Mrs. Maybrick entered the parlor, her face filled with distress. “James, you must get back in bed.”
As she put her arm around him, helping Sir Rothschild to his feet, he gave me one last vicious smile.
30
November 10, 1938
London, England
I woke up the next morning with the same determination I had the two days before, but when I went into Mama’s room, her bed was empty.
My heart pounded hard as I rushed out of her room and went down the stairs in my pajamas—only to find her in the parlor.
I sagged against the doorframe, my hand over my heart as I caught my breath.
“There you are,” I said, entering the parlor.
She sat on the chair near the hearth, but her smile was sad as she greeted me. “I couldn’t sleep, worrying about your papa and you. So I thought I’d be more productive if I sat up and prayed through the night while you were in 1888.”
“You didn’t sleep?” I asked as I entered the room.
She shook her head, but there was more to her sadness this morning. It hung on her like a mantle.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“News has filtered into London this morning. There is a riot happening across Germany. It was started last night by the Nazis, and the German government is not intervening. Reports are coming in that hundreds of synagogues were destroyed, thousands ofJewish men have been arrested, and Jewish homes and businesses have been ransacked. The press is calling itKristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass.”
I sank into a chair near hers, feeling weak and afraid for what was about to come upon the earth. But my fear was nothing compared to the thousands of Jews who had lived throughKristallnacht, and the countless others who were fearing for their lives and the lives of their loved ones this morning across Germany.
“Why is the world so broken?” I asked her, tears in my voice.
She gently took my hand. “Because the hearts and the minds of her people are broken. And until we stop fearing our neighbors, and love them as Jesus commanded, there will be war and hatred and anger. Fear has the power to cause an entire nation to rise up and kill her perceived enemies. Just imagine what love could do if we’d let it.”
“I spoke to Sir Rothschild,” I said.
She nodded, eagerly. “And?”
“He’s bringing Papa here at noon—but he made me promise it would just be you and me. No one else.”
Mama closed her eyes briefly, and I knew she was trying to control her emotions. She missed Papa more than anything and had spent countless hours praying for his safe return. When she opened them, she nodded. “I’ll do anything to get him home.”
“I will, too. I think Sir Rothschild will be satisfied with the information I give him. I’ll just pray that he can’t find it at Windsor Castle.” I took a deep breath. “Ihopehe will be satisfied.” My hands clenched on my lap as I thought about all that he was getting away with. I hated injustice, especially when it was wrought against the people I loved. “I want him to face the consequences of his actions—both in 1888 and here. He tried to change history there yesterday. I think he might have forfeited his path without realizing it. I plan to find out if he died there.”
“Let the Lord deal with Sir Rothschild,” Mama said as she took my hand. “I want to return to Washington immediately. As soon as we have Papa.”
“Of course.” I rose to get dressed, but Mama didn’t let go of my hand.
“And when all of this is done,” she said. “We’ll talk about what you plan to do next.”
“I haven’t even let myself think that far ahead.”
Mama’s smile was both sad and hopeful. “I have—and I’m preparing myself to say good-bye, Kathryn.”
My mouth parted as I knelt before her. “What do you mean?”
She put her free hand on my cheek. “You’re in love with Austen. I think you know what I mean.”
“I am in love with Austen,” I said as my voice choked with emotion. “But I’m not ready to say good-bye, Mama.”
