Page 58 of A Lady in Name

The door opened precisely at that moment, but it was only the butler in answer to the bell.

“Oh, Hawkesbury,” uttered Dion, obviously glad of the interruption. “Would you be so kind as to bring more coffee for Lady Sarclet?” She looked at her cousin. “Is there anything else you would like, Paulina? We must not forget you are eating for two.”

With difficulty Lucy stifled a giggle, but Lady Sarclet waved a dismissive hand. “Coffee is all I require, I thank you. You may go, Hawkesbury.”

Dion’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned to the butler, but her tone was utterly charming. “Thank you, Hawkesbury.”

It did not appear to Lucy that her half-sister appreciated the irony of Dion’s action. It was plain she was unable to shake off the habit of being mistress of Pennington.

The departure of the butler seemed a signal for Lady Sarclet to resume her catechism on Lucy’s presence in the house. “When I saw you, Miss Graydene, I assumed you were here to take up a post.”

Lucy met her gaze steadily. “I was, in a sense, as I have said. Mrs Ankerville heard of my bereavement and very kindly invited me to stay here.”

“For a visit, or to make your home here?”

Dion jumped in. “That is yet in question.”

But Lucy would not let this pass. “No question, Dion. It is quite decided. I am here for a short while only.”

The woman eyed her openly, and Lucy willed herself to remain calm under the creature’s critical gaze.

“For how long precisely?”

Lucy’s temper began to fray. Was it her fault she was thrust into this predicament? “As short a time as possible, if I have any say in the matter.”

The woman’s dark brows rose, and Lucy regretted her curt tone. “You are decidedly outspoken for a woman in your situation.”

Dion’s gasp of outrage was heard by Lucy only dimly, for her own was gall in her breast. “My situation? I had not supposed you knew anything of my situation, Lady Sarclet.”

The woman was unmoved. If anything, her mouth curved into the sneer Lucy had earlier seen. “You are indigent, so much is plain. Else you would have no need of my cousin Corisande’s charity.”

“Who said it was charity?” returned Lucy, forgetful of the dangers of this conversation.

“If it was not, why should not your own people succour you?” Before Lucy could counter this, she added, “Because you have no people, is that not so?”

“Of course she has people,” cried Dion, jumping in. “She has us. We are her people.”

“Dion!”

Too late Dion realised what she had said. Her hand went to her mouth. Lady Sarclet’s cheeks were flying two spots of colour and her eyes blazed.

“I knew it! I knew it! You have come back to haunt me!”

Dismayed, Lucy could only stare at the woman. How much did she know? How could she know?

Paulina’s voice came low and hard, shaking now as she pushed her bulk up from the chair. “I thought I had rid myself of you once and for all when I destroyed that letter. How dare you come here? How dare you rise up like a spectre from his past? The brute … the lascivious brute! My own father!”

Dion was on her feet. “Paulina, for goodness’ sake!”

With a snarl, the woman turned on her. “Don’t talk to me! You should have turned her out on the instant. Letting her into my life, how could you?” She stabbed a quivering finger towards Lucy, her features a con tortion of hatred. “You are not my sister. I will not own you. I will not have you for my sister. He was my father. Mine alone! Go away … get out of my house! I hate you, I hate you!”

She ended on a screech as Lucy sat battered and horrified. Dion looked utterly stunned.

For a moment Lady Sarclet’s violent stare held. And then her features sank into horror. She gasped out a croaking cry and clutched her protruding belly. Then she half collapsed over the table, her hands going out to break her fall.

Realisation brought Lucy out of her stupor. “The baby! She is going into labour!”

Dion screamed, clutching at the table. But Lucy was up, skating around to the woman’s side. “This is no time to panic, Dion,” she rapped out. “Run for the bell-pull!” By now her arm was about her half-sister, but Dion had not moved. Lucy sharpened her tone. “Now, Dion. This instant!”