“Good,” Felix sat back in relief.
“My apologies for causing concern.”
“Nonsense,” the Dowager Duchess remarked from beside her patting Marybeth’s arm. “We completely understand. These last days have been a strain on us all. Let us hope that our time in Bath will prove to be restorative.”
“Indeed,” Felix murmured not taking his eyes from Marybeth’s face. “Perhaps it would do us all good to take the waters.”
Marybeth was not convinced that drinking odorous water was the answer to any ailment, but she was willing to give the benefit of the doubt due to her own lack of knowledge on the subject. In all honesty she was more interested in the Roman ruins than she was in the water itself.
“Have you ever heard the legend of Bath?” Felix asked as if he had read her thoughts.
“No,” she shook her head to the negative.
“Long ago there was a prince named Bladud who suffered from leprosy. His illness forced him from his father’s kingdom. To survive, he took to herding pigs. Somehow, a point I have never been quite clear on, the pigs also suffered from leprosy. One day Prince Bladud was herding pigs by the River Avon and they fell into a steaming swamp. The legend states that when they emerged from the waters they had been cured. Seeing this, Prince Bladud submerged himself into the waters and was cured.”
“And did Prince Bladud return to his father’s kingdom?” Marybeth asked amused.
Felix smiled. “Yes, he did. He went on to become king and fathered the infamous King Lear of Shakespeare’s works.”
Marybeth laughed. “Is there any truth to it?”
“Geoffrey of Monmouth seemed to think so in his Historia Regum Britanniae.”
Marybeth smiled and relaxed a bit. “And what of the Romans?”
“They liked to bathe,” Felix replied smiling back at her. Their eyes met and held for a moment. Marybeth could feel herself blushing with the intimacy of the moment.
Lady Cordelia cleared her throat delicately and shifted in her seat. Felix’s smile faded and he sat back returning to looking out of the window. Lady Cordelia and the Earl of Bredon flashed Marybeth a disapproving look. The Dowager Duchess glanced back and forth between everyone in the carriage with a concerned expression on her face. Marybeth turned her head away so that her true feelings would not be revealed any more than they already had been.
When night fell, they took lodgings at a nearby inn. Felix first went in alone and arranged rooms for each of them. He then came out and carried his mother in sitting her down upon the bed in her room. Marybeth followed. The innkeeper stood in the doorway ringing his hands and spoke nervously of wishing he had better accommodations for such as the Duke and Dowager Duchess of Arkley. “It is an honor to have the favorite cousin of the king and prince regent under my roof!”
“We simply seek sustenance and rest on our sojourn to Bath,” Felix replied.
Mrs. Snow entered the room followed by a footman carrying the Dowager Duchess’s traveling chest. Marybeth moved forward with her medicinal bag of herbs and took out everything she needed to care for her patient. When she was done, the Dowager Duchess drifted off to sleep, too exhausted to continue on for a moment longer. Mrs. Snow sat down in a chair beside her mistress’s bed to watch over her every need should she awake.
Marybeth walked over to Felix who now stood in the doorway. “The journey has taken much for Mother to endure,” Felix noted, his voice tinged with concern. “Did I make the right choice in bringing her?”
“Though she is fatigued, it is good for her to get out of the house and take some fresh air. It is a melancholic thing to be trapped inside of four walls every day and night without ceasing,” Marybeth reassured him. “Bath is not a great distance. She will be little worse for the wear of it.”
Felix nodded in gratitude of her reassurance. “I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to come with us.”
“I fear that my presence is causing an issue with your bride to be,” Marybeth admitted. “She is not at all happy that I am here with you.”
“She may not be happy about it, but I am,” Felix murmured looking down at her.
Marybeth sighed and closed her eyes resisting the urge to lean into him. She longed for the comfort of his embrace. Traveling with the Earl and Lady had been an unpleasant affair. Her muscles felt tense, strained from clenching them throughout the journey. She longed for Felix’s warmth to ease the tension from her body. But such a thing is forbidden to me. The feel of Felix’s hand on her arm caused her to open her eyes.
“Come with me,” he whispered and led her out of the inn and around the back. In the darkness she could just make out the attempted garden at the rear of the building. Felix secreted her away to a wooden bench beneath a haphazard trellis. “I know it is unwise to do so and a risk to both of our reputation, as well as possibly compromising our honor, but I cannot resist it. I must hold you in my arms once more, or at the very least feel the touch of your hand in mine even if only for a moment.”
“Oh, Felix,” Marybeth whispered into the darkness. “This is complete and utter folly, but I too long for your touch.” Felix reached out and took her hand in his. He traced the length of her fingers and the lines of her palm, then ran his thumb along the inside of her wrist causing pleasant shivers to travel along her spine.
