Ria
She ran into her brothers on the landing, where Piers was standing with Claude. Both of them looked so alike except that Piers was taller and leaner, his thick blonde hair longer at the back. Claude had a crew cut, close to his scalp and his shoulder muscles bulged as he stood, arguing fiercely with his elder sibling. There was a tattoo on his arm and Ria stared. This was a new one. Some sort of vicious-looking creature.
As she approached, she got the gist of the heated discussion.
The morning sunlight flooded the wide corridor, the large windows overlooking the lawn and the grounds beyond, clearly visible through the windows. One of the maids was busy vacuuming and glanced up to smile at Ria who gave her a quick grin as she hurried to get to her brothers. It was a sunny day and she had thought of going swimming with her sister and brothers but now, after last night and this morning, all she wanted was to make sure that her mother was well.
*
‘… not our brother,’ she heard Claude saying fiercely, jabbing the air with his thick forefinger. he looked so much like Lucien at that moment, his whole stance a study in aggression.
Piqued with curiosity, Ria hurried to her brothers.
‘What?’ she snapped and Piers shook his head tiredly.
‘This idiot here thinks we should confront Cole; he thinks that Cole is not Pappa’s son.’
‘I agree with him,’ said Ria at once, slipping her arm through her younger brother’s.
Piers shook his head in frustration,
‘Look, you cannot just jump to conclusions…’ Claude interrupted him fiercely, moving forward, his meaty fists bunched to emphasise his point.
‘It’s not called jumping to conclusions, bro. That bast*rd has not…’
“Whatever happens,’ interrupted Piers hotly, “you are not going to upset Mumma.’
“She’s not well,’ said Ria before she could stop herself. Both the brothers rounded on her, alarm on their faces,
‘What…?’
“What’s wrong?’
She shook her head, biting her lip, unsure of voicing her suspicions about Pappa having beaten up Cole.
“I am going to check on her.’ She smiled distantly and moved away. Immediately Piers fell into step with her as did Claude and they made their way to the top floor which housed their parents’ rooms.
‘Where’s Paddy?’ asked Piers, ever the one in charge, the one who took his task as the eldest son of the Delano family, very seriously.
“Dunno. He must have slept there, in his basement last night,’ mumbled Claude, tapping away on his phone as they walked, “He had said he was going to check something out with his online crew. Gonna look him up.’
Ria and Piers exchanged looks. Obviously, Claude was texting one of the women he was seeing. Or rather, one of the women he was sleeping with thought Piers with a small shake of his head. His younger brother already showed signs of following in their father’s footsteps in that respect.
The young people stopped as they saw that the door was ajar. Ria led the way to the bedroom which was at one end of the large space since the entire floor was taken up by the suite of rooms for her parents. A door led off to her mother’s study and Ria sighed as she remembered how enthusiastic Proserpina had been over the launch of her blog, her food blog. A large, wide balcony ran the entire length of the rooms and right now, the sunlight was streaming in, the curtains dancing in the breeze that wafted in.
The door to the bedroom door stood ajar and Ria, who stepped forward stopped at the door, her brothers behind her as they took in the scene.
*
Lucien Delano stood, dressed in his formal charcoal grey suit, the material straining over his broad shoulders, as he looked down at the sleeping form of his wife. Proserpina was curled into a foetal position, the light blanket covering her body and she was still deep in sleep. Her mahogany-coloured hair was spread across the pillow and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed steadily, oblivious to her audience.
She looked so very young and the twins recalled how Proserpina had often been mistaken for their elder sister when she visited them at college.
*
But it was the expression on their father’s face that made Ria’s heart go out to him. He looked so wretched, like a man tormented, anguish on his craggy face as he stood over her, watching her, oblivious to the presence of his three children in the doorway.
Piers knew at once that something had happened and Pappa was blaming himself for it. It related to the woman sleeping so soundly on the bed. He had that kind of look on his face, Contrite and pained.
He clenched his fists and the small movement alerted the Boss. Lucien looked up, the soft expression disappearing immediately, to be replaced by an impenetrable mask.
