"Ah, there you are." Darrin said as Meredith entered his cabin with his breakfast. I was wondering what was taking so long. Smells wonderful. Please place the tray on the table, and come over here."
Meredith did as he asked and wished she could leave his cabin and go back to her own. She could feel sea sickness coming on. She was sure that was the problem with her rolling stomach.
As soon as Meredith was standing close to Darrin, he took her into his arms and began to kiss her. She was sure she should feel something, anything other than her queasy stomach which was threatening to erupt at any moment. Backing away quickly, she apologized and tried to explain her situation. Before Darrin had the chance to become insulted, Meredith rushed to his chamber pot and lost the contents of her breakfast. Feeling ashamed and completely mortified at her own behavior, Meredith wiped her mouth and ran from his chamber, taking the offending pot with her. Darrin, who was not sure how to react, finally realized what had happened and followed her to her cabin.
He knocked on her door, but she only mumbled that he needed to leave her alone and that she would return to him as soon as she was feeling better. Darrin agreed and turned to leave.
Maybe his plans would not work out as well as he had first imagined. No matter, he would still need to leave her in the next port. Melanie waited and she was much more important than a girl from his village. A miller's daughter at that.
After repeatedly losing all she had eaten, she stumbled to her bed and promptly passed out. She woke startled to find a wet cloth on her forehead and Cook sitting beside her.
"Shh, deary." he said. "The young gentleman told me of your illness, and I've come to help. He awaits in yon hall, asking of news concerning you. Shall I answer him?"
"A young gentleman? Darrin? He's asking for news of me?"
"No, the young merchant is awaiting news, deary. You've been asleep for over a day. You've had a fever, but it appears to have broken now. The young master, Darrin, is hoping to leave port soon and has asked the young merchant if he can escort you back to your village. He has agreed, and is only waiting your return to health. I have advised them that you will need a few more days before you are ready to travel such a distance. The young merchant plans to take you ashore today and find lodging until you are fully recovered. Young Master Darrin has urgent business he must attend to in the next port and cannot continue to wait for your recovery."
Meredith listened to cook without making a comment. Urgent business, and he cannot wait for her to recover. A fever that has lasted over a day. And now she is to be given over to the young merchant without a second glance behind.
As her memory returned of the moments before she was indisposed, Meredith hands covered her mouth and she moaned. He'd kissed her, and she promptly lost the contents of her stomach. No wonder Darrin wanted to rid himself of her so quickly. Did she deserve any less? What a fool she had become.
Raising her eyes to look at Cook, she asked, "Will you please send the young merchant in to see me. Thank you for tending to me while I was so ill. I will never forget your kindness."
"Ach, me lass. "Tis nothing to help a lady as bonny as you. I will be leavin' now, but I will return soon to check on you." He rose, gave her a sweet kiss to the top of her head, and then turned to leave. She heard voices beyond her door, and then the door opened to reveal the young merchant.
He was dressed in a travelling cloak over his clothes. He appeared very tall as he bent his head to enter her cabin. She quickly took in a breath and hoped he did not hear her reaction to seeing him again. "Ugh," she groaned to herself, and covered her face with her hand. Could her day get any worse. She seemed to have become an embarrassment to herself. Mortified again, she thought.
"Uh hmm," Michael cleared his throat. "I am sorry for intruding, Miss, but it seems I have the honor of escorting you home. If that is agreeable with you, I will have someone come and pack your things. Unfortunately, our host has need of returning to sea by nightfall. I am fully aware that you have not recovered, but I have found a lovely inn a few miles from shore that will accommodate you comfortably until you feel strong enough for travel. I have taken the liberty of hiring a lady's maid to help you during our journey. I promise you no harm will come to you under my care."
"Thank you sir. Your offer is most kind." Meredith replied.
Bowing as he made his exit, Michael told her he would send her maid to her. He then turned and left her cabin.
A few moments later, a young girl close to Meredith age knocked upon her door and entered the chamber. After giving Meredith a quick curtsy, she introduced herself as Annie Bailey. She explained that she had been hired to escort "m'lady" back to her home. She also said she was very excited about the journey. She had never been more than a few leagues from her own home.
"May I begin, Mistress?" Annie asked. She then began to pack Meredith's belongings, which did not take very long considering the fact that Meredith had not brought many things with her on this fool's journey.