“Honor dictates that I keep my distance, but I find myself drawn to you at every turn. When I am not with you, I think about you and when I am with you all I can do is imagine what it would feel like to kiss you once more,” he admitted, as he laced his fingers with hers.
“I feel the same, but it is not right, Felix. I have decided that once your mother is strong enough, I will return to my croft. Once we are out of each other’s sight, then it will be easier to resist such temptations.”
“I do not want you to go. How can I protect you from men like your father if you are not within my household?”
“I will protect myself. I am not your responsibility, Felix. You have more than enough people to care for. I do not need to be one of them.”
“Marybeth,” he began, but she cut him off placing a finger upon his lips to silence him.
“It cannot be,” she whispered. “I saw it in your mother’s eyes today. I cannot be responsible for breaking her heart or bringing you shame. You know as well as I that no one within the ton would allow you to be with the likes of me, someone whom they deem a witch, without there being severe repercussions to your reputation and place within society.”
“I do not care one jot about society, but I do care about Mother. She wishes for me to request Lady Cordelia’s hand in marriage while we are at Bath.”
“Will you do it?”
“Yes, for Mother I would do so.”
Marybeth nodded slowly. “Then perhaps I should leave sooner than I intended.”
“Please do not leave, Marybeth. I will find the strength to resist you somehow if you will just agree to stay.”
“It is not only you who must resist.”
“We will do so together.”
“And we will fail together,” Marybeth whispered leaning her forehead against his cheek.
“Oh, Marybeth,” he breathed into her skin.
“I know,” she whispered back. “I know.” Standing she squeezed his hand and then walked away allowing the darkness to wrap around her like a blanket of loneliness.
Chapter 22
In the morning, they arose and set out for Bath once more. The Dowager Duchess was still in a fragile state as Felix carried her out to the carriage. Pillows were used to prop her up and make her as comfortable as possible. Marybeth sat down beside her to ensure that the Dowager Duchess did not fall out of her seat and harm herself in the process.
Marybeth had not slept very well. She had been unable to erase the feeling of Felix’s hand in hers. His words had played over and over in her head. She glanced at Felix across from her and noted that he, too, had not slept well. Her heart went out to him. He would never know the freed
om that she had known in the forest. She would never know the weight of responsibility that fell upon his shoulders. Felix would surrender all for duty. She would surrender all for freedom. Neither of them would win.
Marybeth leaned her head back against the wall of the carriage and closed her eyes. She allowed the movement of the carriage to rock her to sleep. She dozed off and on throughout the entire journey, waking when the Dowager Duchess needed something, or they stopped to take a repast. The countryside was lovely as they rolled along, and Marybeth attempted to make the most of the journey by enjoying the landscape along the way.
The day was bright and clear. The grass was so green it practically glowed in the sunlight. White fluffy clouds floated overhead against the blue backdrop of the sky. As they rode, a breeze floated through the open windows of the carriage lessoning the stifling nature native to such forms of travel. Traveling in a carriage with five people on a warm summer’s day could get quite uncomfortable. It was even harder on the Dowager Duchess.
They reached Bath at nightfall and made their way toward the townhouse Felix had purchased some time before with the intention of bringing his mother on a regular basis to take in the waters. The few servants they had brought climbed down off of the carriage and began preparations inside of the townhouse immediately. By the time Felix carried the Dowager Duchess inside, Mrs. Snow had already secured a room for her, complete with fresh linens and a fire in the fireplace.
“I am surprised at the speed by which the townhouse was made ready,” the Earl of Bredon remarked. “When you proposed traveling with so few servants, I thought it a mistake, but I see now that you had preparation made in advance. Did you not say that this was the first time you had used the townhouse?”
“Yes, I had an arrangement with the previous owners that it be kept in habitable order at all times. There is a caretaker who sees to its upkeep.”
“A wise decision, Your Grace. We are honored to have been invited and look forward to taking in the waters with you upon the morrow.”
“Please select whatever rooms suit yourself and the Lady Cordelia. I will ensure that a footman brings you your trunks.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” The Earl turned and offered his arm to his sister. The pair of them ascended the stairs and disappeared from sight.
When the Earl had gone, Felix’s shoulders sagged in exhaustion. He ran his hand over his face and sighed as a man weighted with too many cares. Marybeth witnessed the entire thing from the doorway to the Dowager Duchess’s room after she had tended to the noble lady’s medicinal needs. A large section of the hallway to the upstairs acted as a balcony and looked out over the grand entranceway of the townhouse. Such a design did not allow one much privacy as they came and went.
Marybeth descended the stairs and came to stand beside the Duke. “Shall I prepare you something to help you sleep?” she offered, noting the large dark circles under his eyes.
“No, thank you. I shall manage.” He turned to look at her. “My sleeplessness stems not from illness.”
“Even so, I could help you if you wish. A tea perhaps?”
