Authors: Rosemary Smith
‘And this is Megan, Mrs Alexander,’ said the housekeeper. I could sense she was fond of the girl who was about twenty.
‘I’m pleased to meet you, mistress,’ Megan said in a sweet Welsh accent, dropping me a curtsey at the same time.
‘Megan is to be your personal maid mistress, she has many skills and is a friendly soul if this suits you,’ enquired the housekeeper.
‘I would be delighted, Megan,’ I agreed, not wishing anyone to know I had not had a maid before.
‘And I am Derrick Alexander.’ A masculine voice from behind me startled me and I turned to see a tall man similar in stature to my husband Kieran and I guessed this to be the brother he had talked of. While Kieran was quiet his brother exuded friendliness his blue eyes dancing with merriment.
‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ I said foolishly for I had no idea of what to say to anyone, I felt I had been thrown into a den of lions although the welcome I had been given was friendly enough.
‘All good I hope,’ said Derrick taking hold of my gloved hand and kissing the back of it and I thought once more that my bridegroom had not yet kissed me not even on this, our wedding day.
‘And I am Kerensa Templeton.’ Looking over Derrick’s shoulder I could see the beautiful young woman who had spoken. She had not been in the hall when we arrived for I would not have missed her, her flaming red hair cascaded down the back of her emerald green silk cloak, underneath which she wore a matching dress, the bodice so tight at the waist it accentuated her perfect figure. I suddenly felt inadequate and hated this woman on sight as she looked me up and down, her green eyes flashing. Without a second glance in my direction she swept past me and headed for my husband whose face held a wary expression, but nonetheless his eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of her.
‘Kieran, darling!’ enthused Kerensa, taking both my husband’s hands in hers and kissing him on both cheeks. ‘It is so good to have you back, Derrick has been a complete bore and won’t go riding with me along the beach,’ she complained beautifully.
‘I don’t think any of us will be riding for a while,’ Derrick said, annoyance in his voice. ‘There is a blizzard raging outside which could last for days.’
‘How convenient,’ Kerensa expressed her displeasure and slipped her arm through that of my husband. ‘At least you are back, dear Kieran, that’s all that matters to me.’ She tossed her head, her hair rippling luxuriantly down her back, it was as if I wasn’t there. I felt the tears well up in my eyes.
‘You will join us for dinner?’ asked Derrick.
‘I think not,’ I replied as I glanced at the beautiful but arrogant Kerensa Templeton. ‘What I need is an early night.’
‘Let me take you to your room,’ interrupted the kindly housekeeper, ‘for I can see it is rest you need, and we will have some refreshment sent up to you. Come now.’
I had not expected Kieran to be so indifferent to the fact that I had just become his wife, and I certainly hadn’t expected him to be so attentive to the most lovely woman I had ever set eyes on. Even Justine had disappeared and I set to wondering if she had been disappointed by her brother’s bride.
By the time we had walked along the wide corridor my whole body shivered with the cold and as Mrs Burnet ushered me into my room, tears were streaming down my face; unwilling tears for I had not wished to cry in front of anyone.
‘There child,’ the housekeeper soothed placing her arm around me and drawing me towards her ample bosom, ‘you cry, let it out.’ And I did, tears of pity for myself and the situation I had placed myself in. I had married without any mention of love and Clarissa’s words came back to me, ‘But you hardly know him, Barbara.’ Suddenly I pushed myself away from Mrs Burnet’s warm embrace, catching my hand on the keys at her waist causing them to jangle. I laughed and sobbed at the same time.
‘I must make the most of this,’ I said to Mrs Burnet, my tears subsided and I pulled myself up straight with determination, looking around at my surroundings. ‘What a beautiful room.’ I gasped, my tears forgotten as I looked around me. The drapes at the windows and around the huge four-poster bed which dominated the room were of red-coloured velvet, and crisp white sheets peeped over the red counterpane on the bed which looked inviting to one as weary as I.
‘I’m so pleased, mistress, ‘tis the master bedroom, where all the Alexander heirs have slept,’ she informed me bustling over to a beige curtain in one corner of the room and as she drew it back I could see it had concealed a hip bath. ‘Now I’ll get some water sent up and we’ll get you into a nice warm bath.’
As soon as she spoke Mrs Burnet removed my cape, draping it over a small chair which stood by the window and then she bade me to sit on a comfortable beige-coloured armchair which was drawn up to the fire. Sitting down I put my feet on the fender and bent to remove my boots while the housekeeper went off on her mission for water. I was warming my hands by the fire and feeling more relaxed than I had all day when there was a knock on my door. My heart thudded thinking it was my husband, but surely he wouldn’t knock.
