A Mother's Courage by Dilly Court Page B

in her concern for Joss she
was quite unaware that one step backwards
would send them both tumbling into the rushing
waters of the river. Joss had stopped crying and
was smiling up into her face as he tugged at a
lock of her long, lank hair.
    'Ada, dear,' Eloise said softly, 'bring Joss over
here.'
    'My baby,' Ada said dreamily. 'Joss is my
baby.'
    Moving as stealthily as a hunter, Eloise reached
her just as Ada swayed backwards and she
grabbed her by the arm, dragging them both away
from imminent danger. 'Don't be frightened, Ada.
You were too near the riverbank, my dear.'
    Ada glanced over her shoulder and her lips
trembled. 'She pushed me into the sea. The water
came over my head.' She thrust Joss into his
mother's arms. 'Joan pushed me into the sea.'
    Horrified, Eloise cuddled Joss to her breast.
'No, she couldn't have done such a thing, Ada. It
must have been an accident.'
    Ada shook her head and tears spurted from
her eyes. 'No, she wanted me dead. She took my
baby and she wanted me to die.'
    Beth had begun to cry and clouds had
obscured the sun. The snow melt running off
the hills had turned the river water to a milky
grey and the willows swayed in the wind.
Eloise bundled a protesting Joss into the cart
beside Beth and she took Ada by the hand.
'Come, dear. I think it's going to rain. We'd
better hurry home.' For a moment she thought
Ada was going to rebel, and Eloise realised with
a tug of dismay that there would be little she
could do if Ada refused to accompany her back
to Cribb's Hall. She might have the mind of a
child, but she had the body of a fully grown
woman and the advantage of height. Eloise
gave Ada's hand a comforting squeeze. 'If we
go home now I'll get Mabel to bring us cake for
tea, and this evening I will read Alice in
Wonderland to you.'
    'I'd like that,' Ada said meekly, and she
allowed Eloise to lead her back the way they had
come.
    By the time they reached Cribb's Hall, dark
clouds had obliterated the tops of the hills and
the first drops of rain were beginning to fall.
They were only halfway along the gravelled
carriage sweep when Eloise heard the rumbling
of wheels and the pounding of horses' hooves.
There was nowhere to hide and even if there
had been she was hampered by the cart's small
wheels and by Ada, who had been walking
slower and slower as they approached the
house. She stopped dead, refusing to budge.
'Won't go back to my room. Don't want to.'
    'Now, Ada, dear Ada, don't be difficult,' Eloise
said breathlessly. The carriage was drawing
closer every second. 'We need to go indoors or
we'll get wet, and you'd like a slice of chocolate
cake, wouldn't you? It's your favourite.' Eloise
tugged at Ada's hand, but she had a set stubborn
look on her face, and Joss was trying to climb out
of the cart, which had set Beth off and she was
howling.
    The carriage had slowed down as Riley drove
it through the great wrought-iron gates, but the
pair of matched greys could move much faster
than she, and Eloise could only drag Ada out of
the way and pull the cart to safety. A screech
from Joan confirmed her worst fears – they had
been seen. Obeying orders, Riley drew the horses
to a halt. Ted leapt from the box to open the
carriage door and put down the steps. He cast
Eloise an anxious and apologetic glance over his
shoulder as he helped Joan alight quickly
followed by Hilda.
    'I knew it,' Joan shrieked, pointing a trembling
finger at Eloise. 'You evil little bitch. What in
hell's name do you think you are about?'
    Hilda pushed Joan aside. 'You've done it this
time, lady. I'll get Mr Cribb to sort you out once
and for all, but I'm telling you now, it'll be the
workhouse for you. If I have any say in the
matter, you will leave Cribb's Hall today and
never return.'
    'I will go,' Eloise stormed. 'And gladly. I hate
this place and I hate both of you. I'll take my
children and we'll never ever set foot in this
place again.'
    Hilda's small eyes glittered with malice. 'Oh,
you'll go all right, lady. But our