In time, to a large extent, things were returned to the old order of things, and the final report from Commissioner Robson, presented in early 1911, left no doubt that while the charges were serious, there was little evidence to support them. While acknowledging that the brothel district existed, and in fact had grown, in the end Justice Robson emphatically concluded that the conditions were not brought about by the corruption of any police authority and that the occupants of the brothel houses did not pay for police protection.
So ended the hoopla over the harlots and so, too, ended any fear Rupert had that a brothel scandal would destroy his life.
Little did he realize that the whisper campaign that would ultimately ensnare him, would be far more damaging.
But that was not yet on the horizon.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Charles and Emma
August 15, 1911
My darling girl,
I think of you all the time and am aching for the day when you will rest in my arms and know the bliss of our permanent union as husband and wife.
I dread getting on the train to return to Quebec next week. I think of our long conversation during our buggy ride yesterday and have played your words over and over in my mind.
Yes, we are young and there is a long life ahead of us, but I think it important to shape that life according to the values that I possess and that I wish to live by my whole life.
You are quite right to say that I care deeply about how people think of me and that my position in society is truly important to me. I don’t understand how you might object to that. Of course I believe that having you as my wife would enhance my reputation and my standing in society. How could it not? Who would not be a very proud man to be married to you, dear heart? But please understand that this sentiment is not motivated by thoughts of who your father or mine might be. It is because you are a sweet, beautiful and, I must say, brilliant young woman from a strong and respected family. Moreover, you are someone who makes everyone around her feel their hearts lighten and a smile come to their lips through the simple act of being in your presence. You are what every intelligent and caring man could ever desire.
As for me, I do accept that I have some weaknesses like anyone might have, but I can honestly tell you this: I know that my habits are industrious, moral, and faithful. When I say I will do something I try my hardest to see it through. I don’t involve myself in business that is not mine. I do like things of quality but will have no debts. To be an honorable man is of greatest importance in what I expect of myself. It is my great desire to stay in this world for a long time, and I expect that will be so, but when the day comes that I shall leave it, I would like people to say, “A good man has gone, one who did no harm and who did his best to do right.”
This is the man I am, dearest Emma. I am pledging my life to you, to love and protect you through every day of the rest of my life.
To finally come to that day when we are each other’s completely, forever and always in marital union, sends deep contentment through my soul. I am tormented with missing you every moment that we are not together.
I know how strongly you feel about wanting to be a teacher and I wish to be supportive, but I am afraid that I am still having a great deal of difficulty with the idea. As I am not yet your husband, I have no right to prevent you from taking on this teaching position. I do wish that you will receive all of the satisfaction that you expect from the experience.
In the meantime, I will have completed my studies by Christmastime, and I think it would be ever so wonderful if we were to have a January wedding. What do you say, darling? You will be able to teach this fall for a few months, to have your goal met, and then I shall happily place you in a very pretty house to move to your next career as homemaker and wife.
I can promise you that I will be the sweetest and most devoted and adoring husband a girl could ever wish to have. I will cherish your every smile and every touch and will live to provide every comfort and happiness that is in my power to give you.
I cannot tell you how disappointed I am that you will not allow me to set a wedding date and go to your father to ask permission for your hand. It will make it so much easier to be able to return to Lennoxville for the fall semester, knowing that I will return home to our wedding, my life with you, and my job in my father’s business. Life will be ideal for us both.
Please do reconsider my request, my cherished sweetheart.
Forever with love,
Your devoted Charles
August 16, 1911
My sweet Charles,
Darling, you are so dear and wonderful, it brings tears to my eyes to think of you being away for so long. I shall miss you so very much. I don’t wish for you to be tormented, but please, you must understand how terribly important it is to me that in just a few weeks I will begin my duties as a schoolteacher. I want to hear the little children call me “Miss Willows” and join them in their delight in discovering how to read and to do sums. That I will have a chance to be part of their journey to learn these skills and to better their lives with education fills me with a sense of purpose and a deep desire for the fulfillment that will come with my work.
Charles, my dearest friend, please know how much I love you and want to be married to you. It is really a matter of finding the ideal time.
Surely you can understand now that I did find it somewhat of a surprise to read in your letter that you believe that my “goal” will have been met by having had the opportunity to teach for a few months. My goals are conflicting, my love, and I see it as most unfair that I cannot be both a teacher and a wife.
Please know that I adore you and am thrilled at the thought that I will one day be your wife. Nothing will make me happier than to be the love you treasure, to make a home with you forever and always, and to welcome our children when we are blessed to have them. But once I am married, I will be released from any teaching position I might have, and I do so want to work. It is terribly unfair that married women are not allowed to teach, but obviously that is not going to change any time soon.
