Chapter 15

3 weeks later…

‘How long does she have? She just seems to be getting weaker.’ George said. He sat beside his wife on her bed.

Her breath grew weaker and her eyes could hardly open.

‘I am sorry Sir but I would be surprised if your wife made it to dawn.’ The experienced doctor responded. He put his magnifying glass away and took a step back.

‘I must go. I have things to do for the business.’ George said.

He finally left Lydia’s side and tried to head towards the bedroom door. Lydia soon grabbed his hand.

‘Wait. sit back down. Let me say my piece.’ Lydia told him with a haunting weak frail. Her voice was almost unrecognisable, just a slight noise in the dusty air. She then continued: ‘it is no secret that you and I have not always got on. We fought until we struggled to breath and slammed many doors. I even spend nights crying, wishing for a better suited husband. But in the grand scheme of things, you have always done right by me. Made sure I am clothed, bathed and well fed. I have never gone without anything and neither has our dear son, Sheldon. For that, I am grateful. It was an honour to spend the glory days of my life in the Winchester family. It is true, I wanted a better husband but I had the best man and a great friend. We did not love one another in the traditional sense, but I felt your care and friendship for me and it got me through dark days.’ Lydia explained with each word slurring brightly behind the other.

George smiled and wiped the matted hair from her pale cheek.

‘Hush now. All marriages have ups and downs but we made it until the end, right? I know we both did our best to make this work in a dark and awful world. You have given me an heir and for that, I will be eternally grateful. I will never forget the infinite support you have shown me through all my life ventures.’ George replied, he found it hard not to shed a tear but he kept his deep feelings locked away as he always had.

‘Never forget me and the great life we have built for ourselves here. But please, marry her and be happy. I have seen the way you look at her, she has kind eyes. You do not deserve to spend another moment being unhappy.’ Lydia gasped.

George’s face turned sour. He wondered how she knew of such things that he had never spoken of or admitted to. He stared at the ground and wondered how best to reply. But when he looked back up, he noticed his wife was lifeless.

‘Lydia?’ He said with his voice cracking.

The doctor ushered over to her bedside to check her pulse. He looked at George and shook his head to confirm his suspicions, she had passed on. George didn’t know how to react to such situations. He removed himself from the room and took a deep breath. He let the shock run through him and drain the life from him. He was interrupted when his strapping young son came dashing up the staircase.

‘Where is she? Please tell me I am not too late!’ Sheldon said with a hint of emotion in his voice. Their sadness met one another, through tearful eyes.

‘I am sorry my dear son, she has already met her end. She is in a better place now. Go and say your goodbyes to her while you have the chance.’ George said, finally making eye contact with his son and almost feeling a connection.

Sheldon did what his father told him, for the first time in his life. He marched past his father and headed into the bedroom to see his mother for one last time.

‘Oh and father? Miss Spenbourne is waiting for you in the drawing room. I attempted to put her off but she claims it is urgent.’ Sheldon said. George nodded to him and walked past him down the stairs. He headed into the drawing room and saw Anne waiting for him, looking overly anxious.

‘Anne? Sheldon said you wanted to see me urgently. Is everything okay?’ George said as he walked closer to Anne and greeted her with his sparkly welcoming eyes.

‘I should not bother you, not now. The word has spread around your household that Mrs. Winchester has sadly met her end. This is family time, I should come back another time.’ Anne announced. She had a certain nervousness about her person.

‘Nonsense. It is true she has passed on, but it gives me pleasure in such sad times to see your face. You are the only joy in my life, please, stay.’ George convinced her with a warm and heartfelt smile.

‘Okay well I came to tell you that— well, that I know who saw us.’ Anne replied hesitantly.

‘Oh, you got to the bottom of it? Let me guess, Bertha Spenbourne.’ George said. He let out a sigh as he spoke. Anne nodded in agreement.

‘She took great pleasure in confirming my suspicions. She has warned me that I am to stay away from you as I am already ruined according to her.’ Anne explained to him.

‘Perhaps she is just concerned for you. She knows that young girls losing their innocence before marriage is frowned upon, but with a married man is far worse. I can see her point.’ George replied but Anne had a look of scorn painted on her face.

‘Nothing that woman does is ever for me and my sister. She only cares about our lives because it directly affects her. Are you saying you regret taking my maiden head?’ Anne cried.

George sighed, placed his head in his hand and wiped his eyes. He looked as though the weight of the modern world was pressing on his shoulders and almost squashing his existence.

‘I would never forget such a moment with you, but I cannot think of anything else but my family right now. It seems wrong to speak of what happened between us, just 5 minutes after my wife closed her eyes forever. It seems forbidden somehow. We should wait to see one another again, just until everything dies down. Perhaps just a few months.’ George announced.

Anne threw herself down to the armchair and sighed deeply. She glared up at George and fear took over her whole being.

‘It may not be as simple as that. I would love to leave you and your family to mourn in peace, but it may be near impossible.’ Anne said with tears of worry forming in her tired eyes.

‘Why? Do you fear that your Aunt Bertha will spread the word about what we did? If so, I can talk to her and try to talk her around. Maybe I can—’ George said, but Anne stood up and interrupted.

‘No. It is far more serious than dealing with my Aunt Bertha’s hate of me and my decisions. This is something we cannot run away from. Part of me does not want to say it out loud, for it will only make it all the more true.’ Anne responded.

George gave her a look of intrigue, perfectly balanced with worry. He watched her lips move as she spoke, wondering how he got so lucky to have her in his life. But the worry took over once again. He had to know what was making her seem so down.

‘Please, tell me. I would rather know what we are dealing with before I have to leave you alone for several weeks.’ George said.

‘I am afraid there is no easy way to say this, so I will be direct. Our moment of passion is still haunting me. And it will for several months. I am afraid I am with child.’

END OF CHAPTER 15