“I fear there is no help for what ails me, not even one of your healthful teas.” His eyes told her that it was thoughts of her that had robbed him of his sleep. She knew all too well how he felt. Thoughts of him had done the same to her.
“Perhaps not,” she murmured lowering her eyes. She longed to reach out and smooth the lines from his brow. She longed to ease the pain of his heart, but it was not her place to do so. “If there is nothing more needed of me, I shall retire for the night.”
Felix nodded. “I have arranged a room for you next to my mother’s so that you can quickly aid her if the need should arise. Mrs. Snow has agreed to sleep upon a pallet in Mother’s room to ensure that all is well through the night. I shall escort you there now if you wish.”
“Thank you,” Marybeth murmured nodding her assent.
The two of them climbed the stairs side by side, so close and yet not touching. Marybeth could feel the heat from the Duke’s hand within a breath of her own. She willed the warmth of him into herself to carry her through the night ahead. When they reached her door, Felix bowed ever so slightly over her hand and kissed it, then turned and disappeared into his own room down the hall.
“He is not yours to have, witch,” a voice from behind her warned. Marybeth turned to find Lady Cordelia standing in the hallway.
“No, he is not,” Marybeth agreed, then opened her door and walked into her room shutting it behind her.
* * *
The next morning everyone departed for the Pump Room. Upon arrival, they registered their names and places of abode as was the custom when visiting Bath and then purchase a drink of the odorous waters. Felix handed Marybeth a glass after having served his mother. She took a sip and found the taste to be absolutely deplorable. It took all of her will not to spit it out upon the floor at his feet. “That is ghastly,” she gasped out after swallowing. Her stomach roiled in anger at her for subjecting it to such.
“Quite,” Felix cringed in agreement.
“Why would anyone wish to drink such a horrific substance?”
“For their health, of course,” a little man who had been there taking the waters when they arrived huffed out.
“My apologies if my words offended you, sir,” Marybeth replied with sincerity. It had not been her intent to offend anyone. She simply could not imagine anyone wishing to drink it, let alone traveling across England for it. “Do the waters truly heal?” she inquired doubting that it could do any of the miraculous things bestowed upon it.
“But of course,” the man huffed once more. then left the Pump Room.
Lady Cordelia and the Earl of Bredon stood watching her with disapproving eyes. Marybeth knew that in their minds she should not be there, but she was not going to let their dislike or distrust stop her from enjoying her one and only outing with the Duke and Dowager Duchess. With her decision to depart Arkley Manor soon upon their return, she wished to enjoy the trip to Bath as much as was possible.
“Would you like to go and bathe in the waters now, Mother?” Felix asked, chuckling at the comical look upon her face as she attempted to drink the waters down.
“Yes, perhaps that would be best,” the Dowager Duchess nodded, setting her glass aside after she had forced herself to empty it.
Felix had brought the three wheeled Bath chair that he had made for the Dowager Duchess and he pushed her around in it now. Leaving the Pump Room, they made their way down to the Roman baths. The ancient architecture was beautiful to behold. Marybeth delighted in the various statues that decorated the way. Felix shared the baths’ history, including some of the curses that had come to be associated with them. It was a delightful time of soaking in the warm waters and talking together.
Lady Cordelia and the Earl kept as far away from Marybeth as possible. It was almost as if they were afraid that her supposedly being a witch was catching. Marybeth longed to give them a good fright and in doing so give them a good reason to be scared of her. Deciding to ignore them, Marybeth leaned her head back against the stone ledge of the bath. The warm water eased the tension from her body, and she began to understand why people traveled to Bath.
Such would be good for gout.
Still exhausted from the journey, she began to drift off to sleep unaware of doing so. Her first realization that she had done so was Felix pulling her up out of the waters as she coughed and sputtered. “What happened?” she asked once she had caught her breath.
“You fell asleep and went under the water,” Felix answered, his concern for her wellbeing clear upon his face. “You scared me,” he informed her quietly. “Please be more careful. Were anything to happen to you, I would be truly lost.” His face and tone told her that he meant every word.
“But you will lose me, Felix,” she answered just as quietly. “I will be leaving Arkley Hall upon our return.”
“You cannot leave. You must finish your work with my mothe
r.”
“Anyone can administer the treatments now. I will leave instructions with Mrs. Snow on what to do.”
“No, it must be you. What if something happens in your absence and Mother takes a turn for the worse?”
“Then I can be sent for. I will still be living in Arkley Forest.”
“I am not in agreement with this, Marybeth. I cannot let you go.”
“You must. You knew this day was coming. We have spoken of it before.”
“Yes, but it was always after you had cured my mother. I believed we had months, not mere days. I cannot do this without you.” His eyes pleaded with her to change her mind. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you at Arkley Hall. You need only name it.”
“There is nothing that can be done. It is too late.”
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