Annie did not seem overly concerned by Meredith's lack of personal items. She quickly finished her job and then offered to help Meredith dress. Looking down at herself for the first time,Meredith realized she was dressed only in a shift. She did not remember changing from her dress when she had run from Darrin's cabin to her own. She did remember having another episode over her own chamber pot, and then falling promptly into her berth. That was the last memory she had before waking to Cook and his wet cloth on her head. It wasn't long before she heard the next part of the story.
"It is so kind of Mr. Warren to come to your rescue yesterday. The story is all over the ship. I have heard how he saw you through your doorway as he was passing to his own cabin. He saw you fall into your bed after being violently ill and ran in to help you. It was he, they say, who called for someone to come who could see to your fever. He is the one who removed your gown, which I have cleaned, since it was soiled so badly by your sickness. Ahhh, such a gentleman. One could really enjoy staring at him for hours, I'm thinking."
As Annie prattled on about Mr. Warren's finer qualities, Meredith once again groaned. Yes, apparently this day could get worse. Meredith threw the blankets over her head, as she felt the blood rise into her burning face. "He undressed me." she thought and groaned again.
Within an hour, Annie had finished packing Meredith's things and helped her bathe and dress. She then left Meredith to inform Mr. Warren that they were now ready to travel. Cook returned and checked on his patient. "I will be off to tell our young merchant that he must only travel to the inn this evening and that you will need several days of recovery before you begin your journey. I will miss our daily talks, lassy. Our young lord will be down shortly to wish you "God speed.. Now, you be taking good care of yourself, lass. I have faith in our young merchant, but I will be warning him to take special care with you too. Be safe on your journey, and may you have luck and happiness until we should meet again." Turning before he left her chamber, he sent her a kiss and a wink. "God speed," he said and left the room.
Meredith had only a second to herself before a knock came upon her door. "Enter." she said, expecting to see Annie. It was Darrin.
He entered and walked quickly across the room to where she was lying. Kneeling beside her bed, he raised her hand and kissed it gently. "Meredith, I am so glad to hear of your recovery. I hope you will forgive me, but I must travel again tonight. I know you do not know Mr. Warren, but I have asked him to escort you back to your family. I am so sorry that we have not had the opportunity to make this trip what we had wanted it to be. If you will wait for me when you return home, I will come round to see you. I may not be home for a few more months. Will you wait for me?" he said the last so tenderly as he held her hand. Meredith did not know how to respond, so she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"Yes, I will wait for you, but what do you want with me, Darrin?"
"Isn't it obvious, love? I want you to myself. Please, do not be cross with me for the way things have appeared while we have been on this ship. I know I have not had the time to spend with you as we had hoped, but I thought you knew my feelings for you. I would show them to you again, but I am afraid that you are not well enough. Just know that my affection for you is strong. I will come for you as soon as my business here is complete."
"Ah hmm," a voice cleared outside the chamber.
"Ahh, he is here. Let me go now so that you may go ashore." Standing quickly, Darrin walked to the door and opened it. "Mr. Warren, how good it is of you to escort Ms. Chaney to her home. I must leave you now to your preparations He turned once more towards Meredith and bowed. He then walked out of her cabin. Meredith, who was so overwhelmed by the day's events, could feel the heat rising again in her face as she watched Mr. Warren enter.
"Ms. Chaney. Your lady's maid has informed me that you are now ready to travel. Please let me help you." Without waiting for a reply, Mr. Warren walked to her berth and picked her up into his arms. Carrying her as if she weighed less than a bag of flour, he walked out of her room, down the small corridor and out into the sunshine of the deck.
Meredith protested several times that she was capable of walking, but he ignored her requests to be put down on her feet. He then disembarked from the ship and walked straight to a waiting coach. A very fine black coach, she noticed. He placed her upon her feet and opened the door. He then took her hand and helped her to alight. Once she was inside the coach and her things were loaded, Annie joined her in the coach. Meredith heard Mr. Warren inform the driver of their destination, and then he opened the door and climbed inside. The man seemed to take up all of the air inside, or that was the only explanation she had for why she could not seem to get enough air. Hoping their inn was close, she sat back and tried to relax. Unfortunately, the few miles outside of town turned into an hour long drive with a man who's scent was driving her crazy. The day was definitely going down hill. Just how she would survive this latest injustice, she didn't know. Home seemed a million miles away.
