Lillian's confessions, part two
I don't know if the affection and loyalty I had toward Lillian is expressed sufficiently through my words here. I am no writer, but I am trying to share with you, Alexander, the events that seemed to be turning points, matters of importance, in the life we three shared.
It took only a few short weeks for your mother to draw me into her confidence. She was isolated, in a sense, due to your father's wealth and power, and her disease. The high society events that the other wives attended were often out of her reach due to her medical condition. Occasionally Lionel would attend these events alone, occasionally he would shun them in favor of an evening with Lillian, and occasionally he would have another woman escort him.
It was during one of the latter events that I found Lillian in tears. You were perhaps five, and fast asleep in your room.
Lillian drew me to her side, and over several glasses of wine, she confessed that your father had dalliances with these escorts. She said that she knew men of his stature were rarely devout, and for the most part, they did not concern her. Lionel was a private man, and made certain the women he selected could be counted upon for their discretion.
With one exception.
The nurse who had been dismissed from the household shortly after my arrival had been plaguing your father with tales of a child, born of their involvement. At first, the calls had been dismissed, but as their frequency and the nurse's distress escalated, her claim was taken seriously.
On this night, she had called again, to say that the child had died.
Lillian wept as though the child were her own.
It took only a few short weeks for your mother to draw me into her confidence. She was isolated, in a sense, due to your father's wealth and power, and her disease. The high society events that the other wives attended were often out of her reach due to her medical condition. Occasionally Lionel would attend these events alone, occasionally he would shun them in favor of an evening with Lillian, and occasionally he would have another woman escort him.
It was during one of the latter events that I found Lillian in tears. You were perhaps five, and fast asleep in your room.
Lillian drew me to her side, and over several glasses of wine, she confessed that your father had dalliances with these escorts. She said that she knew men of his stature were rarely devout, and for the most part, they did not concern her. Lionel was a private man, and made certain the women he selected could be counted upon for their discretion.
With one exception.
The nurse who had been dismissed from the household shortly after my arrival had been plaguing your father with tales of a child, born of their involvement. At first, the calls had been dismissed, but as their frequency and the nurse's distress escalated, her claim was taken seriously.
On this night, she had called again, to say that the child had died.
Lillian wept as though the child were her own.