In Pursuit of Miriam (13 page)

Most afternoons found Miriam, Lucy, Charles and Robert together in some activity. On wet days they played chess, read, talked or listened to Lucy play the piano. It was one such wet December afternoon when Vincent returned home.

That afternoon Charles had persuaded the others that it would be good fun to read out loud a Shakespeare play and each take on a different character. They had agreed on
Julius Caesar
and had assigned the roles following much debate and discussion. Then Charles had suggested that to make it even more fun, the ladies should play the male parts and the men the female. And so Charles and Robert spoke their parts in high falsetto voices and the ladies made their voices low and gruff.

“‘How hard is it for women to keep counsel! Art thou here yet?'” squeaked Robert, playing Portia.

“‘Madam, what should I do?'”
growled Miriam in the role of Lucius.

All four of them were howling with laughter when Robert suddenly noticed Vincent standing in the doorway and pointed him out to the others. They all immediately went quiet.

Vincent's face looked like thunder.

“Please, do not let me stop your enjoyment,” he said curtly, then turned and stalked off.

Miriam laughed, but her laugh now was due to nerves. She could not decide whether to go after Vincent or leave him be.

 

Vincent went straight into the library. He was not at all happy with what he had just seen. He had been looking forward to returning to Maudley Castle for Christmas and, although he had enjoyed his time in London, he had found himself thinking of the estate more frequently than he ever had in the past. This may have been because Miriam had written dutifully at least once a week to keep him informed about her meetings with Jeremy.

He had kept busy while in London. He reopened his house and had, for the first time, taken up his seat in the House of Lords. He had spent time at his club and had been a regular visitor to the boxing gym and to his fencing school. Although he was less sought after for social occasions since word of his marriage had reached the society mamas, this did not bother him.

When he had informed Robert of Lucy's arrival at Maudley Castle, Robert had immediately made preparations to return home to Fairleigh Manor. Although Vincent was tempted to return with him, he knew he still needed to keep some distance from Miriam. This had not stopped him wondering if she was homesick for Derbyshire and worrying about how his mother was treating her.

When he had thought about how he would be greeted on his return, he had imagined Miriam coming into his arms and them kissing as they had when he had departed. He did not expect to find Miriam, Lucy, Robert and his brother acting in such an unseemly manner. He had stood watching their antics and laughter for a good two minutes before he had been noticed. Knowing his brother, Charles, he was in little doubt that he was the instigator of whatever nonsense was going on.

Vincent had hoped that Miriam would be pleased to see him, that perhaps she would have missed him. Instead, it was quite clear that while he had been in London worrying about her, she had been enjoying herself enormously and had not given him a second thought. He felt hurt.

He heard a small knock and Miriam put her head around the door. She was not smiling and looked nervous.
Good. So she should be.

“Did you have a pleasant journey? Why didn't you send a message ahead so we would know to expect you?” Miriam asked nervously while taking a seat across the room from him.

“Thank you. The journey was uneventful. I did not, however, realize I was expected to inform anyone ahead of my intended arrival at
my own home
.” He put emphasis on the last three words.

“I did not think. No, of course you shouldn't have to. I'm sorry.” Miriam's face reddened.

“Of course, if I had done so, you could have made sure that you and your friends were behaving properly and not in the undignified manner in which I found you.
You
Miriam, as the lady of the house, must take responsibility for this. My brother is young and often wayward.” Vincent knew that he was being harsh but could not help himself. “And Robert should know better.”

Miriam was close to tears. “I am very sorry. We were only having a bit of fun and then we got the giggles. There was no harm done.” She saw his expression darken further. “But now that you mention it, I can see that we went a bit far.”

Vincent got to his feet. “I will see you at dinner,” he said curtly as he walked out of the library without giving her a backward glance.

Miriam was too shocked to move. She had been looking forward to Vincent's return. Now it was ruined and it was her fault, because of her behaviour. He had not accepted or even acknowledged her apology.

Later that afternoon Vincent met with Jeremy, but as Miriam had kept him abreast of all that had been happening on the estate, this did not take up much time. He thanked Jeremy for showing Miriam around in his absence and discussing estate matters with her.

“It was my pleasure. I find her very intelligent and quick to learn. She has also become a favourite with my father and often visits him,” Jeremy told him.

For some reason this made Vincent even more displeased. It had not taken Miriam long to worm her way into people's affections. Jeremy was obviously quite taken with her, and from what he had told him, so was Jeremy Senior. He wondered if she was playing on her lameness to get sympathy. Well, she certainly could not have met with as much success with his mother.

He was, however, surprised to find that he was wrong. He joined his mother in the drawing room, where she was passing the time until going through for dinner.

“Are plans for the Christmas Ball all in place?” enquired Vincent.

“Yes, and Miriam was a great help. All is arranged and we have employed additional staff for that day. Oh, and we have both had new gowns made especially for the occasion,” his mother serenely informed him.

“I was worried that you and Miriam would not get on well with each other as you were much displeased when I married her.” Vincent could not believe that his mother had been so easily won over.

“I am still of the opinion that you could have done better in your choice of wife, but I must admit that I find Miriam a quick-witted young lady with good manners and good sense. I find that I am almost ready to forgive you for what you have done.”

“I'm pleased to hear that you have altered your opinion of her, and of course, I welcome your forgiveness.” He knew he should be pleased about this, but still something rankled. He had expected Miriam not to have had such an easy time in his absence and therefore be more pleased by his return.

Vincent's mood did not improve over the dinner table. He soon realized that he had put a strain on what may have otherwise been a relaxed gathering. The conversation was polite but stilted. Lucy very prettily apologized for her earlier behaviour and begged him not to blame Miriam. Charles, too, apologized and was willing to take full responsibility. His mother did not know to what they were referring and wisely did not enquire.

