Chapter 41
Mary
Dumfries
April 16, 1912

Mary sat at the edge of her bed, staring blankly out the window as heavy rain pelted the glass. The weather outside perfectly reflected her mood. It had been almost twenty-four hours since she'd heard the news of the Titanic's sinking, and there was still no news of Jock. The postcard from the great liner Jock had sent just days before was perched on her windowsill.

Their windowsill.

This was the room she shared with Jock when he was home in between voyages. Many of his items were stored in the large dresser and wardrobe, waiting for him when he returned from New York.

Mary had to swallow the lump that was forming in her throat.

She couldn't bear to read that morning's papers. All she had learned yesterday were rumors. It would only be the same today.

She brought her hand to her stomach, which was still flat. Her mother's words from last afternoon had kept her up all night. What would she do if Jock didn't come back? Would she be accepted by the town having a child out of wedlock? Jock and she had been handfasting, but she couldn't recall any women in the town who had gotten pregnant handfasting and not ended up marrying the father of their child.

Her mother came into the room, not bothering to knock. She held that morning's paper in one hand and offered Mary a cup of tea with the other.

"Maman, I can't," Mary said, waving the paper away.

Her mother opened the paper wordlessly and pointed to the front page.

700 SURVIVORS RESCUED BY CARPATHIA. 1500 DEAD.

"You can't hide from it," her mother said. "You need to be aware of what's going on. Regardless of what's happened, Andrew Hume will work to control Jock's story. You must advocate for yourself… for your child's sake."

Mary was unable to look at her mother, averting her eyes from the paper as well.

"I can't go around telling people I'm having Jock's baby until we know what's happened," Mary said at last.

"If you want to lay claim to anything of Jock's, you must," her mother insisted, taking her hands.

Mary glanced at the newspaper. Seven-hundred survivors. Jock was so lucky, he had to be one of those fortunate souls.

"There's also Nellie and her children," Mary said, picking up the paper at last. "Yesterday's paper said the first people to board the lifeboats were women and children first. If Jock isn't coming back, I want to hear it from Nellie's lips."

Her mother sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "With any other family, that would be fine. But Andrew Hume is a schemer, and he will scheme for the best possible outcome for himself and his horrid wife. Time is not on your side."

Mary glanced out the window. Just a few streets away she could see the Hume's house, smoke billowing out from its chimney.

"I will wait to hear what happened to Jock," Mary said, gulping down her tea. "Then, I will decide what to do. If Jock didn't survive, I have no choice but to tell the Humes of my condition."

Her mother pursed her lips, not used to her advice being ignored by her daughter, but she nodded stiffly.

"It's your decision. Welcome to motherhood. You'll be making decisions like these for the rest of your life."

Mary felt herself harden at this.

But she knew her mother was right.


Sorry for a delay in uploads! I have the story mostly written out, so I took some time to "catch up" and keep writing future chapters and holding off on uploading. Hope to have a few more chapters banged out on here by the end of the week!