Mariah awoke in the pale pink light of dawn with new resolve. She’d lain awake for a good hour or more during the night, her mind vacillating from one emotion to another until she formulated a plan, a foolproof plan to make Colin want her to stay.
With a determined smile, she rose quietly, not wanting to awaken Amy in the next room. She made her bed and took care of her morning toilette, dressing quickly. Her appearance was no longer of importance to Colin.
But something else did matter to him. If he was so taken by Nate’s mere description of Rose, Mariah merely had to do and say exactly the kinds of things her sister would. There’d be nothing to it. Hadn’t she watched long-suffering Rose her whole life? Always doing for others, quoting the appropriate scripture for any occasion—at her?
Well, perhaps she wouldn’t be quite as long-suffering as Rose. Her older sister had a penchant for taking self-sacrifice to such an extreme that, had she not ended up the lone white woman in Indian Territory, she surely would have continued her dull journey into a life of spinsterhood.
Chuckling to herself, Mariah thought back on the scripture she’d read to the girls a few days before: “Put on the whole armor of God.”
Suddenly she remembered her betrothal ring. Removing it from its chain, she slipped the amethyst onto the correct finger, and held out her hand to admire its rich beauty. Then, after a passing glance at her sensible hairstyle, she turned on her heel and headed for the door. Convinced she was fully armored, she marched out ready for battle, but catching sight of Amy in slumber, she quieted her steps. War was far better waged without that child’s impetuous mouth getting in the way.
No sign of life came from the older girls’ room as Mariah tiptoed down the hall. Good. Going into a man’s private chamber at this hour simply was not done. Pausing at Colin’s door, she decided against rapping, since even that light sound might be heard. She walked in quite brazenly and closed the door behind her without a sound.
But Colin wasn’t in his walnut four-poster bed. She scanned the masculine room with its sturdy furnishings and multihued coverlet only to discover it empty. Had he perchance stayed outside on the balcony all night?
Crossing the room, she checked to see if he was outside, and when he was not, she surmised he must have gone downstairs ahead of her. She hurried out, hoping to catch him alone, before either of his parents awakened.
She was too late. As she entered the parlor, the drone of male voices drifted from the dining room. Passing through the doorway separating the two rooms, she spotted Colin and his father at the far end of the long table, talking in subdued voices, half-eaten plates of food on the table before them.
Mariah paused, taking a moment to compose herself. She also took that moment to gaze on her beloved’s strong profile. With the angry scar out of view and his face now clean-shaven, a person happening upon the scene would never guess he was a tragic figure who’d suffered a grievous wound in battle.
Those interminable tears threatened again, but she willed them away and resumed a resolute pace. The last thing Colin wanted or needed was her pity.
“Good morning,” she singsonged, striding into the room. “Anything especially tasty for breakfast today?”
Both men abruptly turned toward her.
“Good morning.” Mr. Barclay’s cheerful tone matched her own. She wondered if his good humor was as false as hers.
Colin spoke in the same flat manner he’d adopted since his return. “Glad to hear you’re up before the others. Fill your plate and join us.”
“Thank you. I’ll do that.” Mariah didn’t realize how hungry she was until the delectable aroma of fresh biscuits and gravy, cold ham, and spiced apples in cream wafted to her nostrils. She selected portions of each and poured herself a cup of tea before taking her place across from Colin. “You look quite rested, Colin.” Raising her cup to her lips, she took a sip.
“I slept well. And you?”
“Thank you, yes.” She placed her napkin on her lap and straightened her shoulders. She could play the polite conversation game as well as he. Maybe better. “I enjoy rising early before the business of the day is upon us. I shall be testing the girls on their French lessons this week.” She turned to his father. “By the way, Mr. Barclay, did you not say you had some letters you wanted me to write for you today?”
“Yes, I did. But—”
“What my father means,” Colin interrupted, “is that there’s no need for you to spend time on correspondence. You’ll be busy packing for your trip on the morrow.”
“I’m sorry,” she said in a sugary-sweet voice, “you must have misunderstood me last evening. I’ve no plans of going anywhere.”
He spoke more forcefully. “It’s already been decided.”
At least he was showing more life. But unfortunately for him, he had no idea what he was up against. Mariah directed her attention to his father and held out her left hand, allowing the amethyst to catch the light from the sconces and reflect its full violet radiance amid the sparkling diamonds circling it. “I don’t believe you’ve seen the betrothal ring Colin gave me. Is it not just the prettiest thing?”
The older man’s shocked expression rivaled his son’s.
“Mariah.” Colin shook his head. “You know—”
“What’s that?” Mistress Barclay had entered the room unnoticed. “Did I hear correctly? You’re betrothed to Mariah, Colin?”
