Into Thin Air: Chapter 1
The day had started just like every day since their wedding four days ago. Exactly the same, yet each morning somehow a new experience: Marianne did not know it would be possible to love her husband more than she had on their wedding day, but she did. Every moment spent alone with him engrained him deeper and more solidly into her being and in the time of four days she had learned that every moment with Christopher was blessed and right. And every moment like the early mornings in their bed chambers before it was time to emerge from their private little cocoon in particular were moments Marianne cherished.
Before her wedding she had tried to gain better understanding of what happened in the privacy of a marriage with a man and a woman. Certainly she wasn't entirely ignorant of the process in general, but the dynamics between men and women and the degree of emotional connection she was not sure about – or the degree of sheer physical pleasure! Christopher was very keen. So keen that he had even expressed concern that he might be pushing her too much. Certainly there had been some soreness initially, but Christopher had been so gentle the next day Marianne had forgotten all about these little aches when his lips had attended to her sore parts so beautifully.
Today was the first time they had been apart for any considerable time since their wedding. Of course the day would come: world did not stop turning simply because Christopher Brandon got married. His estate and tenant farmers still needed his attention and today Christopher had been fetched from a nearby farm to help some problem or another. Marianne hadn't heard everything but apparently the farmer had lost a horse and injured another in a short period of time and had trouble getting his work done without help. She'd heard Christopher had offered to lend the man a horse or two, but for some reason had decided to go over to the farm to see about the stables and to talk about helping the man get a new horse of his own.
Marianne was keeping herself occupied by familiarizing herself with running the house. She had asked Mrs Dobson if she could follow her around some to see what was involved in a typical day. Mrs Dobson had, of course, agreed and Marianne had made the older woman promise to be honest and tell Marianne the moment she was getting in Mrs Dobson's way. Brandon had taken off soon after breakfast and it was nearly time for afternoon tea now. Marianne was getting a little restless: what was taking that long? The farm wasn't very far, perhaps half an hour ride from Delaford.
Half way through a cucumber sandwich and a cup of tea Marianne heard a horse approach the house fast. She observed the rider – a young farmhand from all she could tell – talk to Brandon's butler. He seemed agitated and was gesturing wildly towards the road and the direction of the farm. Marianne took her tea to the window to look towards where the young man was gesturing and gasped when she saw a column of thick smoke in the distance.
