Maude's Trials (Widows of Virginia #1)(6)

“I hope it’s not the food.” Raymond’s gentle eyes nearly pierced through her.

“Oh, no. Your cook did a marvelous job. I’m just… it’s…” Maude struggled to conjure up an excuse that wouldn’t cause offense to her host. “It’s the journey. If you don’t mind I’ll retire for the night.”

“Of course.”

She bid goodnight to Raymond and his sister and made her way back down the large hallway towards her bedroom.

*

“Dear Lord, you are my savior, my helper and protector. I need you now more than ever, please lead me through my troubles.” She prayed all night without catching a wink of sleep. “Help me dear Lord.”

Fidelis had assured her he could get her to the station discreetly and in time for the morning train. Yet, instead of relief she felt sorrow. She grabbed a handkerchief from her packed bag and wiped away a tear. What will Raymond think of me? She wondered as she paced from bed to window and back again.

Outside the sun had barely peeked over the horizon. Maude shivered. The fog lingering over the fields gave her chills. I don’t know what is right anymore. “Please Lord, give me some sign.”

She took the stark silence as her answer. Claire was right. What right did she, a poor stranger, have to ruin this man’s life? Even if Raymond didn’t know about the arrangement, how could she ask him to choose between her and the ranch? And deep down, she had to admit the fear that with her on one side versus Claire and the land on the other, it might not be a hard choice for Raymond to make. At least this way it was her decision. After losing one husband, Maude wasn’t sure she could take that sort of rejection.

Maude counted the last of her money. Oh, how glad she was her mother had insisted she take their savings so she’d have enough for a return ticket in case things didn’t go well. Maude blushed. Again, her mother had been proven right.

She checked her pocket watch again. 5 am. Time to leave. She prayed again. She prayed that Fidelis had managed to ready the cart as promised and without anyone else noticing. Her bags were heavy, but she was determined to get out of the house as quickly as possible. Waiting for Fidelis to come pick them up would take too long.

The moment Maude stepped outside of the house a biting wind hit her. The cart wasn’t there yet. “Where are you Fidelis?” Maude muttered and tightened her shawl.

“Maude? What are you doing here?” a familiar voice cut through the chilly air.

Two people approached her from the direction of the stables. Even though she couldn’t see them clearly yet, she already knew who they were.

“Raymond!” Her heart skipped a beat.

“Are those your bags? What’s going on here?” Raymond dragged a terrified Fidelis by the elbow a step behind him. “First I catch this good for nothing… and then you… here…”

Ashamed, Maude bent her head. Was there a way she could get out of this mess without lying? Her cheeks burnt as she watched Fidelis shaking his head, as if to let her know he had said nothing.

“Maude, please talk to me.” Raymond tried to get an answer. “Have I done something wrong? Have I offended you in anyway? Why? Please, just tell me why?”

Maude looked into his eyes, the one thing she could see clearly in the dim morning light. Disappointment stared back at her. She brushed away a few stray locks searching for the right words. Lord, give me strength.

“Why did you ask me to come here?” Her voice went from a whisper to a louder tone. “Why place an ad for a mail order bride if you already have an arranged marriage in place?”

“An arranged what!” Raymond stepped back.

“Did you not know about it?”

“Know about what?” He stared back at her confused. “No. Who told you such things?”

Maude bit her tongue not to blurt out Claire’s name. She feared for Raymond. She’d already caused enough trouble as it was. It was bad enough that he knew she was leaving, she feared what Claire might do if Maude told him the whole truth.

“I found out about a business deal signed by your father. He planned to settle a debt between himself and Mr. Ashton, his business partner, through marriage”

For a moment Raymond stood silently with his mouth open.

“What? How? Who?” He seemed just as confused as she did when she first learned the truth.

“Claire Ashton will be your wife.” She lowered her voice.

At the sound of that name Raymond narrowed his eyes.

“That is impossible.” He roared.

“Is that why she’s been visiting us recently?” He asked himself more than he asked Maude. His eyes turned to Fidelis, still cowering beside his master. “Do you know anything about this?”

The servant shook his head and Raymond turned back to Maude.

“She must have made that up. An arranged marriage! What a load of…” He glanced at Maude and didn’t finish the sentence. “If that’s why you think you need to leave, I can tell you right now that I only intend to marry one person. And that is you, Maude.”

Maude didn’t know how to respond to that.

“Fidelis, take the lady’s bags back to her room. I will fight my own battles. That no good…” His voice trailed off as he turned and strode off inside the house visibly furious.

For a moment Maude was relieved she didn’t have to lie any more. And that he turned out to be an honest man, unaware of Claire’s scheming. Then she swallowed hard. He left before she had chance to tell him about the threat. “Raymond, please wait.”