Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ A Proposal Of Marriage ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

A Proposal Of Marriage

Chapter 2

Mia stared at the plate before her, her appetite lost by the strange manner in which Sage was acting. Reaching for a fork, she glanced up at the face of her husband, who was eating his dinner and drinking after several bites or so. He didn't look up at her, he didn't even seem like he wanted to make conversation with her. Plus, the fact about what they were to do tonight as man and wife was bothering her also. Or suppose to do. If he requests it, then I shall have to remind him that ours was not an actual match but a business arrangement. Yes, that's it.

Feeling a gaze upon him, Sage glanced up and found his wife staring at him, her eyes narrowed and the corners of her mouth turned down. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No, no,"

Sage set his fork aside and rested his chin upon his hands. "You're mad about something,"

"I'm not mad, simply puzzled," She answered, her aloof self, coming back as she reached for her fork.

"About what?"

"It's nothing of importance,"

Sage shrugged, "If you're wondering whether or not we must do our duty tonight as man and wife, fear not. What you and I have is a business partnership and it shall stay that way." Without another glance, he picked up his fork again and started eating.

Mia nodded. Of course, what else would it be? But then you should be happy dear Mia. For you didn't expect to make love to him did you? If that was the case, then why did the pit of her stomach feel so strange?

~*~*~*~

Wensworth Castle was everything Mia imagined it to be despite many setbacks. The wallpaper had faded and were peeling, pieces of furniture were covered from top to bottom with dust, the carpet had faded, the china in the cabinets were cracked, and the drapes and curtains were both beyond repair. However, there was a homey feeling, a feeling of comfort and Mia indulged in such feelings.

Sage shook his head sadly as they walked through the garden, the only semi-decent part about the property.

"The castle has seen better days, I take it," Mia twirled her parasol as James ran ahead, enticed by a couple of butterflies and rabbits that had leaped into their path.

Sage nodded.

"There's much work to be done here. The castle needs to be redecorated, the gardens need to be brought back from the jungles, and the roads need some patchwork done also,"

"Oh Aunt Mia, you won't make the rabbits go away will you?" James returned, pink-cheeked and a small rabbit in his arms.

"Of course not," Mia smiled as she kissed James spontaneously on the forehead. When she turned back to Sage, she noted a frown upon his facial features.

James smiled happily as he let the rabbit go and chased it.

"Mia?" Sage spoke, almost tentatively.

"Yes?" Mia replied as she found herself drowning in his violet eyes.

"It's going to take a lot of money to refurbish the castle. I don't want you using your money that way. I have another purpose, Mia. Please don't question me now, I will tell you when the time comes."

Mia turned her face back towards the sun's rays, a bit of her cold reserve returning. "Of course, I would never question you about your personal life. That is your business and your business alone." Spotting a familiar eight-year old, she grinned and hurried after James. "James!" She called out.

Sage watched her back, a strange look in his violet eyes.

~*~*~*~

"Lord Wensworth and Lady Wensworth, forgive me, but you have a visitor," George, their household butler announced.

Mia looked up from her pianoforte the same time Sage looked up from reading the papers.

"Who is it?" Sage asked as he sent his newspapers down.

"It's the vicar, Reverend Sai Moreson,"

Sage nodded, "Allow him in please,"

George stepped aside and allowed a young man, with bright-red hair, clear blue eyes, and a smiling disposition in.

Sage motioned for the Reverend to sit down as Mia got up and reached for the teacup.

"I expected you to call sooner or later," Sage spoke up first, as they waited for their tea to be poured.

Mia set out two cups and carefully poured sweet-smelling tea into them. She couldn't help but worry about the state that the drapes were in, the carpet, and the years of dust the couches had collected over the time. Turning to study their new visitor, she couldn't help but appreciate the genuinely happy face of the vicar rather than the handsome yet wary and cold face of her new husband. When she finished, she sat down and listened to the vicar give his evaluation of the tenants on Wensworth Castle's land.

