“Of course I have thought of it, but the most difficult time for her was when you left.”
Aurora set her tea aside. Her eyes brightened with unshed tears. “It is a measure of the love I bear my daughter that I did not take her with me.”
“Precisely what do you mean by that?”
“Oh, Bran,” she said tiredly, the corners of her mouth turning downward. “Must you question everything I say, searching my motives? I meant exactly what I said. I cared too deeply for Clara to take her away from the folly. Her home is here.”
Brandon stood. “It gives me great pleasure to hear you speak so,” he said coolly. “I admit to having some fears that you would try to take Clara from me when we are divorced. It is good to know you have her best interests at heart.” He started toward the door as Aurora buried her face in her hands and began to sob. “As you say, her home is here.”
Three days later,after listening to more of Aurora’s pleadings than was his wont, Brandon left the folly for the capital. He had wanted to tear himself away earlier but was afraid to abandon his position as the buffer between Aurora and everyone else. Clara was cautious of her mother, rarely leaving Shannon’s side, but even there Aurora had made some progress, taking her daughter for walks and never objecting when Clara joined them for the evening meal. Cody was immune to Aurora’s charm, and Brandon wished it were also true of Shannon. With equal parts awe and fear he watched Aurora attempt to weave her spell on her sister. Because he never saw Shannon alone, he hadn’t the least idea if his wife was successful.
Though the question bothered him during the ride to Williamsburg, Brandon found himself in his lawyer’s home, returning Thomas Maine’s firm handshake, without any clear answer.
“It’s good to see you, Bran. Here, take a seat. Can I get you something to drink? Scotch?”
“No. Nothing.” Brandon sat in one of the brocade wing chairs in front of Thomas Maine’s desk, leaning back and stretching his legs. Leather bound volumes on a variety of subjects, including law, astronomy, science, and agriculture, lined one wall of the study. Through the large bay window behind the desk Brandon could see two women strolling past the cobbler’s shop and a child rolling a hoop down the pebble-paved street.
“It’s been too long, Bran. I was beginning to think you had forgotten your friends. Dare I hope this is a friendly visit?” Thomas asked, slipping into his high-backed leather chair. He took off his spectacles, buffed them on the sleeve of his russet jacket, and replaced them, carefully fitting the curved stems around his ears. “You received your payment for the tobacco, didn’t you?”
“Every farthing,” Brandon said, his satisfaction evident.
“Good. I honestly don’t know how far we would have gotten with the customs men if they had reneged on their agreement. Damn hard to fight the Crown and win. So, what brings you here?”
“A delicate matter, I’m afraid. I want to divorce my wife.”
Thomas’s silver-tipped eyebrows lifted a good half inch above his glasses. “What? Bran, you can’t be serious.”
“I assure you I am.” He sat up, resting his elbows on his knees as his fingers interlocked into one fist. “My marriage to Aurora has become untenable. It is quite impossible that we should continue as husband and wife.”
Thomas plucked a quill from his desk and began twirling it consideringly between his thumb and forefinger. “I am aware of certain rumors regarding Mrs. Fleming, that she did indeed honor her promise to leave you for Parker Grant. Is this the action which has prompted you to see divorce?”
“Yes.”
“And her return to Jamestown on theCentury?”
“So you heard of that…. I had wondered if the news reached you here. That is another matter entirely, Tom, and I cannot speak of it. But I assure you it did not enter in my decision. So? Will you assist me? I know nothing of how a divorce may be accomplished.”
“It isn’t possible.”
Brandon wasn’t certain he had understood the lawyer’s meaning. “I know it is not an action to be taken lightly, and I have considered what the scandal will mean to myself, my wife, and my daughter. But the scandal is far easier to bear than continuing a mockery of marriage. Is it your services you are withholding? If so, I can understand why you would not want to embroil yourself in the affair, and I’ll seek help elsewhere. But you must know that Idointend to seek a divorce. On this I am determined.”
“No, you misunderstand.” Thomas dropped the quill. “I will assist you in any way I’m able, but I fear I may only be of use to you as a friend, to offer and lend my support. As a lawyer there is nothing I can do.”
“What do you mean?”
Thomas stood and prepared himself a brandy. He turned slowly to Brandon. “I mean there is no provision in our laws which address divorce. You must apply to the church.”
“This is a poor sort of joke, Tom.”
“I assure you I am not joking. There are simply no legal procedures to complete a divorce.”
“But we’re Englishmen, for God’s sake. Surely the Crown has laws which govern the event.”
“The Crown does have laws—for Englishmen in England. The colonies, within reason, have been allowed to establish their own laws. Quite simply, Virginia has no procedure for divorcement at this time. You may leave her, she may leave you, but a legal end to the marriage? No, it cannot be done.” Tom returned to his desk, hitching one hip over the edge. “Must you have a divorce, Bran? Why not go on as you have?”
Brandon slumped backward in his chair. “Aurora was never on theCentury,and that is all I can say on the matter. She was with my brother then, but she returned recently. When I informed her what I wanted to do, Parker turned her out. She’s at the folly now, Tom, and I want her gone. I am willing to make some provisions for her, but I do not want her at the folly.”
“Then you have but one choice that I can see, and that is to appeal to the church. It will take time, more than you would like, but it can be done.”
