The Painter's Apprentice by Charlotte Betts Page B

indeed!’
    ‘My older sister, Mary, has lost one child and still waits in hope. Our mother lost many babies, too, and I sometimes wonder
     if these difficulties run in families.’
    ‘You’re still young and there is plenty of time yet.’
    ‘Perhaps.’ She sighed.
    ‘Tomorrow we will walk in the garden,’ said Beth firmly. It would do no good to let Mistress Morley sit about moping. ‘Or
     perhapsinto the village. The fresh air will put some colour into your cheeks.’
    Mistress Morley glanced out of the window. ‘My sister and I lived not far from here when we were children.’
    ‘Where was that?’
    ‘Oh,’ she waved her hand vaguely in the air. ‘Not far. I lived with my grandmother in France for a while and then came back
     to England. We had a governess, who had children also.’
    ‘And your father?’
    ‘We didn’t see much of him.’
    ‘So you must be close to your sister?’
    ‘She lives in The Hague now and I do not see her as often as I would wish.’
    ‘The Netherlands?’ Beth realised that she hadn’t seen Johannes for several hours, with all that had happened, and wondered
     briefly if his mood was still low.
    ‘I have no mother, God rest her soul. After my babies died I wanted to go to my sister for comfort but my father wouldn’t
     grant me permission. He doesn’t allow me to write to her, either. He intercepts my letters.’
    Beth frowned, puzzled. What kind of father would be so cruel? And surely Mistress Morley’s husband would have had something
     to say on the matter? ‘Why did your sister go to The Hague?’
    ‘She married our cousin and that is where he lives.’
    ‘My painting master, Johannes van de Vyver, comes from Holland. Sadly, he is subject to fits of melancholy but when he is
     well he is full of good humour.’
    Mistress Morley sighed. ‘There is much trouble in the world.’
    ‘You must try not to think of it while you are at Merryfields,’ said Beth, exasperated. ‘Perhaps you can imagine your stay
     here as an island of shelter in your grief? A time to rest and be far away from all your troubles so that you may deal with
     them more easily when you return.’
    ‘You are very kind. We shall be friends, I believe.’ Mistress Morley sighed again and managed a wavering smile. ‘And since
     we are to be friends you shall call me Anne and I will call you Beth. But now let us talk of happier things. Tell me, have
     you always lived here?’
    ‘Always. I love Merryfields more than any other place on God’s earth.’
    ‘And you have the good fortune to have your family around you.’
    ‘For the time being. My brother, Kit, intends to go to Virginia next month. It grieves us all. My father had always hoped
     that Kit would follow in his footsteps and take his place here at Merryfields.’
    A shadow passed over Anne’s face. ‘Fathers sometimes will force their own ideals upon their children. I know mine does. We
     have so many differences of opinion. He is a papist.’
    Beth raised her eyebrows.
    ‘He will never cease in his efforts to convert me.’ Anne stood up abruptly, her handkerchief falling unnoticed to the floor.
     ‘He refuses to see that the Church of England is, without all doubt, the only true Church.’
    Beth frowned. ‘He is a papist but you are not? A child usually follows her parents in matters of this kind.’
    ‘My stepmother is a Roman Catholic and when my father converted to Catholicism, my uncle insisted that I be brought up as
     an Anglican. He put me in the care of Bishop Compton.’
    ‘I am surprised that your father allowed your uncle to make such a decision.’
    Anne hesitated a moment. ‘My uncle is dead now but he was a man of considerable influence.’
    They sat in silence again until, in desperation, Beth said, ‘Father always says that if you are miserable the best thing is
     to keep busy. ‘Come on, we shall go to the kitchen.’ Ignoring Anne’s startled expression, she took her hand and pulled her
     from the