bewilderment.
“Mrs. Parnell! What’s the matter?”
Anne began gasping, her face growing pale as she stared helplessly at the floor. “Clara,
help me into my bedroom and then send for the physician.”
Anne lay on her bed, her face soaked in perspiration while she panted and moaned
endlessly. The physician stood up from his chair in the corner of the room and went to her to
check her condition. He carefully inhaled before going to Hope and Rose, who were lingering
hesitantly in the doorway.
“The child will undoubtedly arrive soon, but I cannot say exactly when,” he informed
them. “Mrs. Parnell has been laboring for nine hours now. The infant is not in good health or else
she would not have gone into labor. It is still alive, but if she is still laboring a couple of hours
from now it may have to be born unnaturally.”
“What do you mean, ‘unnaturally’?” Hope tensely inquired.
“I mean that I may have to open that part of her abdomen and…take out the infant
myself,” he haltingly finished.
Rose’s hand covered her mouth while Hope gazed shockingly at the man, her mouth
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slightly open. After a couple of moments she collected herself and nodded.
“Whatever you say is what must be done,” she said firmly. She turned her eyes away
from the physician and went over to Anne to gently sponge her face, staring down at her in fear.
“Dr. York, are you certain that she is all right? It seems to me that she is suffering in
unconsciousness.”
“I assure you that she is fine. If she is asleep, it is only from exhaustion.”
Hope turned to Rose. “Rose, has someone sent for Guinevere? I know that Mrs. Parnell
would want her here now.”
“I believe that Kim tried to send for her, but she is out of town. She could not have
known that Mrs. Parnell would be nigh to giving birth two months in advance.”
Hope nodded in understanding, but her cheeks had lost their color. “Well, I certainly
hope that the three of us can manage everything sufficiently.”
Anne stirred then, and opened her eyes to her maid. Confusion flooded her countenance
to mingle with her fatigue.
“Hope, has the child come yet?” she murmured, her voice deadened.
“No, not yet, dear,” she answered, kneeling down at the bedside and pushing her hair off
of her forehead. “Go to sleep. Hopefully it will be here when you awaken next.”
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A couple of hours later Dr. York kneeled at the foot of the bed while Hope knelt by
Anne’s side, squeezing her hand and encouraging her.
“There, there, ma’am, you’re doing fine,” she assured her mistress. “Everything is going
to be all right.”
Dr. York shook his head in frustration. He glanced at Anne and Hope. “The baby is in a
backward position,” he murmured. “I’m going to have to turn it. Remain calm, Mrs. Parnell.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’m right here,” Hope comforted her. Between moans and shudders Anne
strained to speak.
“Hope, I don’t understand…how could this have happened? Henry was born strong.
What exactly is wrong with this child?”
“Now, ma’am, don’t worry. Not every birth is as simple as Henry’s was; this is the way it
is occasionally. It is not your fault. You are doing fine, so keep your spirits high and practice
perseverance, all right?”
Anne nodded rigorously, but fear was beginning to tear at her heart. Her fears of giving
birth had dissolved after Henry had been born, but with an ill child in an unusual position in her
womb now they were threatening to return.
This infant has to come soon, and I have to remain alive after it does. I would never trust
Roth to love and care for our children if I was to die.
With a groan Dr. York finished turning the child and glanced again at Anne. “Very well,
ma’am, I have the child in the correct position now.”
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Anne sat up and strained while Hope rubbed her upper arms consolingly. Within a few
minutes a shrill cry filled the room and Anne’s eyelids fluttered open to see her second child. Dr.
York took no time to bathe it with the assistance of Rose, who came to the bed soon after, her
face alight with joy.
“It’s a boy, ma’am!” she ecstatically told Anne, but the physician strictly turned from the
child at her light tone.
“He is very weak. To be completely honest with you, Mrs. Parnell, I’m not certain
whether or not he will live. Listen to how loudly he is still crying. He is going to have to be
carefully watched through the next few days or until he gains strength.”
