More worrying, it showed how much she had forgotten what it was to be outcast, living on the fringes of society. It was the very reason she had been summoned to the Royal Court. She belonged to no one, and never would, unlike those who were born Marked.
She had no allegiances by blood, and none by any true mating ritual, there was no one on the earth that would be bound to her by the inexplicable pull of souls meeting and binding as one. It was the thing she saw everyday between Mr and Mrs Draper, the thing she had witnessed as a child between her parents. It was the very thing that made people shun her kind, there was something missing from her, and all the Unmarked.
They finished their meal and Marianne excused herself feigning fatigue from their journey. In reality she needed to escape the sounds and smells of the bar. She longed to turn around and go home, back to the solitude of her sitting room with her books and welcoming fire.
The pretty young woman took her up to her room. Marianne had allowed her maid to stay downstairs with the men. This was the first time Dawn had been away from the Hall and Marianne wanted her to enjoy the experience. It would mean she would not be fussing around Marianne either.
When they got to the room Marianne turned to the young woman. “I am sorry if I offended you downstairs.”
A soft glow swept over the woman's face. “It was good of you to speak up for my kind, but I am used to it.”
“It must be hard working somewhere like this.”
“No, I am lucky; the inn keeper has known my family for years. We are close knit and no one touches me without the threat of trouble from my Pa and my brothers. The regulars accept me as I am. It is only strangers that are sometimes rude.”
“You are lucky your family looks after you.”
“I’m still their flesh and blood.”
Marianne thought back to her own family, she had been treated like the runt of the litter, never given new dresses, always the hand me downs despite the wealth of her family. She was pleased the pretty young woman had people to care for her.
“What is your name?”
“Celeste.” She smiled. “My father said I was a gift from the stars, and that it was good sometimes not to know the path you are set to walk on.”
Marianne smiled with her. “I shall remember that.”
Celeste’s face changed, she looked shocked at Marianne, thinking she had mistaken the confession. “You are Unmarked too?”
Marianne nodded. “I would be grateful if you kept it to yourself.”
“You are lucky to have such wealth and position. It must make it easier.”
“No. I think you are lucky. My family treated me badly, and then I was given to an old man who needed an heir.”
“Ahh, so you captured his heart all the same?”
“No. Not at all.” Marianne thought she had said too much already. “Thank you, I think I should get some sleep now. I have a long journey ahead of me.”
“Goodnight, My Lady. May the Spirits watch over you.”
“Goodnight, Celeste. I wish you every happiness.”
***
James had arranged with the inn keeper for breakfast to be available to them earlier than the other guests. Marianne had provided the coins to pay for the extra service and the party found themselves fed and on their way just as the sun tipped over the horizon.
The roads were clear and they made good time, although Marianne would have dearly loved to have spent the morning riding Storm along the roads rather than sat in the carriage being bumped about.
That night was spent in a bustling market town. Marianne opted to eat her meal in her room, the busy tavern too much after the long day on the road. Her servants thought nothing of it; after all they were used to their mistress shutting herself away for hours on end.
By the time they were back on the road the next morning they were all starting to want an end to the journey. At least tonight they would be staying at Lord Villiers’s house.
Their early start paid off well, they arrived at the grand home of Lord Villiers by mid afternoon. The horses were given a good feed and a well earned rest while the servants were ushered into the warm bright kitchen by the household staff.
Marianne was shown into the drawing room and waited for her host with a good helping of the cooks wonderful pastries and hot steaming coffee. After the long journey Marianne welcomed the treats and settled down into the comfy chair in front of the fire.
It was some half hour later when the door burst open and Lord Villiers came in.
“I am so sorry I was not here to receive you.” He held out his hand for her to shake and then pulled her into a warm embrace as she accepted it. This was the first intimate contact she had had with a soul, except Mrs Draper's motherly hugs, for over four years.
Marianne tried hard to respond but did not really now how to deal with the unfamiliar closeness. She placed her hands on the top of his arms and hoped this would do without offending.
“I’m sorry, Marianne. It is so good to see you though. Too many years have passed with you hiding away in that forsaken place you call a Hall.” He helped himself to some coffee and pastries.
“I like the peace of the place, and it suits me. Am I not forsaken also?”
“Of course not! You are always welcome here. So what brings you this far from home? Are you tired of being lonely?”
“Never, I would much prefer the solitude of home than the command of Court.”
“Command?”
“You have not heard?” She was surprised, Lord Villiers was close to the King and she thought he would have been consulted on the matter.
“No. Now I am intrigued, please tell me what command you are under.”
She pulled the letter from her pocket, offering it to him. Taking it with a furrowed brow he opened it and read the contents although she could tell he had guessed at the sight of the envelope.
His frown deepened, and she sensed a stronger emotion. “He plans to marry you off again?”
“So it seems. You ask why I stay away, it was so he would forget about me.”
