Page 32 of A Lady Most Wayward
‘And that is why mermaids always steal a lock of their lover’s hair.’ Hyacinth was looking at Mrs Hughes as they walked into the parlour together. Her cheeks, already pink from the sea air, darkened to a rose when her gaze stalled on Callum. ‘Oh. I didn’t think you were…’ Her musical voice trailed off when she saw Olivia.
‘You’re back! And sooner than we expected.’ Mrs Hughes strode forward, pulling Olivia into a strong hug. ‘I’m so glad you’re safe.’
Hyacinth pressed her bee-stung lips together and crossed her arms in a defensive pose. ‘Really? I didn’t expect her for at least another ten years. Isn’t that your preferred time between visits?’
Olivia pulled free of Mrs Hughes to face her daughter, but before she could reply to Hyacinth’s cutting remark, Philippa burst through the front door with a pistol in her hand. ‘What the Devil is going on?’
Eyes going wide at the sight of a weapon, Hyacinth froze. Olivia instinctively stepped in front of Philippa to block her shot while Callum moved in front of Hyacinth.
‘Everything is fine.’ Olivia had her hands stretched out in front of her.
Because I can certainly catch the bloody bullet before it tears through my body.
Philippa’s pupils dilated. She immediately lowered the pistol, allowing Olivia’s chest to loosen a fraction. Staring down the barrel of a gun Philippa held was no easy feat. Clearing her throat and willing her heart to slow to a normal speed, Olivia clasped her hands together in front of her waist. ‘Philippa, allow me to introduce you to Mrs Hughes, the woman who raised me.’
Mrs Hughes looked from Philippa’s pistol now resting by her skirts to the woman herself, and Olivia tried to see her nursemaid through Philippa’s eyes. Her hair was once a rich brown, but only a few streaks of mahogany remained amongst the various shades of silver and white. Her eyes were brown as well, but there were striations of green, turning them hazel in the sunlight. Wrinkles creased around the corners of her eyes and mouth, put there by endless moments of laughter and endless moments of worry. She had always been a sturdy woman, but in her older years, she was leaning toward stout, and Olivia was glad for it. Stout meant food was not scarce. The farm must be doing well for Mrs Hughes and Callum.
Her nursemaid’s lips twitched in an expression Olivia knew as well as the veins tracing over her hand. She was trying not to smile. ‘It would seem Olivia has found herself a protector. Finally.’
I shan’t ruin her opinion by pointing out Philippa is a predator who is hunting me, not a protector who is saving me.
Philippa raised her perfectly sculpted brow. ‘It would appear she’s always had one.’
Mrs Hughes’ cheeks became pink, and her eyes sparkled in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the parlour window. ‘How lovely of you to say. Thank you.’
Philippa merely inclined her head in a regal nod.
Taking courage from the interaction, Olivia turned to her daughter. ‘And this is Hyacinth, my daughter.’
Hyacinth looked from her mother to Philippa. ‘Why do you carry a gun? Do you know how to shoot it? Would you have shot my mother?’
Philippa blinked at the girl’s rapid-fire questions. ‘I carry a gun for protection. And one shouldn’t handle a weapon if they don’t know how to shoot it.’ She gave Olivia a meaningful look and pointedly left the last question unanswered.
Hyacinth turned back to Olivia. ‘She could have shot me. What kind of mother introduces a murderous, mad woman to her daughter? Father was right. I’m better off without you. I wish you’d stayed away. Forever.’
The words did more damage to Olivia’s soul than Philippa’s bullet would have done to her body. But she absorbed them because her daughter wasn’t wrong. She most likely would be better off without Olivia. And soon, she would get her wish. It would be the best gift she could give Hyacinth.
Philippa tucked her pistol in her pocket and shrank the space separating her from the girl. Olivia and Callum both moved to intercept her, but Philippa had Hyacinth backed up to the wall before anyone could stop her.
Hyacinth’s pink cheeks whitened to chalk as Philippa stared at her like one might stare at a bug on the dinner table. ‘Your father was right about very little. Know this: your mother has endured much to get back to you. If nothing else, she deserves your respect.’
Hyacinth swallowed. She broke eye contact with Philippa, instead staring at her feet.
Olivia grabbed Philippa’s arm and pulled her back. ‘Don’t.’ It was a harsh command.
Philippa turned, her fierce gaze capturing Olivia. A message flashed in her eyes, one Olivia couldn’t decipher but desperately wanted to understand. ‘She will not speak ill of you in my presence.’
‘She’s a child.’
Both Philippa and Hyacinth gave twin sounds of disgust.
‘I’m old enough to marry.’
‘She’s old enough to hang for her crimes.’
‘Hard to know which is worse,’ Mrs Hughes chimed in, cracking the tension with a hearty laugh. ‘Why don’t we all take a breath? Callum, have you offered these ladies any refreshments? They look well to worn out from their travels. I shall put the kettle on. Hyacinth, come and help me in the kitchen while these two get settled. I’ve only one spare room, so you’ll have to share.’ Mrs Hughes winked at Olivia.
Dear God. Does she know?
