Subj: The Letter, Part 17
Date: 8/6/01 10:09:20 AM Central Daylight Time
From: R J Jamison

Over the course of two months, Braden Collins had taught Miranda Du Val enough of the rudiments of reading that she was often hunched over the Bible during her free time. Her reading was slow but her comprehension quick.

“You should be careful who you do that around.” Miranda was startled by Judah Zachary’s entry into the kitchen. “It’s not seemly for a young woman to read when she has other duties.” Miranda gazed up at the large man who had recently stamped her as his property. “What is that anyway?” He grabbed the book.

“Give that back!” Miranda reached for the book and was easily blocked by Judah’s size and maneuvering.

“You are occupying yourself with this drivel?” Judah tossed the book aside.

Miranda gazed at him in shock. “I hardly think the words of our Lord are drivel, Judah, you speak blasphemy.” Judah laughed menacingly at Miranda’s words.

“He may be your Lord but not mine.” Judah took Miranda forcefully and pressed several dry kisses on her lips. “Come with me to the clearing tonight and I’ll show you a powerful Lord.”

Miranda pulled away from Judah’s pressing embrace. “Judah, I do not know. What you and your friends do seems quite wrong.” She moved to a table and checked the rising bread. “I was curious I admit but now—“

“You’ve read this book and now you are scared of it.” Judah gazed out the small window to see Braden Collins coming onto the property. “You should be scared Miranda, its very healthy to fear what I have to offer. But the decision was made and you will honor it. I do not care what Mr. Collins has put in your head.” Judah crossed to the back door. “I will be waiting for you by the brook at the appointed time.”

He left her alone in fear to contemplate the arrangement she had entered into three months before. Miranda had welcomed Judah Zachary’s attentions then. He was strong, capable and ruled all of those around him. One day he would be a powerful and rich man, she had little doubt. She also knew he had always fancied her and she could easily become his wife and share in the wealth and power. She longed to leave behind her prescribed role in New Bedford as a housekeeper.

“Miranda!” Braden called from his Study.

“Yes, sir?” Miranda eagerly appeared before her employer.

“My brother will be sharing dinner with me this evening.” Braden sat before the fire he knew Miranda had recently started and removed his boots. “Mrs. Collins is unwell perhaps you can take her something after you’ve tended to us.”

Miranda nodded. “Yes sir, I would be happy to take some broth to your dear sister.”

Braden nodded a dismissal and failed to notice the pout on Miranda’s face. He did not mention their reading lesson and hadn’t for the last two days. Back in the kitchen, Miranda focused on the preparations for dinner rather than her bruised heart. Miranda had struggled over the last two months to not grow too fond of Mr. Collins. She knew Judah would not tolerate it and such feelings could place her in jeopardy as well. But she found herself responding to Mr. Collin’s kindness and found herself envious of his late wife. The way he spoke of her and the deference he gave to her opinions. She had never seen such a marriage, one of intellectual as well as a labor partnership. He had said she had conducted her wifely duties in an exceedingly organized fashion. Miranda gazed about the kitchen, unlike me, he meant. I have been trained in these functions but I hate them and can not organize them in a fashion that eases their burden. She had tried not to take suggestions and references to his wife’s methods as criticism but she was already tired of hearing how Althia would’ve done this and that.

After serving Braden and Amadeus their dinner, Miranda quickly found her way to Mrs. Amadeus Collin’s bedside, where she helped her with the broth.

“Miranda, it is quite kind of Braden to suggest you come here.” Mrs. Collins pushed aside the remaining broth. “I think that will due, my stomach is just not very settled.”

“Perhaps we should get the doctor.”

“No, my dear, my ailment is not too uncommon.” Mrs. Collins watched Miranda tidy up the room and open a window to allow in fresh air. “Mr. Collins and I will be blessed to have a child in five months.”

Miranda smiled warmly. “That is a blessing.”

“What of you, Miranda, are you not hoping for a similar blessing? I have not heard that you are promised to anyone.”

Miranda avoided Mrs. Collins prying eyes. “I am promised to Judah Zachary, Mrs. Collins. Our families arranged this many years ago.”

“Your families arranged it? You will not marry whom you chose?” Mrs. Collins was surprised to hear that a young servant girl’s marriage had been arranged. She had always believed people of such rank could choose their own spouses.

“Yes, our fathers were best friends. When my Father became ill and I was not yet of age, he asked the Zachary family to care for me and my Mother.” Miranda remembered the abrupt change in her life and the unsettled feeling that had never left her.

“But you and Mr. Zachary are certainly of age now, why the delay?”

