It took effort to hide her shaking anger. She opened her book, and buried her face in the first page. The letter dropped down and Eliza reached over, snatching it from Mary’s lap.
“What are you hiding little Mary?” Eliza scanned the letter and, to Mary’s horror, read the contents out loud. Everyone in the parlor ceased their conversations and listened to the intimate details of the letter. Sweat beaded on Mary’s forehead as she scanned the intrigued faces in the room all staring in her direction.
It was Eliza’s shrill voice that had them captivated. “Dearest Mary,” Eliza began reading the letter.
Dearest Mary,
I look forward to the day when I can call you my wife. That time, unfortunately, will need to be delayed. My love for you remains steadfast. The delay comes rather from a decision I made, a decision that I hope, my beloved, you will find agreeable.
I have decided to take my inheritance percentage early and go to the Americas to start fresh there. Once I am settled, I will send for you, and we shall be married.
Mary, my love for you burns the same as my desire to step out of my family’s shadow and forge my own path. I hope you can understand. I am sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to you in person, butI feared my resolve would stumble. Until we meet again, my love.
Yours Truly, Eduard
Mary stood forcefully to her feet. Fists clenched at her side she looked to her mother who quickly looked to Gregory. Mary dared not look back at her father, she knew pleading with him to have her released from the engagement was out of the question. The finality of his expression earlier made it clear to her that there was no changing Eduard’s mind either.
Mary has now found herself in an engagement to a man who she may never see again. Or worse, he would succeed, and she would make the perilous journey to the challenging new world, forced into a life she did not envision for herself.
“Mother, please excuse me, I need some fresh air.” Mary politely smiled, fighting back overdue tears, as she shuffled past the fluffy skirts of her sisters. She snatched the letter from her sister-in-law.
Sister-in-law? More like an enemy-in-law,she thought as she stormed out of the house.
The fresh air hit Mary’s face, a welcome change from the stale air in her home. The two-story building had been the ideal home for her growing up and she had always envisioned finding a home similar to share with Eduard. In the papers, she had read about how settlers in the Americas lived in wood cabins, usually with one room for the family to share. She shivered as a light rain fell around her.
Her lady’s maid, Beth, appeared with a cloak and opened a blue umbrella. Beth was the closest thing she had to a friend. All her other friends were busy with their own lives, managing their households, and didn’t have much time for single, unmarried friends.
Mary walked in silence as the sound of gentle rain pattered on the top of her umbrella. Puddles gathered underfoot, normally avoided, but today she welcomed the uncomfortable squish in her shoes with each step. Beth walked close behind, with the hood of her cloak up to shield her face from the rain.
Mary glanced back at Beth. “Why not join me under the umbrella? It is certainly big enough for the both of us.” Mary extended her arm backwards, allowing Beth to come walk alongside her.
The streets were far less busy with pedestrians now that the sky had opened and unleashed the waiting rain. The few people they did pass gave judgmental looks at them. It was not common to see a highborn lady walking next to hired help.
I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. My life will still be my own,Mary thought as she continued to hold her head high despite the curious glances in their direction.
She clutched the book closer to her body. It held the letter that changed her life, and she was trying to decide what to do with it. Now her whole family knew the shame it held. She’d be forced to leave London and live in the new world.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Mary. I heard the letter from Eduard, about his leaving for America.” Beth’s small voice was nearly drowned out by the rain that surrounded them.
Mary sighed. “Yes, it appears I am to leave for America.”
The two ladies came to a stop on the top of the Westminster Bridge. They stood together in silence as they watched the rain hitting the river below.
“How are you handling it?” Beth broke the silence, her voice was soft and could barely be heard over the rain.
“Honestly, I am not sure. I care not about making as much money as our parents did. However, I was hoping we would have enough to live comfortably here in London. Be able to have the freedom I so desperately crave. Away from my family.” Marylowered her voice when she mentioned her family. She didn’t feel right speaking ill of them, despite how they had treated her over the years.
“I can understand that. I guess you are getting a new kind of freedom, one far away from your family. Where they can’t dictate anything you do or say.”
“Thank you, Beth.” Mary looked thoughtfully at Beth. Her words brought a new sense of hope. She was right. In America she would be far away from their influence and power. She could forge her own path.
She was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t realized they wandered too close to the road and away from the walking path. A horse drawn carriage turned onto the bridge heading in their direction. Mary looked up just in time to see the horse heading straight towards them.
Her body froze in fear and her mind went blank as she watched her inevitable doom racing toward her.
I don’t want to die.Her heart pounded as she jumped to the side. Then she realized that Beth was focused on a puddle underfoot and hadn’t seen the horse yet.
Before she could think, she jumped back in the path, grabbed Beth and pulled her to the side. The horse clopped by, the coachman waved his fist at the women huddled together on the bridge. Mary’s breathing came in too quickly and she felt light-headed as her blood tried to pump and calm her nerves.
