Loving Lily (Fair Cyprians of London 6)

“The same thing that came over Mrs Eustace, it would appear,” Hamish said over his shoulder as he ventured cautiously towards Lucy, his tone soft and soothing. “Lucy, my love, what is it? Why are you like this?”

She tried to focus on him, but what he was to her was clearly so horrific that she crumpled into a ball on the floor and covered her head with her arms. “Don’t let them get to me!” she shrieked. “Save me, please! The flowers have knives. Little daggers.”

“Hush, Lucy.” Hamish went down on his haunches and attempted to put a hand on her back, but she lurched at the contact, shrieking as if he were one of those who would do her harm.

Hamish leaned protectively over her, twisting his head to demand of the maid, who was clearly as frightened as he, “What has come over her? She didn’t arrive like this, surely?”

“No sir, she were quite calm.” Grace held her apron to her face and wailed. “I cannot ’xplain it. She were disappointed that Mrs Eustace ’ad left, so I offered ’er some tea.”

Lucy clawed at him. Hamish was barely attending to the maid’s explanation, but he repeated, “Tea? So she took tea and then went…mad?”

“No, sir. I suggested warm milk, as it were so cold out an’ wiv Mrs Eustace out, I ’ad a little left over.”

“So, simply warm milk?”

“Yes, sir. Jest warm milk wiv some o’ the soothin’ powders the doctor give me ter calm Mrs Eustace.”

Hamish snapped his head up. “Dr Swithins?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And where is Dr Swithins now?”

“He already took me mistress wiv ’im afore Miss McTavish arrived, sir.”

Hamish rose, casting a final glance at Lucy, who was crouched by the chair, her unfocused gaze fixed upon the flock wallpaper. “Show me these powders.” A fearful thought assailed him as he added, “Presuming you did not give the last to my sister.”

“No, sir. Dr Swithins give me ’nuff ter last a good long while,” said Grace, leading the way through to the scullery. “’E said she’d need ’em wheneva she were feelin’ poorly or, ev’ry few days if she didn’t complain o’ anythin’. ’E said the powders would build up ’er constitution.”

“Did he?” replied Hamish with bitter irony as he took the bag of powders Grace handed him.

He tried to think clearly, distracted by another shriek from the parlour.

Obviously, he had to get Lucy home and looked after, but in her current state, he didn’t know that was possible.

But, in view of everything Sir Lionel had told him, he realised his greatest urgency was to find Lily.

One woman was dead already.

“Where did the doctor say he was taking Mrs Eustace?”

“’E didn’t say, sir.”

“Did he take her forcibly?”

Grace shook her head. “No, sir. ’Tis in the note,” she said, handing a piece of paper to Hamish. “Me mistress went wiv ’im ’cos she said it were the kindest fing ter do fer ev’ryone, unda the circumstances.”

Chapter 31

Lily awoke in a rather chilly chamber which she took to be that of a tavern.

In a room where the fire had been allowed to die.

Shivering, she drew the counterpane round her shoulders as she sat up, looking for something with which to orient herself.

By the window was a writing desk, covered with some correspondence which, she knew, wasn’t hers.

She looked about to find Teddy, but the room was empty.