Chapter 1

 

‘Mother, please try not to get too distressed.’ Lydia tried to speak calmly, even as she began to increasingly feel the desperateness of the situation her family now found themselves in.

‘Lydia, can you not see that we are done for! Your father’s family have just confirmed in this letter that they will no longer be footing the bill for our lodgings and upkeep. Read it yourself.’ Her mother handed her the single piece of paper with trembling hands. ‘If your father knew how they were treating us, he would be turning in his grave right now, God rest his soul!’ Her mother sniffed as she blew her nose into her handkerchief.

‘There must be something we can do?’ Lydia now spoke with frustration, having read the letter for herself and confirmed all that her mother had just said. ‘Perhaps we should take a journey to go and speak with them. They might not understand our situation and that we have nowhere else to turn to for help.’

‘Lydia, my dear child, there are times I admire your kind nature and ability to see the good in all people, but this is not one of those times. Your father’s family have given little thought to us and will continue to do so. Make no mistake of that! Especially your father’s mother, who has never liked me. She thought your father was marrying beneath himself when he took me as a bride. She has a cold heart and will not relent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is even glad to see us all suffer as punishment for me marrying your father and taking him away from her.’ Lydia’s mother spoke soberly.