Anna sat quietly, watching her son's movements and studying his face. He wanted to believe her, she just knew it. She accepted the glass but didn't drink, only set it aside. "I will have to apologize to Mary. I hadn't realized she wouldn't understand what happened." Anna frowned sadly as she contemplated her youngest. "Poor darling, she always gets so confused..."
She turned her eyes back to Harry as he demanded that she show him. Her annoyance was masked though, and she touched the kerchief to her cheek again. "I know, dear. I know. It's been-- so much. I didn't know what I could do, Harry. Just tell me darling, what can I do?" she pleaded. "I would do anything in the world for you three." It was probably better she include Ann, she reasoned. Even if she secretly hoped the little worm was safely dead in the arms of the creature she'd married.
She winced when he mentioned the name Darby. Oh yes, she knew perfectly well what Jon had done to Mary. A few bruises and then the little brat making up some story of him coming into her room. So that was how she'd gotten into her older brother's good graces. "Jon wasn't the gentlest man, Harry," she explained with a quaver in her voice. "Just didn't always know his own strength when he was punishing her, that's all. I know Mary took it all to heart, she wasn't as strong as you or Ann. But what else could we do? Her running wild with that little Slater girl and crying after you..."