Rose inhaled and Hope sighed. “What’s the matter with the child, sir?” she asked.
“Well, he is obviously premature, which probably made the delivery even worse for him.
When a child is born early, every impression that he endures is worse because of the weakness of
his body.”
Anne closed her eyes before lying down. Rose swept a hand across her cheek worriedly
and then looked at the man across the room.
“Sir, I will tend to the infant if you would see to my mistress.”
Nodding, Dr. York went over to Anne and checked her health while she lay breathing
heavily. He straightened after a few moments, smiling faintly.
“She is fine, save for feeling utterly exhausted. We will allow her to rest for a while
before we coax the child to nurse.”
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Hope smiled. “Thank God that she is going to be fine.” She looked at Rose. “I wonder
where Mr. Parnell could be at this time.”
“Perhaps he is sleeping downstairs,” she suggested. “After all, it is after five o’clock and
we forbade him from entering his bedroom beginning an hour after dinner.”
“Does one of you wish to inform him of the birth?” Dr. York asked them.
“I would be glad to do it,” Hope answered. “Mrs. Parnell is nearly asleep now, anyway.”
“No, Hope,” Anne mumbled, opening her eyes a fraction to look pleadingly at her maid.
“Please do not leave me.”
Hope smiled softly at Anne, nodding understandably and kneeling next to her again.
“That’s all right, Hope,” Rose said. “I will be more than happy to do it.”
A hand hammered on the door suddenly and Roth stepped in on his own accord. He
glared around at the women before looking at the physician.
“Is everything all right?”
“I suppose so, Mr. Parnell,” Dr. York told him. “Your wife gave birth to a son, but he is
very weak. She is fine, however.”
“Weak?” he said, his head turning like a snake to his resting wife. “Weak?” he repeated,
the volume of his voice higher and his tone more outraged. With one great motion he pushed the
door completely open, marched into the center of the room and began to yell at the top of his
lungs.
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“Why, for God’s sake, is another one of my sons weak? It seems strange that I would
have two boys in the same condition as the other. What is the source of that problem?” He
looked at Anne, his eyes darkening. “You wench. Is it so difficult to give birth to healthy
children?” He took in his breath sharply and pointed a finger at her. “It’s you! It’s your fault!
You were always a weak woman; you are now and you always will be. You did not resist in the
slightest when it was arranged that you and I were to marry and you have been cowering under
my influence ever since you came here. This would never have happened if you hadn’t been the
way that you are.” He groaned, staring at Anne so hatefully that she began to shiver. Exhaling
forcefully, he glanced once at the infant.
“And since you are likely too weak to name your own child, I will be the one who will
have that honor,” he said repressively. “His name will be Lucifer William.” With one last glance
at everyone he swept out of the room, shutting the door aggressively behind him.
Rose sighed in despair and Hope rolled her eyes irritably. “I cannot believe that man,”
she muttered. “This is the second time that he yelled at his poor wife for giving birth. Who does
he think he is? This is supposed to be a happy day for him, and if he had a bit of propriety within
himself he would kneel beside Mrs. Parnell and hold his son, admiring what she had given him.”
Dr. York shrugged. “Well, he has always been like that for as long as I have known him.
I don’t suspect that he will ever change.”
“Yes, I know,” Hope returned. “And that’s a tragedy.” She looked at Anne to converse,
but the woman was now peacefully asleep. The maid smiled softly at her. She turned to the
physician and Rose. “I wish that there was something we could do about Mr. Parnell’s behavior
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and decisions.”
“I know of one decision of his that we can alter,” Rose said. “We can call the child Willie
instead of Lucifer. Mr. Parnell probably would not mind it. Lucifer is a horrid name.”
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20 A Light in a Corrupted Life
October 1779
Henry trotted into the drawing room to speak with Anne, who was reading on one of the
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sofas. He stopped abruptly before her.
“Mama, Papa and me are going to hunt today,” he announced proudly.
