A Dream of Her Own, part 3

Meredith was feeling much better.  She wanted desperately to begin her trip home, but she was worried about the reaction she would receive once she arrived.  Thank goodness for Annie.  If Annie traveled to her home, maybe the town's people and her father would not think she had destroyed her reputation.  Annie was the key to the illusion that she had a chaperon at all times during her last few weeks away from home.  At least that was Meredith's wish.

"Stop pulling on your lower lip, m'lady.  It will cause wrinkles.  The young gentleman has asked me to pack your things.  He says we will be leaving in the morning at first light.  I hope that is your wish too.  You seem overly preoccupied these last few days.  Hasn't the inn been a lovely spot to rest?  You seem much improved."  Annie commented as she bustled around the room.

"Yes, Annie.  I do feel much better.  You can tell Mr. Warren that I am ready to travel.  I am so glad that you will accompany me.  I hope you may stay for a few weeks after we arrive.  Do you think you can do that for me, Annie?"

"Why, yes, m'lady.  I am so pleased to be your maid.  I am also looking forward to seeing the countryside as we travel."

"Then it is arranged.  My father is the miller of our town, and until now I have not had someone to help me with things around my house.  My mother has been gone for many years, and my father, though a very respectable man in our community, has not felt the need to find someone to assist my daily needs.  I know he will be overjoyed when he meets you.  I have heard him say on several occasions how he wish I had a companion "  Meredith thought to herself how he had also believed a companion would have prevented her need to spend time with Darrin.  Although he may have been right, Meredith knew in her heart a companion would not have stopped her from leaving with Darrin.  Only now did she realize that Darrin was the one who had changed her views about him.  He was the one who had lead her astray.  If only she had listened to her father.

"There you go again, lady.  Stop pulling your lower lip.  We shall have a wonderful trip to your home, and Mr. Warren is such a fine gentleman and so very handsome.  Have you noticed, m'lady?"  Annie asked, but she knew her lady had noticed.  She had seen the way Meredith watched him when he was not looking her way.  This trip may be more fun than Annie had first thought.  Yes, travelling to a new home was exciting, but watching the way these two reacted to each other would keep her very amused.  Maybe she might even find a nice country gentleman herself one day.  But, no matter, she was here to serve the lady, and that's what she planned to do quite nicely.  And she "humfed" to herself as she continued to pack their things for the morning.

Michael was tired.  He had sat in the dining room watching the people coming and going from the inn.  He tried to pay attention to other people hoping it would get his thoughts away from Meredith.  He was here to do a job for Darrin Cortland, to return the lovely Meredith Chaney to her village.  Then he would return to Darrin and help him with his trading venture.  Michael knew many things about trade and how to turn a profit. He knew he could help Darrin Cortland become a successful business man, but he did not know if he could do something as simple as traveling with Meredith Chaney.

Michael knew Darrin Cortland had claims on the young woman, but he could not understand their relationship.  Maybe he was being irrational, but it appeared that Darrin Cortland did not actually want the lovely girl for his own.  He seemed to want her only for selfish reasons. Only Michael wasn't sure what those reasons were actually.  And then there was the lady herself.  She was a young woman who should not be apart from her family unless she were married to Cortland.  But something told him that Cortland was not intending such an arrangement.  Still, Michael knew he could not walk into a relationship with this girl.  Cortland may not be his friend, but he was a business partner, and Michael knew he could not afford to anger the gentleman.  If only Meredith didn't disturb him so much.   If only her hair didn't need to be touched and her skin wasn't so creamy and soft.  If only he didn't react to her the way he did.  Uncontrollably.  It was a problem, and he didn't know how to address it.

"Sir, can I offer you more ale?" a pretty serving girl had sauntered up to his table while he was staring into his drink.

"Yes, one more would be enough before I head up to my room."

"I will be right back, then." she said as she smiled very suggestively to him.  It was too bad he wasn't interested in anything but the ale.  She is a pretty thing, but she doesn't compare to the one upstairs.  And now he wished he had decided to have more than one last ale.  He probably needed a few more just to sleep tonight.  He knew the next few weeks in a carriage with Meredith may just drive him to becoming a drinking man.  Usually, he did not seek out heavy drinks or barmaids.  Tonight, he just might change his mind and have both.