“Vivienne.” Mother entered the room, looking like a ghost, she was so pale.
Father stood up, fists clenched. Vivienne gave him a shake of her head.
Her parents had a lot to discuss, but she wanted to know where Dr. Tucker was first. If Father confronted Mother about the money, she might refuse to say anything.
Mother fiddled with the silver box before sitting on the armchair next to the sofa. “I’m glad you came. And look at you. So beautiful.”
“You didn’t come to my wedding.” Vivienne hadn’t planned to start the conversation with an argument, but the accusation had come out before she could think.
“You left the house like a thief at night.”
“For good reasons,” Father said at the same time as Vivienne said, “You scared me.”
“Scared you?”
“You authorised Dr. Tucker to lock me up in an asylum.”
Mother was flustered. “I did not. I would not do such a thing. I would never, ever let someone take you away from me.”
That made Vivienne paused. What Mother said was true. She’d never let Vivienne out of the house without a fight. Why would she send her away all of a sudden?
Mother lifted her chin. “Who told you that lie?”
“Dr. Tucker.”
It was Mother’s turn to remain speechless. Her lips parted as if someone had slapped her.
“He isn’t the lovely man you think he is.” She suppressed another angry comment. Otherwise, she wouldn’t learn anything about Dr. Tucker.
“And as you can see, Vivienne is much better now,” Father said. “No need for that quack anymore.”
A smile brightened Mother’s face as she eyed Vivienne. For a moment, she was the caring, happy mother Vivienne remembered, free from pain and the burden of the past.
“We know you made some generous donations to Dr. Tucker,” she said in a gentler tone.
Mother glanced at Father, a tremor going through her.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Father said in a brusque tone.
“I want to know now, Father. Tell me the truth, Mother.”
“He did everything to save your life and succeeded. Of course I wanted to support him and his work.”
“Do you know where he is now?”
Mother stiffened. “Someone threw accusations at him, claiming he’s a fraud…” She frowned, her gaze becoming lost. “Why would he lie?”
“Are you starting to realise now who he really is?” Father pinched the bridge of his nose.
Vivienne closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself. “Do you know his whereabouts?”
Mother folded her hands in her lap. “Well, I know he owns a flat close to St. Giles on Arrow Street.”
“Does he live there alone?”
Mother wrung her hands as she did when one of her crises was imminent. “He has an associate, but I don’t think they share the flat.”
“Thank you.” She rose. Her anger simmered under her composure, but if she was honest, pity more than anger filled her heart. “I hope you understand what he did to me was wrong.”
