Page 37 of The Seven Rings
“I’ve got it. Key taped to the bottom of the drawer.”
He brought it out, a small gold key on a thin gold chain. Then slid it into the lock, turned.
Inside they found a book with a red leather cover. The engraving on the center gold plaque read:
Marianne Louise Poole
“It’s Marianne’s—a diary.” With care, Sonya lifted it out.
“And pressed flowers. From her bouquet, I bet.” Cleo set them on the top of the desk.
Sonya opened the book and read.
“‘I begin this diary, given to me by my dear mama, on the morning of my wedding. In a few hours I will be Mrs. Hugh Poole. Marianne Louise Poole, the wife of the man I love. Today marks the beginning of my new life.
“‘In the days to come, I will write here my thoughts, my life, my joys, and though I cannot imagine any on this glorious day, my sorrows.
“‘I will keep my diary, and the ones that follow, in the desk in the pretty sitting room, my pretty sitting room as mistress of Poole Manor. As I vow to be a good and loving wife to my husband, I also promise to be a good and caring mistress of the home that will become mine.’”
Sonya carefully turned the page, and continued.
“‘Others have lived in the manor, have tended to it before me. I sometimes think I can hear them, or sense them as I walk through to learn my duties here. I feel a welcome from them, except… I think my nerves over the great responsibility make me foolish, as I do feel something that does not welcome.
“‘I will not dwell on that, or on the war that rages through the country. Today I become a bride. Here I vow with all my heart to be loyal and loving, to be kind. To remember, always, this happy day when my love, always my love, becomes my husband.
“‘I will pack this book in my trousseau, and the next I write in it, I write as a wife.’”
“I hope Hugh read this after she died. He loved her.”
“He kept it,” Cleo pointed out. “Kept it locked here in her desk, so I think he did. Read the last entry, Sonya.”
Sonya turned to where the red ribbon marked the last entry.
“‘Though I have been ordered, quite firmly, to remain in bed, I have slipped in here for just a few minutes. I find some quiet and calm in this room, and in writing my thoughts in this book.
“‘I suppose I waddled like a duck here from my bed, and must admit even that short journey tired me. The midwife believes I carry two, and this I know is true. I feel my babies, and often think they play energetically together already. Even while they keep me awake there is such joy for me in those fierce movements.
“‘Soon I will be a mother. At times it seems only days have passed since I became a bride. At other times it seems years since I carried these precious lives inside me.
“‘Hugh is so attentive. He sits with me as often as he can, and brings me the news from the village and beyond. He rarely speaks of the war unless I press him. I know he is troubled, and I know Atlanta has fallen. We have hope the battle and the blood will end soon.
“‘But here, I am safe, my babies are safe. Soon, I’m assured, I’ll hold them in my arms, see their faces, count their fingers. As I love their father, I will love them always.
“‘When I do, it will be the happiest day of my life.’”
Sonya let out a sigh.
“She barely had any time to hold them.”
“It matters that you have this,” Trey told her. “That you know, however short, she had a good life here.”
“It does. You’re right, it does. I’ll read through the rest later. Maybe there’s some clue in there. Something she wrote down she saw or heard or felt that could help. Meanwhile.”
“We take the desk down.”
“Yeah, and find a chair.”
When a dustcover slid off a chair, Cleo walked to it. “I think we just did. I’ve got it.”