“His involvements with your husband and Bra--, I mean Mr. Collins.” Miranda’s slip was immediately noted. Her crimson face and flustered movements testified to all that need be said.

‘The girl has romantic feelings for my brother-in-law, just as I feared. He should not have had a young woman in his home.’ Thought Mrs. Collins.

"I tell you Braden, it is true.” Braden stood in his brother’s home listening to his sister-in-law lecture him about Miranda Du Val. “She has romantic notions about you, just as I feared.”

Braden took a deep drink of his ale. “Miss Du Val is promised in marriage to Judah Zachary and my wife is barely gone five months. I do not return such feelings and she is well aware of that.”

“Braden, you must find someone else to keep your house and cook for you. I warned you that employing such a
young woman was not wise.”

Braden had left his brother’s house with a weary mind. He had not noticed anything about Miranda Du Val that his sister suggested. She was a kind, capable young woman. Certainly she was wrong in her assumptions. After he entered the house and called for Miranda, he noted that his small Study was somehow changed. His furniture had been slightly rearranged and he noted flowers on his desk.

Miranda entered the room with the tea service and wordlessly began preparing his evening tea. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.” She handed him his cup.

“You’ve attempted to brighten up the place?” He waived a hand to indicate the few adjustments.

“I picked this up for you.” Miranda motioned him to a small stool with rocker legs. “My Father used to make these, you can sit comfortably in a rocker and because this stool too has rocker feet, it moves with you. Much more comfortable than a normal foot rest.” Miranda smiled eagerly. She did want to please him and she was trying to be more like his remembered wife, Althia.

“Miranda, you need not do this, you can not spend the small amount I provide—“ Braden protested.

Miranda’s smile cut him off. “Mr. Collins, I had them bill it to your account. I would not be so assuming.” Miranda began closing the heavy drapes. “If you do not like it, I shall return it, I am certain it will not be a problem.” But Braden had already relaxed in the rocker with his feet propped on the unusual stool. He smiled contentedly. “But I see you do like it.”

Braden noted Miranda’s warm smile and eyes. He looked about the room and realized why she had brought him the stool, why she had placed flowers in this room. She was entertaining inappropriate feelings for him. “Miranda, when will you and Zachary marry?”

Miranda’s smiled faded. “What?”

“You’ve been betrothed for a long while I know. Now that he is back here in New Bedford and settled, when do you plan to marry?” He felt pressing upon her his desire to see her married to his friend would be the kindest way.

Reluctantly Miranda divulged, “We discussed it last evening. We thought perhaps in a fortnight.”

“Than I shall have to find someone else to keep my house and cook?” He said calmly.

“I am sure I can manage your home and mine, Mr. Collins.” Miranda volunteered.

“No, I think that would be too much for a new bride.” Braden leaned forward causing his foot to slip off the stool and knock over the ash bucket. Miranda rushed forward and began cleaning up the mess. “Miranda, I made this mess, I shall clean it up.”

“No, Mr. Collins, its my responsibility, I placed it wrongly—” Miranda attempted to brush Braden away from the area.

“Miranda!” Braden pulled the cleaning utensils from Miranda’s hands. Their eyes met and Braden saw a mixture of a million emotions in Miranda’s gaze.

Their hands were entwined with the brush and tray and neither of them moved. Braden looked into her eyes and knew that he could forget many things this night with her. He could forget being alone in this new country, his lost life and lost wife. While considering a liaison, Miranda moved forward and placed a light kiss on his lips. The cleaning items were dropped with a clatter and Braden opened his mouth and arms to Miranda. Braden embraced Miranda and in his mind thought, Althia, I want you back, Althia. But the responses were wrong, the lips did not mesh so easily with his and the tongue that searched his mouth was insistent, sharp and unyielding. It was not what he wanted. “I’m sorry.” Braden pulled back, his head lowered so Miranda could not see the moisture in his eyes.

“You need not worry about Judah,” Miranda pleaded with her eyes and voiced. “I love you Mr. Collins, we can—“

Braden placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed at her with great sympathy. “I have abused your good will and feelings I know, Miranda. I can only hope that one day you will forgive me. I still love my wife, I can’t think of anyone but her.” Braden pulled her up to her feet.

“But she is gone, you must marry again and start over.”

“Yes, but not for quite some time. I knew Althia my entire life Miranda. She was my greatest friend since we were children.” Braden shook his head. “I can not forget her and you can not nor should you expect to replace her.”

“In time you will love me as I love you!”

Braden sighed. “Miranda, you are promised in marriage to a good man. He cares very much for you—“

“But I do not love him the way I love you!”

