“Not at all,” she told him in earnest. “I merely desire to see you happy.”
He seemed to mull this over a moment. “I’ll think on it. Right now, there’s still Cynthia’s upcoming wedding to consider. Moving ahead with any drastic changes should probably wait until she has spoken her vows. I’d hate to give Mr. Petersen or his parents a reason to call things off.”
“Agreed.”
George finally smiled. “Good. That’s settled then. Care for a game of cards?”
Wilhelmina located the deck and returned to her seat. She knew George was being protective. It was in his nature. But she hated feeling like she was becoming a hindrance to him, a burden keeping him from the life he deserved.
Of course, altering his perspective only required a change in circumstance. This was apparent when he came to speak with Wilhelmina six months later. In the sort of bleak tone one might use when there’d been a death in the family, he announced that he’d gotten Fiona with child.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered. Slumped in the same chair he’d used for their previous conversation on the matter, he clasped his head between his hands. No man had ever looked more defeated or miserable. It broke Wilhelmina’s heart. The joy George would surely have felt over the pregnancy was being overshadowed by the complication of his marriage to her.
Now, faced with a choice between the scandal of divorce or bringing an illegitimate child into the world, she knew his hand had been forced by fate. As such, the only thing she could think to do was offer comfort and reassurance as he’d so often done for her. “It’s all right. I will survive this, George. We all will.”
“I’ve spoken about it at length with Fiona. She asked me to convey her gratitude. What you are willing to do is—”
“The correct thing.”
“Mina…” His voice was thick with feeling.
“Moving forward, we’ll need a plan,” she told him matter-of-factly before she too succumbed to emotion. “Right now, only the three of us know the true nature of this marriage or that you and I share a bond stronger than what most married couples enjoy. If we are to succeed in dissolving our marriage completely, we’ll need to put up a good façade. The fewer people we confide in, the better.”
“I’ve considered this too,” George said. “I think we need to tell Cynthia and her husband, Henry, what to expect. I also think it would benefit you if one or two of our closest friends, like the Penningtons, were brought into our confidence. This way, you won’t be completely alone afterward.”
“Maybe,” she agreed. “From what I gather, you and I shan’t be permitted to see each other once the divorce has been settled.”
“Not that we’d have much opportunity to.” When she gave him a puzzled look he explained, “Although getting through this may take a long time, Fiona and I intend to leave England as soon as it’s over since staying here and facing the aftermath could be difficult for our child.”
Wilhelmina’s stomach clenched at the idea of George moving overseas. He’d always been there and while she was happy to help him marry Fiona, she instantly knew his absence from England would lead to an unwelcome emptiness in her heart. For his sake, she forced herself to maintain her composure.
“Where will you go?”
“Massachusetts has a well-established logging industry, but it’s my understanding that the area surrounding the Great Lakes shows promise. It’s reputed to be an especially stunning part of North America. Most importantly, it’s far away.”
It certainly was. Wilhelmina forced a smile and tried not to panic. This was for the best. George would be with the woman he loved and start a family. With Cynthia already settled a few months earlier, her future had been secured. As for Wilhelmina herself, she’d weather the storm as best as she could, most likely by focusing all her energy on the property she owned near Renwick. George had helped her purchase the small farm nearly five years ago. After a serious bout of influenza, he’d insisted on making sure she’d have a property in her own name in case he died. She’d not been there often, but having it did reassure her.
“You do realize your child will likely be born out of wedlock,” Wilhelmina said. She hated bringing this up, but decided it was best to face the facts, no matter how unappealing. “From what I gather, the proceedings we intend to undertake could last a couple of years.”
George’s gaze finally sharpened. “I’m aware, but once it’s done, my son or daughter shall have my name.”
Wilhelmina nodded. “With this in mind, let’s get to work on ruining my reputation.”
James Sebastian Dale was not partial to large social gatherings. He much preferred spending his evenings at home, alone, and in the company of a good book. But with his son, Michael, home on leave from university, it was James’s fatherly duty to make sure Michael improved upon his social skills. He’d need them when the time came for him to pick out a wife.
So with this roundabout way of ensuring the continuation of his family name in mind, James had arrived at the Pennington ball, offered Michael a couple of pointers, and encouraged him to ask a young lady to dance. Standing on the sidelines, he watched his son with pride. The boy cut a dashing figure in his evening attire and, James noted with satisfaction, his dance partner wasn’t the only woman who looked to be admiring him.
“I’m glad you were able to join us this evening,” James’s host, long-time friend, and former client, Viscount Pennington, murmured as he came to stand next to James. Heralding from an affluent family, James had attended both Eton and Cambridge, and was thus well-acquainted with numerous peers. “One doesn’t often have the pleasure of your company.”
“As you know, I’m married to my work, though I will admit it is good to get out on occasion.”
“You deserve to be revered,” Pennington said. “Not only for your legal mind, but for your dedication. I dare say most men in your position would rather choose a life of leisure.”
James snorted. His father was one of the wealthiest landowners in England so James had no need for employment. He could afford to do nothing, but what would be the point of that? “Such an existence would bore me. I find I relish the challenge of a good case, never mind the satisfaction of delivering an indisputable argument in court.”
“To be sure, I cannot complain. Had it not been for you I fear Mr. Hardwick would have gotten away with murder after his cotton mill burned to the ground. I’m glad he was held to account for his negligence.”
“Agreed.”
Pennington had risked his own reputation by making his dealings with Hardwick publically known, but as the primary investor, he’d felt responsible for the women who lost their lives due to negligence.
“Does Michael intend to become a barrister too?”
James returned his gaze to the dance floor and located Michael. “He’s more timid in nature than I and would rather avoid public speaking. As such, he is studying to become a solicitor instead.”
“I wish I would have followed your example with regard to my own children’s education. It would do them good to work for a living, if only temporarily.”