'Oh, Harald.' Alice grasped his hand. 'This is such an ordeal for you. I shouldn't have pried. I'm sorry.'
'No. I needed someone to talk to.'
'There must be others ... members of your family?'
'My family would have me raise a force and attack the Knowles. That's the way the Gascoignes settle arguments. The strongest win. Everyone else has to bow down to them or suffer the consequences.'
'Is there no one you can turn to?'
'John and Elizabeth Baret are my only true friends. They have given advice and been of great comfort to me.'
'I hope I can be of assistance too …'
Alice let go his hand. People were looking at them.
'We're attracting attention,' she whispered. 'I think I should go. The matron of the almshouse shouldn't hold hands ... not unless they're very old hands.'
Harald watched her leave. A black cloud still hung over him but a ray of sunshine had entered his life.