A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online

retorted.
    Beatrice glared at her uncle but curtailed her affected behavior and dropped into one of the overstuffed chairs.
    Victoria turned to the children. “Come sit by your great-aunt, children.”
    “My father has been quarantined at the Home for the Friendless. Something must be done.” Beatrice sniffled and cast a woeful look at Jonas.
    “I am well aware of the quarantine. You are the third person who has rushed to tell me the ill-fated news. No one could be more concerned than—”
    “Than you ? When have you ever been concerned about my father?” Beatrice whipped her fan back and forth with a ferocity that caused her curls to ripple along her forehead like waves lapping at the shoreline.
    Jonas sniffed. “I am not going to enter into an argument with you. Suffice it to say, I am very concerned about your father. I am even more concerned about my own daughter, who has contracted the illness.”
    The fan dropped to her lap. “I didn’t know,” she whispered.
    “Of course you didn’t. You never consider others.” Jonas felt no sympathy for Beatrice. She had been a cantankerous child, and marriage hadn’t softened her. Of course, there were those who would say the same of him. On the other hand, churlish behavior was more acceptable from a man. Women were supposed to be malleable creatures.
    Victoria leaned over from the sofa and patted Beatrice’s hand. “Don’t mind your uncle. He’s had a difficult morning. Needless to say, we are most distraught over this recent news, but there is nothing to be done regarding the quarantine. I would like to bring Amanda home and care for her, but we must abide by the order or others may be infected with the disease. Paul has agreed to keep us advised of any changes.”
    Beatrice straightened her shoulders. “Paul? Isn’t he under quarantine, also?”
    “No. He hadn’t yet arrived at the Home when the authorities delivered the quarantine notice. As soon as Dr. Carstead advised him that Amanda had taken ill, he and Sophie came to tell us. They departed only a short time ago,” Victoria explained.
    “Isn’t that just the way of things? If anyone should suffer, it’s my sister Sophie. Instead, all has gone well for her. She has Paul at home, and her baby is well. Meanwhile, dear, sweet Amanda is suffering with cholera. I suppose God has dealt lightly with Sophie because her husband is a preacher.” Beatrice sighed and once again lifted her fan.
    Jonas frowned. “And is her suffering not as great as your own, Beatrice?”
    “There is no good that will come from assessing the individual depth of sorrow or suffering each one of us bear,” Victoria said. “We are all family and must care for one another. Our concern is for every member.”
    “I’m pleased to hear you say that, Aunt Victoria, for I have come to beg your hospitality until this epidemic has passed. Our home is too close to the area most affected by the outbreak, and I believe the children would be safer if we moved in with you.”
    The children looked wide-eyed from Jonas to Victoria and then to their mother.
    “What?” Jonas jumped up from his chair. “Just because you live in close proximity to the area doesn’t mean you’re in any greater danger than the rest of us. Paul and Sophie don’t live all that far from the same area, and they didn’t express concern for their circumstances.”
    “I have heard some discussion that reinforces what Beatrice is saying,” Victoria remarked.
    Jonas shot a look of irritation in his wife’s direction. What was she thinking? Didn’t he have enough to contend with in his life? The last thing he wanted was his whining niece and her unruly children underfoot.
    He cleared his throat and met Beatrice’s beseeching eyes. If he refused her, he’d suffer Victoria’s wrath. At the moment he didn’t have the energy for an all-out war with his wife. Not now—not with the threat of his personal records being discovered by members of Mortimer’s family.