The next morning Maud pulled herself out of her bed. There was no sleep that night, and she expected there to be many more like it in the future. Raised voices had roused her from her bed. She quickly dressed before lingering at the top of the stairs to listen. It was not her children's voices she heard, but Jeph's, and Jeph's voice itself.
Jeph was informing Allister of the decision to move. The boy was not taking it well, yet only cried. When Maud strained to hear, Allister's reasoning become clear. It was not that he was particularly attached to the city or the home they live in. Instead Maud could hear him weeping over leaving their mother's body behind. It would have been different if she had been burned when she passed. A pot of ashes was simple enough to transport, but her body was buried beneath the ground years ago. She was in no fit state to be dug up and carried about. Jeph held no sympathy for the boy.
Maud listened closely as Jeph began to spoke to his daughter. Allister did not retreat into the bedroom upstairs, as Maud feared, but left the house. She was free to listen further.
Maud listened closely as Jeph began to spoke to his daughter. Allister did not retreat into the bedroom upstairs, as Maud feared, but left the house. She was free to listen further.
Beatrix Booker was a small force to be reckoned with. Though younger than her brother she took no news standing down. It was this conversation that Maud was not looking forward to hearing. Even her own children were not so strong willed.
She cried out, and stomped her foot at the news.
"No!" she shouted. Maud cringed for the neighbours. "I won't go along with any foolish scheme you've got now, father. I simply won't!"
Maud heard Jeph sigh. "It's for the best, you should know that. The city isn't safe anymore-"
"Is this about Phillip? Is that why you're doing this? I knew you hated him, but- But not enough to do this!" Maud heard Jeph sigh again.
She cried out, and stomped her foot at the news.
"No!" she shouted. Maud cringed for the neighbours. "I won't go along with any foolish scheme you've got now, father. I simply won't!"
Maud heard Jeph sigh. "It's for the best, you should know that. The city isn't safe anymore-"
"Is this about Phillip? Is that why you're doing this? I knew you hated him, but- But not enough to do this!" Maud heard Jeph sigh again.
"That merchant boy is no good for you, Bea," Jeph shouted, cutting off Beatrix's following fury. "He uses you like a common whore. He fills your head with foolish promises and gives you expensive gifts so you won't leave him, the inflated little rat.
I refuse to have my daughter treated that way. You'll be coming with us, no questions asked, young lady. You'll show some respect for me while you do it as well," Jeph finished with a huff. Maud could not hear the tears that were sliding down Beatrix's face, but she knew they poured slowly. That Jonathon, a rich merchant's son, had been enough trouble for this family yet. Beatrix could not see how the boy used her, and she shrugged off the way he ignored her. Maud was not sure if they had laid together yet, but she hoped not. Beatrix being with child would not be helpful.
Maud crept away from the top of stairs once she heard Beatrix's feet fly over the floor and tried to look busy. Beatrix entered and threw herself a top her bed, face down. Maud stepped silently past her. She had no right to insert herself into this fight. She had to worry about her own children.
I refuse to have my daughter treated that way. You'll be coming with us, no questions asked, young lady. You'll show some respect for me while you do it as well," Jeph finished with a huff. Maud could not hear the tears that were sliding down Beatrix's face, but she knew they poured slowly. That Jonathon, a rich merchant's son, had been enough trouble for this family yet. Beatrix could not see how the boy used her, and she shrugged off the way he ignored her. Maud was not sure if they had laid together yet, but she hoped not. Beatrix being with child would not be helpful.
Maud crept away from the top of stairs once she heard Beatrix's feet fly over the floor and tried to look busy. Beatrix entered and threw herself a top her bed, face down. Maud stepped silently past her. She had no right to insert herself into this fight. She had to worry about her own children.