Page 4 of The Legend of the Betrayed Duchess

As Judith passed a cup of tea to her father, Ann, her daughter, knocked and entered. Ann was the eldest at fifteen. She had her mother’s slim, wiry figure, but she had dark hair and her father’s middling, plain features.

“Mother, there is someone I would like you to meet,” she said with a smile.

A face peeked around the doorframe. “Hello,” the child said in a tentative but wavering voice as she looked around the strange room with wide eyes. The girl took Ann’s hand, and they came into the room.

“This is Lucy Brighton,” Ann said, shepherding the child up to the tea table.

David’s face brightened. “Hello, pretty young lady. Come. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Lucy looked up at Ann as though seeking permission.

Ann led the girl around the tea table and said, “Mother, Grandfather, Nanny Wilkes says Lucy has just lost her family and is to stay with us.”

Judith pursed her lips and sat up straighter. “What makes her say that?”

“She has nowhere else to go,” Ann said.

David emptied his teacup and poured a new one. “What do you like in your tea, child?” he asked.

Lucy looked up at Ann who nodded that she was allowed to answer.

“Cream and sugar, if you please, sir.”

David proceeded to prepare her tea in his cup. Judith looked Lucy over but did not approve of this scrawny ill-kempt child.

“Come sit by me,” David said, patting the place on the divan next to him. Lucy went over and sat, accepting the cup of tea he offered. She held the cup in both hands and sipped slowly, looking up with her large brown eyes and studying the Duchess who sat opposite. Judith stared back as she examined the Gamine young girl with dark hair and lovely petite features.

“Very pretty child,” she said, without meaning to.

David put his hand gently on top of Lucy’s head. “Yes, and she must still be in shock.”

Judith turned to Ann. “Have you and your sisters had your morning tea yet?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ann answered. “We had tea with Nanny, but she wanted me to bring Lucy to meet you, as she said you had not seen her yet.”

“Most thoughtful.”

Lucy finished her tea and handed the cup back to David. “Thank you, sir.” She then turned and faced the Duchess once again.

“How can she be so calm,” Judith asked. “She unnerves me.”

“I suspect she is in shock and has yet to realize the enormity of what has happened to her,” her father answered.

Judith turned to Ann. “You may take her back to Nanny now. Your father and I will discuss what is to happen to her next.”

Ann took hold of Lucy’s hand and began leading her out of the room when the Duchess stopped her by saying,

“Where did she get that dress?”

“Nanny found it for her,” Ann replied.

“But is that not Betsy’s?”

“It was. But she outgrew it.”

“Why is she not wearing her own clothes?”

“Nanny says they were ruined by the fire and smelled horribly of smoke.”