shout is the wrong word. He was so furious it was more like a snarl.” Her teeth chattered so she was in danger of biting her tongue.
“Drink some tea,” Charlotte said quietly. “It will help a little. You are terribly shocked. It is only natural.”
“Thank you,” Vita accepted, putting her hands over Charlotte’s to steady the cup for herself. “You are very kind, Mrs. Pitt.”
“I will call the doctor,” Mallory insisted, starting towards the door.
“No!” Vita insisted. “I forbid it! Do you hear me, Mallory? I absolutely forbid it.” Her voice was so strained, her face so full of anguish, he stopped where he stood, reluctant to obey and yet not wishing to defy her.
Dominic started saying something, then caught Mallory’s glare of fury and stopped.
Vita closed her eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I am sure I will be all right. I shall just go and lie down for a while. Braithwaite can look after me.” She made as if to rise to her feet, but her knees would not support her. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I feel so … foolish. I just don’t know what to do. He accused me of undermining his authority, of belittling him, of questioning his judgment. I denied it. I never have … ever in my life! And he … he struck me.”
Clarice stared at her for a moment, then brushed past Tryphena and Dominic and went to the door. She threw it open and they heard her footsteps cross the hallway and go up the stairs, loud on the black, uncarpeted wood.
“This is appalling!” Mallory said in anguish. “He’s mad! He must be. He’s taken leave of his wits.”
Dominic looked acutely distressed, but after only a moment’s hesitation he mastered his own feelings and turned to Mallory.
“We must abide by her wishes. We should not say anything further about it.”
“You can’t do that!” Tryphena protested. “Are you going to wait until he kills her, too? Is that what you want? I thought you cared about her! In fact, I thought you cared a great deal.”
Vita looked at her desperately. “Tryphena! Please …”
Dominic bent and picked Vita up in his arms and walked over to the door.
Charlotte hastened to open it wider for him, and he went through without looking back. Charlotte faced the room.
“I think there is nothing I can do to help except leave you some privacy to make whatever decisions you believe best. I am so sorry this should have happened.”
Mallory recollected his duty as host in his parents’ absence, and hastened to the door after her.
“Thank you, Mrs. Pitt. I … I hardly know what to say to you. You came to call upon us out of kindness, and we have embarrassed you dreadfully …” He looked acutely uncomfortable, his face white except for blotches of pink in his cheeks. He stood awkwardly, not knowing how to rest his weight or what to do with his hands.
“I do not think of being embarrassed,” she said with something less than the truth. “I have had tragedy in my own family, and I know how it can change everything. Please do not think of it again.” She was at the front door. She tried to smile as he opened the door for her, and for a moment she met his eyes and was sharply aware of the fear in him, almost panic, and that it lay barely beneath the surface, threatening to break through if there were one more tear in the fabric of his life, however small.
She wished she could have comforted him, but she could not promise it would get better. It probably would not.
“Thank you, Mr. Parmenter,” she said quietly. “I hope next time we meet the worst will be over.” Then she turned and went down the steps and along the pavement to look for a hansom.
Earlier that day Cornwallis had received an unexpected visitor in his office. The constable outside told him that Mrs. Underhill had asked to see him.
“Yes … yes, of course …” He rose to his feet and accidentally knocked over a pen with his cuff. He set it right. “Ask her to come in. Did … did she say what it was about?”
“No sir. Didn’t like to ask her, her bein’ a bishop’s wife an’ all. Shall I go an’ ask her now, sir?”
“No! No, please show her in.” Unconsciously he straightened his jacket and pulled at his tie, actually setting it crooked.
Isadora came in a moment after. She was dressed in a