Braden’s frustration and internal anger at himself began to surface. “We will not be together Miranda, it is not right for either of us and not fitting—“

“Fitting? It is not fitting?!” Miranda’s pained eyes filled with resentment. “Because I am a servant?”

Braden tried to correct his insensitivity. “You are an engaged woman and I am a widower of only a few months.”

But he saw that Miranda was not fooled. He had meant due to their social status, she was not a proper wife for him, not here in America where he was considered one of the elite. She did know his station in England was much lower, not that of a servant but only just above that. “You have played with my kindness and feelings Mr. Collins. You tempted me to learn, to read. You were tender and kind, you led me to believe you truly cared for me.”

“I care for you as a person, as the future wife of a business associate. Zachary may work for me now but I foresee with his ambitions and skill, we will one day be full partners. I thought teaching you to read would help you as Zachary’s wife. He will be a powerful man one day and he will need the support of a strong and educated wife.” Braden now regretted not telling her this had been on his mind when he first approached her about reading.

Miranda listened to what Braden told her. Thinking back on their months together, she knew he was being honest. He had often mentioned Judah and his belief in Judah’s abilities. She had neglected to listen closely to him. She had become lost in a romantic fantasy. But he had just kissed her passionately. He had wanted her that he could not deny. “But your kiss was not about Judah, you desire me and that you can not deny.”

“I desire to forget about the loss of my wife, the loneliness of this new land.” Braden said coolly.

Miranda pressed herself against his body. “I’ll help you forget, I am very helpful in many ways Braden.” She tried to tempt him with her warm body, deep blue eyes and a naughty smile.

Braden pushed her away. “Miranda, please leave the house tonight and do not return.”

Miranda glared at him. “Is this how you deal with people, people who care for you, offer you what I do?”

Braden turned his back to her and shook his head. “I apologized for tempting you, accepting your offerings, I can say no more. I can do nothing more.” Braden turned to look at her directly. “I have seen great compassion and understanding in you Miranda, surely you can understand my plight, my weakness, and show pity.”

Miranda’s mind raced over the implications of this seduction gone awry. Her life was tied to Judah and his secrets. He had secrets which scared her, he had friends which worried her and beliefs which threw out all she had been raised to believe. But he did desire her, he did have a future of prosperity, even that was acknowledged by Braden. But she did not feel the fire within for him that was blazing at this moment for Braden. He stood before her, dejected and rejecting.
He was still mourning a dead woman, long lost to the sea. Braden’s eyes told her that she could not possibly win his affections this night. But she knew where she might learn how to do so in the future.

“I’ll leave this night Mr. Collins but I will not leave your employ. I need work until Judah and I are married. We will not speak of this evening again and things will be as if it never happened.” With that Miranda left the room and the house. She raced to her usual meeting place for Judah.

“Kiss me and express your happiness in seeing me.” Judah emerged from the trees. Miranda still warm with desire for Braden, complied.

“Tonight.” She broke away from his embrace. “I am ready for what you’ve wanted to share with me, tonight. I want to know, know it all.”

Miranda continued to work in Braden Collin’s home but was soon joined by another older woman from the village named Martha. Martha became responsible for the washing and the garden. She was quite elderly and spent most of her time complaining in the kitchen and giving Miranda helpful hints. Surprisingly Miranda accepted the hints without complaint or glaring looks.

One afternoon Braden Collins surprised the women by entering the kitchen. He glanced around at the organized changes Miranda had made and the many different herb and flowers hanging in the room. “What are these?” He touched several bunches hanging to dry near the fireplace. Martha stood and began explaining all the different herbs, their properties for healing and seasoning food. Both Miranda and Martha were surprised when Braden pointed to a particular plant and named it. After surprised glances at one another, Martha asked how he knew the herb.

“My wife used it in some of her teas. I had the garden planted to her specifications.”

Martha nodded. “Your wife was very wise.” Braden asked for tea for himself and a soon to arrive guest. He then left the two women alone.

Miranda turned in a panic to Martha. “What does it mean, this garden is to her specifications?”

Martha touched the herbal bundles. “She practiced, I don’t know what art but she practiced.”

Miranda’s flashed with fear. “You said the garden was a surprise to you.”

“I suspected someone knew what they were doing but I didn’t think it was his late wife. I thought it might’ve been a servant back in ole England.” Martha smiled to reveal several missing teeth. “Don’t worry my dear, it shouldn’t interfere with your plans. Mrs. Collins is dead, long dead now. She’s in a watery Atlantic grave, ain’t she?”

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.