“I see,” she said with a grim smile. “That was a test,Callum, and I fear you did not pass. Just as you decided you did not wish to marry a commoner after all, I have decided that I have quite no use for a very fickle Marquess. Goodnight.”
Epilogue
“Birdie! Greta! It is so wonderful to see you again!” Beatrix cried when she opened the door to their knocking. “Come inside!”
She hugged both girls quickly, long enough to cause each of them to feel somewhat embarrassed at being treated like old friends instead of maids come to serve a lady.
“Gaw, but ‘tis such a strange thing!” Birdie said, looking around the spacious chambers. “To think that you was highborn all this time, and not a one of us knew it!”
“Just goes to show, Birdie, you never know who a person might be so you should always be nice,” Greta added wisely.
Beatrix only laughed. “Oh girls, you must stop. I’m still only Beatrix! This is all so new to me that it feels like I shall never catch my breath for thinking about it too long.”
The maids helped Beatrix brush out her hair, change her clothes, and ready herself for the evening’s rest, but she was much too excited to send them along when they’d finished. She spoke to them for some time about how they came to be at Saltwood, what had transpired after she’d left Bellton, and more.
“You know, My Lady, they say that Lord Bellton was pinin’ for ya after ya left,” Birdie said shyly. Greta nudged her sharply to remind her to whom they were speaking. “What? Lady Beatrix knows his lordship was taken with her!”
“Still, Birdie, ya don’t go sayin’ it! It’s not fittin’, ‘specially if you hope to be a lady’s maid someday. Ya can’t go bein’ too familiar with the ladies of the house!” Greta tried to look stern as she whispered.
“I do think Greta might be right, not that I would know very much about these things, but never you fear, Birdie,” Beatrix said kindly. “You can say anything to me, it’s all right. But on the subject of Lord Bellton, that is a closed subject, I’m afraid. I have no concern whatsoever for his ‘pining.’”
“But he were in a terrible state!” the maid cried. “He would naw eat a bite and his strength was nearly gone. He near went mad with thinkin’ he lost ya for good!”
“Well, that’s just as well. Not that I’m sure he ever had me to begin with, he has most definitely lost me for good now,” Beatrix explained patiently.
Birdie and Greta exchanged horrified looks. This wasn’t what they’d hoped to hear when they were informed their services might be needed for Lady Beatrix.
“Don’t you worry none, I won’t be sayin’ nothin’ more about it, My Lady,” Birdie assured her tearfully. “I’m sorry I spoke up, it weren’t my place.”
“That’s all right, Birdie. I know you meant well.” Beatrix smiled at the maids and bid them goodnight, the pang in her heart resounding when she saw how sad she’d made them.
Alone in her room, Beatrix fought to fall asleep. Her mind flipped between elation at how meeting her mother had gone to trepidation at Lord Bellton’s presence. To learn that he’d taken sick with the loss only compounded the need to stay away from him. It would be an endless battle to remain aloof, to keep him at arm’s length with an air of disdain, when she wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and be carried away.
Sadly, she could not. What would she do when the wind changed and his thoughts drifted towards discontent again? She dared not expose her heart to that sort of torment again for fear that she would not recover next time. Worse, she now had her mother’s reputation to think of.
It was a risk too great.
* * *
“Ah, Beatrix!” Lady Miriam said brightly the following morning. “You’re up very early!”
“I suppose I’m used to the early hour,” she replied, sitting down across from Lady Miriam and gratefully accepting a cup of hot tea. “I had a fair number of chores to complete each morning. And some of the animals we kept could be quite vocal about complaining if they were not fed on time!”
“I want to hear all about your animals!” Lady Miriam said, laughing merrily, but then she stopped. “But I feel as though I spent all of yesterday interviewing you. What wouldyoulike to talk about?”
Beatrix was thoughtful a moment, then said, “What of my father? Peter had said it might not be a pleasant subject, so only tell me what you wish.”
“You are ever so thoughtful,” her mother said with an adoring smile, “but there is not very much to tell. He came from a family that was well-titled and well-respected, though lacking in any noticeable fortune. His only attraction to me, of course, was the money my parents had put up for me.
“Sadly, he had wished to marry another young lady but her family fortunes were spread thinly over a great many children, including several sons who had to inherit. My husband’s parents refused to let him marry her, and demanded that he marry me instead.
“As such, he was very unkind to me. The best times in my marriage were the weeks or even months when he would be away. He made no attempt to conceal his many indiscretions, and as such, I became too much of a recluse in an effort to avoid gossip. When he died, I don’t think I felt relief, but I certainly did not feel any remorse.”
Lady Miriam was silent as she stared out the window, lost in thought. Beatrix waited patiently for the woman to say more, but it was several moments before she composed herself.
“You were the only wonderful thing to come from my marriage,” her mother added, beaming. “And when you were gone, I had no reason to continue living. I simply didn’t have the proper determination to die, I suppose!”
“Well, I’m very glad that you remained among the living,” Beatrix answered happily. “It has been a dream of mine to have a mother, and I find that I could never have asked for a kinder, more loving one than you.”