“Do you know who?” His fingers gripped the letter tightly, and if she did not know him better she would have said he was angry. However, Lord Villiers never showed his emotions.
“No. Some retiring general no doubt, wishing to be rewarded with a Lordship, I expect I am just an inconvenience that comes with the title and land.”
“Surely he would not give you to some old man again? The King used to have some scruples.”
“He did not discuss it with you? I expect that was because you would disapprove and try to change his mind.”
Lord Villiers straightened up and dragged his hand through his thick brown hair. He was still as rakishly good looking as he had always been. The King had been jealous of him when they grew up together, but Lord Villiers was such a harmless likeable man that he had given up trying to find something to hate about him long ago.
Marianne remembered the two summers she had spent near here, her father had been asked to oversee some renovations at one of the Palaces and his family had come too. Marianne had met the Prince and his then playmate, Lord Villiers. The two men seemed somewhat fascinated by her; she was the first Unmarked they had ever met.
They gradually stopped seeing her as an oddity when they realised she could climb a tree and catch the frogs in the pond just as well as they could. The days were carefree and some of the best from Marianne's childhood. Yet she was sure it was this closeness that had brought her to mind when the King was looking for a mate for the old Lord.
Marianne tried to convince herself he hadn't done it out of spite, but now she was not so sure.
“Come, rest and change for dinner, tomorrow I will journey with you to the King and see what can be done.” Lord Villiers tried to sound casual, and upbeat, but he could not fool her. This ran deeper than she had ever expected.
“You would accompany me?” she asked.
“It is the least I can do,” And then he blurted out
, “Unless of course you wish to marry me? I could keep you out of his clutches.”
Marianne blushed, “Do not make jests.”
“I am not joking with you, Marianne.” He came towards her and she took a step back.
“It would not be a good thing to upset the King; I thank you for your offer, but will go to the Palace as requested.”
Lord Villiers turned away from her and rang the bell for the housekeeper. “Show Lady Marsh her room. I take it her luggage is ready for her?”
“Yes, My Lord.” The housekeeper eyed Marianne thoughtfully, taking in her mourning clothes and the severe knot her hair was pulled into. Then she turned and without a word took Marianne upstairs.
***
Two hours later she was seated with Lord Villiers and eating his rich food and drinking his fine wines. Marianne found it hard to consume too much, the food at Marsh Hall was so much plainer, yet more satisfying.
He talked about things that held no meaning to her, and Marianne found it a good time to practice the art of nodding in the right places and agreeing with what was said. Women were not supposed to have too much of an opinion here, and Unmarked women, none at all.
They retired to the comfy drawing room, Marianne feeling slightly giddy from the wine. She only had one glass on an evening at home, here her glass seemed to be constantly filled so she could not tell the amount she had consumed. Whether it was the effects of the wine, or that he had chosen not to dwell on her turning his offer down, but the air between them seemed to have cleared. They spoke as old friends again, with no awkwardness.
“You will need to be on your guard at the palace. I have not been there for two years or more, I am unsure who has the ear of the King these days.”
“Why so long since you attended court?” Marianne asked. Lord Villiers had long been one of the Kings advisers, now it made sense why he did not know of the letter.
“Oh, we had a disagreement.”
“Over what? You are the person the King trusts most. He values your opinion in all things.”
Lord Villiers hesitated, and then answered. “We had a disagreement about invading Grandeer. I said we should send a peace emissary, his council were hell bent on war.”
“I thought a truce was in place.” She heard little of politics other than what travellers told them in passing. It was not uncommon for traders to ask for a bed and supper when they were caught in the dark on the moor.
“It is now, but how it came about I have heard only rumours.” He was still consuming large amounts of wine. Marianne had taken to sipping hers slowly, tomorrow would not be a good day for the ill affects of too much wine.
“We hear little in the North. The news is at least two weeks old by the time it reaches us.”
“That is not a bad thing. I wish I could escape it all.” Once again he seemed not quite himself.
“I thought you loved all the intrigues of the Court.”
“I used to, but I feel my neck might end up apart from my body if I am not too careful.”
“Are you sure it is a good idea for you to come with me?”
He stood and came towards her. “Nothing could keep me away. I promise I will do what I can to stop whatever scheme he has involved you with.” Moving closer again so that he stood inches away he bent forward. She could smell the wine on his breath as he spoke. “I was not joking about marrying you. I think life in the north might suit me.”
Marianne looked into his handsome face; she felt nothing for him other than friendship. It was the love of two people who had known each other for many long years. “I would not make you happy, Darius. You have a wondering eye that can only be held by your true mate, and we both know that can never be me.”
He smiled sadly and walked back to the table to fill his cup. “Goodnight, Marianne, it is time you went to bed.”
Felling like a child being chastised, she said goodnight and slipped quietly out of the door.
