hope for my friends. However, it is expected that I should conform to society's norms and find a husband, but should I not be successful in this quest, I am in the fortunate position of having an adequate private income to be able to set up my own household and therefore need not rely on a proposal of marriage.”

Concerned that his motives for the proposal might lie elsewhere, she sought to relieve him of any obligation to her. “I understand that you may feel compromised by having danced inappropriately with me at Mrs. Bright's party, but please do not feel beholden to me in any way; my physical limitations damage my prospects of marriage far more than one dance with you will do. I am sincerely flattered by your proposal and it confirms my belief that you are a most proper gentleman, but I cannot accept. I sincerely wish you every success in finding a suitable bride and I am sure that with your looks and position this will not prove a hard task for you.” She smiled at him to soften her words of rejection, which must surely have hurt his pride.

For a moment Vincent was nonplussed. Then he rose to his feet, bowed stiffly and moved away from her. He had never considered that a woman might choose not to marry at all, and because of this he had been over-confident of achieving his aim. Miriam had certainly let him know otherwise in her usual polite but firm manner, he thought bitterly. He indicated to Robert his intention to leave and vacated the drawing room.

 

Miriam did not know whether to laugh or cry. From having the expectation that she would never receive any proposal of marriage to receiving two in the same day was astonishing. If someone had told her this would happen she would not have believed them. What she found even more ironic was that she had turned them both down.

Sir Thomas had called at the house at around midday, thankfully without his daughter, and had asked for a private audience with her. He had then proposed marriage, pointing out all the advantages. He was in total disbelief when she had politely but firmly turned him down. He then told her quite bluntly that she should be grateful to have a proposal, as most men would not even consider her. She told him that she knew this, but nevertheless could not accept his offer. He gave no consideration to her feelings, telling her that she would come to regret her decision in the years to come. He then turned and stalked out of the room.

Aunt Beatrice had been absolutely furious when Miriam told her she had turned down Sir Thomas's offer. Miriam was glad that she had already arranged to visit Lucy that afternoon, for the visit would get her away from the house and her aunt. She needed to talk to Lucy and had not known that Robert and Lord Chantry would be there.

She had been surprised and completely shocked at Lord Chantry's proposal. She had known from Lucy of his intentions to find a wife, but had never for one moment considered that he might ask her. She had deduced almost at once that he had felt obliged to offer for her following their impropriety when dancing the waltz at the Brights' social gathering. Miriam thought that he must have been extremely grateful when she had refused him. To his credit he had not shown his relief. In fact, he had seemed a little upset. But that was absurd. Why would he be upset at her refusal? Perhaps that was just a bit of delusion on her part.

When both gentlemen had departed, she told Lucy what had passed between herself and Lord Chantry. Lucy said that Robert had told her of the earl's intentions and asked Miriam what her answer had been.

“Of course I turned him down. He thought he had compromised me in some way and that is why he proposed, despite his excuse about wanting to come into his fortune. I could not allow him to do that. He is young and will have many opportunities to meet someone to love and to marry,” explained Miriam.
Only not me. Never me.

“But, Miriam,” Lucy exclaimed, “from what Robert told me it was Lord Chantry's need to marry to inherit his fortune that prompted his proposal. He also thought that by choosing you, he was saving you from having to marry Sir Thomas.”

“But I had already turned down Sir Thomas.”

“
I
know that because you told me when you first arrived here, but Lord Chantry did not know of it,” Lucy pointed out. “Were you not tempted to accept and become Countess of Chantry? I understand Lord Chantry has a very large estate and a beautiful house.”

“I am sure he does, but he did not want
me,
he just wanted a wife and he felt sorry for me. I am sure had I accepted his offer he would have very quickly regretted it.” Miriam did not want to recall how her heart had thudded and how tempted she had been to accept his offer.

“Well, if he wanted just any wife, there are loads of fluttering debutantes who would be only too glad to oblige,” Lucy insisted. “Can it not be possible he holds some affection for you?”

Miriam laughed shakily. “Oh, Lucy. I hardly think so. But let us look on the bright side. At least when I am an old, grey spinster I will be able to tell everyone that when I was young I turned down one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.”

