Page 101 of The Quiet Wife
Rosa stared and blinked but said nothing.
“This wasn’t the first time I take it.”
Rosa shook her head.
“I see.” Frances stirred her tea and laid the spoon on the saucer. She took a sip. “Will it stop now?”
“It has stopped,” Rosa assured her.
Frances nodded, but wondered if that was the truth.
“It’s been going on for months,” Rosa blurted, her cheeks a darkening red.
Frances paused, cup halfway to her mouth, as a sinking feeling took hold.
“Months,” she repeated in a daze, feeling foolish for being blind to it for so long.
Rosa nodded.
“Oh, God.” Frances closed her eyes as realisation hit. She sucked in a breath.
“Was he with you when Elinor was ill? When we sent word to bring him home in case she didn’t… when we couldn’t find him?” Suddenly it made sense.
Rosa’s face crumpled. “I’m so sorry,” she spluttered. “I didn’t know until afterwards. I’d havesenthim to you if I had known.”
Frances felt sick.
Rosa let out a quiet sob and buried her face in her handkerchief. “It’s all such a mess,” she said between hiccoughs.
“Well, it’s over now, isn’t it? If your husband doesn’t know and…” Frances hesitated. “Are… are you in love with Frederick?”
Rosa shook her head. “He was… exciting.”
Frances nodded as though she understood what she meant. It reminded her of Lizzie’s comment about good and bad lovers. Perhaps Frederick was a better lover for Rosa than a husband to her? She supposed there was something about a clandestine affair and sneaking around that would add excitement to even the dullest of men.
Rosa opened her mouth to speak but was overcome once more.
“Then what… Oh God.” Realisation struck Frances with enough force to rob her of breath for a moment.
Rosa put her face in her hands.
“You’re carrying his child?” she gasped.
The quiet crying continued without pause as she managed an awkward nod.
“Well, I presume you will pass the child as your husband’s?”
Rosa gulped several breaths, but it took a little time before she could compose herself enough to speak without breaking down. “I can’t. He hasn’t been near me in over six months. We don’t…”
The fire hissed and the clock ticked loudly in the uncomfortable silence, and Frances regarded her friend. The distress, the sheer magnitude of the consequences of finding Frederick exciting.
“Oh, Rosa. I’m so sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to tell you all this,” she sniffed.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, seeming completely lost.
