Page 28 of The Cornish Widow

Harriet nodded. “Of course. As soon as I can procure another ride into Penzance, I will bring him and Lydia to visit you.”

Mrs. Bolitho shook her head. “Don’t bother with the girl. What do I want with a girl? She’ll be off marrying someone and taking his name in five minutes. It’s just the boy I want. The Penhallow boy.”

“Of course.”

Of course not. She had to find a way around this, and at the moment, her one hope was her lack of transport. And insisting that Theo needed his mother. But neither of these excuses would last for long. At some point, Mrs. Bolitho would get impatient and send transport out to fetch them.

Mrs. Bolitho leaned back in her seat. “You may go.”

Taken aback at so curt a dismissal, Harriet stared at her.

“Don’t look all astonished at me, my girl. You’ve said your piece and I’ve said mine. We know where we stand so there’s nothing more to say. Off you go before Talwyn Trevelyan comes knocking on my door to look for you. I won’t stand for that from her. Be off with you and tell her I said that if you want. What do I care? I’m seventy-four years old and I’ve earned the right to say what I think.”

Harriet rose to her feet, her heart renewing its pounding and her knees wobbly. “Of course, Mrs. Bolitho. Good morning to you.”

No reply came, so Harriet walked across to the door and let herself out. The maid was waiting outside in the corridor. No doubt she’d had her ear to the keyhole. Harriet couldn’t resist. “Is she always like that?”

Wide-eyed, the maid nodded. “Can be worse, ma’am. I’ve seen worse, for sure.” She peered up at Harriet as they started down the stairs. “Didn’t know as she had any relatives though. It’ll be news to all of us below stairs.”

Harriet pressed her lips together. “I rather wish we weren’t her relatives.”