‘Come in.’ I called in as strong a voice as I could muster. The door opened to reveal a pleasant-looking middle-aged man who had brought up my portmanteau.
‘Where would you like it, mistress?’ he asked in a kindly Welsh brogue.
‘Somewhere by the wardrobe, please,’ I answered, pointing to the large mahogany wardrobe which stood against a wall by the window.
‘There you are,’ he said as he placed my possessions where I had indicated. ‘I’m David, the housekeeper’s husband, if there’s anything I can do for you, you have only to ask.’
‘Thank you, David, that’s very kind of you, I’ll remember it,’ I assured him.
The water for my bath was brought up and I sank thankfully into the warmth of it. Megan helped me out, wrapping me in a fluffy white towel, luxuries I had never been used to and I recalled the cracked jug and bowl I had washed in at my lodgings, quite often with cold water.
‘Are you to dress in your nightgown, mistress?’ asked Megan as I dried myself.
‘Yes, I think that is the best course to take.’ I agreed, although I did now feel more alert.
‘Is it all right for me to unpack your luggage?’ my maid asked.
‘Why yes, but I’ve not much to unpack as you will see,’ I replied somewhat ruefully.
‘The master’s first wife had little when she first arrived, but if she’s anything to go by you’ll have a wardrobe full of pretty things before too long.’
Megan’s words drifted across to me and stopped me in my tracks.
‘The master’s first wife?’ I said with some astonishment, reiterating my maids words. ‘So my husband has been wed before?’ I asked with great interest.
‘Yes indeed. I’m sorry mistress, I thought you knew.’ Megan apologised, an anguished look on her face.
‘No matter,’ I soothed for I could see the girl was quite distraught. ‘I’m glad you told me for I would have learned of it soon enough.’
Megan had taken my best white lawn nightdress out of my bag, I had pressed it only this morning when I had high hopes of a happy wedding day. But since our arrival at Rowan Castle the day had not gone well, indeed not, and as Megan slipped the nightgown over my head and fastened the pearl buttons I tried not to anticipate how my wedding night would fair.
Sitting at the dressing table, Megan brushed my long straight golden brown hair until it shone. The reflection which looked back at me was pleasant enough, but I had not one ounce of the beauty Kerensa Templeton possessed. At the thought of her I felt angry at the way both she and my husband had acted as if I weren’t there, as if I hadn’t this very day married the master of Rowan Castle.
‘What was the master’s first wife called?’ I asked Megan, startling the girl as the only sound in the room for some time had been the logs crackling on the fire.
‘Annabel,’ was Megan’s short answer.
‘And what happened to the first Mrs Alexander?’ I asked quietly, needing to know more about my predecessor.
‘It’s not for me to say, mistress,’ the girl answered quietly, the hairbrush still in her hand. ‘The housekeeper would be the one to ask.’
‘Very well, Megan, but you can see I have a right to know,’ I said, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
‘Oh yes, you certainly have and I hope you find out soon,’ she said, as a look of sympathy mirrored in her lovely brown eyes. ‘I’ll unpack the rest of your things now if that’s all right with you?’ she asked of me.
‘Thank you, Megan.’
I was very interested in my husband’s first wife and I set to wondering if the reason he had been so aloof to me since we had arrived at Rowan Castle was because he felt a traitor to her memory. But my instinct was that he was head over heels in love with the beautiful Kerensa. Whatever the situation my intention was to find out exactly where she fitted into the scheme of things at Rowan Castle. I chided myself, I must be tired to even think these things about my beloved Kieran.
After my maid had left I crossed over to the window and pulled back one of the heavy curtains. Snow had started to bank up on the window pane, but over it I could see the blizzard still driving down and the white landscape looked like a huge cake topped with icing sugar. Swiftly I drew the curtain back in place, the whole scene causing me to feel cold once more.
For a little while I sat by the fire thinking of the day’s events, it all still felt like a dream, our wedding, the castle, its inhabitants and the heavy snowfall all seemed unreal and for an instant Derrick’s smiling face appeared in my mind.
I glanced at the clock on the mantle which showed the time to be nearly midnight. Would my bridegroom come to me or was he with the lovely Miss Templeton? I blew out the candle on the table by my chair and climbed between the crisp white sheets, my honey brown hair spread on the snow white pillow. By the candle light I looked around the room lying expectantly waiting for some time, but as I suspected Kieran did not appear. I couldn’t honestly say if I was relieved or disappointed, but whatever I felt it would appear for tonight at least I was to sleep in the marriage bed alone.
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