Briar Patch by Linda Sole Page B

you’re back.’ He walked on to where a groom stood ready with his horse.
    Roz turned her head and watched him mount and ride away. Once upon a time she had thought she would rather remain unwed than marry him, but she had expected to have several offers. Now her chances were practically nil because her father had left the estate in such a desperate situation.
    Would it be wrong to marry him?
    Roz wondered what he would say if he knew what had happened to her on the night of their ball. Philip had said she wouldn’t be believed in court. Harold Rushden might think she’d invited trouble by going for a walk alone at night.
    Her heart told her to reject his offer but her head warned that she might not get another chance to escape from her mother’s scolding.
    Roz saw Carrie as she approached the meadow the next morning. The grass was high but the girl was sitting on the bank above the stream. Her child lay on a shawl on the grass beside her and the girl was chewing the end of a grass stalk and staring into the distance. She didn’t appear to notice Roz until she spoke to her.
    â€˜I wasn’t sure you would come. May I see the baby?’
    Carrie turned her dreamy eyes on her and smiled. ‘Hello. I brought Milly to see you, miss. Ma is glad to get us out of the way for a bit. I’m more of a hindrance than a help to her.’
    â€˜I’m sure that’s not true.’ Roz said sat down on the dry grass. The child had lovely fair hair just covering her head and the bluest eyes she had ever seen.
    â€˜She has your hair and eyes,’ Roz said, slightly disappointed. She’d hoped for a sign, something that would confirm the identity of the baby’s father. ‘You must be proud of her, Carrie.’
    â€˜She knows what you say to her. She sucks my finger and cries when she wants feeding. Ma showed me how to change her cloths. I look after her myself.’
    Carrie’s pride was obvious. Roz touched the tiny fists and smiled. ‘I’m glad it turned out so well.’
    Carrie picked up the child and put her into Roz’s arms. Milly burped and then seemed to smile. Roz stroked her cheek with her finger.
    â€˜She really is a darling, Carrie.’
    â€˜She likes you,’ Carrie said. ‘She knows you’re her aunt. I had an aunt once but Ma said she died – that means they put her in a box in the ground like Dick. Maybe she’ll come back one day. Dick is coming back. It might be today. I come to meet him most mornings.’
    â€˜She isn’t my niece, she’s my . . .’ Roz frowned. ‘The squire is dead, Carrie. Didn’t they put Milly’s father in a box in the ground?’
    Carrie’s laughter was soft and low. ‘’Course not. Squire isn’t in the ground. He comes riding this way sometimes, but he hasn’t been by for a few days. I shall show him Milly when he comes. He’ll give me a shilling for her.’
    Roz felt cold all over. Carrie had a pleased smile on her lips but it wasn’t one of guile or maliciousness. Roz didn’t think she was lying or making up tales.
    â€˜Do you mean Squire Philip, Carrie?’
    The girl turned her bland gaze on her and nodded. ‘Aye, your brother, miss. You be Squire’s sister – and he be Milly’s pa.’
    â€˜Did my brother hurt you, Carrie? Did he force you?’
    Carrie stared at her for a moment, then: ‘He said to tell me ma it was force. Said it was best to say Squire and not his name. He promised he would look after me if I did what he said.’
    Roz felt the sickness rise in her throat. She got hurriedly to her feet and walked away before she said something she might regret. The girl hadn’t known what she was doing or realized the consequences – but Philip had known.
    Roz stared at her reflection in the mirror, feeling shame and disgust. How could her brother have seduced a girl like Carrie and then blamed the