"We're producing less and less crops as the years go on, the people on the land are also catching sicknesses that I think the swamp nearby may be the cause of it, and with the upcoming winter, I fear many of the tenants will not survive if some of their houses are not patched up properly and they are given some kind of heating system," Reverend Sai scratched his head. "Beg your pardon, my lord. I had not intended to unload this all upon up at once,"

Sage waved it off and leaned forward. "How many tenants do we have now?"

"Well, it's considerably less than it was a few years ago but there is still a good amount of people," He replied, reaching for his tea.

Mia was interested in the swamp. "Reverend Sai, I have read about swamps and how they may be the cause of sicknesses that occur around here. I suppose we could drain it and use the soil there as fertilizer for some of the major crops around here,"

"That's a good idea Mia," Sage rubbed his chin. "I will be going to London soon. While I am there, I can send the proper people down here," He looked over to Mia.

Mia sipped her tea calmly. If she was surprised by his unplanned announcement, she did not show it. "That would be wonderful, I will go around the village and check up on their needs," Setting her cup down, she turned to Reverend Sai and smiled. "Perhaps you can accompany me?"

Sai blushed at the pretty Countess. "Of course,"

Sage arched an eyebrow at this.

~*~*~*~

When the reverend left around the time the sun settled, Mia returned to the off-key pianoforte as Sage walked over to the fireplace and poured himself a small glass of brandy.

After he had drunk a glass, he turned to his wife, who was immersed in her music, and cleared his throat.

The music stopped, as a pair of blue-green eyes, more emerald than blue, met his violet ones. "If you want to say something, speak up," Mia closed her eyes as she returned to flip through the yellowed pages of a piano book.

"The reverend, he was smitten with you,"

"You make it sound like that's impossible to do,"

"Quite the opposite, I assure you," Sage murmured, clearly and loudly enough for Mia to hear.

Mia blushed as she stood up.

"You didn't seem surprised when I announced I was to go back to London," Sage poured himself another cup of brandy.

Mia reached for the teapot. "It's none of my concern where you go or what you do, you know this Lord Wensworth,"

"Sage," Sage responded immediately, his eyes hard. "And why are you so cold?"

"Cold?"

"You know what I mean,"

Mia hesitated, but then closed her eyes as she took a sip from her cup, "You could say it has worked very well for me,"

Sage swirled the red liquid around in his glass. "Will you not call me by my Christian name then?"

A silence stood between them as Sage stared at Mia and Mia stared right back.

It was only broken when James entered the room and smiled up at both of them. "It's time for dinner!" He chirped happily.

Mia immediately got up and grinned happily at James. "And what are we having tonight?"

James furrowed his eyebrows in a state of concentration. "I…don't know, but I know that we are having pecan pie for dessert!"

"Pecan pie? Why that's my favorite!" Mia exclaimed, as she chuckled.

"Mine too!" James replied as he took a hold of her hand. "Let's hurry Aunt Mia," He pulled her as she followed down to the dining room.

Sage looked down at the red liquid in his glass and sighed. Pouring every last drop into his mouth, he gulped once and threw the empty glass down into the fireplace.

The fire crackled and sputtered, but it wasn't noticed by anyone, because by then, the master of the castle had left to join his cold-hearted wife and his warm-hearted nephew for dinner.

~*~*~*~

Mia watched from her window as Sage hurried out in the early hours of the morning towards his carriage. Dressed all in black, he looked dashing for the dark clothing enhanced his handsome features, his golden blond hair, and his violet eyes. He turned once to look up towards her window, tipped his hat, and jumped into the awaiting carriage. Mia lifted a hand and pressed it against the window, her breath fogging up the glass.

"Aunt Mia?" James asked as he opened her door slowly. "Where did Uncle Sage go?"

Mia held out her arms as James ran towards her, to receive the hug happily. Looking straight at him, she touched his nose gently and winked. "Don't worry, he'll be back soon and maybe he'll have even brought a present for you. In the mean time, would you like to help me bake some sweets?"

James nodded enthusiastically as she got up. He immediately grabbed for her hand and held it. "What shall we make then?"

