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“Would you have?” Edith asked, with a trace of her old wryness returning despite the tension in the room. “Given how thoroughly your husband watches over you these days, I rather doubted a letter would reach you without his knowledge, or that you would be permitted to slip away unnoticed to meet with us, of all people.”
It was a strange assumption to make. Why would Edith believe Hudson was keeping a close eye on her? And why would that stop Edith – who had never held any fondness or respect for the Duke of Wolvesley anyway?
“That is not the case. But – what is the meaning of this?” she managed finally. “Edith – Cornelius – why would you do such a thing?”
It was then, in the flickering candlelight, that Anna noticed the particular way Edith and Cornelius stood beside one another – close, familiar, Cornelius’ hand resting at the small of Edith’s back with an ease that spoke of an intimacy Anna had not been aware existed between them once more.
“Are you–” Anna began, glancing between them.
Edith flushed, glancing bashfully up at Cornelius. “We are engaged.”
“Engaged,” Anna repeated, momentarily forgetting her fright entirely in her astonishment. “When did this happen? You told me only days ago you would speak to him. How did things progress to this point?”
“I did go to him, after our conversation, with the intention of saying goodbye at least,” Edith admitted. “I found I could not bear the uncertainty a moment longer, and once we had spoken properly – truly spoken, without a year of silence and misunderstanding between us – everything became rather clear. We intend to marry within a fortnight. There is no more stopping us this time, Anna. Not the ton, not scandal, and certainly not his brother.”
“I am glad,” Anna smiled, meaning her words entirely, some of the fear still coursing through her giving way to genuine warmth for her friend. “Truly, Edith, I am so glad for you both. But I still do not understand why this required my abduction in the middle of the night.”
Cornelius stepped forward then, his expression grave. “Because we felt we owed you a debt we have never properly repaid, and we mean to settle it tonight.”
“We have made preparations,” Edith continued, her grip on Anna’s hands tightening earnestly. “A home for you, wherever you wish to live – Bath, if you prefer the countryside, or further still, if you would rather put distance between yourself and London altogether.”
“Papers, as well,” Cornelius added, “For an annulment. Everything necessary to see it through quickly, quietly, without further scandal attached to your name. You need not remain married to my brother a moment longer than you wish to, Anna. You can be free of this – free of him – and we intend to see that you want for nothing, wherever you choose to build your new life.”
For a moment, Anna could only stare at them both, the offer taking a long moment to fully settle into comprehension.
“An annulment? A home elsewhere? Why would I... why have you gone this far for me?” she questioned faintly.
“We have had a year to think of little else,” Cornelius said.
When he spoke, his voice carried none of the careless charm Anna remembered from the few occasions she had observed him at a distance during the Season – only a weary sort of determination. “Edith carried the guilt of it long before I fully understood the extent of what my brother had done. I confess I did not think of you at all, in those first months – I was too consumed with my own anger toward Hudson, and my own grief over losing Edith, to spare much thought for the woman caught between us. It was only once Edith returned from the countryside, and told me plainly what her guilt had cost her, that I understood how selfish that omission had been.”
“And so, you built me an escape,” Anna realized quietly.
“It was the least we could offer,” Edith said to her friend gently. “You gave up your dreams of a love match, Anna. I know you did not speak of it often, but I remember well enough how you once described the sort of marriage you hoped for – someone who would choose you, entirely, without duty or convenience forcing his hand. Instead, you were given Hudson, a man who had ruined you in the span of one night before he decided your fate, all because of us. It has haunted me every day since.”
“An annulment,” Anna whispered again, the words tasting like ashes in her mouth.
“Yes,” Edith nodded, her expression open and hopeful. “You need not thank us. We only wish to undo what our own foolishness set into motion. You never deserved to be caught in the middle of our troubles, Anna, and we have thought of little else these past months but how we might make it right.”
Anna felt something twist uncomfortably in her chest, some combination of gratitude for the sentiment and dismay at how thoroughly they had misunderstood the reality of her circumstances.
“I cannot obtain an annulment,” she announced finally.
Edith’s face fell slightly, though she pressed on. “I know it may feel a daunting prospect, but truly, we have arranged everything so that it need not be difficult for you at all –”
“Edith.” Anna shook her head. “I cannot obtain an annulment because I have children. Twins. Hudson’s children.”
The silence that followed was absolute.
Edith’s hands went slack in Anna’s own, her expression shifting rapidly from confusion to shock as the information settled fully into place. Anna realized, belatedly, that she had never mentioned the children in her prior meeting with her friend – they had had rather more pressing matters to discuss that afternoon they had met, Edith’s own heartbreak and guilt consuming what little time they’d had together – and so this revelation was landing now with the full force of its surprise.
“Children,” Edith repeated faintly. “You have – since when?”
“They are nearly five months old now,” Anna said. “I did not tell you sooner because there was so much else between us to address that day, and I confess, I did not think to mention it at all.”
“Anna.” Cornelius’ voice was sharp now, something like alarm threading through it. “Is this truly what you want? To remain in a marriage that began the way yours did, with children you were made to bear as a consequence of my brother’s recklessness? Or is this simply what he has convinced you to accept, because you saw no other course available to you?”
The accusation stung more than Anna expected, and she drew herself up, something fierce rising in her chest in response.
