Ria
She was out of the car the moment it stopped. But Philippe was out of his seat and beside her. He caught her arm and said quietly,
‘ Princess, don’t be … upset. ‘
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. So he knew what the matter was. He knew why she had been summoned. And he had not said a word? Even as she opened her mouth furiously to shout at him, he placed his finger on her lips.
Softly, leaning closer, making her aware of his large figure and the heady, musk scent of his body, he said,
“It is for your parents to tell you. But don’t judge them too harshly.’
And with that cryptic message, he was back in the car; even as she stood there, open-mouthed, he was zooming off.
Beatrice’s sharp voice broke into her chaotic thoughts;
“You gonna stand the all the day gal. gawping?’ And she turned to the one figure she was so very familiar with, throwing herself into the old woman’s arms to be engulfed in a hug.
‘What’s happening, Bea?’ she said in a small voice as she entered the dim side entrance of the house, aware of the guards bringing in her bags.
The old woman pursed her lips and said instead, ‘Got your favourite dinner .’ And Ria knew that the old housekeeper was not about to tell her a word more. She sighed and said,
‘Where’s Mumma?
The old woman’s face softened, a sad look passing over her face.
‘Resting.’ she said shortly before giving Ria a small push in her back as she went into the kitchen, the place where Ria had spent so many happy afternoons, raiding the cupboard where her mother stocked the goodies.
Now she looked in, and waved at the maids and Tadana, and Camille, all of whom had serious expressions on their faces. They beamed at her but she could sense an underlying sadness.
She turned and rushed up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time, wanting only to see her mother.
*
Proserpina
I sat, my face hot. I had just read a message on my blog from the same sick person who had made such references to Lucien’s past. This comment was brutal and coarse.
“did you know?’ it read, without any preamble, ‘Did you know what ur beloved luvr used to gift to his fav wh*res Britney and Bethany if they made him happy?
Answer: Diamond But* Plugs!’
And a couple of question marks followed, trailing down came one last sick salvo:
‘Do You Have One?’
I felt the bile rise up in my throat and rushed to the bathroom even as the door leading to my study was flung open.
Ria’s voice, overflowing with concern,’ Mumma, are you okay?’ came to me even as I shut the door and retched violently, the sickness and the disgust in my heart taking over. I sank to the edge of the bathtub, sitting there and weeping. then, knowing that my daughter was waiting outside, her frantic,
‘Mumma? Are you okay? Mumma? Answer me!’ making me realize that I did not have the luxury of weeping now.
Splashing water on my face, I steeled myself and stepped forward, smiling bravely. But one look at my daughter, her beautiful grey-green eyes filled with concern, made my mask slip. I pulled her into my embrace and we stood, hugging each other, my eighteen-year-old daughter and I.
“What’s wrong, Mumma?’ she whispered, sliding her arms around my waist and leading me to the bed. ‘What is it?’
She knelt on the carpet beside me even as I heard the commotion downstairs, the voices of my son Claude and the youngest triplets coming closer.
Ria looked at me, ‘Shall I ask them to go away?’ she demanded, ever the protector.
Smiling wanly, I shook my head. ‘No, I whispered, “Your father has something to tell you.’ And I bent my head, weary and defeated. She gripped my arm even as the door was flung open and Claude and Paddy entered. Paddy met my eyes for a second and I saw his face working as he turned away, the flash of anger he felt on my behalf as he slowly walked to stand beside me. Claude was more forthright,
‘Mumma! MUMMA!’ he shouted and was beside me, sinking to kneel at my feet, his grey eyes as dark as thunder.
“Oh, God, Claude! You STINK!’ cried Ria dramatically, and I could not help but smile. it was true, he did smell of sweat but then, he must have come straight from the ring, I thought tiredly. Paddy’s hand, long, lean fingers, touched my shoulder briefly and I reached out to hold his hand. I could feel the anger in him; he hated to see me unhappy.
‘Shut the f*ck up, Ria! Sorry Mumma.’ cried, Claude. “But who …f*ck, you look awful, Mumma!’
I could not help but laugh. My son, still in his teens but with the figure of an adult, had sized me up accurately.
I patted the bed beside me and drew Paddy down.
“It’s …’
I became aware that the three youngest children were at the door too, their faces taut and frightened. My eyes filled but I cleared my throat, squeezing my eyes shut and went on.
“Come in, kids!’ shouted Ria, waving her hand authoritatively, earning a snort from Claude.
They crept in. I pulled Ria to me and holding Paddy’s arm, lest he bolt, I said softly,
“Your father…’
The sound of Piers’ voice, loud and gruff, so similar to Lucien, carried across. Ria turned to the door, eyes shining as her handsome twin brother strode in.
“Mumma, Ria!’ he said and was beside me in a flash, his arms going to enfold me in a bear hug. I looked up at the face of my eldest son, still a youth but already with his eyes firmly fixed on the future.
‘Where’s your little pet?’ asked Claude cheekily and earned an icy look from his sibling.
‘Does Piers have a pet?’ asked Tara excitedly. She had come to stand by me and was leaning against Ria, who she adored.
‘Ah, stupid!’ said her brother Dom, they all knew that Claude referred to Susie as Piers’ ‘pet ‘because the girl was so docile. It was something that annoyed Piers no end.
Now he ignored his brother’s taunts and took my cold hand in his.
“Mumma?
The question in his voice was echoed in the faces of the others.
I bent my head and said,
“Your father…’
Raising my eyes to meet them, I went on, in a rush,
“He has…he has another son…’