Chapter 10
They traveled the entire day, stopping along the way to change horses, which Lingley had sent ahead, and refresh themselves, arriving at Dover about an hour and a half before sunset, when the ship he had chartered was scheduled to leave.
Mary stood, mouth agape, staring at the wide blue expanse of ocean, daubed over with turquoise and sky blues which created the most interesting streaking as the waves crashed into the shore before the rising cliffs of white limestone and chalk.
Lingley enjoyed her awe as he gave instructions to his men as they unloaded the carriage and handed over the luggage to the stevedores.
When he had finished, he went to her side, sliding her hand around his arm and startling her from her stupor. “You have never seen the sea.”
She shook her head in reply and followed him up the gangplank and onto the main deck of the ship, where they were greeted by the captain.
He led them to the main cabin, which he had given up on their behalf and left them to get settled before they raised anchor.
Mary nervously fiddled with her reticule as Lingley poked about the spacious room.
“Have you often made this crossing?” She finally worked up the courage to ask, drawing his attention to her disquiet.
“Oh yes, usually twice a year for the entirety of my life,” he assured her, pulling her onto his lap as he settled into one of the large chairs set before a small round table. “You are nervous?”
“I have never even been in a rowboat, let alone something so large on the actual ocean!” she exclaimed, face blanched with fear, leaving two bright spots of color on her cheeks.
He clutched her tightly to his chest for just a moment and attempted to kiss the side of her head but was stymied by her bonnet.
He cursed, tugging at the ribbons and making her laugh as she assisted his questing fingers.
With a cry of victory, he tossed it onto the bed and nuzzled his face into her locks.
“I would never allow any harm to befall you, May. I am certain your father has never given a thought to your protection, and thus you were forced to see to your own. You need not worry over such a thing again, my dear. Your wellbeing is central to my own.”
She flushed and doubted, but one glance at his earnest face and she was forced to accept his words as truth. He had promised, she reminded herself, to never lie to her, and she determined to believe him until he proved himself one way or the other. He had been trustworthy, thus far, after all.
Once they had set sail and traveled nearly five of the 24 nautical miles of their trip, Lingley bundled her into her coat and led her up to the main deck once more.
He showed her to a short set of stairs which led to the roof of the captain’s cabin and presented her with a nest of blankets, cushions, and a basket of food.
“Do you still enjoy observing the stars?” he asked as he helped her find a seat.
She smiled widely and replied, “My room at Longbourne was the smallest and did not have a fireplace, but there was the sweetest little window enclosure overlooking the wilderness at the side of the house, which was perfect for looking at the stars. This, though, is something else! From horizon to horizon— it is breathtaking!”
“There is Sagittarius, and of course, Hercules.”
“And Lyra and Cygnus!” She sighed contentedly and leaned back into his embrace. “This is a wonderful surprise, John. Thank you for thinking of it. It looks like a river of stars.”
“May I kiss you, May?” he whispered in her ear, stirring the small hairs at the nape of her neck and making her shiver in anticipation.
She nodded, and he shifted to run his hand up her arm to her neck, where he cupped her cheek.
The first brush of their lips was soft, almost hesitant, but he quickly deepened the kiss as she melted into his arms, and only the sounds of a sailor going about his work reminded him of their public position.
Drawing back, he pulled her head to his chest as their breathing slowed.
A gasp from Mary drew his attention to the sky, where a stream of meteors was shooting toward the horizon.
“A good omen for our marriage, I should think,” he laughed delightedly.
“Undoubtably,” she agreed breathlessly as they watched the cosmic ballet until a desire for privacy drove them back to their room.
~~~~~~
Though the voyage was only six hours, the ship was docked in Calais and the night spent aboard.
By the time the newlyweds awoke the next morning, all the preparations for their travel had been made, and the carriage, one belonging to the earldom and kept in France for their use, was loaded with their trunks.
The horses for their men were saddled, and all were awaiting their convenience.
Mary could not help her blushes as she was forced to beg her new husband for his assistance with her buttons, as, unlike her usual gowns, the new travel dresses did up the back.
He was pleased to be of assistance but promised her that she would hire a maid at the first opportunity once they arrived in Paris.
After a quick meal, Lingley assisted her into the carriage, and they were on their way.
After two nights on the road, staying at very fine inns, they arrived in Paris and stopped before a large beige-stoned mansion in the Faubourg Saint-Germain.
It was not so fashionable as the Champs-élysées, but it was much more exclusive.
The house itself was six stories of beautifully carved stone facade with large windows and several balconies overlooking the street.
Mary was in awe, feeling entirely inferior as the servants swarmed the carriage.
Lingley was completely at ease as he stepped down into the chaos and turned, holding out a hand for her.
She had frozen, and only his soft murmur of understanding helped her to relax enough to reach for him and step out of the carriage.
She stared up at the mansard roof for a moment before squaring her shoulders and accepting Lingley’s arm.
They entered the house, where they were greeted by the upper servants, whom Langley quickly released to their duties, knowing how uncomfortable Mary would be.
Madame Durand, the housekeeper, led them to the family floor where a new suite of rooms had been prepared due to their marriage, as Lingley had had the same single chamber near his parents since he had graduated from the nursery.
