Free 1862 by Robert Conroy

romance,” Rebecca said, “but I had neither, although I suppose there was a measure of security. Thomas never loved me and never had any intention of doing so. I was a social necessity. He needed a wife and I would do.”
    Valerie had known of many loveless marriages. Too bad for Rebecca, but no real surprise. She had known Thomas Devon through her husband’s activities and had not liked him very much. “And you never saw each other naked?” Valerie persisted. The thought fascinated her.
    “No. Let’s just say he was perfunctory when it came to performing the marriage act.” In truth it had been nothing like the novels Valerie had brought with her from France and had let Rebecca read
    “Let me guess,” Valerie said. “He would come at night in the dark, climb into bed, pull up your nightgown, enter you, grunt a few times, and then slip quietly back to his room.” Despite her intense embarrassment, Rebecca smiled. “It’s almost as if you’d slept with him. You didn’t, did you?”
    “No, although I’ve known men like that. Did you ever try to tell him what you wanted from him?”
    Rebecca shrugged. “If I’d known, I might have. I just don’t think he cared. After he was hurt in battle, I found his diary and realized he had a mistress.”
    The diary also detailed how Thomas Devon had been profiting illegally from purchases for the army. He had been a tool of Secretary of War Simon Cameron, and the last few pages had told of Thomas Devon’s fears that he would be caught and left to hang out to dry by Cameron. Devon had joined the army to make himself a hero and insulate himself from the worst of the accusations. He hadn’t counted on getting killed. After reading it, Rebecca burned it in anger and shame. Later, she realized that it might be necessary to show investigators that shed known nothing of Thomas’s affairs and that the diary might have proved it. No matter. Few wives knew what their husbands did. Her assertions of innocence would be believed.
    For a short while she had wondered just what to do with the money that had accrued to her from Thomas’s estate, since much of it had been ill-gotten. So far she had done nothing other than live on it, and had pretty well determined that she would not return it as she had no idea where and to whom it should be returned and in what quantity.
    “You poor thing,” Valerie said, interrupting her thoughts. She had known that Thomas Devon had a mistress. She was somewhat surprised that Rebecca hadn’t figured it out sooner. “Tell me, didn’t you ever feel the stirrings of pleasure or the feeling that you wanted more when he was doing what he wished with you?”
    “Yes,” Rebecca responded thoughtfully.
    “Do you think he would have done what you wished had you known what to wish for?”
    “It’s been far less than a year since he died, so I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, but no, I don’t think so. Too late I found that he lived in his own little world and wasn’t interested in mine.”
    “Well then,” Valerie said happily, “let’s get back to the point of finding you another man. Your presence at my soiree the other day was a clear signal that you are no longer in total mourning. Believe me: my dear departed Captain Knollys absolutely noticed, so I guess it’s good that he’s gone. And General Scott’s friend, that Mr. Hunter, seemed interested in you. There will be a handful of other events over the Christmas holidays, and I will see to it that you are invited.”
    “You’re very kind,” Rebecca said. “And you’re a very good friend. However, it took me all that time to find one husband, and it turned out all wrong. I’m afraid you might spend an eternity looking for a second one for me and still not do any better.”
    Valerie laughed. “Once again, who said anything about a husband? Regardless, we shall ensure that the next time you take a man to bed with you, you are well prepared and knowledgeable. You will have to