Chapter 70

"It wasn't an affair," Will explained to his aunt and uncle defensively. The way his uncle put it made it sound like they had been involved in some seedy carnal relationship. "It wasn't like that. Nothing physical happened, not really. We just. . . fell in love." He looked from one face to the other, the looks of anger morphing into perplexed stares. "She told me that she never really loved him," he explained as gently as he could. "She said she didn't want to send him off to war that way, knowing that she never intended to be his wife. We were going to wait until the war was over and then…."

"And then what?" Margaret asked in an angry whisper. "Shatter his heart into a million pieces? After years of deception and lies?" She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "I never, ever thought I'd find a reason to say this, but I am almost glad he isn't here to hear this. I just can't imagine how he would have ever overcome such devastation."