"Until dinner," Haverton said, raising her hand to his mouth to place a soft kiss on the back of it.
Mariah was suddenly overcome with a rush of tender emotions that had no business making themselves known after a two day acquaintance.
She nodded and fairly flew out of the room, causing the maid to increase her pace dramatically.
The sooner Mariah was alone, the sooner she could breathe properly.
The room to which Mariah was shown had obviously been cleaned, but just as obviously had not been redecorated in many years.
Though a roaring fire brought a welcome heat to it, the paper-hangings were faded and even worn in places and held an air of neglect.
"I am sorry, ma'am," said Dora, the maid who was escorting her. "We weren't expecting no guests yet."
Mariah smiled at Dora and quirked a brow. "Ma'am?" she repeated. "Dora Hall I have known you since you were a babe. What is all this 'ma'am' nonsense?
Dora grinned and sighed in relief. "I'm just trying to do me job properly, Miss Bolton."
"You're doing an excellent job. Just don't call me ma'am!"
Dora laughed then sobered as she looked at Mariah with worry etched on her face. "Your mum is going to be that angry, Miss Bolton, when she finds out you're here alone with Mr. Haverton."
Mariah grimaced.
"I know, but what can I do? I know Mama would expect me to risk frostbite and certain death to get home but she is the only person outside of Bedlam to do so."
Dora laughed, though it was hesitant. The entire village knew better than to laugh at Mrs. Bolton.
"Would you like me to stay with you in here tonight? As a witness, like."
"A witness? Good heaven's Dora the man is hardly going to sneak into my bedchamber." More's the pity. "I shall be quite alright."
"Well, if you're sure?"
"I am. Quite sure."
"Very well, Mariah," said Dora cheerfully and Mariah was pleased that she'd dropped the stiff formality of 'Miss Bolton'.
"Mr. Haverton has instructed that you should have a bath brought up and a fresh gown for dinner," Dora continued.
"Well, that's very nice of him but where on earth am I to get a fresh gown from?"
"Oh, the lady's trunks arrived with Mr. Haverton, or at least some of them did. He said she would not mind if you were to use one."
Mariah's heart skittered to a halt at Dora's words and she felt as if her stomach had dropped to her kid boots.
The lady?
Her mind whirled as she thought of the ramifications of Dora's words.
But she'd asked him! He'd said he was not married.
Mariah thought sickeningly of the letter she had read that day Mrs. Yates had visited with the request that she tend to the library.
Mrs. Yates had made it quite clear that he was unattached. And he himself had said as much.
And yet, the letter had said 'they' and not 'he'.
"Oh, my God," Mariah whispered, not knowing she had spoken aloud. He had lied about not being married. The cad! What was he about? What sort of sick game was he playing with her?
"Mariah, are you alright? You look as though you've seen a ghost."
Dora's voice sounded very far away but Mariah gulped in a breath of air and tried her very best to act normally.
"Yes, j-just tired I think."
"Of course," clucked Dora, "you've been working every so hard on that library today. A nice warm bath and a nap before dinner should set you to rights."
The downstairs maids arrived with a copper tub and set about filling it with pots of water.
Mariah allowed Dora and the maids to scramble about readying her bath without saying a word.
Dora left the room to return in minutes, holding up the finest gown Mariah had ever seen, exclaiming that the colour would look stunning on Mariah and asking if she should have it pressed for dinner.
Mariah nodded feeling numb and not even really seeing the dress.
Who would own such fine gowns if not the lady of the house?
The bath served to revive Mariah's spirits a little and, to her surprise, she actually did fall into a fitful sleep for an hour or two, rising quickly when Dora came to assist her with dressing.
Mariah's first thought was to plead a headache and refuse to go down to dinner.
But as her initial shock had abated, a furious anger had replaced it instead.
She had done nothing wrong!
Why should she hide away while that swine went about kissing women who weren't his wife and dragging innocent young girls into his debauchery?
"Would you like me to do your hair, Mariah?" asked Dora eagerly.
Mariah looked at Dora, a steely determination making her stand stiff as a board. "Yes, I would" she said with determination, "and I want you to make me look my absolute best."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mariah arrived downstairs just as the clock chimed the hour.
She was a bundle of nerves but was relieved to note that her hand was steady as she waited for the footman to open the door to the drawing room.