Violet put it in her grandmother’s lap. “Here you go, Gran.”
“There’s a story that isn’t found in its pages,” Helen confided. “You know how I always told you how lucky you were that you knew where you came from?”
“Yes,” Violet nodded. “I remember.”
“Well, that book is the one thing that came with me when I was adopted.” She took a deep swallow, her chest rising and falling beneath her floral housecoat.
“I suppose I should be grateful that my parents even told me I was adopted. So many chose not to tell their children during that time. But my father believed in telling the truth about everything, and he’s the one who told me the book was tucked inside a bag full of cloth diapers and a bible when they came to pick me up.” Helen ran her palm over the book’s fragile cover.
Violet could barely stand to hear her grandmother force out another sentence. It was upsetting watching Helen straining to tell her the painful story behind this book.
“I never found out anything else about my biological parents, you know that,” she said. “This book is the only thing I have from them.”
She smoothed over the cover with her hand.
“I had to ask your mother to put it on the top shelf a couple years back, shortly after your granddad died, because I’d read it over and over again on all the nights I was here by myself.”
Violet knew why her grandmother kept returning to it. She still was looking for a message about why she’d been given up. Even at eighty years old, she kept searching for clues.
CHAPTER SIX
December 26, 1911
Dear Dr. Rosenbach,
Christmas was quite a success! What a wonderful surprise to find the Tennysons wrapped beneath the tree. They’re even more beautiful than I imagined, and you and Mother certainly outdid yourselves in keeping the secret from me. And as you probably have already heard from her, she loved Redouté’s botanical illustrations. He really is a master of precision, isn’t he? She said she could almost feel the flowers lifting off the page.
Your note yesterday was much appreciated, and I’m indebted to you for helping me refine my list for Quaritch. I can’t thank you enough for discussing which books would benefit my collection. And you know how much I value your opinion.
Despite having stacked the house with mountains of presents over the holidays, Mother is quite coyly using our trip as an excuse to make several shopping excursions to New York and Philadelphia before we go. It seems as if she needs two months to prepare herself for English society, and of course, only the best gownsand jewels will suffice. But I want to keep my valises completely empty so I’ll have more room to bring home as many books as possible!
I anxiously wait for Mr. Quaritch’s response.
Kind regards,
Harry E. Widener
December 29, 1911
Dear Mr. Widener,
I am delighted to hear you were pleased with the Tennyson volumes. Your mother knew you coveted them and she was elated when I told her I’d made the winning bid for them.
Her excitement reminded me of how giddy she was when I told her I’d won the first Shakespeare Folio at the William Van Antwerp auction for you and I was grateful for Quaritch’s help that time in securing it. I’m glad you’ll be able to see each other when you’re in London, and I can’t wait to hear what other editions you’re able to add to your flourishing library.
On a side note, some fine new volumes have come into my possession this week, including a wonderful selection of illustrated works by George Cruikshank that I think will be of great interest to you. Let us find a time to meet and discuss.
Kindly,
A.S.W.
January 2, 1912
Dear Dr. Rosenbach,
Good news has arrived! Today, I received another letter from Quaritch. He is on the hunt for several of the books I listed in my last letter. The letter indicates that I am to write directly to Miss Ada Lippoldt, his new assistant, with any further requests, as she’ll be able to get to them more quickly. Have you dealt with her at all? It appears his schedule has become quite hectic after the Robert Hoe sale. Still, I’m over the moon with excitement!
My very warmest regards,