Miriam felt it was time to change the subject. “Now tell me, how are matters progressing between you and Robert? He never takes his eyes from you.”

Lucy immediately brightened. “We get on so very well and he is so handsome, do you not think? I am aware that he is paying me particular attention and will not discourage this, but I do not think he will declare himself yet as he is still quite young.” Lucy sighed.

“From the way he looks at you I would be very surprised if he did not declare himself before too long,” Miriam said encouragingly. She stayed with Lucy for as long as she could without imposing on the Spencer household for too long and overstaying her welcome. They kindly sent for their coach to return her and her maid to Royal Crescent.

Aunt Beatrice had not calmed down during her absence; in fact, it appeared to Miriam that she had gathered her strength in order to berate her niece further.

“You may go straight to your room and ask your maid to begin packing your belongings. We will return to Derbyshire tomorrow. I brought you to Bath to find you a husband and I was successful in doing this and yet you turned him down!” She was so incensed that she was breathless as she spoke, her colour high.

“I am not wasting any more of my time on you. It will be better spent on helping Percival with his wedding plans. There will be a lot to do.” With that, she turned and walked into the drawing room, closing the door on Miriam and making it quite clear that she did not expect her to follow.

Miriam did not mind going back to Derbyshire. She knew she only had a short time remaining at Charlwood House, the home she loved, and she wanted to make the most of that time. It was the long journey back in the company of her aunt that she did not look forward to.

The three-day journey from Bath to Derbyshire seemed endless to Miriam. The weather was warm and sunny, but inside the carriage the heat was stifling. On the first day of the journey Aunt Beatrice barely spoke to her except to bark an order or again chastise her for not accepting Sir Thomas's proposal of marriage. Miriam wondered what Aunt Beatrice would say if she knew that she had also turned down a proposal from Lord Chantry.

By the second and third days it was clear to Miriam that her aunt had lost any interest in her and was now focussing all her attention on the forthcoming marriage of her son to Catherine Lampton. Both ladies were hot, tired and irritable, and Miriam noticed that even the footmen and maids were keeping well out of their way.

They reached Charlwood House just after midday on Wednesday. Miriam felt hot and dusty and the first thing she did was to ask Susan to prepare a bath for her. She then had a short rest in her bedroom before changing for dinner. She felt somewhat more refreshed when she entered the dining room later that day. However, it soon became obvious that her aunt had lost no time telling her son what had transpired in Bath.

“How could you refuse such a good offer of marriage?” Percival chastised. “You do know that you will not be able to stay here once I am married—that would not be fair to Catherine. You missed a splendid opportunity to have your own household and husband. And do not think you can live in the dower house, as I have promised that to my mother; she will neither want nor need to keep up the house in Nottingham once I am fully established here.”

Percival's face was becoming redder, almost puce-coloured with anger, as he demanded, “What have you to say for yourself, Miriam?”

Miriam thought she had plenty to say about his lack of compassion and manners, but did not voice this out loud. “I will start to look for alternative accommodation immediately. I will request the property agents from Matlock and Buxton to visit me at their earliest convenience.”

This response seemed to satisfy Percival and he resumed eating his meal in stony silence. As soon as dinner was finished, Miriam, pleading exhaustion, retired to her room.

 

The next morning was difficult for Miriam. For many years she had taken on the responsibility of running Charlwood House and had continued to do so following her father's death. Aunt Beatrice now said that she would take over such responsibilities until such time as Catherine came to live at the house as Percival's wife.

Miriam noticed that some new staff had been hired while she'd been in Bath and that some of the furniture in the house had been removed and replaced with new items. The home she had lived in since childhood and had loved dearly no longer seemed so familiar or welcoming. She needed to escape. She rang for the footman and asked him to arrange for her horse and trap to be brought to the front of the house.

Miriam had a lovely morning driving along the roads and lanes on the estate that was so familiar to her. The countryside looked magnificent, basking in the hot summer sunshine, and people nodded and waved to her as she passed. Oh, how could she bear to leave such a place?

