Her voice trembled. “Tell me what to do.”
His Adam’s apple convulsed up and down the long column of his throat. “That I cannot do.”
He bid her farewell and left her to read the letter in private.
Dear Miss Rogers,
No doubt you have heard by now the sorry tale of the elopement of Marianna Spencer and Anthony Fontaine before our own marriage. I wanted to let you know, before you saw it in the newspaper, that I am pursuing an annulment on the grounds that my marriage was void at its beginning and therefore Marianna and I were never married legally nor in the eyes of God. I know you have strong feelings against divorce, but I hope that in this, you will absolve me. My solicitor assures me my case will succeed. I dread the proceedings and scandal and vile gossip, but feel it must be done, as quickly and quietly as possible. I simply want to be free. I have no wish to punish Marianna, and if anything, a formal release from me will be welcomed by her.
I want to give you every assurance that I pursue thiscourse for my own sake without expectation or hope that there will be, or ever can be, a future between us. I wish you to do nothing out of guilt or a false sense of obligation. You are free. And hopefully, I will soon be free as well.
I am sorry to involve Mr. Lowden in this particular duty, but as I had not your direction, I have asked him to forward the letter to you in the manner he sees fit. Hopefully by post or messenger to avoid any awkwardness between you.
I also wish to reiterate my determination to support Daniel, at least until such time as you marry, and beyond that only if you and your future husband are agreeable. Again, the stipend is not to be construed as a bribe, and rest assured that accepting the money on his behalf in no way obligates you. I simply wish to guarantee neither you nor Danny suffer want while you are considering your options for the future.
I hope and daily pray that you have been able to reconcile with your father. If there is anything I can do to help in that regard, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I don’t wish to presume or interfere, but if he rebukes you in any way, I would be happy to speak to him on your behalf—accept responsibility for your situation even as I cannot regret Danny’s existence. I will gladly accept any blame, while giving you all the credit for the healthy and delightful child he is, and the kind and honorable man he will no doubt become, thanks to your influence and upbringing.
May God bless you with a long and happy life.
Sincerely,
Sir John Mayfield, KCB
Hannah sank onto the sofa and read the letter again. It was almost as if hewantedher to choose James—a younger man not tainted by a sordid past. But she had her own sordid past to consider. Although she believed God had forgiven her, that didn’t mean she was free of the consequences—the disgrace, the gossip, the end of her acceptance into respectable society.
If she were truly selfless, she would release both men.
But she was not.
Chapter29
Hannah’s father invited her and Danny to dinner, which afforded Becky a well-deserved evening off. Hannah offered her extra money in case she wished to go out somewhere, but Becky said all she wanted was to nestle in bed with a book and a tin of sweets. Hannah happily supplied both.
How strange it felt to enter her childhood home as a guest. Her father smiled in self-conscious welcome and took Danny into his study, suggesting Hannah see if there was anything else in her bedchamber she wanted.
Walking slowly around her old room felt like visiting a museum of her youth, everything much as it had been when she had moved to the Mayfields’ a few years before. She flipped through a long-forgotten diary and found a faded love letter from Fred. She had lost that Fred, the young suitor, but was so thankful to have kept him as a friend. Next she sorted through the baby clothes her parents had saved, a few of which she would wash and reclaim for Danny—a nightshirt, a woolen coat and cap, and a soft knitted blanket. She also found a brooch of her mother’s—tiny bluebells painted on ivory—and thought it might make a nice gift for Mrs. Turrill, who had mentioned bluebells were her favorite. Finally, she selected a few books togive to Becky, and for herself, a lovely leather-bound edition of the Proverbs, containing the Psalter and the Sermon on the Mount.
Returning to her father’s study, she paused at its threshold. Her heart warmed to see her father pray over the grandson in his arms, and then contort his usually solemn face into comical expressions his congregation would be stunned to see from the pulpit. Danny grinned in appreciative reply.
The maid of all work prepared a simple meal of chicken and leek soup, which Hannah ladled out at table like the woman of the house, her mother’s memory very near. The maid admired Danny, calling him a handsome lad, but Hannah did not miss her surreptitious glance at her bare ring finger.
Back in the lodging house the next day, Mrs. Hurst knocked to announce that Hannah had another caller.
“That solicitor has returned,” she said with a concerned frown. “Are you sure you’re in no trouble?”
“No trouble, Mrs. Hurst.”Not any longer, she thought.Thank you, God.
Leaving a contented Danny in Becky’s care, Hannah went down to speak to James. She wondered what errand had brought him this time—and if this would be a business or personal call.
In the sitting room, James stood fidgeting, twirling his hat brim in his hands. As soon as he saw her, he blurted, “Have you heard the news?”
She blinked. “Which news?”
“About Marianna?”
Hannah held up a “wait” finger. Knowing Mrs. Hurst would eavesdrop if she could, Hannah closed the door firmly behind her. “Go on.”
“She has been tried in a criminal court and found guilty of bigamy.”
