There was a short silence. Verena stared at her stepfather. What an alteration in his features when he was confronted with Mama. Yet he had dealt with Verena in a manner that showed all too clearly how little he had truly changed. She turned urgently to Mrs Peverill.
“Mama, do not believe him. He is determined on forcing your return, by whatever means. He will play upon your conscience, as he has tried to play upon mine. If he may speak of begging, then let me beg, too.”
“Verena, my darling, don’t,” pleaded Mrs Peverill, tears starting to her eyes.
“I must, Mama —” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I am so afraid that he will succeed with you, as he so often has before, and I cannot bear to think of it.”
Her mother released her hands and clasped Verena in her arms, hugging her close.
“My dearest love! You have been a most diligent guardian, but you must let me stand on my own feet now.”
Verena drew away, looking down into her mother’s set face. Heaven help her, was everything to go for nothing? Mama thought herself strong, but was she proof against Nathaniel’s wiles? Verena did not think so.
What to do? Where to seek for help? She looked at Adam, and saw uncertainty in his face. There was nothing to be got from that quarter. Then it was all squarely back on her own shoulders. She turned again to Nathaniel, convinced he was waiting only for the opportunity to get Mama alone.
“Be warned, sir,” she said, her tone hard. “Mama has too soft a heart, and she will hear you. But do not forget you have me with whom to deal.”
A sad smile entered his face, and he directed his remarks towards his wife rather than Verena. “I have come with a humble heart, and if Abigail has compassion enough to soften to my pleas, then shall I be satisfied. You will find me a good deal changed, Abigail.”
Verena’s eyes flashed at him. “Oh, you may offer lies, Nathaniel Peverill, enough to cozen Mama. But you will not take her home again, trust me.”
Nathaniel ignored her. His gaze remained fixed on his wife’s face. “I need you, Abigail. I have had time to learn that I cannot live without you. You know how I love you.”
“Love? You call it love to batter with your fists until your helpless victim lies almost senseless at your feet?”
“That is in the past!” he said with vehemence. “I confess my faults, Abigail. Freely I confess them. I have wronged you, but I will never do so again.”
“No, for you will never have power over her again,” Verena threw at him. “Not while I am alive to prevent it.”
Nathaniel turned on her. “Oh, leave me be, girl! What in Hades has it to do with you? Haven’t you caused enough unhappiness?In any event, you are wasting your breath. I swear to God, I will not leave here without my wife!”
“There, I knew it,” Verena slammed back. She might have laughed if she had not been so angry.Shehad caused unhappiness, he dared to say, himself author of all this. She turned to her mother. “You see, Mama? You hear him?” Then she whirled back on Nathaniel. “Try what you can. Force her, persuade her, drag her home. But mark this: I will come to Fittleworth and fetch her away again — at whatever cost.”
Nathaniel’s brow grew black, and Adam started forward, seizing his sister’s arm. “Verena, you are distressing Mama.”
She wrenched her arm out of his hold. “Then why do you not say something to support me, instead of standing there like a stock? This is your fault, Adam!”
“I know it,” he answered, “but I still say it is a matter between my father and our mama. You agreed that Mama might speak to him. Then let be, and do not be stirring the waters so that even discussion becomes impossible.”
His words struck home. Verena hesitated. Yes, she had agreed — perforce. And she had stirred the waters purposely, pushing Nathaniel to reveal his true colours, desperate to deflect Mama’s intention to meet him alone.
But she had reckoned without Mrs Peverill’s own new strength of mind, until she felt her mother’s hand on her arm.
“Adam is right, dearest. Leave us alone for a little.”
Verena stared at her, breathless with dread. “Alone? You and he?”
“I will be safe enough,” she said gently. “Go with your brother, I pray you.”
Mrs Peverill passed her daughter and went to stand behind one of the armchairs, facing her husband and looking him boldly in the face. Watching her, Verena was conscious of a measure of realisation penetrating the blanketing fear. Mama had changed.She was stronger. Perhaps, after all, she might stand up to him. If only Verena could be sure that she would not agree to return with him. She hesitated.
“Nothing will happen, Verena,” Adam said, adding his persuasions to his mother’s. “Mama has a right to this privacy, and you know it.”
“I thank you, Adam,” said his father, nodding in his son’s direction. He added on a faint note of sarcasm, “And if your sister wishes it, do you remain within call to prevent me spiriting your mother away.”
Adam nodded, and taking Verena’s arm, pulled her to the door. She turned there, casting one last threatening look at her stepfather. “If you so much as lay one finger on her…”
Mrs Peverill looked across at her. Her tone was both dignified and firm. “Go, Verena.”
