She could not
feel brave in his presence, only vulnerable and afraid.
But as the two men returned from the loft, reporting, "No sign that
anyone's been here but herself, though the upper room is undoubtedly a
young lady's," she remembered the dangerous nearness of those she had
sworn to protect, and the injuries they had already suffered at the
hands of such men. Her pride returned, along with the instinctive
cunning of a woman cornered.
"Of course," she said, feigning indignation against the search alone,
and total ignorance of what they could want from her. "It is my
niece's room, to return to if and when she chooses."
"And where is she now?" demanded the tyrant.
"She has gone to live with her mother, as I told your son not a
fortnight since. I suggest you look for her there." It occurred to her
only after she had said this that it might endanger her sister-in-law.
"It may please you to know," he said calmly, taking a sharpened
letter-knife from his coat and twirling it carelessly between his
fingers, "that we have already been to see the widow MacCain.
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