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1362. Winchester. Seven months ago, accused
of bringing plague and death from Winchester, Bea Ward was hounded out of
Meonbridge by her former friends and neighbours. Finding food and shelter where
she could, she struggled to make her way back to Winchester again.
Yet, once she arrived, she wondered why
she’d come.
For her former lover – the love of her life
– Riccardo Marchaunt, had married a year ago. And she no longer had the
strength to go back to her old life on the streets. Frail, destitute and
homeless, she was reduced to begging. Then, in January, during a tumultuous and
destructive storm, she found herself on Riccardo’s doorstep. She had no plan,
beyond hoping he might help her, or at least provide a final resting place for
her poor body.
When Bea awakes to find she’s lying in
Riccardo’s bed once more, she’s thankful, thrilled, but mystified. But she soon
learns that his wife died four months ago, along with their newborn son, and
finds too that Riccardo loves her now as much as he ever did, and wants
to make her his wife. But can he? And, even if he can, could she
ever really be a proper merchant’s wife?
Riccardo could not have been more relieved
to find Bea still alive, when he thought he had lost her forever. She had been
close to death, but is now recovering her health. He adores her and wants her
to be his wife. But how? His father would forbid such an “unfitting”
match, on pain of denying him his inheritance. And what would his fellow
merchants think of it? And their haughty wives?
Yet, Riccardo is determined that Bea will
be his wife. He has to find a solution to his dilemma… With the help of his
beloved mother, Emilia, and her close friend, Cecily, he hatches a plan to make
it happen.
But even the best laid plans sometimes go
awry. And the path of love never did run smooth…
The Merchant’s Dilemma is a companion novel to the main series of Meonbridge Chronicles and continues the story of Bea and
Riccardo after the end of the fourth Chronicle, Children’s Fate. It is a
little more romantic and light-hearted than the other Chronicles but if you’ve
enjoyed reading about the lives of the characters of Meonbridge, you will
almost certainly enjoy reading The Merchant’s Dilemma, too!
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Excerpt
Riccardo had found himself distracted most
of the morning, even when in conversation with his client. It was fortunate
there had been only one, so once they had shaken hands on an agreement, he was able
to spend some time alone, walking and thinking through the situation and what
and how to tell Bea.
His heart swelled whenever he thought of
her. It had never done so at the thought, or even sight, of Katherine. She was
not an unattractive woman, but her nervous nature and seeming lack of interest
in him, discouraged him from even trying to love her. Even when he was lying
next to her in bed, he had to steel himself to turn to face her. When he put
out a hand to touch her breast, she would flinch, then when he rolled on top of
her to complete the task – for “task” it did seem to be – Katherine would
whimper, not with pleasure, he was certain, but with urgent longing for it to
be over. It was scarcely surprising the so-called act of love with his wife was one he came to dread and even balk
at. In truth, it was a wonder little Oliver had ever been conceived.
It had not been that way in those few
months before his marriage, when Bea had lived here with him. Their love-making
had been full of delight and pleasure for them both. In that short time, he had
grown to love her deeply. When he was obliged to marry Katherine, and
effectively abandon the woman he adored, he had been distraught. He blamed
himself, both then and now, for being the cause of Bea leaving Winchester. And,
therefore, of the terrible events in Meonbridge that at length brought her back
to the city, but as a homeless beggar.
These past three months had been the
happiest he could remember for a long while. His worry about Bea’s health aside,
their easy, loving relationship – albeit they were sleeping apart until she was
fully well – made each day one to look forward to. And to make his happiness
complete surely Bea should no longer continue as his mistress, but become his
wife.
Yet, marrying her would not be easy. For,
if his father learned of Bea’s former life, he would refuse to sanction
marriage to her and would almost certainly deny him his inheritance.
Finding himself in the cathedral precinct,
Riccardo slipped into the building. At the main west entrance, scaffolding had
been raised, and masons were dismantling some of the ancient stonework. He had
heard that Bishop Edington had plans to alter the west end of the building,
from the ancient Romanesque original to a more modern style. He looked forward
to seeing their fine cathedral transformed into an even more magnificent
monument to God, albeit he regretted the dust and noise that were the
inevitable result. A result that would continue for many years.
