Page 6 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
“Father, if you—”
Aaron raised his hand and shook his head warningly.
“I will not hear it, Henrietta! I have endured too many of your promises to cease already.”
“I have never made any such promises!” she cried out indignantly although she knew he would never see it in such a way.
To his mind, I did vow to stop simply because he demanded I do so, but I will never stop! Not until I—
“Henny,” Tabitha Oliver murmured kindly, casting her irate husband a nervous look. “What have you done now?”
“I was merely reading.” Henrietta protested although she knew she did much more than read. Yet, this was hardly the opportunity to explain her dreams to her parents, not when Aaron’s face had grown unusually red with anger.
“Who is giving you this to read?” Aaron demanded to know. “I will have him run from Bryne for indulging your fanciful notions.”
“What is the harm in her reading, Aaron?” Tabitha muttered although she knew precisely why Aaron glowered. It was not a new subject in the Oliver household, but it was Tabitha’s meek attempt to keep the uneasy peace within the walls of the house.
Futile attempt,Henrietta thought with some contempt. Oh, how she wished her mother was stronger, more firm against her husband’s overbearing ways. Another one of Henrietta’s farfetched dreams was that Tabitha would one day straighten her spine and demand Aaron speak to them not as soldiers in the battlefield but as the wife and child he presumably loved.
“As if you do not know what tripe she consumes,” Aaron scoffed at his wife. “Medical journals. Science periodicals. She has impossible ideas in her head—”
“They are not impossible!” Henrietta immediately regretted the words. The look in Aaron’s eyes was terrifying. She darted her gaze away.
“Something must be done about this,” Aaron rasped, pounding his fists on the table. “I will not stand for your constant disobedience, Henrietta!”
“Forgive me, Father,” she replied automatically even though she was insincere. She only wished for the diatribe to be finished so that she might find a place to escape privately.
“Your apologies are false,” Aaron growled. Through the corner of her eye, Henrietta saw Seth nodding in agreement. She scowled at him furiously, but Seth’s eyes were fixed faithfully on Aaron.
“Father, I—”
“SILENCE!” he howled. Henrietta again dropped her eyes. It had been a long while since she had heard him so angry.
“Aaron, you need not shout.” Tabitha was wringing her hands as she always did when such situations arose. “I am certain that Henny is contrite—are you sorry, dear?”
Henrietta looked down and mumbled. “I am. Truly.”
“No,” Aaron hissed, his tone more reserved now. “That will not do, not this time.”
Henrietta felt pins pricking down her spine and she just kept staring at him, contemplating what would happen to her this time. His blue eyes were blazing with determination, and she had a terrible feeling.
“Father…what are you saying?” His silence was far worse than his raised tones. That familiar half-smile, mirthless and cold, formed over his lips.
“I daresay,” he drawled slowly. “You will find out soon enough.”
With that, he rose from his seat at the head of the table, his breakfast untouched, and stormed from the room, Seth close at his heels.
“Oh dear,” Tabitha moaned. “Why must we fight at every meal?”
“You need not fret, Mama,” Henrietta spoke softly. “All will be well soon.”
“I do hope you are right, darling. I cannot bear this endless tension hanging over us like a fog. I cannot breathe!”
“I agree,” Henrietta replied, but her mind was on the veiled threat her father had made.
He has plans for me, ones which will undoubtedly quash my dreams.
“Eat, dear,” Tabitha encouraged her gently. “You cannot endure your father’s temper on an empty stomach.”
