“Yes. I assisted with his acquisition of the Bacon essays and a few other books as well.”
“And why were you on theTitanic?”
Ada took a deep breath. “I was chaperoning a very expensive copy of theRubaiyat.”
“The one with all the jewels?” Eleanor leaned slightly forward, her black mourning beads dangled just above her lap.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Eleanor settled back in her chair just as Amalie came in with the tray. She waited to say anything further until Amalie had finished serving everyone their tea and sweets.
“Harry told me about that book. He just didn’t mention that a young woman was its carrier.”
“I wasn’t the important part of the story,” Ada answered. “The book itself was.”
“That sounds like something my Harry would have said,” Eleanor remarked, nodding. Again, Ada felt the elder woman studying her. “I assume the book did not survive.”
“It did not,” Ada said.
Eleanor sighed. “There isn’t an hour that passes that I don’t find myself struggling to understand the permanence of what happened. It still is unfathomable to me that I will never see my husband or son again.” She blotted her eyes with a handkerchief. “Or that the last time I saw them will forever be on the deck of that ship.”
Ada’s throat tightened. How she wanted to tell Eleanor that she too replayed her last moments with Harry a thousand times in her head. That she too could not comprehend the finality of his death. But she remained quiet.
“Some afternoons I just sit for hours in his office,” Eleanor added. “I can feel him there amidst his books. I know it must sound absurd, but sometimes I think that if I sit there long enough, he’ll actually walk through the door and sit down beside me.”
“That’s not absurd,” Ada said. “It’s grief.”
“Yes,” Rosenbach interjected. “And it only makes sense you would feel Harry’s presence strongest when you’re near his books.”
“I intend to put my energy into creating a lasting legacy for Harry,” Eleanor said as she reached for another sip of tea. “Did you know he wrote his last will and testament just three years ago?”
Rosenbach shook his head. “No, he did not share that information with me.”
“His books were that important to him. He stipulated that he wanted his collection to be donated to Harvard. But he also wrote that he wanted to ensure there was a suitable place for them.” Her voice revealed the deep sense of pride she felt that her son had entrusted her with their care.
“I suppose it is a blessing Harry made his wishes clear even at such a young age,” Rosenbach added.
Eleanor placed her teacup on the table. “I have already written to Harvard about possibly building a new library there in Harry’s name.”
“I think that’s a magnificent idea,” Rosenbach said. “If you have any interest in completing Harry’s library entirely as heenvisioned, please know that Miss Lippoldt and I are at your disposal. She has a list from her employer in London with books Harry hoped to purchase one day, and I of course have my own. We wanted to offer our services to you, if that’s something you’d like to pursue.”
“It is, thank you.”
She looked out the window, her eyes settling momentarily on two small robins bobbing on the grass. “Sometimes when I see the birds I feel he’s somehow telling me I’m on the right path.” A peacefulness came over her. “So I’m certain this project is where I should be focusing my energy. It will help me channel my grief.” She paused. “My final gift to my son.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
ROSENBACH ANDADA DID NOT HEAR FROMELEANORWidener immediately following that afternoon with her. Ada continued to work diligently, expanding her contacts within the circle of female collectors and helping keep the office up to date on its paperwork. Several weeks went by before a letter arrived in the mail inviting them both back to Lynnewood Hall.
Dear Dr. Rosenbach,
Please accept my apologies that it has taken me a few weeks to get back to you. I have been quite busy with my plans for creating a library at Harvard in Harry’s honor. This enormous project has filled me with a newfound energy, but also has required my complete focus. I’ve already begun discussing some preliminary ideas for the building with Mr. Trombauer, who, as you know, was the architect behind not only Lynnewood Hall but also my home in Newport. Like you, he has my complete trust and it will be a wonderful project to work on with him.
I would like to see you and Miss Lippoldt soon, so we might discuss filling in some of the books that Harry wished to be in his library. Would you be able to come next Tuesday at three o’clock?
Please confirm with my secretary and I hope to see you both then.
Cordially,
