Roswell filled his plate with food before sitting down. As he reached for his napkin, he asked, “How is she today?”
“It is not a good day,” his father admitted.
Unsure of what to say, he remained quiet. The doctor had warned them that the days would get progressively worse when it was near the end.
His father leaned back in his seat. “I heard that you brought Anette to visit your mother. She has talked of little else since then.”
“I am glad that brought her some happiness,” Roswell said.
“She is of the mind that Anette should marry Fredrick.”
Roswell tensed. The thought of Anette marrying his brother- or anyone else- greatly bothered him. “That would be a terrible match. Fredrick is much too serious for Anette.”
“I agree. But I do not understand why you have not married her yet.”
“We are just friends,” he admitted.
“What poppycock!” his father exclaimed. “Anyone with eyes can see that you two have true affection for one another.”
Reaching for his fork and knife, Roswell said, “I do not care to discuss this.”
“You need an heir,” his father stated. “Who knows if Fredrick is going to survive the war? He should never have gone, but he did not heed my advice. Which means our family’s legacy could come down to you.”
“I did not ask for that burden.”
“Neither did I, but you must be prepared to accept your responsibility. Your duty is to this family.”
Roswell gave his father an exasperated look. “Do we have to discuss this over breakfast? This conversation is far too serious for my tastes.”
His father had the decency to look ashamed. “I’m sorry. I am tired and I fear I am taking my frustrations out on you.”
“It is all right,” Roswell said. “You have a lot on your shoulders right now.”
“I just don’t know how much longer I can carry on as I have,” his father admitted. “It is hard watching the woman I love suffer. I just wish I could take the pain away.” His eyes became moist. “I have no right to complain about my lot in life. Fanny is still alive and that is all that matters.”
Roswell shifted in his seat to face his father. “I do not think you are complaining. You are going through something that is extremely difficult and have every right to express how you feel.”
Octavia stepped into the room and glanced between them. “Am I interrupting something?” she asked.
His father swiped at his eyes before rising. “No, I was just finishing breakfast. It is best if I return to your mother’s side.”
Once his father had departed from the room, Octavia said, “Poor Father. I fear that he is giving too much of himself right now.”
“He loves Mother very much.”
Octavia came and sat down next to him. “Do you think I will find someone that loves me as much as Father loves Mother?”
With a bob of his head, he replied, “I do, and it is no less than you deserve. You must promise me that you won’t settle for anything less.”
“I promise,” Octavia said.
Carson stepped into the room with a silver tray in his hand. “An urgent message came from Mr. Bolingbroke.”
Roswell jumped up from his seat and grabbed the letter. He unfolded it and read it to himself. “Anette has been abducted.”
As he crumpled the paper in his hand, Octavia asked, “What is wrong?”
“Anette has been abducted,” he stated.