Anne frowned, leaning forward and moving her eyes from her book to her son. “Is that
what your father told you, Henry?”
“Yes. He said we’re going to kill more animals than we did yesterday, too.”
The woman’s face painted with disgust. She laid her book aside and leaned forward.
“Henry, I have as much a right as telling you what to do as your father does, and I say that you
will most definitely not be hunting today. The next time that he gives you permission to do
something, you must come to me to receive my permission as well.”
The child’s face wrinkled in anger and reluctance. He folded his arms across his chest.
“Why, Mama? Why can’t I go hunting today?”
“You went yesterday, and the day before as well, if I am not mistaken.” She picked up
her book. “Before you’re six years old there won’t be a single animal left in all of England. Now
go and occupy yourself with something else.”
Henry turned around slowly, speaking over his shoulder. “Papa won’t like that you won’t
let me go with him.”
Anne looked up sharply. “I will speak with him, so never mind. Just run along now.” She
watched Henry’s retreating back with satisfaction, but the thought of confronting Roth about the
matter almost made her cry in fear.
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Well, perhaps I won’t have to worry about it for a while.
She continued to read again, but after a few moments Kim arrived at the room’s entrance.
“Mrs. Parnell? Pardon me, ma’am.”
Anne looked up. Her maid curtsied quickly. “Mrs. Parnell, there’s something that you
have to see!” she said excitedly. “It’s Willie. I believe that he is going to walk without falling
down! Come, you must see!”
Anne laid down her book again and followed Kim upstairs. On the landing stood Rose
with Lucifer, who was crawling slowly across the floor. Kim went to Rose.
“Rose, has he walked yet?” she asked with earnest.
“No, not yet, but I think he will soon,” she replied. The three women clustered together to
watch Lucifer slowly climb back onto his feet and stagger forward, his hand leaning on the wall.
He took a few steps and then withdrew his hand, but when he did he fell forward, crying
pitifully.
Kim sighed mournfully. “Oh, the poor child.” She turned to Anne. “I’m sorry, Mrs.
Parnell. I was certain that he would walk on his own today.”
“Perhaps he will after his birthday next month,” Rose said hopefully, before walking
forward to comfort the child.
Kim smiled. “Yes. That would be fine to see.” She looked at Anne again. “Mrs. Parnell,
pardon me, but I had overheard a bit of the disagreement that you had with Henry. Do you mind
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if I ask what the problem was, ma’am?”
Anne sighed, looking at her feet before she spoke. “He wanted to go hunting today and I
told him that I didn’t approve of him going on such an excursion three days consecutively. As I
expected, he became angry and told me that Mr. Parnell wouldn’t like the fact that I was not
allowing him to go. Now I have to speak with him about it, and I know that he will be angry with
me.”
Kim closed her eyes briefly, sighing. “I’m sorry that he does not respect your wishes
more frequently. You are Henry’s mother; you have the same right to raise him as Mr. Parnell
has.”
“I know,” Anne muttered. “My husband seems to think differently, however. I wonder
what Henry and Willie will grow to be like with their father as their main influence.” She
glanced at Kim and Rose in turn. “I do not wish to be cowardly, but I would feel more
comfortable speaking with my husband about the affair if either of you were with me.”
Rose smiled at her. “I would be glad to defend you, ma’am. You are not to worry about
anything.”
“I would be glad to do so as well, Mrs. Parnell, but I’m afraid that I cannot, for I must
tend to the children,” Kim replied, her countenance upset.
Anne smiled at her. “No, that’s fine, Kim. If Rose is with me I should think that
everything will run smoothly.”
“I certainly hope that it does, for your sake, ma’am,” Rose almost whispered. “Mr.
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Parnell frightens me. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
“No, I feel the same way as you do, Rose,” Anne murmured.
Rose moved to gently squeeze her mistress’s arm. “If you had to be arranged to marry
someone, I wish that he would be a kinder man.”
