The Unconventional Maiden by June Francis

Author:June Francis [Francis, June]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4089-4317-5
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Beth unfastened her cloak and hung the garment on the back of the door of her bedchamber at her London home. She had experienced a deep sadness entering the building, knowing that she was the last of the family who had once spent happy hours here. As she had passed through various rooms, she could almost hear her mother’s warm voice welcoming her. In a way it was good to be home because there were so many memories tied up with this house. Yet at the same time she questioned whether she’d ever be able to become accustomed again to the noise and the bustle, as well as the stench of the narrow city streets in high summer. Already she was missing the fresh Kentish air of Gawain’s manor, but at least he was here with her. An overwhelming happiness shot through her at the thought of spending the next few days in his company. Up until recently, Catherine was supposed to be accompanying them to London, but then suddenly she had changed her mind, saying that she could not cope with the hustle and bustle of the city. Beth did attempt to try to persuade her to come, but Gawain’s aunt would not budge.

Beth hummed a country tune as she unpacked and thought how it would be good to lose themselves in the crowds. For a moment she thought of Gawain’s wife and then she tilted her chin and told herself that she was not going to feel guilty. If Mary bore him any love at all, then she should be spending time with him herself. Beth was beginning to have her doubts about Mary’s reasons for staying away so long. Even if the old aunt was ill unto death, surely she had servants enough to take care of her so as to allow her niece to go home every now and again with her children to visit her husband?

The song died on Beth’s lips and she sighed, wishing Gawain could be honest with her. If he had made an unhappy marriage himself, she wished he could swallow his pride and tell her. If it were so did that bode well or ill for any advice he might give about her entering the matrimonial state?

She changed out of her travelling garments and washed her hands and face and tidied her hair before taking Nick Hurst’s journal and two handwritten revised copies of it from the top of the chest where she had placed them. As she left her bedchamber and went downstairs there was no sound or sight of Gawain. Neither could she see Jane anywhere, so she must be doing what she would said she would do and was hiring a cook and a couple of maids for their sojourn in London.

Beth went into the yard to the rear of the house and passed through a door in a dividing wall, so entering her other premises. She walked up the yard and into the printing workshop to discover that Gawain had arrived ahead of her and was talking to Master Stanton, the master printer.

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