“No. He was a wonderful man who died too young.”
Hundreds of questions raced around her mind. So many she didn’t even know where to start.
“Mrs. Danforth, perhaps it would be best if you started at the beginning and told Lottie what she needs to know.” Carter looked over at Lottie. “My wife looks a bit shocked right now, and I think just hearing your story would help.”
Mr. Monroe nodded in Mama’s direction and she began her story.
Carter took the clean handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lottie since the one she held was almost shredded.
Mama began to speak, her voice very soft. “Your father and I were quite young when we married. We also married against his parents’ approval. I was the daughter of the local baker and his parents were landowners. Gentry.
“We were young, and in love, and very happy. Your father made his living by painting portraits.”
“My father was an artist?” Lottie turned to Carter. “I have no talent in that area.”
“Not so, my dear. I’ve seen your watercolors.”
“When he died,” Mrs. Danforth continued, “my parents were already gone, and his parents would have nothing to do with me. That was the same week I discovered I was expecting you.
“I took a job as a maid until my employer discovered I was carrying a baby and he fired me.”
“Nicely done of the man to toss out a woman who had no one and a baby on the way,” Carter said.
Mr. Monroe nodded his approval.
“I took in laundry and sewing until you were born. It didn’t pay much, but I was able to keep myself fed. At that time, I was living in an abandoned hunting lodge.”
Mrs. Danforth drew in a deep breath and Mr. Monroe took her hand in his. “A man in the small village where we were living heard of my plight and offered me a job as a wet nurse to his newborn son. He was married but separated from his wife who lived in London. He, however, had the child with him.
“It came to a point where he gave me an ultimatum. Either become his mistress or he would throw me out. At
the time, I felt I had no choice. Maybe I did, but I was so very tired, and I wanted so much to provide more than the absolute necessities for you.”
“What happened to him?”
“He grew tired of me, which happens. He set me up with a house in London and secured another protector for me. That was when I arranged for you to live with the Stevens, who I knew from my childhood.” She looked Lottie in the eye. “Over the years I’ve had only five protectors.”
“Four, my dear,” Mr. Monroe said. “I will soon be your husband.”
Mrs. Danforth looked at the man with such love in her eyes Lottie felt her own tear up.
Without thinking, the words came tumbling out of her mouth. “Why does everyone think you are such a notorious . . .”
“Courtesan,” Mrs. Danforth said, offering Lottie a soft smile. “Because of my parties. I love having music, conversation, and stimulating evenings. I enjoy inviting poets to read and lectures on books and timely events. I even secured an opera singer from Italy one time.”
Mr. Monroe cleared his throat. “May I add that I met your mother five years ago. My wife, at the time, was suffering from a mental problem and had been in hospital for years.”
He looked at Mama. “We fell in love but could do nothing about it. Last month, my wife took her own life. I immediately proposed to your mother and she accepted. After another month or so, we will be wed.”
Lottie leaned back on the sofa where they sat and stared at her mother. This past year she’d thought so many terrible things about this woman. Would Lottie have made the choices she made? It was hard to say because her mother made sure she lived the sort of life that would prevent her from ever being in a position to have to make that sort of a decision.
“One thing I want you to know, Charlotte. I love you more than you will ever know. Well, maybe not. Once you have a child of your own and hold him or her in your arms you will understand how I feel about you.” By the end of her statement, she and Mama were both crying.
They both rose and embraced, hugging, crying, and she was sure, making the two men in the room a tad uncomfortable.
After a few minutes, they wiped their faces and sat side by side on the sofa, holding hands. Carter moved over to one of the chairs to give them more room.
“Charlotte, please tell me this nonsense between us has ended.”