Darcy washed away the grime that had hardened into his wrinkles. His eyes opened and found hers. A light broadened within them.
“I saw you before—at another place. Many people were there. You were dressed like an angel, Eliza.” His voice, weak and raspy, stunned her as if it were the first time she had ever heard him speak.
“I am Darcy, your daughter.”
“Darcy? Darcy, my little girl?”
“Yes, Papa.”
He grabbed her hand, pressed her fingers to his lips, and kissed them. “I left you with William. I hoped you’d understand why.”
Darcy leaned in. “You did what was best for me. For that, I should be thanking you. Uncle Will and Aunt Mari have taken good care of me, as if I were their own. And my cousins are my sisters.”
He touched her cheek. “God has led me to you. I have thought of you day and night ever since I left River Run. My heart has ached being apart from you.”
“Then why did you leave me? Why did you not stay? I needed you.”
“My heart was crushed within me. I retreated, tried to lose myself in the wilderness. Forgive me if you can.”
Darcy gave no reply. Her heart wanted to forgive and forget. But her mind could not let go—not yet. There were so many unanswered questions. Her soul called out to the One who could help her. Forgiving would be hard, and she needed strength to do it.
Hayward looked at Madeline. “Mother, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. It was long ago. But no doubt you still remember.”
“Shh. Lie still,” she said.
“I loved Eliza. I had to leave her. She was a good wife, until …” He trailed off and looked back at Darcy. “You shall despise me for what I’ve done, Darcy.”
“Enough talk, Papa. You must rest.”
“Please, you must let me tell you.”
She paused, saw the plea in his eyes, and could not forbid him. “All right, I am listening. But no matter what you say, I cannot hate you, Papa. It isn’t in me to despise anyone.”
“You call your cousins your sisters. You had another, you know.”
Surprised by this, she stood back. “I do not remember a sister. I only remember Ilene—a little.”
“Ilene was your mother’s child. But not mine. Now do you see?”
Shock rippled through Darcy. “Ilene? I remember I loved her, Papa. But you say she was not yours?”
“I went away to war,” Hayward said. “I was captured and sentenced to a prison ship. My brother was told I had been hanged. Will wrote to your mother, and in her grief another man comforted her—led her astray. She thought I was dead.”
“How awful. Poor mother.” Darcy fought the tight feeling in her throat.
“She had a girl living at River Run. Sarah was her name. She tried to guard the child, tried to protect Eliza and you. But I found out the truth and hated her for it, her and Eliza.”
Darcy lowered her head and tried to absorb what he told her. She could not speak, but when Madeline laid a gentle hand over her shoulder, she reached up and held the aged hand. They would pass through this storm together, and Darcy felt comforted to have the support of her grandmother.
“I never told Will and Mari about this, Darcy. So do not wonder why they never spoke of it. I deceived them, as I have deceived everyone.”
She looked at him, dread sinking into her. “What happened to my mother? Why did you not put a stone over her grave?”
Hayward moaned and wiped his eyes. “Your mother did not die, as I led you and others to believe.”
“But—later? She died later?”
“No. I sent her away.”
“Why would you do that? What could she have done to deserve such rejection?”
“I could not bear her betrayal.”
“Where did you send her?”
“Back to England. That is why I am here. I want to find her.”
“Why did she not reach out to me?”
“Her shame prevented her, my child. And you were so young …”
“Where is she?”
“The last I knew, at a place called Fairview.”
“Fairview?” The name fell from her lips bittersweet.
Hayward struggled to rise. “Please—let me tell you everything. There is more.”
“More?” Darcy clenched her hands. “How could you have lied to me?”
Her grandmother stepped up to her. “Darcy, please, try to hear your father out. It is the only way to know what has happened.”
“I was bitter, but did not want to hurt you,” Hayward said.
“How could you have left me to grow up believing Mother was dead?