His gaze softened. We’d come a long way, he and I, and he now felt like an ally. Someone I wanted nearby. “As you wish, your ladyship.”
I dipped my fingers inside the envelope and pulled out a small piece of white paper folded in half. Setting the envelope on my book, I gently unfolded the telegram, praying with each breath I took. I read it aloud to Mr. Wentworth.
“‘To Anna Elizabeth Fairhaven, Marchioness of Cumberland. I regret to inform you that your husband, Captain Reginald Fairhaven, Marquess of Cumberland, was killed in action on October 5th near Champagne, France. A letter to follow.’”
The telegram fell to my lap as I stared straight ahead. Reggie was dead? I felt numb at the news.
“I’m sorry, your ladyship,” Mr. Wentworth said. “Deeply sorry for your loss.”
I found myself nodding in response, though I hardly knew what he had said. Reggie wasn’t supposed to die. He was an aide to the commanding officer. His job was safe, wasn’t it? He was only there as a figurehead to recruit more soldiers. How could he have died?
Teddy began to fuss, pulling me out of my daze. I rose and went to him, lifting him into my arms and holding him close.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Mr. Wentworth asked, his tone gentle and sympathetic.
“No.” There would be much to do in the days ahead, but right now all I could think about was comforting my son and coming to terms with the news I’d been given. “Please inform the staff. We’ll need to go into full mourning.”
The words felt hollow, even to me.
Mr. Wentworth slipped out of the room, and I began to bounce Teddy. I couldn’t believe Reggie was gone. I’d sent him a letter the day after our son was born. Had he received it? Hadhe known he was a father and there was an heir for Cumberland Hall?
“You’re the new Marquess of Cumberland,” I said to my son as I paced to the window. “And I’m now the dowager.”
It seemed strange to say these things to the infant in my arms. He was so tiny and helpless, so incapable of bearing the weight and responsibilities of his title. But I would be there to bear it for him.
“You’ll never know your father.” A soft breath slipped from my mouth as I said, “I never really knew him, either.”
Sadness filled my heart, but not grief. At least, not in the way it had these past few months after leaving Williamsburg. I felt so desensitized to loss. It was all around me, seeming to lurk near every corner.
I held Teddy closer, praying that he would live a long and healthy life. I didn’t deserve this favor from God, but I was confident He loved me and would do what was best. Yet I had learned that what was best wasn’t always what was easy. In the days following the knowledge of Henry’s death, I had asked God to forgive me for trying to change history. I still didn’t understand why He had allowed Henry to die, but I had decided to trust God. I would have to leave Teddy in His hands, as well, and trust that He would take care of my son.
Edith soon arrived in the drawing room, her face pale and her eyes wide with sorrow. “I just heard the shocking news. I’m so sorry. What will you do?”
My hand ran over my son’s back as I contemplated my options. The fabric of his sleeping gown was soft and warm from his small body. There was only one thing I truly wanted, one thing I was now free to do as a widow and in control of my own life for the first time.
“I want to go home, Edith.”
“Home?”
“To America.”
Her eyes lit up with joy for a moment, but then they dimmed again. “Will you want me to accompany you?”
“If it pleases you. Do you have other plans?”
Pink tinged her cheeks as she toyed at the edge of the carpet with her shoe. “Williams asked me to marry him.”
“Did he?” I smiled, not surprised. “I’m happy for you, Edith.”
“I was scared to tell you, because he’s been wanting to go to America. I thought I’d have to choose between you.”
“And now?” I asked hopefully.
“Now I can tell him we’ll all go together.”
I nodded at the idea. “I’ll need to wait until Teddy is a bit older and I can get all of my affairs in order concerning Cumberland Hall. I’d like to keep some staff here to maintain its operations until Teddy is old enough to choose what he’d like to do.”
“Do you think we’ll leave this year?”
