"Well she hasn't been lately. She's been working as a nurse-maid and governess for some Lord and Lady." He tells her, taking another drink. "She can write better than I could at her age. You should be more proud of her than any of the rest of us." Mary was not confused, she had been a smart child, frightened, but not confused or in anyway stupid or slow.
What could she do? Harry was tempted to make her promise to leave, but as she sniffled and sobbed into her handkerchief he only sighed and swallowed the rest of the drink in a quick gulp. "You could start by proving to me and Mary and Ann that you've changed. It's not coinsidence that we all remember you as... as a less than perfect mother." He stopped then, having heard the knocks and Nell's voice, and got up to open the door and let the pale young creature in.
"Very nice Nell." He murmured softly, smiling slightly, tired and wishing that he'd gone to bed hours ago, to spend the night alone with Nell and not having to deal with his mother. "As Mary's probably told you, this is my mother, Anna Roper. Although I'm not sure if you still go by Roper, mother." He said with some distain.