Mara: A Georgian Romance

by Barbara T. Cerny

  She moaned, allowing him to explore her mouth, wanting him to explore her, imploring him silently to explore her. She moved her hands over his chest and neck and face, matching his interest with her own.

  Jake moved his hand to her arm, slowly rubbing it before entwining her hand in his.

  Before she sank deeper into the kiss, Mara’s rational mind returned, and she realized the danger of if anyone saw them.

  “Stop. Please, stop,” she panted. “We must not…”

  Jake groaned from the depths of his very soul. He wanted this kiss to go on forever. It tore him apart to stop and pull away. Some part of his brain knew she was right. He dropped her hand and wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close.

  “It’s too dangerous, especially for you. If we are found like this, no one will be able to stop Father from killing you.”

  “I know. I know. Damn! It’s just so hard to love you as much as I do and not be able to show you my love.”

  “You show me your love every day, and you have for years, Jake.” She looked up at him, locking his eyes with hers. “We just need to keep our love safe and secret.”

  He tenderly touched her face. “Someday I want you to have my child. I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than you bearing my children.”

  “I want to have your children, too. More than anything in the world I want to be with you, be your wife, and bear your children. But until that time, we must be careful.”

  Jake closed his eyes as he held Mara close, rocking her back and forth, allowing time for his emotions to subside.

  This was going to be the longest summer of his life.

  He took her hand, and they moved to the bench. He sat long ways with his back to the trellis, his right leg bent and on the bench, his left on the ground. Mara sat in front of him, her back resting against his chest. Then he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on hers. They sat like that in the ever-growing darkness, content just to be together.

  “So tell me about the new Mara. How did you become so fit and trim?”

  “So tell me about the new Jacob. How did you become so muscular?”

  Jake roared with laughter. “Okay, you first, though.”

  Mara explained how she had finally been victorious over her lifelong struggle with weight. He her horse analogy highly amused him, and picturing her trotting and galloping in a pair of man’s pants made him laugh louder.

  “So, what are you going to do now that you can no longer prance around Rochcliffe House in trousers?”

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “No. Yes. No.”

  “What kind of answer is that?”

  “An honest one. I can’t help but laugh at your description of trotting around!”

  She hit his leg.

  “Ouch!”

  “I won’t talk anymore if you are going to laugh at me.”

  “Mara, I am laughing with you. I am so proud of you, and I want you to continue. So what are you going to do now?”

  “Trot around the ballroom.” She smiled. “There are stairs on either side, and I discovered at Rochcliffe House that running up and down stairs is great exercise, too. I can run up one set, across the balcony and down the other set, across the ballroom, and back up. The ballroom is rarely used, so I shouldn’t be disturbed. Now tell me your story.”

  “I’ve been spending time with Pete at the smithy. I am pretty good at pounding out horseshoes now, and the work has helped me regain my strength.”

  “I wondered where you were all afternoon. The smithy was as good for you as the trotting was for me. I am just thrilled to be together with you again, my love.” She bent her head back so she could see him. “Kiss me, you fine young man.” And he did.

  Chapter 25

  Jake and Mara spent the summer trying to share stolen moments without being caught. They were careful to avoid each other when others were around, as they were afraid they’d give themselves away. Alvin, however, had figured it out after seeing them in the copse one night, cuddled on the bench.

  He approached Jake the next afternoon as Jake beat a couple of horse blankets on the side of the stables. “So….what is going on, man?”

  “Nothing much, Al. What’s going on with you?” He sneezed from the dust he was creating.

  “Bless you. Well, I might be kinda slow, but I finally figured out why you never go a lookin’ for women in town with the rest of us.”

  “I don’t want to catch anything I can’t get rid of.”

  “Funny.”

  Alvin continued to stare at Jake. He stopped beating the blankets, and eyed Alvin.

  “You and Angel Mara. There’s something going on between the two of you.”

  Jake swallowed. “What do you mean? Don’t see much of her lately.”