*
Proserpina
I came awake slowly, a horrid taste in my mouth and blinked. Lucien stood over me, his hands bunched in fists, his jaw muscles clenched, broad daylight streaming behind him and I sat up quickly in surprise and immediately regretted the action as I felt the world begin to spin crazily. Lucien moved swiftly and scooped me up in his arms and I clung to him while the world righted itself.
He had gripped me in his strong arms. “Woman,’ he said hoarsely and then, gently lowering me to the bed, he went on,
“Right, that’s it,’ he snapped,’ I am calling the doctor.’
I looked up at him, beginning to protest and became aware that my three eldest children had trooped into the room too. I hastily arranged my night shirt around me and smiled at them brightly.
Ria rushed to me, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
‘Mumma, what is wrong, you look so…’
Lucien was on the phone his large hand on his hip as he stood beside me protectively, eyes on me and I smiled at him, hoping that I appeared reassuring.
‘He’ll be here in ten minutes; I have sent someone to get him.’ And as I looked at him, he added, his lips twisting slightly, derisively.
‘Your old Dr. Shah it is.’
My husband knew how fond I had become of the crusty old doctor. The old Indian-origin doctor had examined me when I was carrying Claude and our association went back a long way.
‘There really is no need,’ I murmured but I knew from the set of his jaw that it was of no use; Lucien Delano had decided that I would see the doctor, and that was how it was going to be.
I smiled tenderly.
“Can I have some tea?’ I said softly, dimpling at the man I loved so much and Ria immediately bounced across to the intercom to inform Bea.
Lucien grunted and scowled at the two youngsters who stood in the doorway apprehensively. Dom and Lou had joined them, looking frightened and I smiled at them comfortingly.
‘Where is HE?’ asked Dom in a stage whisper and got a clout on his head from Claude for his pains. We all knew he was talking of Cole and I saw Lucien’s face darken.
‘Cole will not be staying here again.’ he said in a clipped voice and I saw the older children exchange knowing looks. Claude took a step forward as Dom’s mouth fell open.
‘Then where is…he?’ asked Piers tightly, between his teeth, his fists white with the strain of holding them so tightly clutched.
Lucien shot him a narrow look.
Lucien never took well to being questioned and the cool look he threw Piers belied his growing irritation. Fearing that there would be a confrontation between my children and their father, I decided to intervene.
‘Let us leave the decision of Cole’s whereabouts to your father, please. He knows what he is doing.’ I said softly but firmly.
And turning to Lucien, reaching up to touch his strong arm, I added, pleadingly,
“Lucien, I don’t need a doctor…’ I began but he cut me off sharply with a low growl,
“I think you do, woman.’ And that was that.
*
The children were hovering about, talking in low voices. Dom, Lou and Ria came over to sit on the bed, and Ria held my hand, stroking it gently as the younger boys chattered away, Claude and Piers stood to the side, ever watchful but their awe and respect for their father combined with a degree of fear, made them keep their distance from the big man who was busy on his phone.
“Where’s Paddy? And I don’t see Tara?’ I asked, pulling my clothes into some semblance of decency.
*
Tara normally drifted into my room or the kitchen or the study, wherever I was, on the days when she did not have school. She would sit about, humming softly, watching me or speak softly as was her wont. But now, she was notable in her absence.
I worried about my younger daughter. She was a loner, happy in her company, unlike her boisterous siblings. She adored Piers and Ria, tailing them about like a puppy when they were home. On their part, they fussed over her. I wished she had good friends at school but I knew that she remained aloof at school, as the teachers put it.
Luckily Melissa Lord, who was her Headteacher, was more perceptive and she told me that Tara was a lot more sensitive than most kids; social awkwardness was part of her growing up. She would grow out of it soon, my friend said and I believed her.
*
Ria bit her lip as she looked about and stood up from where she was perched on the bed, holding my hand.
‘I’ll check, Mumma. She must have fallen asleep on her music sheets,’ she grinned but I saw the slight frown on her face as she hurried out.