“Mama!” Henry clambered up the stairs, stopping on the last one when he saw Anne. He
stood there, panting. “Mama, Papa wants to see you.”
Anne and her maids exchanged glances before that woman sighed. She looked at her son.
“Thank you, Henry.”
Rose touched her arm. “We will go together.”
Anne nodded, wrapped her arm around Rose’s and descended the stairs. Roth stood at the
foot, his face scarlet while he silently watched the women’s descent. Upon seeing him Anne
grew cold, but she remained calm, striving to gather the courage that she needed. When she and
Rose conquered the last step they stood looking at him, waiting for him to speak first. He crossed
his arms, his gaze willfully stayed.
“Anne,” he began quietly, “Henry tells me that you are not allowing him to hunt with me
today.” He appeared like a tense animal ready to spring. “I thought I told you…”
“Yes, I did instruct Henry not to go with you today,” Anne interrupted, her voice
quivering as her arm tightened around Rose’s. “I don’t believe…”
“You are not to interrupt me, woman!” Roth yelled, throwing his arms down violently. “I
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am the head of this household, not you!”
“Sir, I wish that you would not be so harsh with your wife,” Rose said meekly, stepping
forward. “She only wishes to raise Henry correct…”
Roth walked forward to glower at her, his hand raised as if he were about to strike her.
“This is not your concern,” he grumbled, his eyes bulging.
Rose stepped back, taking Anne with her. “Forgive me, sir, but I believe that it actually
is,” she strongly contradicted. “Mrs. Parnell wishes to impress upon Henry the right morals and
virtues, and as a maid I have an obligation in helping her to do so. I’m certain that you find
nothing wrong in raising a child in the way that he should go, so I suggest that you respect what
your wife wants and permit her to have a hand in raising him as well. I daresay that she is quite
intelligent and has the ability to raise Henry in a way that even you can come to respect, and I’m
certain that she would.”
Roth stared at Rose for a few moments after her reprimand and then slowly stepped
backward. He stopped to glare at Anne once more before turning and walking away.
Anne sighed in relief, turning toward Rose and taking her hands. She smiled.
“Oh, Rose, thank you!” she whispered.
The maid smiled back. “Of course, ma’am. I fear that may not be the end of your troubles
with that man, though.”
Anne nodded gravely. “Yes, but I am nonetheless grateful that someone finally gave him
the scolding that he needs.”
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May 1780
Guinevere opened her door and smiled heartily when she saw her cousin.
“Oh, Anne!” she exclaimed, embracing her. “How good it is to see you again!”
“It’s wonderful to see you too, Guin,” the woman returned. “I would have come months
sooner, but I’m afraid that Roth and I have not been getting along.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now, dear. You must come in.” She glanced behind Anne. “Did
you bring the children with you?”
“No, I did not,” Anne responded, walking forward. “Henry is riding horse and Willie is
asleep.”
“Well, I haven’t seen them in ages, you know.” She stepped into the kitchen for the tea.
“You will bring them with you the next time you visit, won’t you?”
“Certainly, Guin, if that’s what you want.” Anne settled herself down in the parlor
before accepting a cup of tea from her cousin. “That is, if neither child is sleeping.” She smiled
warmly at Guinevere. “Now tell me-how has everything been for you?”
“Oh, just fine, thank you,” she murmured, a strange smile pulling at a corner of her
mouth. “I have been attending social events more frequently, though I honestly do not know
why. Throughout the past month I have attended several gatherings and dances.”
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“That’s wonderful, Guin,” Anne congratulated, smiling grandly. “Perhaps doing so will
increase your chances of finally finding a suitor.”
Guinevere gradually looked upon Anne, her smile growing. “I believe that it will, Anne,
since…it has.”
Anne gaped. She grabbed her cousin’s arm. “What? ‘It has’?”
