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I went to London to see my mama so I could give her all the details about my birthday party, and it really was a lovely afternoon together. We sat in the morning room as we had so often while I was growing up, and it felt like old times.
“Oh, my darling girl, you look magnificent. Tell me you loved your party! Tell me you love the fur coat I got you! Oh, Cruella, tell me you love me, and you’re not angry that I wanted to celebrate with you on my own rather than come to your party!” I was so pleased with Mama’s transformation. She had been a completely different woman ever since I signed over my fortune. I guess it goes to show you that money really can buy happiness.
“Of course I’m not angry with you, Mama! I love you!” I said, laughing, as we air-kissed to keep our lipstick off each other’s cheeks.
“Where is that wretched girl with the tea?” she asked, ringing the bell. “This place has gone to the dogs since you stole Jackson away from me!” She rang the bell again. Just then a scrawny, timid-looking maid came blundering into the room. I hadn’t seen her before. She must have been a new addition to the staff.
“Yes, Lady De Vil?” she asked, her voice squeaking like a little mouse. She looked rather frightened of my mother. Or perhaps it was me she was afraid of. I was becoming quite a well-known socialite, after all. I wondered how my mother could deal with such a creature lurking around her house. She looked like the sort who peeked around corners before entering the room.
“Good grief! My mother has been ringing for tea for what seems like an eternity and you dare come in empty-handed. My servants wouldn’t dream of such slipshod service!” I said, thoroughly frustrated she hadn’t yet brought in the tea.
“Shall I bring the tea then, Lady De Vil?” she asked, clearly afraid to make eye contact with me.
“Forget the tea, Sarah. Have Mrs. Web bring me that bottle I had her get from the cellar. My daughter and I are celebrating.”
“Yes, my lady,” she said, skittering away. I rolled my eyes.
“Really, Mama. This is intolerable. The Spider really should take care to hire better maids. That girl looks like she had just jumped out of her own skin. And do we really have to have her bring the champagne into the morning room? You know how much I detest the the Spider.”
“Oh, Cruella, please don’t ruin our time with your incessant need to call people by silly nicknames. You’d think you would have outgrown it by now. We’re here to celebrate. I want to hear all about your birthday,” she said, looking at the clock.
“Mama, why are you watching the clock? Are we expecting someone?” I wondered where the hell Mrs. Web was with our celebratory drinks. “Really, Mama. How long does it take to grab a bottle and a couple of glasses? And why on earth didn’t they ever send up the tea in the first place? It’s well past teatime! What is Mrs. Baddeley doing down there, anyway? How long does it take to boil water and cut the crusts off little sandwiches?”
“Mrs. Baddeley left us some time ago, Cruella,” Mama said, as if I somehow should have known. “She decided she wanted to work for a smaller household.” I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine Belgrave Place without her.
“Really? You didn’t tell me. Where exactly did she go?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Cruella. Some young couple of no consequence. She said it was a cozy little place, near a park. Though it’s been my experience when someone calls something cozy what they really mean is a hovel. I can dig up the exact address if it means that much to you,” she said, looking at the clock again.
“Mama! Why are you looking at the clock again? Who are we expecting? And where are the bloody drinks?”
“Cruella! Language!” my mother scolded. It was all too funny being back at home. Mama was scolding me like old times—me, a married woman with a house of my own! But that was our dynamic these days. I enjoyed scandalizing her, and she enjoyed calling me out on it. And I don’t think I ever really shocked her. I think she just enjoyed acting as though I had. Or at least that is what I always told myself. It was just our way.
Just then the Spider came into the room—without the bottle, I noticed. “Lady De Vil,” she said. Both of us answered, “Yes?” Only a little thrown off, the Spider continued.
“Sir Huntley is here. I showed him into the sitting room.”
“Please show him in here in a few moments, Mrs. Web. And for heaven’s sake, please do bring in that bottle.”
“Yes, Mrs. Web, why don’t you go get it before you ask in Sir Huntley,” I said, dismissing her.
“Now, Cruella, I won’t have you dismissing the servants in my own home. I know you don’t care for Mrs. Web, but I do have to live with her.” I laughed.
“And I’m very sorry that you do. But why have you invited Sir Huntley? I thought we were spending the afternoon together, to celebrate my birthday.”
“And so we are, my dear. Your twenty-fifth birthday. Your father’s money, your inheritance, is officially yours today, my dearest. I thought you would be eager to make the transfer to my accounts official, as we discussed.” It had completely slipped my mind. Of course I had intended to transfer over the money, but I hadn’t expected to do it that afternoon.
“Yes, of course,” I said, smiling. Though of course it had taken me by surprise, I really was quite happy to do this for my mama. It made me feel proud that I could provide for her in this way. To do something for her after all of her years of devotion to me.
Sir Huntley stood in the morning room doorway and cleared his throat. “Good afternoon, ladies. Mrs. Web said I was to come in.” He was such a timid man. Like a little blind mole who only came out of his burrow to make his clients sign documents. A mole in a tweed suit.
“Yes, please, Sir Huntley, do sit down,” I said, making my mother flinch. I had done it again. I was directing people around in her home. Well, perhaps I was taking possession of the house by directing my mother’s servants about one last time before I gave the house and my money over to her. I didn’t see that then, of course, but now when I think back on it, I am almost sure that is what I was doing.
“I don’t have time to stay, ladies. I’m just bringing by the paperwork you requested.” Sir Huntley shot a nervous glance at my mama. You’d think this was a house of horrors the way everyone tiptoed around us.
“I wonder why you didn’t just have it delivered then?” I asked, trying not to laugh at the poor man. He was shaking so intensely I thought he was going to drop his briefcase.
“I wanted to be sure this was still your wish, Lady Cruella,” he said, this time keeping his hands from shaking by grasping his briefcase so tightly I could see his knuckles turning white. “It’s been several years since we first discussed this.”