Mary murmured in agreement to Lingley’s approval of the rooms, and the woman smiled widely.
“Would M’Lady care to interview the maids whom I have prepared for her consideration?” She asked in thickly accented English. “There are four.”
“Do they all speak French?” Mary asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
“Oui, my lady. They are all fine French maids. Would you prefer an English maid?” She gave her a skeptical look, which even her stoic face could not hide.
“No, not at all,” Mary replied in embarrassment. “I only wish to find someone native with whom I could speak French, as my accent needs some training. I have never heard the language spoken, you see. I would prefer to speak it correctly rather than the usual English school-girl mumbling.”
Madame Durand blinked in surprise. “Oh, of course. Shall we meet in half an hour? I shall send Marie to escort you.”
Mary thanked her, and she excused herself to prepare for the meeting as Langley and Mary cleaned up from their travels.
Mary looked down at her thin frame with a worried frown as she removed her traveling gown.
She had grown used to Lingley’s assistance but it would be a relief to have someone trained to do something with her wild hair.
She hoped she could find someone who would not judge her for her lacking manners and spotty education.
Lady Lucas had a French lady’s maid, and she was haughty and disdainful of everyone, even her employer.
The maid, Marie, did the last of her fasteners when she arrived, chattering pleasantly all the while, relaxing Mary into complacency as they descended the stairs.
When she entered the small sitting room, all of her fears were realized as each of the maids cast a disparaging look at her hair, which she had twisted into a knot on the top of her head.
She asked a question or two for form’s sake before politely dismissing them all.
Madame Durand frowned mightily as they filed out. “Nadine worked formerly for Duc du Renault! What could have been wrong with her? Theo was trained by Comtess Girault’s own maid!”
Mary’s apprehension spiked at the perceived displeasure, and she nearly curled in on herself, but remembering the words of her husband, straitened her spine and replied, “I am sure they were excellent candidates, but none of them answered my requirements. I have decided to have Marie fill the position.”
“Marie?” she gasped. “But she has had almost no training in such a position!”
“Are you saying that she would be terrible at it?” Mary questioned.
“Not at all!” She scoffed as if offended by the very idea. “She is my own daughter; it is only that she has had no experience with hairstyles. She will do very well with the management of your wardrobe and chamber but will need further instruction on how you prefer to wear your hair.”
“Unfortunately, that is something with which I have little experience as well. At least not hairstyles which flatter the texture and what not.”
“Perhaps we should send for Monsieur Race, a well-known coiffeur here in Paris. He will trim up your hair and advise you on which crèmes would be best.”
“An excellent plan,” Mary agreed. “As soon as at all possible. I do not wish to bring embarrassment to my husband.”
Unlike her English counterparts, Madame Durand was much more pragmatic, and rather than empty assurances, she eyed her hair critically and agreed.
“Lord Linley sent word that you would be purchasing your trousseau here in Paris, of course, and requested Madame Courant attend you in the morning. If Monsieur Race is available, I will have him come the day after.”
“Merci, Madame,” Mary thanked her and released her to her duties after she informed Marie that she was to be her ladyship’s new maid. She returned to her room to await the young woman.
“Oh, my lady!” Marie gushed as she bounded into the room. “I am so grateful! I never thought— never even imagined! I shall not fail you, vraisment!”
Mary could not help her smile and the girl’s exuberant excitement.
“Thank you for your willingness to take the position. There are two tasks which I have for you. The first is to assist me in ordering my clothes beginning tomorrow. I am certain that there is much talk below stairs of my lacking wardrobe—”
“Oh, no! Not at all. Monsieur Goodman, Lord Lingley’s man, explained how your luggage was dropped overboard when you were boarding the ship and was declared a complete loss. Everyone was most aggrieved on your behalf.”
Mary flushed at the deception, but recognizing it as the kindness it was, allowed it to stand.
“I see. Thank you for telling me. My second task is of a more personal nature. I would like your assistance with my pronunciation of the French language. I am entirely proficient at reading and writing it. But I have never heard it spoken by someone other than my sisters, and they were mostly self-taught as well.”
“Of course, my lady!”
“Excelenté,” Mary declared with a strong Spanish accent, which made the girl smile, though she was kind enough not to laugh.
“Ex-see-lant,” she corrected.
Mary flushed but repeated the word several times. "I wish to speak only in French from now on, please.”
"I must tell you honestly, I did not understand more than half of what you said. Perhaps to start, you might speak English and I shall reply in French?”
Mary’s brow wrinkled in frustration. “I do not think I understood you correctly.” She thought for a moment and then fetched a book from her open bag.
It was a French novel, and she held it up triumphantly.
“We shall take turns reading to one another. I have read it several times before and thus should be able to work out what you are saying from the story. Hopefully, that will allow me to learn more quickly.”
“You speak Spanish as well?” Durand asked.
Mary nodded.
“I can tell as you are speaking the French with many Spanish accents. Let us go over your basic vowels and consonants and begin from there. Unlike Spanish, we have several that are silent, but only in certain situations.”
They spent nearly an hour reading and practicing her accent until Lingley appeared and hurried the maid away so that they could go for a drive through the streets of Paris to look at the latest fashions.
Mary rolled her eyes, entirely unenthused at the thought, but willingly donned her bonnet and followed him from the house.