She nodded happily, taking hold of Anne’s hand in return. “It’s true, my dear. A couple
of months ago I attended a dance here in the city and met a man who had just come to Bristol. He
was very pleasant and courteous-a true gentleman. After we had introduced and told each other a
bit about ourselves, he asked me for a dance. I thought that he meant only one dance, but I
suppose we thought each other so appealing that we spent the entire evening together. He said
that he came to Bristol to assist in the brass industry; his father is the head of such an operation
where he once lived. Apparently, his family has had great success with the industry and he seems
to be a wealthy man. When the dance was finished we both wanted to see each other again, and
this opportunity was to be rewarded to us because the Sunday afterward I saw him at the same
church service. As a month passed we became closer and then he requested to court me. I cannot
wait to see him again on Sunday, Anne. He is such a wonderful man.”
“Guin, I am so happy for you,” the woman breathed, patting her arm. “I was wondering
when this was going to happen to you.”
“Yes, my dear, thank you. To tell you the truth, I had wondered that as well.” She ladled
some sugar into her tea. “I wish that you could meet him. Perhaps I will ask him here on a day
that you are.”
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“What is his name?”
Guinevere bent back her head, laughing. “Oh, my, I completely forgot to mention that
fact,” she smiled. “Wainwright Ingland. I believe that he is just a few years older than I and has
also been looking for a companion. I only hope that it will go well between him and me.”
“Oh, I’m certain that it will, Guin. You have such a kind heart; you deserve this more
than anyone else I know of.”
“Thank you, Anne. I hope that I have rightly deserved it. I do know that I have dreamt
about marrying someone for my entire life. I have prayed continuously for such a blessing also.
Try as I must, I cannot but hope that it is God’s will that I marry Wainwright and live happily
with him for the remainder of my life.”
August 1781
Anne walked briskly into Henry’s bedroom one warm morning, where the child was
playing. “Henry, would you like to ride horse with me this morning?”
He glanced at her. “Oh. No, I don’t think so. Papa was going to take me to one of his
friends’ homes to look at his friend’s horses.”
The woman’s heart fell. “Are you certain that you wish to go with your father, dear? I
know how you love riding, and it is best to do so at this time of day when it is still cool outside.”
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Henry did not reply for a few moments as he continued playing. “Sorry, Mama, but I
truly wanted to see those horses. Papa’s friend bought them only a week ago.”
Anne nodded, concealing her disappointment. “Very well, dear. Tell me if you have a
change of heart, all right?”
“All right,” the boy answered, his tone inattentive.
Anne left the room and saw Clara at the end of the passage. She hastened to her.
“Clara, is Willie asleep?” she asked.
“No, ma’am, I believe that he is in the drawing room with Rose.”
“Thank you,” Anne said before turning toward the drawing room. Young Lucifer was
slowly walking around and exploring the room, Rose watching him from her place on a sofa. The
maid stood when Anne entered.
“Rose, is it all right if I take Willie? I would like to spend some time with him.”
“Well, certainly, ma’am,” she responded, proceeding to take the child into her arms. “I
think that is a fine idea.”
“Yes. I have not been able to spend as much time with my children as I would have liked
and I would now like to change that. I invited Henry to go riding with me, but he chose to spend
time with his father instead.”
“What will you and Willie do?”
“I’m not certain as of yet. He is still quite young, but perhaps he will enjoy a gentle horse
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ride.”
“I do hope that he does, ma’am.” She held the child, who was quiet and did not raise his
eyes to his mother’s or caretaker’s. “I would say that it is time he does enjoy something. I do
worry about him, Mrs. Parnell. I know that he is not two years old, but he seems to be in
possession of such a morose, troubled nature. I believe that I have seen him smile only a few
times since his birth, but those smiles have hardly seemed joyful. He seems to strive to find his
own happiness, but he begins that journey with a melancholy disposition. I can only wonder
what he will grow to be like.”
Anne nodded. “Well, I suppose that being born early did not help him. I’m afraid that I
have not noticed the way that he acts, but you know that I have not spent much time with either
he or Henry.” She took Lucifer and smiled at Rose. “Thank you, Rose, for caring for him.”