“You are enjoying working at the school, aren’t you?”

“I adore it. You should come with me one day. They are always in need of another pair of hands, and you might—”

“No,” Julia said flatly. “I know you’re thinking it might take my mind off things, but it would simply make me more conscious that I have no child of my own.”

“Oh, Julia.”

“I pray you will not pity me. If you feel that Mr. and Mrs. Doherty require more help, why not take Breda with you? Didn’t you tell me that her mother had aspirations to be a schoolmistress? I would happily excuse her from some of her duties, if it does not inconvenience you.”

“Really? That is a marvellous idea. Breda will be thrilled.”

“Now if you don’t mind, I need to concentrate on my Berlin work. It requires very intricate stitching and any mistake requires laborious unpicking.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it.”

But as she prepared to rise, Julia stayed her. “I know that what you say is right. There are too many children in this world, and far too many of them are unwanted, too. I take my hat off to you.”

“It’s a modest enough contribution, but I love it.”

“I know. But one day, when you are married, you’ll understand that it’s simply no substitute. It’s not only that I wish to give Wingfield an heir, I want a child of my own. A child who will love me, and whom I can love back. That’s all I want, Margaret, a child of my own to love. Is it too much to ask?”

A lump rose in Margaret’s throat. “No, it shouldn’t be too much to ask,” she said in a small voice. But as she left the room she couldn’t help thinking sadly that it was too much to expect.

Lady Victoria Kerr to Lady Margaret

Lady Victoria Kerr to Lady Margaret

Vienna, 14 April 1867

Dear Margaret,

You will perhaps be surprised to hear from me after all this time. Mama has been keeping me abreast of your progress by sending me copies of all your letters to her. Can you believe me when I tell you that it gives me great pleasure to read them? Perhaps you are asking yourself why, then, I have not written to you myself? The short answer is that Kerr forbad it. This does not reflect his opinion of your behaviour but his belief that we should honour our father’s edict.