When she returned to the house, she was told that both property agents had arranged to visit her the following day. She spent the afternoon going over all the details of her finances so she would be fully informed when they arrived. She would have to employ at least one footman, a housekeeper and a cook, as well as her maid, and so her new house would have to be large enough to accommodate that number of staff. She would not be able to keep her horse and trap because she would not be able to afford the stabling for the horse. It perhaps mattered little, for although she could travel around the Charlwood Estate in her trap, it would not be appropriate or acceptable in any of the small Derbyshire towns.

Miriam feared that living on her own without a carriage or other means of transportation might make her feel isolated; she would be at the mercy of friends and family coming to visit her. She could always employ a companion, but shied away from this idea as generally companions were employed only by the old and infirm.

Any hope that she would be able to live in the dower house on the estate had been dashed when Percival had made it quite clear at dinner the previous evening that this was not a possibility. She thought of other properties on the estate that could be suitable for her, but she did not think she could bear being in the vicinity of Percival and his wife, who would be taking her place at Charlwood House.

The property agents visited the following day with details of four houses for her to consider. Arrangements were made for her to view these the following week, and luckily for Miriam, Lucy returned from Bath that week and offered to go with her to look at the houses.

“Two heads are better than one,” Lucy declared cheerfully. “I am sure that you will find something suitable and you will still be near enough for me to visit.”

 

On the appointed day Lucy arrived in a carriage to collect Miriam to view the properties. Miriam was delighted to find that Lucy's mother, the Countess of Blackwood, had decided to join them to act as chaperone and give advice.

“You are both very young and do not have experience in dealing with men of business or of looking at properties. I think the property agents are less likely to try to pull the wool over
my
eyes and I may think of questions to ask that would not occur to you,” the countess explained kindly.

Miriam warmed to the words. “I am absolutely delighted that you can join us, my lady. I am sure your experience will prove very useful. I have absolutely no experience of looking at houses and never expected to find myself in this situation.”

The countess shook her head. “I was shocked when Lucy told me that Percival and his new wife do not intend to allow you to stay in the house that has always been your home. I am sure that your dear father would not have expected this to happen.”

The three ladies set out in good spirits. They were to view the first two houses in Matlock in the morning, have lunch in Matlock and then travel to Buxton in the afternoon to view the other two houses.

Spirits were not so high by the time the ladies sat down to eat lunch at the Royal Hotel. The two houses they had viewed had been most unsuitable. One had been much too small and the other was in such poor repair Miriam would have needed a fortune to make it acceptable.

Lucy tried to cheer Miriam up. “Don't look so disheartened. I am sure that the houses in Buxton will be an improvement on those we saw in Matlock.”

“They cannot be any worse,” Miriam quipped, and this made them all smile.

Unfortunately the houses in Buxton were not suitable, either. One was too large and beyond Miriam's budget. The second was a charming, well-proportioned house, but unfortunately it had twenty steep stone steps leading up to the front door, which would have been too difficult for Miriam to climb on a daily basis.

The countess tried to remain optimistic on the journey home. “I am sure that something suitable will become available soon. Do not despair, Miriam.” Suddenly she perked up. “I have an idea! You can be my guest and stay with us at Blackwood Hall after Percival's wedding until you manage to find a suitable house.”

“Yes, yes, please do, Miriam. It will be fun to have you stay. We can go shopping and go to the assemblies together,” urged Lucy.

Miriam reflected on how lucky she was to have such kind neighbours; when she was a child, Blackwood Hall had been like a second home to her. “I would love to stay with you, thank you so much. And if it is not too much of an imposition, I would be very grateful if you could both continue to help me in my quest for somewhere suitable to live.”

Under her breath Lucy said to Miriam, “Do you not now wish you had given more consideration to Lord Chantry's proposal?”

“Had I known how unpleasant coming back to Charlwood House would be,” Miriam whispered in reply, “I might well have been more tempted, but I do not think the sort of arrangement he proposed would have suited Lord Chantry in the long term. He would surely meet someone else and then regret marrying me.”

“It is not unusual for society weddings to be arranged for convenience of fortune and family rather than love. I do not think what Lord Chantry was proposing was so much different,” Lucy reasoned.

“What are you girls talking about? You both should know it is considered very rude to whisper,” admonished the countess. Miriam and Lucy apologized but nevertheless were not willing to share with her the nature of their whisperings.