  “Yeah right, you dinna get to see her lately. That’s a rash of shit, Jacob Abbot. you have been holding out vital information on the exact nature of your relationship with our Angel. I saw you two sitting pretty close on the bench yesterday. Spit it out.”

  “Did anyone else see?” Jake was frightened now. Keeping it from Alvin wasn’t the problem; making sure only Alvin knew was the problem.

  “Don’t think so. Basil and Rory were in the back most of yesterday, but the copse ain’t so safe with them able to be anywhere in the garden at any time.

  “God, Al.” Jake sat down on the very mounting block where he had been whipped. “I’ve loved her since the day I came through the hedge and she fed me. And the amazing thing is that she loves me back. We know we are playing with fire but …” he trailed off. “I just can’t help myself.”

  “Are you daft, man? What if she get preggers? Then what? She’s a lady and you’re a bloody stable ‘and!” Alvin plopped down on the ground next to the mounting block.

  “I haven’t made love to her…yet,” he paused, “so she won’t become pregnant, but the difference in our social stations is a bit problematic.”

  “A bit problematic? A bit problematic? That’s the understatement of the century, and it’s only 1803!”

  Jake had to laugh at that one. His problem would not be the biggest one of the century. But Alvin was right that it was more than a bit problematic.

  “All right, my friend, what do you suggest?”

  “Blimey, man. ‘Ow should I know? you be the smart one of us all, and you be the one acting like an arse! What, two whippings within an inch of your life ain’t enough?”

  “That’s what scares the devil out of me, I admit. The next time will be the death of me. That’s why we can’t be caught.”

  “Well, you know I will help the best way I can, but gads, Jacob. Egad.” All Alvin could do was shake his head.

  “Thanks, mate. Glad to hear you support me.”

  “Jake, I love Angel Mara more than anybody in the world, but I don’t love her like a lover. How you crossed over that line, I will never know, but for both of your sakes, stay the hell out of sight!”

  With that, Alvin stood up, brushed the dirt off his backside, and wandered back into the gardens, leaving Jake to his own work and jumbled thoughts.

  *****

  The next day, after dinner, Jake found Alvin working on some paving stones in the driveway that needed to be leveled and repacked with sand.

  “Come.”

  “Come where, man? I got work to do.”

  “Quit your whining and come.”

  Alvin put his tools aside where they wouldn’t be stepped on, and followed his friend into the garden.

  They joined Mara in the copse.

  Mara said hello to Alvin, and looked quizzically at Jake.

  “He knows.”

  She was relieved. “It’s actually nice that one of our friends knows. Welcome to our secret lives, Al. How’d you find out?”

  Alvin repeated his story.

  “Al promised to help out, so I thought he could play lookout.”

  “What! you want me to watch you two groping’ and clawing’ at each other? That just
ain’t fair, man!”

  Jake laughed. “No, you idiot. Not watch us. Watch out for them, and make sure we aren’t seen!”

  “Oh, oh! So I just ‘ide in the trees and make sure you two have a bit o’ privacy. I see how you are. This is really pushing’ our friendship to the limit.”

  Mara rolled her eyes. “No need to be so dramatic, Al.”

  “Fine. But you get to ‘slain to Rory why me own work ain’t gittin' done because I have to play looky out for you two!” And with that he huffed off and plopped down on a rock just outside the copse to keep watch.

  Mara laughed. Alvin was a good friend, despite all the drama he created. And he gave the two of them the privacy they needed to snatch a few hugs and kisses every evening in the copse.

  *****

  July melted into August, and August into September. Pete turned eighteen, and Calvin, Rory, Alvin, Jake, and Mara brought a huge cake made by Jesse and Gigi to the smithy to celebrate. Calvin and Rory were able to escape with Alvin, Jake, and Mara for the event. Max loved it. He caused a great scene outside by inviting everyone in for a “bit o’ lovely sweets” for his apprentice who now could be called a journeyman.

