Page 78 of My Gentleman Spy
“I don't understand,” she finallysaid.
Father Brown's laughter dimmed to asmile.
“That's because you have not fully accepted God's purpose for you. Though the fact that you are here, and not on your way to becoming a missionary’s wife, tells me he has spoken to your heart,” hereplied.
Her parents were black and white when it came to their role in the church, Peter even more so. They had a calling to preach and convert, so therefore must she. Her role was well defined as far as they wereconcerned.
“I told that thick headed nephew of mine he had no right to force you into marrying him. He of course in his usual stubborn way would not listen. Your parents should never have encouraged him. I told your father the very same thing the week youleft.”
She was taken aback by his words. Someone had seen her despair and she had been blind to it. Father Brown of all people had pleaded her case. If only she had known, so much of the pain which had followed could have beenavoided.
“You grew a spine Hattie Wright, and I am certain that our heavenly father had a hand in it. He needed you for the church’s work here in London. Come,” hesaid.
Hattie followed him back through the door from which he had come. Soon they were in the small stone cottage adjacent to thechurch.
“The lighting of the candles can wait. No one will be at prayer this early in the day,” hesaid.
While Hattie took a seat at the kitchen table, Father Brown pulled two cups from the shelf and busied himself about the place. Once a week one of the parishioners would come to clean the house and restock the small larder, but other than that Father Brown was content to take care ofhimself.
“Has your brother taken you in?” heasked.
At her lowest point, Hattie knew she would never have lied to a priest. She was glad to be back on the road to being her old open bookself.
“I have made other arrangements for the short-term. My brother does not know I am returned to England, but I shall seek him out when I am ready,” shereplied.
Father Brown handed her a cup of pale, weak tea. The tea leaves were reused many times before being thrown out onto the small kitchen garden patch at the back of thevicarage.
“I see. So, my dear. Have you come back to continue your work withme?”
“Yes please. I would love to come home,” repliedHattie.
Father Brown scratched the scraggly strands of white beard on his chin. He pointed to a small wooden pail sitting in the corner. Hattie had carried that very same pail to and from the market more times that she couldrecall.
“Well I suggest you get to work on the measly carrots I managed to get from Covent Garden this morning. The traders are not as generous with me as they were with you. I think some of them might be angry with me for letting you go. Once you are done with them, I would be happy to hear yourconfession.”
Hattie wiped a tear away. There was nowhere else in the world that she would rather be than seated on the broken step outside the church peelingcarrots.
She would take her time with the carrots. She had a long list of sins to compile forconfession.
* * *
Hattie’shappy mood at being back at St. John’s and receiving Father Brown’s blessing lasted until she arrived back at Newport Street. Will's reaction to discovering she had ventured unaccompanied from the house was not sopleasant.
“I thought we had agreed you would be honest with me,” hesaid.
His words while delivered in an even tone, contrasted with his right hand which was tapping loudly on the breakfast roomtable.
“I didn't lie to you. I simply went out without telling you. You cannot expect me to wait around the house until you rise. Half the morning would be gone,” shereplied.
After the unexpected joy of discovering Retribution Brown was more than happy to welcome her back into the fold, Hattie refused to allow Will's bad temper to get the better of her. He was welcome to be as angry as heliked.
It was not as if it was the first time she had made the trek across to Holborn on her own. And it wouldn't be the last if she had any say in thematter.
The thought did however give her pause. She pulled a chair out and took a seat at the table, unwilling to argue her case like a recalcitrant child made to stand before its displeasedparent.
“I am sorry you were not aware of the arrangement which existed in this house before you took possession. I regularly make my way on foot to St. John’s and St. Giles,” sheexplained.
“Unaccompanied?” hereplied.
