His surprise was evident. So he had not known. She felt a small measure of relief.
“Why would he do that?” Joseph said.
“Control? A last laugh on his silly daughter? It matters not. What matters is that I wish to have money for things, and have no wish to fight with you over every detail.”
His face was expressionless as he stood there watching her once again unravel. It was so bloody unfair! She doubted he’d ever been anything but together, his entire life.
Not entirely true. This morning he was unraveled.
“Well, unless you wish to purchase a brothel, I will cause you no problems.”
“I should purchase a brothel to spite him,” Milly said.
“Yet you will not, but I’m sure you have a wish to do something.”
She looked at Joseph, standing large and steady behind his sister. Eleanor had never known fear, never known hunger or real cold, the kind that seeped into your bones and never let go. He would ensure that for his sister and brothers, as he once would have done for her. But no longer. Milly saw to her own needs now, and wished it no other way.
