“Are you insane?” Abby felt the blood drain from her face. “I won’t be bullied into complying with your demands. You have no right to assess me on anything, let alone how I care for my child.”
Abby stood to face her sister. Every muscle in her body vibrated with outrage.
“Do you really want to take on Mother, Abigail? You know how ruthless she can be when she wants something. Nothing matters more to her than the good name of the family. Lawrence might not agree with her, but he isn’t the only lawyer in his firm, and his firm isn’t the only one in London. Do you really want to go up against the team of lawyers Mother would assemble? Do you want your life raked through the courts? Do you want your daughter to suffer the stress and insecurity of your actions? A stressful litigation could drag on for years. If things are as idyllic as you say they are you have nothing to fear in allowing Lawrence and I access over the next seven days. Wouldn’t that be the most sensible course of action?”
The kitchen door burst open and Katy barrelled in. Her cheeks were rosy from running fast—her only speed. She smiled widely as she ran straight into Abby’s arms.
“I’m done with Peppa Pig. Now I want to make art.”
Abby wrapped her arms around her whole world and held on tight. Her eyes caught her sister’s and she thought there was a flash of envy in Victoria’s gaze. It was gone much too quickly to be sure. Abby turned back to her daughter. “Why don’t you go set up your paints on the table in the living room?”
“I want you to watch me.” Katy pouted. “I’m making a Peppa Pig world.”
“I’ll come watch you as soon as Victoria and Lawrence leave.” She scowled at her sister. “Which will be in just a minute.”
Katy ran off to do as she was told. Abby faced her sister. “Is this what you want, Victoria? You want to help Mother take away my child?”
Victoria’s face was expressionless. “As you well know, Abigail, when it comes to dealing with Mother, personal desires are irrelevant. What I want is irrelevant. My purpose is to protect the legacy of the Montgomery-Clarks. It’s what we were born to do. It’s what you should have done. You know as well as I do just how harsh the consequences are when you disagree with Mother. Take my advice and comply with her wishes. It is pointless fighting.”
“What happened to you?” Abby wanted to shake some sense into her sister. “What happened to the woman who laughed and played with me when I was a child?”
Victoria’s head snapped back as though she’d been struck. “She learned the hard way that there is only one possible course of behaviour for a Montgomery-Clark—the one Mother deems acceptable.”
Abby shook her head in disgust. “I can’t deal with you right now. You need to leave.”
Victoria’s back was stiff, her face unyielding. “I’ll be in touch in the morning for your decision.” Without another word, she turned on her heels and strode to the front door.
A strong hand patted Abby’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Abby. I did what I could and I won’t stop trying. Your mother is incensed over this, but that doesn’t make her right.”
“What about Charles—what does my brother have to say about mother’s latest plan?”
Lawrence let out a sharp laugh. “Charles would very much like for this matter to be resolved. He informed me he has better things to do with his time than listen to your mother whine about it.” Lawrence’s eyes gentled. “Your brother cares only about himself. You won’t find an ally there, I’m afraid.”
Abby wasn’t surprised. Charles had always been nothing more than the mouthpiece of their parents. “I can’t let them take my baby,” she whispered.
“No, we can’t. Let’s deal with this one step at a time. We have a week to work on Victoria, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“Why are you doing this, Lawrence? Surely helping me is a conflict of interest. Won’t this get you into trouble?”
He smiled sadly. “I’ve found more and more lately this job of mine leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This situation is the last straw, so to speak. I think it may be time to make some changes in my life.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Try not to worry. This isn’t a done deal. Nowhere near it.”
With one last reassuring smile, he followed Victoria out of the house.
“Look.” Katy barrelled into the room, holding a drawing she’d already made of a pig. “It’s Peppa!”
“It’s gorgeous, baby. You’re a clever little artist.”
Katy gave her mum a speculative look out of the corner of her eye. “You know, it’s super-hard work making art.”
“Is it?” Abby pulled her daughter into
her embrace.
Katy nodded. “I used loads of energy.” She leaned back to look in Abby’s eyes, placing a tiny hand on each of her mum’s cheeks. “I’ve completely run out of energy.”
“How awful.” Abby smiled in spite of the fear gripping her. “How do you think we could fix it? Is there a way we could replenish your energy before you fall over in a heap?”
Katy nodded solemnly. “I think chocolate would do it.” She batted those long, dark lashes.