Destitute on His Doorstep by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson [Dickson, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-05-14T21:00:00+00:00

‘No, thank you,’ she replied tersely, ignoring his offer. ‘I told you, I’m all right. I’m grateful to you for what you did, but it is over. Good day to you. Please don’t let me stop you going about your business.’ More shaken by the incident than she cared to let him see, she walked quickly on, sincerely hoping he had gone on his way.

Francis stood a moment and watched her go, the full realisation of her plight filling him with a mixture of sympathy, disbelief and concern. He hesitated, torn between the male’s instinctive urge to avoid any scene involving a distressed woman, and a far less understandable impulse to offer her some sort of strength, support and much-needed protection. The latter impulse was much stronger and it won out.

He headed slowly and purposefully after her, slapping his riding crop against his leg as he observed her stiff back and the indignant sway of her skirts. Increasing his stride, he was soon directly behind her. Knowing why she had left Bilborough four years ago, he wouldn’t blame her if she ran away now. But apart from leaving Bilborough when left with little choice, he doubted she had run away from anything in her life—although he felt some disquiet as to the causes that had forced her to leave Northampton and return to Bilborough and would dearly like to know more.

Now he had come to know her he knew how she valued her dignity, and as a result of the accusations of witchcraft aimed at her stepmother all that time ago, her dignity had taken a public flogging. In her place, not many young women would have the courage to show up again in Avery. Only her pride, her outraged pride, would force her to appear and face them all down, for pride was all she had left right now, and her pride would demand that she appear in Avery with her head high.

Earlier he had seen her horse and cart halt in the market place. When she’d alighted and left Isaac to go off by herself, he’d observed the hostile glances some of the townsfolk cast her way as she calmly passed by, and seen one or two skulk after her, as if they were rats after just one piece of cheese. Concerned for her safety, he had followed on her heels.

On reaching the horse and cart, still shocked and affected by what had just happened, Jane stood for a moment before going in search of Isaac. She was outside one of Avery’s ale houses, which was always well patronised on market days. The noise from within was loud and raucous. The slight breeze flirted with the cluster of soft curls escaping from her bonnet and played with the hem of her skirts while it brought a fresh flush to her cheeks. She was a fetching sight for any man, many of whom who were new to Avery and, unaware of who she was, paused after passing and openly glanced back for a second look.

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