Mariah bit her tongue so hard she could taste blood.
Her mother, even now after years of marriage to a respectable surgeon, who was lovely but only a surgeon, still had delusions of grandeur.
Having been the youngest of seven children born to a baronet of little consequence, Mrs. Bolton had rather bizarrely managed to convince herself that she was gentry of great importance. Everyone was used to her, of course. Dr. Bolton indulged her because it was less painful for his ears and head. Mariah constantly butted heads with her but even she was tiring of the tantrums and so usually just said nothing, for the sake of peace.
Lillianne, however, Mariah's younger sister, was unfortunately an almost exact replica of their mother.
She joined in the remonstrations now with ill-concealed relish.
"Mother is quite right, Mariah," she sniffed, her perfectly coifed chestnut curls bouncing with each curt nod. "Why, people already think it bizarre that you help out in Papa's little shop."
It was a testament to how little time Lilly spent in reality that she referred to the surgery and apothecary as a "little shop."
"Nobody seems to mind when I am assisting them."
"Yes, well. Sick people are as uncaring as they are disgusting. But you may rest assured that once they are recovered they are very much aware of how unorthodox this all is."
"Too true," chimed in Mrs. Bolton, not to be outdone in sheer idiocy. "Do you know how much we've had to spend on new gowns and such just to stop the rumours of our financial ruin?"
"If you keep spending so frivolously it won't be a rumour," said Mariah and then immediately regretted it as it set off a bout of wailing and whining that even their dog ran away from.
Mariah's father, who had up to this point remained sensibly silent, cleared his throat then cleared it again louder before finally resorting to a near coughing fit to get the ladies to listen to him.
"My dear," he began in a soothing tone, "I appreciate your concerns and they are valid."
He shot a warning look at Mariah's very unladylike snort.
"However, consider if Mariah had said no. The whole village would be aware that she had refused to help the new arrivals, the very wealthy new arrivals I might add. And, that she had embarrassed the vicar of all people, for not adhering to his recommendation."
The tears abruptly stopped, not that they were real to begin with.
"Oh, my dear you're right. Oh, how wonderful."
This was a quick turnaround, even for her mother.
Mariah glanced at Lilly and saw that she was just as confused.
"Lillianne, you must go with your sister."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You must go with your sister to Greywood Manor. If what I hear about Mr. Greywood is true, he is not only rich but single."
"Ah, I see," said Lillianne with a smile.
"Well I don't," said Mariah.
"Mariah, dear, I have long given up hope of you using your natural beauty to your advantage. No doubt you will have your head buried in books and other nonsense for the entire time that you are there. Thankfully," she went on loudly to drown out Maria's sudden objections, "your sister was not only graced with beauty but with a healthy desire for a good match. Something you are sadly lacking."
"I fail to see what this has to do with my working in the library, Mother. I can't just–"
"It has everything to do with it. Lilly will go to assist you."
"What?" shouted Lilly, horrified at the mere thought.
"Calm down, dearest. You're not going to actually work for Heaven's sake. But you will be there to keep the gentleman company whilst Mariah breaks her neck trying to heft books about the place."
Mariah thought that her mother didn't have to sound quite so happy at the idea of her breaking her neck.
"A wonderful plan, Mother. Except for one thing. Mr. Haverton won't be at the house whilst I am there."
The atmosphere changed immediately from one of scheming joy to fury.
"What do you mean?" her mother asked through clenched teeth.
"I mean, he won't be there. I am to prepare the library and be gone before the family's arrival."
"Well you must wait longer to do it, is all," said Lilly, but Mariah could see that her mother, whose ears were razor sharp when she thought she was either getting gossip or information she could use to her advantage, had heard "the family."
"Family?" she questioned.
"Family," confirmed Mariah.
"He has a family?"
"Oh yes, a huge one," Mariah lied gaily. "Children coming out of his ears and no doubt his wife is as beautiful as she is – er, fertile."
"Mariah!" her mother admonished but Mariah could see her heart wasn't in it. Her dreams had just been shattered. The fact that they were only about two minutes long wouldn't matter a jot to her mother.
"Ah, well. Try not to be too disappointed, Lil, I'm sure you'll manage just fine with the suitors you're already in possession of."
"You're not going."
Now it was Mariah's turn to stare in astonishment at her mother.
"I beg your pardon?"