Mariah spoke before he had a chance to respond. “Why, yes, Mistress Barclay.” She lifted her hand to display the ring. “Colin bought this from Papa when he was in England and asked my father for my hand in marriage.”
“That was before this happened,” Colin grated through clenched teeth. He pounded the table with his fist, and scooting back his chair, lunged to his feet. “I’ve since given Mariah her indenturement papers, and I was arrangin’ with Father for her transportation to her sister’s when she…she…”
“I what?” Mariah shot up from her seat and planted her fists on her hips, wishing she were a foot taller as she eyed him, even though such an advantage would have been useless.
Both his hands had balled into fists as well, and she was very glad a large table separated them. Then slowly he unclenched his hands and turned toward his father. “Will you please handle the matter we discussed? I’m goin’ to my room. Benjamin!” he called out. “I need you!”
“But, darling,” his mother pleaded as the slave rushed in from the butlery.
“Let him go, Cora.” Mr. Barclay met her gaze. “You can speak with him later.”
As Mariah watched Colin leave on the African’s arm, the enormity of what she’d just said and done began to dawn on her. Had it been not more than ten minutes ago she’d promised herself she would act just like Rose? Mortified, she dropped down to her seat again and picked up her teacup, wishing it made a larger shield. Her pulse throbbed in her throat so intently she feared it must be visible.
Mistress Barclay lowered her elegant self to the chair her son had just vacated and arched her brows. “What, may I ask, have I missed here this morning?”
“Quite a bit, my dear.” Her husband tipped his head in amazement. “Your son and our tutoress were having a rather heated disagreement about her future. Seems they have differing views on how and where she should spend it.” A most unexpected grin slid into place.
Speechless, Mariah could only stare.
The lady of the house hadn’t been struck dumb, however. She leveled her gaze on Mariah. “You say you and our son are betrothed?”
Mariah breathed deeply, trying to still her pounding heart. “Yes, madam. Since February, when Colin returned from England.”
The woman’s glare hardened. “Why is it we are just now hearing about it?”
“Colin felt it would be best to wait until his return from duty with the militia. He thought it would be only a matter of weeks. But…” She gave a helpless shrug and raised her cup to her lips, swallowing a gulp of mint tea.
“Engaged all this time. And now that he’s been blinded, you’ve suddenly lost interest, is that it? He’s no longer worthy of your—”
Mr. Barclay interrupted. “You’ve got it backward, Cora.” He reached for his wife’s hand and enclosed it in his. “It’s Colin who wants her to go.”
“Oh.” The mistress settled back in her chair and gazed across at Mariah, her dark eyes now soft with sympathy. “My son wishes to break off the engagement.”
“Yes.” Feeling emotion welling in her again, Mariah struggled to maintain her composure. “He thinks that just because he’s blind I should stop loving him and find someone else. Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I love him dearly, and I don’t know how to stop loving him. I don’t care about his blindness.” Despite her best efforts, those blasted tears started again. Clutching at her napkin, she sprang from the table to escape before they noticed. “Please, excuse me.”
“Wait!” Mistress Barclay also came to her feet. Circling the table, she approached Mariah and drew her into her arms.
Overcome by the unexpected tenderness when Colin’s mother hugged her close and hard, Mariah’s tears poured out in earnest. Sobbing uncontrollably, she melted into the older woman’s comforting embrace.
Her tears stemmed from a mixture of joy and sadness, made even more intense when Colin’s father came to join them and enfolded them both in his strong arms. For several moments, they wept together.
Finally, Mr. Barclay broke away and wiped his nose on his handkerchief. He spoke with emotions still quite raw. “Enough of this, ladies. God will help us all through this hard time, I’m sure. Colin included. Meanwhile, Cora, my love, dish yourself some breakfast, and the three of us will discuss the dilemma while we eat.” He glanced warmly down at Mariah. “I’ve come to think of you as my daughter, Mariah, as part of our family, and your desire to stand by our son despite all that’s happened means more to me than you will ever know.”
Mariah stood in the doorway of the classroom, watching the girls ambling listlessly toward her for their morning lessons. She flashed a broad smile. “Good day, girls. I’ve a bit of news that might cheer you up.”
Amy’s expression brightened as she passed by on her way to her desk. “We can skip our lessons today?”
Mariah sent her a surely-you’re-not-serious smirk. “I’m afraid not.”
All three grumbled and took their places, obviously still weighted down by last night’s gloom.
Reaching to close the door, Mariah spied Mr. Barclay at the top of the staircase at the other end of the long hall. He headed straight for Colin’s room.
Her pulse picked up the pace. She backed into the schoolroom out of the man’s view. How would Colin take his parents’ decision concerning her? If only she could get the girls settled quickly and concentrating on their French verbs, she might be able to saunter down that way and overhear Colin’s reaction.
