He and Prince ran till they were far from the fort, the cottages, and the other bathers, so that no one would be scandalized by the sight of a Priest in his under-clothes. Equally unencumbered, Prince rolled in the sand or snuffled amongst the beach grasses (only once attracting the ire of a crab) while Joseph swam or simply lazed.
When visits to the mission at Summerville took them inland, Joseph often allowed himself to tour the Stratfords’ gardens. Edward’s father had noted Joseph’s admiration of their design and variety, and he’d said Joseph was welcome any time. He always learned something when he chatted with the plantation’s gardener, a slave who was a master at his craft.
Sometimes, Tessa happened to be visiting her father-in-law’s island cottage or his plantation garden and her husband happened to be fishing or hunting. Then, Joseph lingered.
CHAPTER 31
The poor breast was no where discoloured, & not much larger than its healthy neighbour. Yet I felt the evil to be deep, so deep…
— Fanny Burney, 1811 letter
When Joseph came to dinner at his father’s house that autumn, he found Tessa and her brother there. Throughout the meal, Joseph’s family was strangely somber. Conversations stumbled and died. His father didn’t make his customary jests or try to rile Joseph in any way. His sister, who usually took a second serving, barely touched her food.
Before they were quite finished, Joseph’s grandmother begged to be excused. His mother rose too. Joseph’s grandmother could no longer walk without assistance. Her daughter’s strength also wavered; May had to help them from the room.
Joseph’s father stopped poking his apple tart and set down his fork. He looked at Joseph, Tessa, and Liam. “We told them this morning what we’re about to tell you.” Finally, his gaze rested on Hélène.
She lowered her eyes to her bodice. “It was hardly the size of a pea,” she began in a weak voice. “At first Iwondered: ‘Has that always been there?’ I have plenty of flesh in which it could hide—and I am not in thehabitof fondling myself.” Joseph thought his sister was attempting a smile, though it looked like a grimace. “But it’s larger than it was before.”
What in Heaven’s name was she talking about?
“There is a tumor inside my right breast,” Hélène clarified.
The clock ticked loudly on the mantle.
All these months, while Joseph had been gallivanting about on his new horse, his little sister had been?—
“Iknewsomething was wrong!” Liam threw his napkin on the table as if it were a dueling glove, as if he had been betrayed.
Hélène was twenty-four years old. There must be a reason for this, a lesson?—
Only Tessa leaned closer to squeeze her friend’s hand. “Are you in pain, Ellie?”
“Not— Not yet.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“We didn’t want to distress you unnecessarily,” Joseph’s father answered. “I needed to monitor the growth, to find case histories and consult with my colleagues. This may be a cyst—it may be benign. That could still mean surgery…”
Joseph shuddered and looked away, as if he felt the knife penetrating his own chest. Sometimes, surgery patients actually died of the pain—shock, it was called. And Joseph would never forget what had happened to his grandfather. An operation lasting barely a minute, an operation meant to extend his life, had instead hastened his death. A fatal fever might follow any surgery, no matter how simple or successful.
“The truth is, we still don’t know what we’re facing,” his father admitted. “There aremanydifferent types of tumors. But we have decided not to risk a trocar. It would give us a sample of the growth and help us determine its nature; but if the tumor is cancerous, such a puncture would speed metastasis. We would have to operate—amputate—immediately.”
Tessa drew in a sharp breath and covered her mouth with the hand that did not hold her friend’s.
“The tumor remains small and movable. It is not growingrapidly, and it is not affecting Hélène’s lymphatic system. We must simply watch and wait.”
“I didn’t want to add to your troubles, Tessa.” Hélène’s face begged forgiveness as she looked to each of them. “Joseph, you have a whole parish to worry about. And Liam, I—I know I should have told you. But I was so afraid you’d want to end our betrothal.”
The Irishman stood abruptly, his right hand a fist. “That is precisely what I am going to do.”
Joseph saw the tears spring into his sister’s eyes. She dropped her head. “I understand.”
“Liam!” Tessa cried in admonishment and disbelief.
“I meant—” He held up a finger. “Wait.” Liam turned his back on Hélène, not to flee but to ask Joseph: “Father, how many weeks do you have to announce the banns?”
“Three…”
