Sabine Baring-Gould

“ I wouldn’t, if I were you, offend the baroness in any way. If she would like to have your mother, send for her, if she would not, it will never do to go contrary to her wishes. She might make the house very unpleasant both for you and for your mother.’
‘She is capable of doing it,’ said Jacquetta. ‘I will tell you what it is, Aunt Betsy. I do care a little for myself, and I would dearly love to have my darling mother with me. Oh, aunt, suppose anything were to happen to me and I were never to see mamma again, or papa! Oh, aunt, I cannot bear the thought. ”

“ She knew perfectly how unpleasant the dowager could make the house to her mother, she knew that the old baroness was resolved to have her own way in everything with the baby. It would be a Montcontour and not a Fairbrother, and therefore what had Mrs Fairbrother to do with it? Properly it was for her, the Dowager Baroness of Montcontour to take the charge of everything connected with the advent of the heir to the barony. Jacquetta was quite aware that her mother-in-law saw matters in this light and would act on her conviction. ”

“ The dowager had provided a lusty peasantess as wet-nurse, but Jacquetta absolutely refused to give up her baby to the woman. She would have it and nurse it herself. At least her baby should be her own; the dowager and aunt might appropriate her carriage, and her green-house—anything else she had—but she would not surrender her baby. ”