House of Angels by Freda Lightfoot Page B

felt in life, he took out on them, viewing them as mere pawns to use in his empire-building . Ella had been married off to a man she barely knew, and poor Maggie was so fragile and vulnerable Livia feared for her health. She felt quite anxious about her, but then she’d always been a sickly child who needed care and rest. Yet Father made no allowances for that fact.
    He seemed to expect to control every part of their lives and Livia was fully aware that if he had his way, he would marry her off to Henry. Livia had no intention of marrying anyone.
    She stared out over the view of the town she so dearly loved, the huddle of grey stone houses, Victoria Bridge that straddled the river, and the Helvellyn range visible on the distant horizon. Despite her strong loyalty and love for the town of her birth, Livia longed to pack her bags and walk away and be free. But that was impossible. Where could she go? Besides, nothing would induce her to leave Maggie.
    Yet the fact that she stayed didn’t mean she had any intention of being bullied as her poor sisters were. She meant to resist him to her last breath.
     
    Dinner that evening was reasonably civilised, if rather quiet. Maggie was troubled by an irritating cough, as was so often the case, and picked at her roast lamb before taking herself off to bed early. Livia issued a whispered reminder for her to take a sip of her cough mixture before retiring, and worried in case her departure might create a fuss. Their father seemed to revel in punishing his younger daughter for her apparent intransigence over the poor state of her health. Tonight, however, he seemed preoccupied, and more subdued than usual.
    Then quite out of the blue, he said, ‘I was speaking to Henry Hodson this morning. He will be calling upon you tomorrow to pay court and make you an offer. See that you’re ready to receive him. Put on your prettiest frock, the jewellery your mother left you, whatever you young ladies feel appropriate for such an occasion.’
    His tone was cold and matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing a business proposition and not a possible marriage for his daughter.
    ‘I would like to have this little matter resolved fairly soon. Time is of the essence, Lavinia. You are no longer the young girl you once were, nor so attractive a proposition in the marriage mart as you might imagine. And you really are far too opinionated for your own good. Fortunately, Henry Hodson has known you long enough to be able to ignore these flaws. As a wealthyyoung businessman, he can also afford to overlook such trifles as your lack of dowry. See that you make an effort to receive him with good grace and charm, and bring him nicely to the point, if you please.’
    Having settled the matter to his own satisfaction, Josiah rose to his feet, dusted a few stray crumbs from the swelling dome of his stomach, and made a move to retire to his study to partake of his usual glass of port and smoke a cigar. Once the engagement was announced his debts would be nicely settled and the accounts could go hang. He might then employ a clerk to take that particular chore off his shoulders.
    Livia could barely comprehend the words. Little matter! Too opinionated for her own good! Bring him to the point!
    She sat stunned, open mouthed, shocked to the core, and only when the door was about to close upon his departing figure did she jump to her feet and summon up the courage to respond.
    ‘I can’t do that, Father. I won’t!’
    He turned on her, his voice a roar of displeasure. ‘You can and you will.’
    ‘No. Never!’
    He raised a fist, his face livid with anger. Livia braced herself for the blow, but then he seemed to stop himself. Perhaps he realised that a young woman with a black eye or bruise on her chin would not look half so attractive to a young suitor. With immense difficulty he brought himself back under control.
    ‘You’ll do what I say, miss, or pay the consequences.And you well know what those will be.’
    Livia