Meredith did as he asked and wished she could leave his cabin and go back to her own. She could feel sea sickness coming on. She was sure that was the problem with her rolling stomach.
As soon as Meredith was standing close to Darrin, he took her into his arms and began to kiss her. She was sure she should feel something, anything other than her queasy stomach which was threatening to erupt at any moment. Backing away quickly, she apologized and tried to explain her situation. Before Darrin had the chance to become insulted, Meredith rushed to his chamber pot and lost the contents of her breakfast. Feeling ashamed and completely mortified at her own behavior, Meredith wiped her mouth and ran from his chamber, taking the offending pot with her. Darrin, who was not sure how to react, finally realized what had happened and followed her to her cabin.
He knocked on her door, but she only mumbled that he needed to leave her alone and that she would return to him as soon as she was feeling better. Darrin agreed and turned to leave.
Maybe his plans would not work out as well as he had first imagined. No matter, he would still need to leave her in the next port. Melanie waited and she was much more important than a girl from his village. A miller's daughter at that.
After repeatedly losing all she had eaten, she stumbled to her bed and promptly passed out. She woke startled to find a wet cloth on her forehead and Cook sitting beside her.
"Shh, deary." he said. "The young gentleman told me of your illness, and I've come to help. He awaits in yon hall, asking of news concerning you. Shall I answer him?"
"A young gentleman? Darrin? He's asking for news of me?"
"No, the young merchant is awaiting news, deary. You've been asleep for over a day. You've had a fever, but it appears to have broken now. The young master, Darrin, is hoping to leave port soon and has asked the young merchant if he can escort you back to your village. He has agreed, and is only waiting your return to health. I have advised them that you will need a few more days before you are ready to travel such a distance. The young merchant plans to take you ashore today and find lodging until you are fully recovered. Young Master Darrin has urgent business he must attend to in the next port and cannot continue to wait for your recovery."
Meredith listened to cook without making a comment. Urgent business, and he cannot wait for her to recover. A fever that has lasted over a day. And now she is to be given over to the young merchant without a second glance behind.
As her memory returned of the moments before she was indisposed, Meredith hands covered her mouth and she moaned. He'd kissed her, and she promptly lost the contents of her stomach. No wonder Darrin wanted to rid himself of her so quickly. Did she deserve any less? What a fool she had become.
Raising her eyes to look at Cook, she asked, "Will you please send the young merchant in to see me. Thank you for tending to me while I was so ill. I will never forget your kindness."
"Ach, me lass. "Tis nothing to help a lady as bonny as you. I will be leavin' now, but I will return soon to check on you." He rose, gave her a sweet kiss to the top of her head, and then turned to leave. She heard voices beyond her door, and then the door opened to reveal the young merchant.
He was dressed in a travelling cloak over his clothes. He appeared very tall as he bent his head to enter her cabin. She quickly took in a breath and hoped he did not hear her reaction to seeing him again. "Ugh," she groaned to herself, and covered her face with her hand. Could her day get any worse. She seemed to have become an embarrassment to herself. Mortified again, she thought.
"Uh hmm," Michael cleared his throat. "I am sorry for intruding, Miss, but it seems I have the honor of escorting you home. If that is agreeable with you, I will have someone come and pack your things. Unfortunately, our host has need of returning to sea by nightfall. I am fully aware that you have not recovered, but I have found a lovely inn a few miles from shore that will accommodate you comfortably until you feel strong enough for travel. I have taken the liberty of hiring a lady's maid to help you during our journey. I promise you no harm will come to you under my care."
"Thank you sir. Your offer is most kind." Meredith replied.
Bowing as he made his exit, Michael told her he would send her maid to her. He then turned and left her cabin.
A few moments later, a young girl close to Meredith age knocked upon her door and entered the chamber. After giving Meredith a quick curtsy, she introduced herself as Annie Bailey. She explained that she had been hired to escort "m'lady" back to her home. She also said she was very excited about the journey. She had never been more than a few leagues from her own home.
"May I begin, Mistress?" Annie asked. She then began to pack Meredith's belongings, which did not take very long considering the fact that Meredith had not brought many things with her on this fool's journey.
