I cannot tell you about the horrors of the war, but know it is thoughts of coming back to you that keep me comforted each day. I also desperately miss your company, and I love you, my darling Fanny. I shall see you soon.
Yours and only yours forever,
Captain Simon Gracely
The letter was crumpledand creased in several places, a testimony to how often it had been read and touched. Simon could even see the water stains that were perhaps tears. Suddenly he understood the hope and fear in the expression with which she stared at him. He understood why she had taken such drastic actions to kidnap him to this location. He had made promises to her. She had borne him a child…out of wedlock.
A sound escaped his throat, and the rough anguish in it shocked Simon. How much did she have to bear? And did she do it alone, or had she been vilified? Had his mother known? Surely not. Yet it was clear to Simon he had never offered for Lady Katherine. He would never have acted with such callous disregard of the promises he had made to Fanny Fairbanks. His mother had taken advantage of his missing memories to make him believe that he was engaged.
Simon raked his fingers through his hair before folding the letter and carefully putting it in his top pocket. How he wished he could recall it all. The letter jarred no memory, not even a wisp. Yet it was as if the emotions and intent infusing the words had lifted from the pages and burrowed themselves into his heart.
They needed to have a long talk. Why had she not mentioned this child before now? Simon started to march toward the cottage and paused. She had wanted to be alone, and he would respect that. He turned toward the woods and made his way to his estate. He needed to think about what this all meant and what it meant for both their futures.