Page 5

“I will. However, I will also ask at various points if you are sure.”

She saw by the set of his jaw that he would be sure.

“What happened?”

“There was an accident in town. I do not yet know where precisely but when I find out I will tell you. A cart was alongside your parents when it was brushed and bumped into by another cart going in the opposite direction. This caused a rope to snap and part of the cargo fell. According to the letter from your father’s solicitor it was a tun of wine. This volume, and weight, of liquid is the basis for the naval and freight term, the ton, T-U-N became T-O-N. So in weight terms a ton weight fell off the cart.”

Elizabeth paused, not to check on her cousin, but to compose herself.

“Your mother was killed instantly. It was a terrible tragic accident, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She did not suffer.”

Elizabeth stopped her narrative for a moment, to let Eddie compose himself, just as she had done.

“Thank you for being honest. I am glad that she did not suffer. What about Papa?”

“The huge barrel that killed your mother crushed his legs. I do not yet know all the details but what the doctor wrote in his note was that his legs were crushed to above the knees. Immediately upon his admittance to hospital they were both amputated. As soon as Uncle Philips returns he is going to take our aunt to the hospital to check on him.”

Eddie nodded but then screwed his eyes shut. His question, when asked, could barely be heard.

“Will he survive?”

Elizabeth took his hand.

“As I said to Jane a few hours ago, it is in God’s hands. If there is no infection then he should recover. But it will not be a full recovery, his legs are gone forever.”

Eddie’s face took on a mask of resolve.

“I have become aware of injuries such as this through the other pupils at school. Several of them have brothers or fathers, various different relatives, who have serving with the Army or the Navy. Many of the notes received have been black bordered telling the pupil of the death of the relative, but there have also been many notices of injury as well. When the pupil returns the circumstances are discussed. One of the pupils who is two years ahead of me told a tale similar to that which has happened to Papa. In his case it was the husband of a cousin and it was a cannonball from a French warship but the result was the same.”

Sadly this was all too common. The navies of Britain and France had been fighting for nigh on 20 years with only limited months of peace. There were thousands of men who had been discharged from service because of wounds similar to those of Mr. Gardiner. It mattered not whether it was death or maiming in battle, death in childbirth, death as an infant from numerous diseases, it was a rare family that did not have to deal with an early death.

“Do you wish to come downstairs?”

“Not tonight cousin Lizzie. I am going to stay here and think and pray.”

“I will check on you before I turn in for the night.”

“Thank you.”

With a final hug they parted and Elizabeth went downstairs to the parlour. Her aunt was sitting on the sofa weeping quietly into her handkerchief. Elizabeth passed her a fresh dry square but otherwise remained silent. Her aunt would speak if, or when, she wanted. After five minutes Aunt Philips sat up straighter and dapped her eyes for the final time.

“I suspect that we will all have these moments when our emotions overcome us.”

Elizabeth knew the benefits of moments of catharsis and nodded in agreement.

“How is young Eddie?”

Elizabeth pondered the question.

“Trying to be brave, while not sure why he is trying to be brave. There have been many deaths and severe wounds amongst his classmates and other pupils at his school. Children are exposed to the risks of life at a young age. He is in shock about his mother but his father is the focus of his prayers.”

It was late when the two gentlemen returned, too late to attend the hospital. The arrangements had been completed and the funeral service would be at 11.00 the following morning. They had stopped on the way back to Gracechurch Street and posted notice of the service on the board at the church of St. Magnus the Martyr, where the Gardiners worshipped.

The following morning Elizabeth was awake and downstairs in time to see her aunt and uncle head to Guy’s Hospital to see Mr. Gardiner. She waited in the dining room for her father before they started breakfast.

“What are your plans Papa?”

Mr. Bennet swallowed a mouthful of tea and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.