Mia was endeared above and beyond by the sweet gestures the young boy had made towards her. She suspected the cause of his attitude was because the young boy's life was void of motherly love. Now that she had married his guardian, she provided the much-needed love he had been robbed off. She grinned. "Anything you like and we'll bake as much as we can!"

"Yay!" James chirped.

~*~*~*~

"How is Master Harrington doing?" Reverend Sai asked as him and Mia strolled in the fields, on their way to meet one of castle's tenants.

"He is doing very well. I fear our baking escapade has tired him out," Turning towards him, a small smile appeared on her face.

Sai couldn't help but wonder how a full-blown genuine smile would look on her pretty face.

Turning back to survey the land, trees in shades of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and purples, Mia breathed in deeply. "This is a beautiful place,"

Sai nodded in agreement as they appeared at the first cottage.

Mia immediately frowned at the shabby disposition of the living place. She would try to get that fixed as soon as possible.

Knocking on the door, Sai glanced at the Countess. She didn't seem nervous but rather, she was studying the roof - that he admitted was in need of serious repair.

"Hello good Reverend, what can I do to help ya?" A woman, late in her thirties, opened the doors and smiled as she wiped her hands on her apron.

"I would like to introduce you to the new Lady Wensworth," Sai announced. Turning to Mia, he smiled. "This is Annabelle McCarthy, she and her husband have lived on this land ever since they moved from Scotland.

"How do you do," Mia held out her hand and grinned.

"Oh malarkey, come on in!" The woman blubbered as she held the door wide open. She smiled as she hurried around in the small cottage to pour some kind of refreshments for her two visitors. Taking a glance at the new countess, she tried to wonder what sort of woman she was.

"I brought you something, Mrs. McCarthy," Mia spoke up sweetly, as she reached into the basket and brought out something covered with an embroidered handkerchief of her own. "I hope you like blueberry pie," She uncovered it.

"I love blueberry pies," Annabelle McCarthy said happily as she reached for a clean knife. "Will you stay for some tea and a slice of pie?"

"Sure," Both Mia and Sai chorused.

Annabelle smiled happily as she sliced the cake.

~*~*~*~

After leaving the McCarthy residence, Mia and Sai went on foot to other nearby tenants. By the time he dropped her off at Wensworth Castle, the sun had completely settled. Not taking a no for an answer, Mia sent Sai off with one of their better horses, waving until he was gone.

As soon as she entered the doors, she was almost knocked off her feet as James crashed into her and hugged her legs.

Looking up at her with his cherubic sapphire eyes [the only difference him and Sage had], he pouted. "Where were you Aunt Mia?"

"I was visiting some of our friends on live on your Uncle's land," She smiled and ruffled his hair, as she knelt down. "Have you been waiting for me all day?"

James blushed and nodded yes.

"Oh sweetheart," Mia kissed his forehead endearingly. "Would you like to come with me next time?"

James nodded enthusiastically.

"Wonderful, now how about some dinner? I'm terribly famished!"

~*~*~*~

Mia woke up the next morning at the crack of dawn. She had always been an early riser, believing that sleeping the day away was the most horrible thing to do. With no servants except for the few early risers up and around, she decided to survey some of the rooms that were in need of bad repair. When she walked in, she sighed at the years of dust lying all over and the dusty drapes. The bed had seen better days and the few books that they had in the room were strewn across the dirty carpet, binding ripped out and pages yellowed. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes as she imagined the room in pastel blue. A fresh vase of lilies would sit on the dresser table every morning, crisp sheets would be replaced every few days or so, and the room would certainly have to be dusted here and there. A few paintings [in blue, of course] on the walls would add a cheery atmosphere to the room, the carpet ripped out and replaced, wallpapers with some design containing some sort of a flower; the ideas came rushing in. Opening her eyes and smiling happily, Mia let her imagination run wild. This was her first home that she ever had in a long time. God help her but she would make it as comfortable as she could. With a renewed vigor, she hurried out of the room to grab some pieces of paper and a quill. Sketching a design of the room would help her organize the plan better. Afterwards, she would hire some people to come and work so that the rooms would be revamped fast. Hiring the struggling tenants would allow her to give them the much needed money without severing their pride. Almost skipping down to the servants' chamber, Mia could help but happily laugh out loud.

