“Tobias would find her?” Simon completed the sentence for her.
“Yes,” Emma looked up, tears streaming down the side of her face. “Foolishly, I had thought that if he saw her, he would love her, as I did. And perhaps, he would love me too.”
“But he never did,” it was Harriet’s turn to speak, her voice dripping with disappointment.
How unfair it was, she thought to herself, that men got to avoid all the responsibility that entailed having a child. They could just have their fun, and never have to think of it again.
“He never wrote to me, nor did he try to visit. I… had to know if my daughter was safe. I had to come here and see for myself,” she started speaking faster now. “My parents have decided to marry me off again. They believe that I can just bury the hatchet and start anew with someone who does not know my past.”
Harriet frowned. It was another thing that she detested about society. The tendency to hide away one’s past, as though it was a discarded piece of furniture that no longer deserved to be displayed and only remain shut away in the storage.
It felt spineless.
“I… I have tried to make it appear as though I am in agreement with their plans for me. But I am not,” she said, her voice strained. “I am not happy about this. I do not want to leave my child behind. I want to raise her.”
“My lady,” Simon spoke up. “My brother’s actions have been irreprehensible. But we have been searching for your identity for these past few weeks. Now that we know who you are, I will make sure that my brother takes responsibility for his actions.”
A glimmer of hope arose on Emma’s face. “Are you in contact with him?”
“On occasion,” Simon tightened his lips, “Certainly, an occasion like this.”
“We will do whatever we can to support you,” Harriet found herself reaching out.
Emma looked as though she was about to burst into tears again. “Oh, I expected the worst when I arrived here. I thought that you would not believe me, let alone offer support like this.”
Harriet shook her head, “We are not stone-hearted people, Lady Emma. It is clear to anyone that you had your hands tied in this situation.”
“But I cannot take Catherine now,” Emma said, “I wish to take her with me, but I cannot. My parents do not even know I came to see the both of you. For all they know, I am in town finalizing my wedding dress, for the ceremony which is set in two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Simon got up from his chair, abruptly. “My lady, then you should have said sooner that we are this short on time.I will go and make the arrangements to contact my brother now.”
Without another word, Simon rushed out of the room, leaving the two ladies alone. Harriet observed Emma. She looked a little less frazzled now than she had when she came in. But her demeanor had a constant edge of worry attached to it.
It was then that Harriet realized that she was not the only one who had unfulfilled dreams. Here she was complaining about her marriage, but there were people like Emma — who had a baby but did not have a husband, nor could she take care of the baby without society shunning her.
In comparison, Harriet’s situation sounded idyllic.
“Lady Spencer,” Harriet cleared her throat, breaking the silence.
“Please,” Emma squeezed her hand, “Call me Emma. You have been so kind to me.”
“Very well.Emma,” Harriet acknowledged. “Would you like to meet little Catherine?”
Emma lit up immediately, “Yes. Please! I yearn to.”
Harriet nodded, and led Emma out of the drawing room and upstairs to the nursery.
Once they entered the nursey, Catherine was sound asleep.
“This is her afternoon nap,” Harriet whispered to Emma, who stood watching her daughter from the side of the cot. She was transfixed.
Harriet could see the tortured longing in her eyes. Indeed, it was more than cruel to separate a mother and a daughter like this.
“Would you like for me to wake her?” Harriet suggested gently.
“Oh, no. No. Please,” Emma backed up immediately. “I do not wish to disturb her slumber. I fear that I have already disturbed her enough.”
Harriet nodded, “I shall wait for you outside the nursery then. You may come out whenever you feel ready.”