As she lay trying to sleep she heard a sound from outside, the sound of a big cat yowling. She pulled the covers over her head and refused to look out of the window. She did not want to see him in his feline form. It was something shared only between mated couples, and she feared what might become of her if she gave in to the temptation to look.
***
Lord Villiers appeared around 10 o'clock the next morning looking horrendous. Marianne was eager to get going, but they could not leave until he had eaten breakfast and then drunk more wine to help his hangover.
Marianne tried to be patient, yet now she was beginning to wonder if the man she had known was not the man Lord Villiers now was. Would it be a mistake to go before the King with him in this condition?
Too late to change her mind without offending him badly, she found herself seated opposite him in his coach, while hers was to be brought on later that day. Her maid, along with James and Jonathan, would follow after her, and it was promised her luggage would be there before she needed it.
She could tell her servants were not too happy about this, after all Mr Draper had made them promise to do all they could to look after and protect her. It was hard to sway Lord Villiers plans though, now he was at least partly in control of his senses he was a forceful character.
***
Two hours later they were entering the outskirts of the city. They followed the narrow streets, Marianne partly fascinated, partly horrified at the amount of people milling around selling their wares. It had been so long since she had been here before, her memories of the orderly chaos in these lower streets had faded.
The streets slowly widened, here there were proper shops with merchants using colourful displays to lure people in to buy. Then they headed slightly up hill, climbing towards the Palace. Big town houses with neat gardens sprang up at the side of the tree lined roads.
The more open the roads became the more penned in Marianne felt. Each beat of the horses hooves sounding the death knell of her freedom. In a matter of hours her life would be changed for ever, she would become the chattel of some old man once more.
“When we get to the Palace why not let me find out what I can about the King's plans?” Lord Villiers said.
Marianne considered his words whilst studying the man who sat opposite her. He had sobered up somewhat during the journey, she felt her confidence in him return, yet a niggling doubt would not leave her. She wanted to know more about his absence from the Palace. If it had been a big quarrel between him and the King, his talking on her behalf might be more harmful then good towards her cause.
“Are you in favour with the King, Lord Villiers? I only ask because I know you both well enough to understand some spats between you are blown out of proportion.”
“This time I took my leave before it got too bad. It was a self imposed exile if that is what you need to know. The King has asked for me to return several times and I have politely refused on the grounds of family matters.”
“And he took this well, or did he see it as a thinly veiled excuse?”
“He can take it however he chooses.” Lord Villiers said hotly, and then calmed down to add. “My sister had some problems that needed my attention, but that is neither here nor there.”
The mention of his sister drew Marianne's attention away from her own plight. “Is Helena in good health?”
“Oh, yes. Nothing like that. She had an unfortunate attachment to someone wholly unsuitable.”
Marianne laughed, “You mean he was not of a feline persuasion?”
“No,” Lord Villiers wrinkled his nose in disgust. “A mutt, would you believe.”
“I take it he was paid off?”
“Threatened more like. He thought himself in love with her. Can you imagine? One of us mated to a dog?”
“No, that would be unthinkable.” Nearly as unthinkable as the man sat in front of her taking an Unmarked as a bride. His family would no doubt want to dispose of her in the same way.
Ahead she saw the gates of the Royal Court. As the horses clattered throug
h them she felt a wave of panic. Into the lions den indeed. No escape, she was as good as a prisoner now, she would only be allowed to leave by order of the King, or by way of force.
Marianne knew she could not risk the lives of her servants. She would try to persuade the King, or else she would marry his choice of men and hope he did not live to a ripe old age.
The King had refused to see Lord Villiers alone. So without any time to change, or rest from the journey, he now stood side by side with Marianne in the great hall. Around them stood the council and courtiers, none of whom she recognised.
At this moment the lions den was the most appropriate description for the Palace. They stood silently watching her while they all waited for the King. He kept them waiting long enough to make them uncomfortable, but not long enough to seem rude.
The great doors opened and he sauntered in. Even with his royal dress and gold chains, he did not stand well in comparison to Lord Villiers. Not for the last time did Marianne question her judgement in bringing him to speak on her behalf.
“Ahh, Villiers, I might have known Lady Marsh would go running to you.”
“Nothing of the kind, Your Majesty, Marianne simply stopped over for the night to rest on her way here. When I heard her news I offered to accompany her.”
“So you find the time to visit Court for Lady Marsh, but not when I summon you?”
“I had matters to deal with, my sister.”
“Yes, always a plausible excuse. How did that turn out with poor Helena, wanting something she could not have?” The King seemed to have forgotten he was standing in the great hall surrounded by courtiers who loved nothing more than gossip and intrigue.
“Satisfactory.” Lord Villiers ground out.
“Again I would ask why you spent so much time avoiding court for a dog, but can find the time to give assistance to an Unmarked.” His eyes now turned to Marianne, who once again realised the mistake she had made bringing Lord Villiers with her.
Marianne : Unmarked (His) Page 2