  They celebrated Jake’s twentieth birthday with apple pie in the kitchens, with all the servants attending. Apple pie was Jake’s favorite, and he ate half of a pie all by himself!

  Mara continued to lose weight, doing her daily “walk, trot, run” around the ballroom. The stairs had added an element of toughness to her exercise regimen, and her thighs, buttocks, and calves were shaping up quite nicely. She started working on her arms by lifting buckets of water Alvin left for her in the back yard, adding more water each week to make the workout more difficult. The weight loss left behind loose skin that only her exercise regimen could help tighten.

  Jake laughed at her “fat towels,” and really didn’t understand her desire to keep the weight loss a secret, but he let her do what she wanted. Never having been overweight himself, he didn’t understand the fat person’s psyche, and didn’t want to try.

  Lady Maureen desperately wanted Mara to become more of a lady, and insisted she take social lessons again. Mara humored her mother, but didn’t really put a lot of effort into the lessons, much to her mother’s dismay. But soon Lady Maureen became busy overseeing the final touches to the costumes the family members would wear to the great Masque, and the lessons were dropped once again.

  Mara worked on her own costume for the Masque. She decided this event was the perfect time to unveil her new, thinner self. Jake gave her his full support, as he thought it was high time she shed those horrid dresses and “fat towels” and show off her figure a bit. He secretly hoped her family members would change their behavior toward her, and start treating her like a daughter and sister instead of a pariah.

  Cecilia had discovered Mara’s weight loss some time ago when she walked in on Mara early one morning as Mara took off her workout trousers and shoes.

  “Holy Mother!” she exclaimed, and quickly shut and locked the door behind her. “What…?” Cecilia was flabbergasted as she looked at the now slim and trim Mara, in pants!

  “Shhhhhhhh,” implored Mara. “Please, please don’t tell anyone. I am not ready to hear them talk about it and me yet. Please.”

  “Miss Mara, you look amazing! I knew something was going on, but I never guessed this!”

  Mara smiled. “It is rather amazing, isn’t it? I’ve worked my bottom off, quite literally, all spring and summer. What do you think?” She twirled around in her camisole and bloomers.

  “I can’t believe it is you. How have you looked fat all this time when you are not anymore?”

  “With these.” She pulled her fat towels out of the bottom of her wardrobe and demonstrated putting them on. She then pulled a dress over her head. “See, instant fatty again.”

  “But why? Why pretend to still be fat?”

  “It’s hard to explain, but I have spent my entire life in the shadows, being ignored by my family. I just wasn’t ready for them to know. I felt I would lose something when I did let it be known, that my life would change completely, and I wasn’t ready. But I would love to reveal my new self at the Masque. Will you help me?”

  “Of course. I would love to! You are going to make heads spin and jaws drop. You have always been the kindest, sweetest girl in London. Now you are also the most beautiful girl in London.”

  Mara ran over to Cecilia and hugged her. “Thank you for being such a good friend to me.”

  “Here I thought the big secret was that you were in love with Jake. But it’s actually that you have lost weight. How silly of me, huh.”

  Mara quickly turned away from Cecilia to hide her facial expression. “Yes, how silly. Ha, ha, ha. Just me losing weight. That’s my big secret.”

  “Tell me what you have in mind for the Masque.”

  And the two of them began to plan Mara’s big debut.

  Chapter 26

  The night of the Masque finally arrived. Cecilia, Jake, and Alvin had all been working to prepare Mara for her “coming out.” Alvin continued to stand watch while Mara and Jake planned in the copse, ensuring they would not be disturbed.

  They celebrated Mara’s seventeenth birthday the night before, but even on her birthday she wasn’t the center of attention. Her parents mostly talked about the Masque. Such was Mara’s lot in life.

  Cecilia searched the sewing room and found some Oriental silk in orange, yellow, and red. It appeared to have been there for some time, possibly purchased by Mara’s grandmother. It would be perfect for their plan to transform Mara into an Asian lady. Her hair was a problem, since it was immediately recognizable, so she would need to wear some sort of head piece.