At the end of the meal Vincent and Charles withdrew to take a glass of port and have a cigar.

“I must say Vincent, I was surprised to hear you had married so suddenly,” Charles said without preamble. “When Mother wrote to tell me, she seemed quite distressed by your choice of bride, but she appears to have come round now.”

“Now you have met Miriam, what is
your
opinion on my choice of wife?” Vincent asked.

“Well, I must confess, when I first saw her I wondered what on earth you had done. Why you should choose someone who could not even walk properly was beyond my reasoning, particularly when I know of many beautiful young women who have had their sights set on you,” replied Charles bluntly.

This was more the reaction Vincent had expected.

“However,” Charles continued, “now I have spent some time in her company, I totally forget that she walks with a limp and I find her absolutely lovely and delightful. She really is a very pretty little thing, too. I can only congratulate you on your choice.”

“Thank you,” responded Vincent dryly. He knew he should be pleased, but he had seen his main role in the marriage as acting as Miriam's protector and it seemed now that she did not need a protector. The only other thing he wanted to offer her was not part of their agreement.

Charles did not seem to notice Vincent's lack of enthusiasm and continued to extol Miriam's virtues, concluding with, “I find her like the sister I never had.”

This final remark gave Vincent pause for thought. He remembered that when he first met Miriam he, too, had thought his feelings for her were like those he would have for a sister. He knew now that his feelings were very different indeed, most definitely the feelings a man had for a woman. He was still uncertain as to how he would deal with this knowledge.

When Vincent and Charles returned to sit with the ladies in the drawing room, Vincent noticed that Miriam, although she responded when spoken to, did not look very happy. He knew this was his fault. As soon as he could reasonably do so, he excused himself, saying that he was tired from the long day travelling.

When Vincent reached his bedroom he saw that a key had been found for the door leading into the adjoining bedroom. Was this a clear message from Miriam? The door was not locked, but this was probably because there had not been a need to do so while he had been away in London.

 

Vincent slept well and awoke early. He felt badly about how he had spoken to Miriam the previous day and knew he had upset her. Today he would apologize and speak to her more kindly in the hope they could resume the pleasant companionship they had previously enjoyed.

Looking out of his bedroom window, he saw two people walking across the yard. He immediately knew that one was Miriam because, even though a cloak totally concealed her features, it did not disguise her limp; the other person he recognized as his brother, Charles. He wondered what the pair of them were doing together at such an early hour.

Later in the morning, Vincent bumped into his brother. “Hello, Charles. Have you had a busy morning?” he casually asked.

“Not done much at all, but I may join the ladies in visiting Robert Bright this afternoon. Will you come with us?” invited Charles cheerfully.

“I may if I have no pressing estate matters. I haven't spoken Robert since he left London. He left here yesterday just after I'd come home.” Vincent decided not to question his brother about the early-morning walk with Miriam.

With the suspicion that she was trying to avoid him, Vincent sent for Miriam to join him in the library. She entered timidly and took a seat opposite him at the desk.

“Good morning, wife. I am pleased to find you well and so obviously settled into your role as mistress of the house.” This greeting had a trace of sarcasm, which Miriam did not miss.

“Thank you, my lord, I do like Maudley Castle, and everyone has made me feel welcome.” Miriam looked down at her hands as she spoke; they trembled slightly.

“I was concerned that my mother may have made your life uncomfortable, because she was so against our marriage.”

“It was a little difficult at first, but your mother has tried very hard, and I think she now tolerates me for your sake,” replied Miriam honestly, hoping he would be pleased. “When you left, your mother offered to move into the dower house, but I could tell she did not really wish to do this. I think she was offering because she thought we may not want her here. I told her she was welcome to stay living at Maudley Castle. I hope you don't mind?”

Vincent did not mind but found himself once again responding in a harsh manner. “I would have expected you to consult me on this matter. You did not tell me of this decision in your correspondence.”

Miriam hung her head and mumbled, “I'm sorry.”

Vincent realized he was doing nothing to restore good relations between them and so changed the subject. “Have you been busy this morning?” he asked.

“No, no, I haven't. I have told Jeremy that while you are at home I will not need to meet with him. Did I do right?” Miriam hoped that this would meet with his approval.

“Yes, you did,” replied Vincent, now finding himself even less happy with Miriam than before.
Where was she going with Charles this morning and why did neither of them admit they had been out together?

“Are you coming with us to visit Robert this afternoon?” Miriam ventured to ask.

“No, I don't think so. I have much to catch up on.” Vincent felt he needed some time to himself.

“Of course,” replied Miriam, ashamed at feeling relieved by this. She was finding conversation with Vincent most uncomfortable since his return from London.

Vincent did not really have any pressing engagements that afternoon, but he was in no mood for a social visit. He knew that he was being unreasonable and unfair to Miriam and that he should be glad she had settled so well in his family home. He also knew he was partly to blame for their lack of ease with each other; he had, after all, left for London within only four days of being married. She had actually had more time in his brother's company than his, so it was only natural, he supposed, that she would feel more comfortable with Charles.

He had his horse saddled up and went for a ride around the estate. He hoped this would pull him out of the black mood that seemed to have engulfed him since his return home.

When they all met up at dinner again that evening, Vincent found himself largely excluded from the conversation. The talk was mainly about the afternoon visit to Fairleigh Manor and the Christmas Ball, which, he was startled to learn, was to be held the following evening. When he expressed his surprise at this, his mother sharply reprimanded him. “As you took yourself back to London with such haste, how can you expect to know what is happening here?”