"Lottie, will you excuse me?" Mariah said without waiting for an answer as she swept from the room.
She reached the drawing room but paused outside as the battle that Lottie had heard clearly raged on.
"You simply cannot cavort with a respectable young lady in full view of God knows who and not marry her, Brandon. It is simply not done."
"Do you think I give a damn about what's done or not?" Brandon was yelling. "I am warning you, Mother. Let this drop. I will not be trapped in the parson's noose because of one meaningless kiss."
"How can you say such a thing?" his mother demanded while outside the room, Mariah's heart broke in two. "After the way your sister—"
"This is nothing like Daphne," Brandon bellowed. "I haven't touched her save for a few kisses, and nor do I intend to. How can you think I would do such a thing?"
"I don't," his mother replied now in soothing tones. "But still, Brandon. The girl has a reputation to think of. Besides, I saw the way you looked at her and she you. Clearly there is some feeling between you. Some affection."
Mariah waited with bated breath for his answer.
Please God let him say he cares, she prayed fervently.
"And if there was, what good would it do? You don't know her, Mother. She is young, vivacious, and full of life. She deserves more than a broken man, half living."
"Just tell me one thing," said his mother softly. "Do you love her?"
Mariah's heart galloped and she closed her eyes hoping against hope.
His derisive laugh was like a dagger to her bruised heart. "Of course not."
As quietly as she could, tears threatening more every second, Mariah turned and fled.
CHAPTER TEN
"Mariah, do hurry up for goodness' sake. The whole village will be there already."
Mariah bit her tongue, something she hadn't had to do for weeks now.
"I am coming, Mama" she answered as sweetly as she could though her teeth were clenched. The woman never stopped scolding.
It had been four days since she had snuck from the manor house. She had some pangs of regret for sneaking from the house like a thief in the night, especially since his mother had been so lovely to her. But she couldn't face a goodbye, couldn't look at him again after what she'd heard. She'd been too cowardly to risk being in his company for fear that she would either cry and beg him to love her or rage at him for being unable or unwilling to do so.
Returning home hadn't made the heartache go away, but at least her mother was a good distraction from it.
As soon as she ascertained that Mariah wasn't utterly ruined or mortally wounded, she launched into a lecture so lengthy that even Mariah's father intervened.
Escape had been made only when her mother rounded on her father.
Mariah had refused absolutely to answer any and all questions about Brandon Haverton, save to say that she had completed her work in the library and she no longer had any reason to be at the house.
"But your gowns," her mother had argued, a glint of suspicion in her eye.
"He has promised to send them along," Mariah lied smoothly refusing to explain why she'd left them all there in the first place.
Now, it was the day of the fete and though Mariah had tried every excuse and reason under the sun not to attend, she was going.
Her only consolation was that Brandon Haverton was extremely unlikely to go voluntarily and his mother seemed far too sad to insist upon it.
The family left to walk to the square outside the church where the festivities would take place. As soon as they arrived they were greeted by friends and acquaintances and Mariah used the ensuing chaos to slip away to a hidden bench behind the church.
Relief filled her at finding it empty.
She sat and allowed the serenity to wash over her and heal her wounded heart. This place had always been one of solace and peace in times of trouble but today her misery would not be silenced.
Sitting there, she looked toward the heavens, seeing the North Star twinkling bright and felt a tear run silently down her cheek.
Mariah wished then, wished with all her heart that Brandon and his family would one day be happy. She wanted more than anything to be the one to bring love and joy back into his life, but as much as she loved him, she could not make him return the feeling. Yet she still wanted it for him.
Wanted him to find someone that he did love, someone who could bring him back to life. So she wished it for him. Wished it with every fibre of her being.
"Please," she whispered to the night sky, "please just let him find happiness. Let him find peace."
Mariah sat for a moment or two longer then, with a heavy heart, she stood to go and find her family.
The village square was resplendent as it always was, festooned with holly and ivy and paper lanterns that the children in the schoolhouse had spent painstaking hours putting together.
Everywhere she turned, Mariah was greeted warmly, and usually she would return the greetings with equal cheer. But she could not.