  Mara, very familiar with the contents of the attic trunks by now, remembered having seen a head piece full of beads and sequins and dangling glass, and was able to find it again easily. It was a sight to behold, and they couldn’t imagine how it had originally been used, but they were able to refashion it into a dazzling display for the Masque. They attached a black mask to the head piece, and decorated it with beads and bits of the silk fabric fashioned into feathers. Mara would certainly make an impression in the flamboyant headdress!

  The week before the Masque, Lady Maureen retrieved the family’s costumes from the clothiers. Mara’s was drab and shapeless as usual—the material was a ghastly beige brocade. What she was supposed to be, they didn’t know, but “the tent” worked very well to cover her real costume.

  At last it was time to embark. Everyone entered the carriage, with Jake at the foot and Calvin driving. In the compartment under the seats Jake had placed the headdress and a flat package containing items that would complete the costume.

  They arrived at the Duke of Cleveland’s London house a half hour later. Aside from Buckingham Palace, the duke’s home, Stafford House, was the noblest palace in London. And tonight it was the place everyone wanted to be. Even King George III, Queen Charlotte, and their adult children attended the Masque.

  As soon as the carriage stopped at the curved marble steps leading up to the grand front entrance, Jake opened the door to allow Lord and Lady Markham to descend. Edwin had a date for the evening with the granddaughter of the Earl of Lonsdale, and would be coming in their carriage; Bertram was still in school, and too young to attend. Mara pretended to follow, but as soon as her parents started up the stairs, she hopped back into the carriage. Jake leapt on, and Calvin drove off.

  After going two blocks, Calvin parked the carriage along the street. Jake opened the door again, and Mara re-emerged.

  “Okay you two. What are you up to now? I dinna know why I agreed to this, but I just canna say no to you two young ‘uns.”

  “You’ll see why in a minute, Calvin. Just hold on while I help Mara out of her dress.”

  “What! You will not be taking off her dress in the street, man!”

  “Calvin!” said Mara, trying to calm him down. “I have other clothes on underneath. It’s all right.”
/>
  “Oh. That’s a relief.” He watched as the tent dress came off, revealing the new, slim Mara underneath. “Holy Mary, Mother of God! What…?”

  Jake helped Mara take off the fat towels. Calvin’s jaw dropped at the vision of loveliness before him.

  Mara was wearing the Oriental silk which had been styled like a kimono, tight to her body. It showed off every new, luscious curve of her now near-perfect shape. Calvin was shocked. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

  “I’ve lost a little weight, Calvin. How do I look?” Mara teased. Calvin could only sputter.

  Jake lifted the seat and took out the box that held the headdress. He also unwrapped the package, which contained a pair of matching slippers and set of silk wings, fashioned from the same material as the dress. He tied the wings onto Mara with matching ties, one around her waist and one around her chest above her breasts and under her armpits feeding the ties through clever slits in the sides of the costume to hide the front of the tie. Then he tied two beautiful bows in the back. Mara looked like a graceful, stunning butterfly.

  “I’ve been practicing tying those bows. Pretty good, eh? What better costume than a beautiful butterfly! It is like you are emerging out of your chrysalis tonight,” said Jake, as he put the headdress on her head and tucked in stray hairs. She had put her hair up in a tight bun earlier in the evening so it would be easier for Jake to secure the head piece.

  The last thing he did was pull the mask down over her eyes. Then, in full view of Calvin, Jake took Mara in his arms and kissed her passionately. “For luck, my love. For luck.”

  Jake looked at Calvin as Mara sashayed down the sidewalk. “What?” he said, and smiled that crooked, devastating smile of his.

  Calvin was so overcome he clasped his hands to his chest, pretending to have a heart attack right there on the spot.

  *****

  Mara felt extremely nervous. Her heart pounded so hard it threatened to pop out of her chest, and her knees shook so badly she thought she would splat face first on the ground. During the walk back to Stafford House, she did deep breathing exercises to keep herself calm.