Normally Sarah handled the sympathy portion of the females who came to them for help, while Della was the one who made all the arrangements and helped to decide what might happen in each particular case.

“Thank you, my lady,” Miss Mary said at last. She raised a tear-streaked face to Della. “I don’t know why I am crying so much, I just—” And then she began sobbing again as Della tried to curb her impatience.

“The thing is,” Mary began again, speaking down into her lap. Her hands clutched the now sodden handkerchief, worrying the fabric with her fingers. “I am here because I don’t know where else to go.”

Well, Della knew that. Why else would a pregnant stranger arrive at their door if she had somewhere else she could possibly go?

But Della did not point that out to Miss Mary, since she did not think it would be helpful.

“Can you tell me more about your situation, so I know how I can help you?” Della tried to recall what Sarah would usually say in such a moment. She hoped she sounded gentle enough; sometimes, Sarah said, she asked questions as though expecting to be argued with.

As if you could argue with a question, Della thought to herself.

“I am a governess to two children,” Mary began. I was right! Della cheered inside her head. But that was not helpful.

Even though she was right.

“And I became involved with—with a relative of my employer’s family,” Mary said, sounding chagrined.

“It isn’t your fault,” Della replied, clasping Mary’s hand. “These gentlemen, they think because—”

“No, it’s not like that,” Mary interrupted. She sounded stronger now. “I knew just what I was doing, I just didn’t expect—” And she gestured toward her stomach.

It was on the tip of Della’s tongue to ask what she did expect, if not this.

Again, not helpful.

“And when it was discovered, my employer insisted that Mr. Robert marry me, only he didn’t really wish to, and I discovered I didn’t either.” She took a deep breath. “I have gotten to know Mr. Robert, and it is my belief he is not as kind as I first thought. When he heard of my situation, he—he threatened me, although my employer soon put a stop to that. She offered a dowry, which she did not have to do, not at all, and he was willing to take me.” She exhaled. “But he does not wish to marry me, and I cannot trust that he wouldn’t harm me or the child. But once we were married, he can do with me as he wishes.” She swallowed. “Can you imagine a worse fate?”

Della understood what Mary was saying, but she also knew that it wasn’t always sensible to refuse a future that promised more solidity than just running away.