But, despite the noise outside, inside was
peaceful enough, if chilly, in stark contrast with the gentle warmth of the
April day. He was not entirely alone: a few people, mostly aged women, were
standing or kneeling before the high altar, mumbling prayers. He approached the
altar too, but kept a distance. He dropped down onto one knee for a moment,
then stood up again and, with bowed head, muttered a few prayerful words
himself, asking for some sort of guidance in the awkward conversation he had
ahead of him.
In truth, he did not feel he received an
answer to his entreaty, but hoped it might come to him if he thought the matter
over a little further. Despite the coldness of the vast, high building, he made
his way to the south transept, where there was a stone bench he could sit on
for a while.
He returned to thinking about his father.
Would it matter if he was deprived of his inheritance? As the elder of
the two Marchaunt sons, he was entitled to the principal Marchaunt estate and
the greater proportion of his father’s wealth. Yet the money was not important,
nor even the artefacts his father had acquired over the years, magnificent as
many of them were. He had made such a success of his own business, he was more
than prosperous enough to maintain a wife and family.
No, what really mattered was nothing to do
with money.
His first concern was a matter of the
heart. He really wanted to own Chilcumbe Hall, the splendid manor house a few
miles outside the city. He had been looking forward to the time when he could
raise his own children in the place where he and his brother spent such a happy
childhood. How disappointing it would be if he lost that opportunity!
But the second concern was even more
important. His father was much admired and respected amongst Winchester’s great
and good. He had been a master of the guild, several times a city alderman, and
was once elected mayor. Riccardo’s own success as a businessman was due partly
to being his father’s son. If he was not his father’s principal heir – if he
was known to have been cast aside – he would be disgraced, his standing in
society ruined.
There was so much to lose: not just the
legacy, and his status as his father’s heir, but everything he had worked for,
and even his authority to continue his career.
He closed his eyes a moment, contemplating
what such a loss might mean. If all that happened, he supposed he could leave
Winchester, and try to establish himself again elsewhere. But the prospect of
doing that, at his age, was daunting. And not what he wanted.
Until three months ago, he had presumed he
would at length find another wife, a woman from another respectable city
family. Hopefully one with a pleasanter disposition than poor Katherine. But he
had not been in any hurry. He had expected to find his bride himself, and would
not approach his father for advice. Although he might have asked Mama if she
knew of any suitable young women looking for a husband.
But that was all before he discovered Bea
collapsed on his doorstep. Now, the only woman he wanted as his wife, and the
mother to his children, was her. Yet, either marrying her, or living with her
in a sinful state, accepting their children would be illegitimate, would surely
enrage his father. He would simply consider it unacceptable for his heir to
sire children upon a woman such as Bea, whether or not they were legitimately
man and wife.
Riccardo sat upright and flexed his
shoulders. His back was aching from the cold seeping from the stone bench up
through his clothes. He pushed himself to his feet, ready to go home.
So, what was the answer?
In truth, it was obvious, if disagreeable.
He refused to give up Bea, but the consequences of losing his father’s favour
were so serious, the only answer was to wait until the old man was no longer able
to cast him aside.
He had to wait until his father died.
Carolyn Hughes has lived much of her life
in Hampshire. With a first degree in Classics and English, she started working
life as a computer programmer, then a very new profession. But it was technical
authoring that later proved her vocation, word-smithing for many different
clients, including banks, an international hotel group and medical instruments
manufacturers.
Although she wrote creatively on and off
for most of her adult life, it was not until her children flew the nest that
writing historical fiction took centre stage. But why historical fiction?
Serendipity!
Seeking inspiration for what to write for
her Creative Writing Masters, she discovered the handwritten draft, begun in
her twenties, of a novel, set in 14th century rural England… Intrigued by the
period and setting, she realised that, by writing a novel set in the period,
she’d be able to both learn more about the medieval past and interpret
it, which seemed like a thrilling thing to do. A few days later, the first
Meonbridge Chronicle, Fortune’s Wheel, was under way.
Six published books later (with more to
come), Carolyn does now think of herself as an Historical Novelist. And she
wouldn’t have it any other way…
Carolyn has a Master’s in Creative Writing
from Portsmouth University and a PhD from the University of Southampton.
You can connect with Carolyn through her
website www.carolynhughesauthor.com and social media.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.carolynhughesauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writingcalliope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolynHughesAuthor/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carolyn-hughes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carolyn-Hughes/e/B01MG5TWH1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16048212.Carolyn_Hughes