She turned toward her unsmiling charges as they sat with their hands politely folded on their desks. “I know I promised to test you on your French first thing—”
“Promised?” Victoria scoffed, pursing her lips. “More like threatened.”
“Yes, well, I’m aware that all our minds were too unsettled yesterday, so I’ve decided to give you some extra time to study.” While I sneak down to Colin’s door and press my ear against it.
Heather looked up, her azure eyes sad and troubled. “Oh, Mariah, havin’ Colin come home blind is like havin’ him come home dead.”
It made no sense to correct the thirteen-year-old for dropping her Gs. This was not the time for a grammar lesson. The devastation felt by Colin’s sisters was more than evident. Mariah crossed to Heather’s desk and lifted the girl’s chin. “That’s simply not true, sweetheart. If you’d heard Colin bellowing his head off at breakfast this morning, you’d know he’s nowhere near dead. He’s very much alive.”
Amy scrunched up her face. “Was he mad because Storm wasn’t with him? He loves that horse almost as much as I do Patches. Almost as much as I love Storm. Did Colin say what happened to him?”
“I’m afraid not, dear.” Mariah shrugged a shoulder. “The matter of his horse never came up. In fact, considering the mood your brother’s in at the moment, I would suggest you wait a few days before mentioning the animal’s whereabouts.”
“But what if he got left behind someplace to starve?” Amy’s chair screeched as she sprang from her seat. “He might be hurt. What if Storm’s blind, too?”
Mariah moved to her and placed a hand on the child’s shoulder, gently easing her back down to her seat. “Sweetheart, I’m sure nothing like that has happened. Most likely, another militiaman was riding him, since Colin wasn’t well enough to be on horseback. Storm is probably stabled in Alexandria as we speak, waiting for someone to go and retrieve him.”
“I’ll do it. He knows me.” Amy started to get up again.
Losing her patience, Mariah stopped her with a firm glare. “No one is going anywhere until after you’ve finished your lessons. I suggest you begin studying.” She glanced at the other two sisters. “All of you.”
It seemed to take forever for them to delve into their French vocabulary. But once they all were preoccupied and mouthing the verbs they’d been working on, Mariah knew she could leave. “I’ll be right back, girls. I forgot something in my room.”
It was the perfect excuse, really. If she happened by chance to overhear something along the way, no one could accuse her of eavesdropping. In fact, she’d keep to her side of the hall, in the event that Mr. Barclay—or worse, Colin—should come out. Her stay in this house was quite conditional, after all. Everything she did for the next few days, at least, must appear above reproach. Then why was she out here now, with nothing but snooping on her mind?
Ignoring the twinge of conscience, she stopped directly across from Colin’s room and craned her ear toward his door. Not a sound could be heard. Perhaps a step or two closer—
The chamber door swung inward! Mr. Barclay stood in the opening.
Mariah cringed at her bad timing. Surely the man could see her heart pounding beneath her bodice.
He stared at her briefly, then closed the door quietly behind himself. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the girls?”
She prayed that the sudden warmth at her collar wouldn’t rise to heat her cheeks. “Why yes. I just stepped out to retrieve a book from my room.” Gratified that her response had come without hesitation, she breathed easier. “So, if you’ll excuse me, I don’t like to leave the girls unattended for long.” She swept past him and headed for the door she shared with Amy. However, against her better judgement, she couldn’t prevent herself from turning back. “Is all well with Colin?”
“As well as can be expected.” No smile accompanied the statement. He strode past her and down the stairs, leaving her to speculate.
In case he paused on the steps for any reason, she continued on through Amy’s room and into her own to fetch whatever book was most handy. But she wondered all the while what Colin’s father had told him and how Colin had taken the news.
Mariah recalled that after breakfast, Mr. Barclay had decided to have Geoffrey Scott deliver the young horses Colin had mentioned to Nate—without Mariah. The decision thrilled her, even though that would give the trainer yet another encounter with Nate Kinyon. For whatever reason, Mr. Scott had been quite distant since his last conversation with her brother-in-law.
She let out a calming breath. The Barclays had decided to allow her to continue on as before, at least until the weather cooled. The mistress felt there was no need to make hasty decisions in such sweltering heat.
Mariah had the impression that Colin’s mother was on her side, though the older lady never actually said the words. In all likelihood, there were very few local belles who would consider marriage to a blind man, no matter how rich and handsome he might be. Thank goodness for that. Given Colin’s state of mind, Mariah wouldn’t put it past him to propose to some other maiden just to rid himself of her.
But one truth remained. He loved her every bit as deeply as she loved him. He’d proved it to her over and over.
As she searched through the stack of books on the small stand beside her bed, the amethyst ring caught on the edge of one of the spines. She paused and let her gaze linger on the violet gem in its exquisite setting.
A smile played across her lips.
She’d do it. The more allies she had, the better. Scooping up the top book, she hurried back to the classroom.