Free Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall by Hearts Restored Page B

are a peaceable man but peace must sometimes give way before righteous anger and the search for truth. I bid you good-day.”
    He had now opened the door and there seemed nothing they could do but leave.
    Bel however could not resist a word. “You make rods for your own back, Cousin William, but please spare that poor little child. I knew what it was to have a cloud overshadow my youth. It might have broken me down altogether but for the love of this man.” She tucked her arm through Nat’s. “Do not break your daughter’s spirit, William, because you tragically lost the wife you loved.”
    William’s face contorted with anger and Bel propelled them both away, grabbing Daniel’s arm with her other hand. He glanced back once to see William’s black-clad figure with thunderous face and hand upraised as if in cursing before he turned into the house and shut the door.
    They were round the corner into the adjoining lane when Daniel pulled his mother to a stop and burst into a flood of weeping on her shoulder.
    “How can we leave her to him?” he choked out. “He is truly mad.”
    People were stopping in the street and looking at them.
    “Is he ill?” A woman coming from a candlestick-maker’s with a basket of candles stopped to ask.
    Daniel brushed his hand over his eyes and shook his head, shame-faced. They hurried on together until they came out onto Cheapside.
    Nathaniel said then, “No, I do not believe William is mad. He looks upon the bringing up of his one daughter alone as a terrible responsibility. He is a sad, lost man without his wife and has thrown himself into this enforced poverty as a kind of penance. But for that unfortunate letter from his mother he was prepared to welcome us with courtesy though he sees any young man’s presence as a threat.”
    Bel concurred readily with that. “Indeed he was eying Dan with suspicion from the moment he saw us. I sensed him stiffen when Dan went to help her with their wretched curtain. And I know you’ll say I was too flippant with him, Nat, and made things worse. I’m afraid I can’t tolerate fanatics. They are too free with the Lord’s name. I believe God’s in His heaven and we can only struggle on here below and do the best we can.”
    Daniel considered this as he sniffed away his tears of anger and frustration.
    “But, Mother, we didn’t do our best. He wanted the truth and I was never allowed to tell him exactly how those stupid words she quoted came about. And now she’ll think – well, I don’t know what she’ll think.”
    “And do you mind so much what she thinks?” His mother was grinning up at him. “Do I sense my boy is a little in love after all?”
    Daniel stamped his foot. “No I am not. I don’t know what being in love means. I don’t want to know. All I’ve learnt since we came down here is that women are trouble. We’ve seen London now and I’m ready to go home. I only wish those Rombeau girls were not coming with us.” He hunched his shoulders and plodded on, fearing that his parents were exchanging amused glances. The visit had been a disaster and he wished with all his heart it had never happened.

CHAPTER 8
    Eunice was allowed the indulgence of sobbing on her bed for a mere five minutes. They were tears of fury at herself. Why had she shouted out those hurtful words? They had hurt her when they were spoken not because she cared for Daniel at that stage but because they confirmed what she knew too well that she was an object no one would ever care about. Then had come the vision of him at the door of her room and she had believed for a moment that he did care. It was a wondrous moment but could never have any consequences for her. His next words, his pursuing her down the stairs, his speaking up in the hallway were drops of balm to her soul even though she had had to rebuff them. Why then, on hearing the contents of her grandmother’s letter, had she so stupidly shouted out his earlier remark which she was not supposed to