Annie did not seem overly concerned by Meredith's lack of personal items. She quickly finished her job and then offered to help Meredith dress. Looking down at herself for the first time,Meredith realized she was dressed only in a shift. She did not remember changing from her dress when she had run from Darrin's cabin to her own. She did remember having another episode over her own chamber pot, and then falling promptly into her berth. That was the last memory she had before waking to Cook and his wet cloth on her head. It wasn't long before she heard the next part of the story.
"It is so kind of Mr. Warren to come to your rescue yesterday. The story is all over the ship. I have heard how he saw you through your doorway as he was passing to his own cabin. He saw you fall into your bed after being violently ill and ran in to help you. It was he, they say, who called for someone to come who could see to your fever. He is the one who removed your gown, which I have cleaned, since it was soiled so badly by your sickness. Ahhh, such a gentleman. One could really enjoy staring at him for hours, I'm thinking."
As Annie prattled on about Mr. Warren's finer qualities, Meredith once again groaned. Yes, apparently this day could get worse. Meredith threw the blankets over her head, as she felt the blood rise into her burning face. "He undressed me." she thought and groaned again.
Within an hour, Annie had finished packing Meredith's things and helped her bathe and dress. She then left Meredith to inform Mr. Warren that they were now ready to travel. Cook returned and checked on his patient. "I will be off to tell our young merchant that he must only travel to the inn this evening and that you will need several days of recovery before you begin your journey. I will miss our daily talks, lassy. Our young lord will be down shortly to wish you "God speed.. Now, you be taking good care of yourself, lass. I have faith in our young merchant, but I will be warning him to take special care with you too. Be safe on your journey, and may you have luck and happiness until we should meet again." Turning before he left her chamber, he sent her a kiss and a wink. "God speed," he said and left the room.
Meredith had only a second to herself before a knock came upon her door. "Enter." she said, expecting to see Annie. It was Darrin.
He entered and walked quickly across the room to where she was lying. Kneeling beside her bed, he raised her hand and kissed it gently. "Meredith, I am so glad to hear of your recovery. I hope you will forgive me, but I must travel again tonight. I know you do not know Mr. Warren, but I have asked him to escort you back to your family. I am so sorry that we have not had the opportunity to make this trip what we had wanted it to be. If you will wait for me when you return home, I will come round to see you. I may not be home for a few more months. Will you wait for me?" he said the last so tenderly as he held her hand. Meredith did not know how to respond, so she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"Yes, I will wait for you, but what do you want with me, Darrin?"
"Isn't it obvious, love? I want you to myself. Please, do not be cross with me for the way things have appeared while we have been on this ship. I know I have not had the time to spend with you as we had hoped, but I thought you knew my feelings for you. I would show them to you again, but I am afraid that you are not well enough. Just know that my affection for you is strong. I will come for you as soon as my business here is complete."
"Ah hmm," a voice cleared outside the chamber.
"Ahh, he is here. Let me go now so that you may go ashore." Standing quickly, Darrin walked to the door and opened it. "Mr. Warren, how good it is of you to escort Ms. Chaney to her home. I must leave you now to your preparations He turned once more towards Meredith and bowed. He then walked out of her cabin. Meredith, who was so overwhelmed by the day's events, could feel the heat rising again in her face as she watched Mr. Warren enter.
"Ms. Chaney. Your lady's maid has informed me that you are now ready to travel. Please let me help you." Without waiting for a reply, Mr. Warren walked to her berth and picked her up into his arms. Carrying her as if she weighed less than a bag of flour, he walked out of her room, down the small corridor and out into the sunshine of the deck.
Meredith protested several times that she was capable of walking, but he ignored her requests to be put down on her feet. He then disembarked from the ship and walked straight to a waiting coach. A very fine black coach, she noticed. He placed her upon her feet and opened the door. He then took her hand and helped her to alight. Once she was inside the coach and her things were loaded, Annie joined her in the coach. Meredith heard Mr. Warren inform the driver of their destination, and then he opened the door and climbed inside. The man seemed to take up all of the air inside, or that was the only explanation she had for why she could not seem to get enough air. Hoping their inn was close, she sat back and tried to relax. Unfortunately, the few miles outside of town turned into an hour long drive with a man who's scent was driving her crazy. The day was definitely going down hill. Just how she would survive this latest injustice, she didn't know. Home seemed a million miles away.
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