Elijah frowned and looked tired. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? But I've known your family for years. I hate to say it, but it was your mother that really kept you all together and happy. Ben isn't a bad man, but he's made bad decisions and can't see things from the other side. Every time, every single time, something has gone wrong since I've returned home, it is because you kids were unable to speak to Ben about it. And when you try, he gets mad and won't listen. Simon wanted to go to York, he tried to make his own money and your father assumed he was stealing and refused to believe him and wouldn't even let him save up money for York. Alice was so ashamed, instead of speaking to him early on and trying to come up with a plan long before it showed, she tried some dangerous things and ended up running away and almost dying. I asked him what he would do if Will or Bram made the same mistake as Noah and he said he'd give them the same punishment! His own flesh and blood. I know he's your dad and you love your family. It may not seem like it, but I do too."

He put his face in his hands. "I don't like Alice being forced into this, Rose. Not once as he even spoken to her about what she wanted. Bram doesn't want to be home sometimes. Your brothers and sisters feel like they can't speak up and it breaks my heart!"