“I was told I could never carry another.”
Her voice broke.
“My husband heard Doctor Harrow helped place unwanted infants.”
Eliza’s face became cold.
“Unwanted.”
Beatrice cried harder.
“He told us the mother had abandoned her.”
“I DID NOT.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Beatrice looked toward Ruth.
“Because the day she arrived, there was a note inside her blanket.”
Eliza froze.
“What note?”
Beatrice walked slowly toward a cabinet.
She opened a drawer.
Removed a folded piece of paper.
Her hand shook as she extended it.
Eliza took it.
Her own handwriting appeared at the top.
Not a surrender.
A letter.
One she had written while pregnant.
To Ruth.
She had planned to keep it inside a memory box.
My dearest daughter, you may arrive in a world where I have very little to give you, but you will never arrive unwanted.
Eliza covered her mouth.
Beatrice whispered:
“I read that and knew something was wrong.”
“Why didn't you return her?”
Beatrice closed her eyes.
The answer was shameful before she spoke.
“Because I wanted her.”
Silence.
“I told myself perhaps the letter was old.”
“Perhaps you changed your mind.”
“Perhaps the doctor knew better.”
Eliza stared.
Beatrice whispered:
“I lied to myself because I loved holding her.”
Eliza looked down at Ruth.
“Love does not make theft holy.”
Beatrice began sobbing.
“No.”
“It doesn't.”
Footsteps sounded downstairs.
Men.
Jonathan Caldwell had arrived.
With Doctor Harrow.
The confrontation happened in the parlor.
Eliza refused to surrender Ruth.
Caleb refused to surrender Samuel.
Mrs. Henderson sent Pritchard for the sheriff before anybody could stop him.
Doctor Harrow entered wearing a black coat and the offended expression of a respectable man inconvenienced by lesser people.
He looked at Eliza.
Then the baby.
His face did not change.
“You should not be here.”
Eliza stared.
“You told me she was dead.”
Doctor Harrow removed his gloves.
“You were in no condition to care for an infant.”
“I FED HER.”
“You were emotionally unstable.”
“My child's father abandoned us.”
“I HAD WORK.”
“You had no husband.”
There it was.
Not medicine.
Judgment.
Eliza’s face went white.
Doctor Harrow continued.
“Mrs. Caldwell can provide everything you cannot.”
Eliza looked around the luxurious room.
Paintings.
Carpets.
Silver.
Then at Ruth.
“My daughter needed me.”
Doctor Harrow scoffed.
“Children need stability.”
Caleb stepped forward.
“Careful.”
Doctor Harrow looked at him.
“And you are?”
“Someone telling you to choose the next words carefully.”
The doctor’s eyes moved toward Caleb’s size.
He adjusted his tone.
“Eliza signed relinquishment.”
Eliza shook her head.
“No.”
Doctor Harrow reached into his case.
He produced a document.
Her signature appeared at the bottom.
Eliza stared.
The room tilted.
“I don't remember.”
“You signed.”
Mrs. Henderson snatched the document.
She read it.
Then looked at the doctor.
“You administered laudanum.”
“For postpartum pain.”