We had agreed that we would wait until after my 21st birthday. Please, let’s stay with that agreement, dearest Charles. June 9, 1912 isn’t all that far away, is it? It is less than a year, and we will have our entire lives together. Will you wait for me, my love?
Adoring you now and always,
Sincerely yours,
Emma
September 16, 1911
Dearest Emma,
I received your letter this afternoon and tore it open the minute I was alone in the dormitory. I must admit that I am greatly disappointed by your reply.
Well, I do have my studies to occupy my time and my thoughts. I will try very hard to become accustomed to these “modern” ways of yours, dearest. Be patient with me. This is quite a challenge for me, as I do tend to be very old school about these things.
I agree, that under the circumstances, it is best to postpone our plans for marriage. I should think that for the time being we might also suspend any further discussions about it, as it is just too painful for me to think that your job as a teacher is more important than your desire to be married to me.
Your faithful friend,
Charles
November 2, 1911
Dearest Emma,
I am greatly impressed by your stories of success in the classroom. Your students are truly very fortunate to have someone as dedicated and caring as you to guide them. What a different world you have entered! I am very pleased for your happiness despite the great loneliness that I so often feel. How I wish we could be together.
My days are endless, it seems, with studying for examinations and completing assignments. The last few weeks have seemed to be an endurance trial. As to your question about my social appointments on weekends, I have been much too busy to avail myself of the invitations for visits with my classmates whose families are near.
I do miss you, so very much. Won’t you please think of coming to
visit your Grandmama in Montreal so that I may see you there? That is a visit I would take time to enjoy!
Adoring you, always,
Charles
December 1, 1911
Darling Emma,
How long it has been since I have seen your beautiful face. Thank you so much for the photograph. I will place it near to my lamp so that I can see you smiling at me as I work at my desk. Yes, of course, I do understand that you cannot get away from your responsibilities at school. I suppose it was a wish even more than a hope that you would come.
As to your question about my arrival at Christmas, I am sure that you have heard the news by now. Unfortunately, it will be some months before I will see you again. My father telephoned this morning with news of a “graduation present” for me. Father is quite insistent that I travel with the family on the Grand Tour. It is to be a celebration, in honor of my achievements at Bishop’s. It would have been unthinkable to tell him that I would much rather have been back in Winnipeg, spending time with my dear sweetheart, taking you to church and concerts and basking in the glow of your company. Perhaps even discussing our future. But, then again, I promised you that I would not bring up such things.
My father has booked passage out of New York in late January and, of course, it makes no sense for me to travel from Quebec all the way home to Winnipeg to just turn around and head for New York. He, my mother, and three of my sisters, Ethel, Mabel and Alice will be traveling. He really wanted all six of us children to be on this trip, but because both Robert and Clara are married and settled into their own lives, it is not practical. So, the Fortune family will be a total of six, instead of eight on the tour.
Oh, Emma, I must ask. Will you miss me?
Thinking of you always,
Charles
Chapter Fifty
Tickets for the Titanic
December 1, 1911
Chadwick tingled with excitement. The master was in a state and the mistress had been summoned. His duties completed, the butler checked to be sure he wasn’t being watched, then disappeared into his hiding place so he could listen in on their conversation in the library.
“Rupert, dear, whatever is the matter?” Beth searched her husband’s face. “Are you not well?”
“I’m in perfect health, Beth. Please, just sit.” Rupert stiffened his back and paced around the room. “I had lunch with Mark Fortune, today, and do you know what I learned?” Anger chilled his words. Beth opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak he pounced on her. “It seems our daughter has taken up with that group of old bats fighting for the women’s right to vote. Did you know about this?”
“Rupert, my goodness. Of course, I knew. They aren’t ‘old bats’, they are a dynamic group of women, journalists and writers, mostly. I think Emma is in good company.”
“So, I appear to be the last to know. I had to learn this from Mark Fortune, a business associate, and the father of our daughter’s suitor!” He glared at her, letting the words hang in the air.
“What did Mr. Fortune have to say about it?” she asked, finally, to break the dreadful silence.
“Only that he knows about it. The man is much too polite to be openly critical, but I assure you that we will not be seeing any of his daughters involved in such unladylike activity.”
“Oh, come now, Rupert. It’s committee work, no different than raising money for the children’s hospital.”
“Beth, you are wrong. This is a dangerous idea. There is no need for women to have the vote. A great many influential people are against it, and it will do nothing to further Emma’s standing in society. I wouldn’t be surprised if young Charles would be very distressed, indeed, if he were to learn of Emma’s participation in this.”
