The Daughter's Defiance Paperback

Liverpool 1895
Would you abandon your husband for the sake of your daughter?

In the five years since her marriage, Nell’s daughters have grown from children into young women. But to their stepfather they’re a part of her life he’d rather be without.

Elenor has been a source of irritation for years, and with little respect for her mam, their relationship has always been difficult. But when her world is turned upside down, there is only one person she can turn to. Nell is determined to protect her daughter from her husband’s wrath, but when he learns of her transgression, their relationship is tested to breaking point.

Still incensed by the way she was treated, Elenor is only too happy to help when her younger sister Leah runs into problems of her own. But her intervention causes more problems than it solves, and leads to life changing consequences.

With the family at loggerheads, Nell is forced to take sides. Will she support her daughter or her husband when compromise is not an option?

Liverpool, March 1895 



The gates to Princes Park glistened in the early spring sunlight, but even the crocus, flowering along the edge of the grass, couldn’t put a smile on the lips of Mrs Nell Marsh. Her husband, Thomas, strolled beside her, resting a hand on the pram she pushed ahead of her. 


“Cheer up.”


She sighed. “I will once the doctor sorts Maria out.”


“At least she agreed to him calling. It’s a start.”


“It is, but to be honest, it’s unsettled me. She wouldn’t have seen him if she didn’t think it was serious. I shouldn’t have come out and left her…”


“Don’t be silly. It’s not as if she’s on her own. Alice is with her. And Elenor and Leah. You said yourself it was better for us to take the children out for half an hour.”


“I know, but…” She looked down at her great-nephew Freddie, who slept in the pram, and his older brother Georgie, who bounced along by her side. 


“May I go running now we’re here, Aunty Nell?”


“Only if you don’t go far. We can’t stay out for long.”


“I won’t.” He raced down the path. 


“I hope he burns off some energy. Poor Alice is worn out with him.”
“

She’s not the only one. I’ll be glad to be back at work for the afternoon.”
She tutted.

“You can tell you’re not used to children. You hardly see anything of him.”


“I see enough. It will only get worse when this little fellow starts walking.”


Nell gazed down at Freddie. “We’ve another few months yet, and the weather should be nicer by then, so we can bring them here more often.”


“I’ll leave that to you. As long as we can still take walks by ourselves on Sundays.”


“That depends on how things are.”


They reached the path that led to the lake and Nell called after Georgie as he raced towards the ducks. “We need to go now.”


He stamped his foot. “I don’t want to.”


Mr Marsh marched after him and took hold of his shoulder. “You’ll do as you’re told.” 


“But I’ve not even seen the ducks.” 


“Don’t answer back.” 


Georgie stumbled towards Nell as Mr Marsh pushed his shoulder. 


“Don’t be rough with him. I don’t want to take him home with grazed knees.”


“No, well… He needs to learn how to behave.”


“Not like that.” She pulled Georgie away from her husband. “We’ll ask Mam if we can come out again later.”


“All right.” Georgie pouted as they walked to the gate, kicking his feet into the gravel of the footpath. 


Mr Marsh clipped his ear. “Pick your feet up or your father will hear about this. He won’t buy you new shoes before he has to.”


Nell bit her lip. Remind me not to bring them out together again. “They’ll polish up. It’s only a bit of dust…”
“

Yes…” Georgie cowered as Mr Marsh glared at him. “I-I’m not doing it any more.”


“Well, make sure you don’t.” He checked his pocket watch. “We’d better get a move on. I need to be back at work soon.”

“You go on ahead. Georgie can’t walk as fast as you.”


“I don’t like leaving you.”


“I’ll be fine. I’ve walked home on my own enough times.”


He sucked air through his teeth. “Very well. I’ll see you later.”