~*~*~*~

Over the next few days, Mia's plan had been put to action quickly. The footmen went out and passed the word that she needed workers for refurbishing the castle. Pretty soon, the castle was full of hammers hammering, boards moving; all sorts of equipment such as furniture, newly purchased paintings and rolls after rolls of wallpaper. The people that Sage promised to send down had come down and drained the nearby swamp. They had also gone to work on patching up the roofs of the tenants and anything else that needed to be fixed. Even James had gotten into it enthusiastically and gone with Mia and the Reverend Sai to purchase some new horses for their stable. After the last bed was made, the last painting hung, and the last furniture placed, Mia and James both plopped down on the new drawing room couches and sighed happily.

"Er…Lady Wensworth?"

"Yes George?" Mia immediately sat up.

"There is a man out here demanding to see you, would you like me to remove him?"

Mia frowned in confusion. "No, please let him in, I'd like to know who he is,"

"He says he is your Uncle Lawrence,"

Mia jumped right up as her face lost some color. Regaining her posture, she smiled briefly and nodded. "Please let him in,"

"Certainly," George bowed as he closed the door behind him.

Pretty soon, a stout, little man came in, his face bright red as he started spouting words.

Mia turned to James, ignoring the little red man and smiled. "James, please listen to Aunt Mia and go upstairs to your room. I will be up in an instant,"

"But Aunt Mia -," James began, as he frowned at the man called Uncle Lawrence.

"Now be a good boy and behave, I promise to read to you longer tonight if you wish and it can be a book of your choosing. How about that?"

James sighed and nodded. "Alright," He turned and left the room, all the while glancing back at the man who had finally stopped his tirade to watch the little boy leave.

As soon as the doors had closed, the man turned back to Mia, and growled. "My dear niece, what is the meaning of this?!"

Cold fury replaced hot, burning anger. "My dear Uncle, can you not see that I have gotten myself married?"

"Hah! I wager he is only after you for your money!" He blubbered. His tirade was ruined by the fact that Mia stood a good two inches taller than he.

"Whether he is after my money or not, I am staying married to him, at least for a year. Then, you would not be able to touch my inheritance any longer, spending it on your WHORES and foolish land property," Mia snapped.

Timothy Lawrence took a step back from his niece who was glittering with cold fury. Regaining his posture, he tsked. "Even as a lady you could not curb your tongue,"

"You mean I could never lie or sugarcoat my beliefs," Mia stated, monotone.

Timothy growled. "I will have a talk with your so-called husband!"

Mia threw back her head and laughed, the sound chilling Timothy from head to toes. Turning away and walking towards the window, she turned her head back only to reply to him. "He has left for London,"

Timothy drew in a deep breath. "Then I shall find him!" Turning away, he stalked towards the door.

"Don't come back too soon," She said to his retreating back.

He slammed the door as hard as he could.

It was ruined by the fact that the door was rusty and did not work too well. So when he slammed it…

It came straight back at him, knocking him right on his face.

He snarled at the chuckling that came from the inside of the drawing room. Snatching his coat, hat and cane from the butler, he quickly left the house as fast as he had come.

~*~*~*~

A few final touches were all that were needed on some of the castle rooms. Granted, only a couple of rooms were refurbished totally but it was enough for now. Walking out onto the balcony of her room, Mia shivered, clad in a silk nightgown and a robe, she stared up at the moon.

Her thoughts were shattered as she heard several poundings of hooves from the front of the castle. Hurrying out of her room and down the stairways, she arrived just as soon as George opened the door, admitting her new husband entrance…

And Lady Moresby.

Mia widened her eyes as she watched her husband tenderly remove her cape from the chit's shoulders. No…

Lady Moresby stared up, adoration in her eyes, ignoring the presence of Mia, George, and her personal maid.

Sage smiled down at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

Mia bit her lip. She wasn't going to think the worst. She wasn't. And even if he was being unfaithful to her with Lady Moresby…it shouldn't bother her, should it?

It did.

It did a lot.