“I should think that he already does know about it. She writes to him every week,” Beth said calmly, hoping to quiet her husband’s anger. “And Rupert, dear, I can’t imagine that there is anything that Emma could do or say that would put him off. He’s mad for her. You’ve seen how he looks at her.”
“Charles is an old fashioned fellow who has expectations of a life with a traditional woman. You know he is not happy with this teaching job of hers,” Rupert countered.
“Mark told you that? That his son is disapproving of Emma’s work as a teacher?”
“Beth, let me spell it out for you, my dear. It is Mark who disapproves. Don’t you see? Our Emma, bull-headed as she is, is about to lose her grasp on one of the most promising and wealthy young men in town. Other girls are perfectly content to think of marriage and children, but not our Emma. It’s not enough that Charles is besotted with her. Oh, no. This darling daughter of ours must show the world what great talents she has, how totally important she is to the small children in her care in a classroom. And now, to dedicate herself to the suffrage movement! She is on the verge of destroying her entire life and all of my plans for our family being joined to the Fortunes. She should have married Charles by now. As her mother, Beth, it is high time you told her that she is behaving like a perfect idiot!”
“Rupert!” Beth was aghast. “You called her an idiot!”
“She is an idiot! An idiot who will be called a spinster in another five years,” he shouted. “And does she care for one second how this might affect me? How good it would be for my future to have the Fortune and Willows families related by marriage? All that property Fortune bought up on Portage Avenue is skyrocketing in value. He is a man of wealth and great influence. His opinion is sought on everything that moves in Winnipeg. And his son, Charles, poised to take over his father’s empire, has had his tongue dragging in the dirt behind our Emma all these years, anxious to marry her. What does she do about it? She keeps him at arm’s length, frittering away her opportunity with this nonsense about being a modern woman!”
“Rupert, please, don’t worry. She’s just twenty years old.”
“Yes, Beth. She’s twenty years old.” Rupert worked to contain his frustration. “And you watch. Mark is going to persuade his son to move on to other young women who are more traditional. Girls who understand a woman’s place is in the home.”
“Oh, Rupert, do calm down, dear. That’s utter nonsense. Charles will be home at Christmas, and I am sure that just seeing him will light a fire in her heart and she will agree to stop teaching at the end of this school year. That’s just a few more months to wait. They will be married in summer and all will be fine. Trust her to make her own way, Rupert.”
Rupert sat opposite Beth and took a deep breath. “No, Beth, Charles will not be home at Christmas. He won’t be home until spring because he is going on the Grand Tour. Mark is making it a family celebration in honor of Charles’ graduation from Bishop’s College.”
“Oh, dear.” Beth’s eyes flew open. She had witnessed romance being sparked on more than few occasions while traveling abroad. “Oh my, Rupert!” Beth seized on the realization. “Why didn’t you tell me this first? You think Charles might actually become interested in someone else, don’t you?”
“And with the encouragement of his father. I do, indeed. Fortune has booked travel at the end of January out of New York for his whole family, as I understand. In fact, he confided in me that one of his daughters has taken up with a musician Mark doesn’t care for. He told me he is taking her on the tour with hopes she will forget about him. It is my guess that he is doing the exact same thing with Charles.”
“But, the Fortunes do seem so fond of Emma,” Beth said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“They do like her. She’s a delightful girl, but I think Mark invited me to lunch to give me a bit of a warning. He doesn’t like her behavior, and he wants me to know. He also wanted me to know that as they are sailing out of New York, Charles will meet the family there, as there is no point in his coming all the way west for Christmas.”
“Emma must know about this. Why hasn’t she said anything?”
“She doesn’t know. Not yet anyway. Mark only just made the arrangements. He told me he telephoned
Charles and told him all about it this morning before we had lunch.”
“She’ll be dreadfully disappointed. What are we going to do?”
“Beth, first you have to get her to quit teaching.”
“Quit teaching? Oh, my, Rupert, no. I cannot and will not ask her to do that. And even if you forced me to do it, what could I say to her? That she should run out on the Grand Tour to chase after Charles?”
Rupert stopped and stared at Beth as the obvious solution came into focus. “Yes,” he said quietly. “Beth you are brilliant.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are.” Rupert jumped to his feet and thrust his fist into the air in victory. “She should go on the Grand Tour.”
“Nonsense. A young lady does not travel alone, and it would be wholly inappropriate for her to travel with the Fortunes.”
“She’ll travel with us,” Rupert stated.
“Please, dear. We’re leaving for Palm Beach right after Christmas. I made all the arrangements.”
“Cancel them. I am feeling a strong urge to see the pyramids and perhaps the Holy Lands. We’re going on the Grand Tour!”
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