She returns her focus to Claudine, eyes narrowing. ‘Don’t you mean see me gone, like my mother? Father told me I am on borrowed time. You will throw me out.’
‘Once again, you insist on perceiving everything through your hysterics. It is about time your father took you in hand and had you married and settled.’
But Odette feels the force of her mission now; she holds right on her side. ‘Did my mother know you had designs on her husband when you came back?’ she asks. ‘Convenient for you that she died. Almost like you had a hand in it.’
The slap stings sharp across her cheek.
Odette holds her face in shock. ‘You hit me!’
‘I am teaching you a lesson that your parents have been too cowardly to teach you.’
Claudine raises her hand, as if to strike again.
Before she can, there is a noise beyond the door, and she steps hastily away from Odette.
Their commotion has drawn attention. George appears on the landing, and behind him are Cecilia, Penelope and Leo, dressed for dinner. Odette did not know they were due to join them tonight. No matter. The more people who witness this, the better.
‘Now, girls,’ says George, coming into the room with his hands raised as though he is calming a skittish horse. ‘This is not called for.’
‘Donotpatronise me, George. Your spinelessness has caused half this problem – you cannot bring your daughter in hand.’
He wilts at once, as though pushed back by the force of Claudine’s anger.
Odette’s cheek burns. She wants to go to her father, hold onto his sleeve like she is a child again and cry. Tears prickle her eyes, and she feels humiliated to be made so small, so scared.
‘What’s happened?’ Leo frowns from the back of the group. ‘Are you fighting?’
‘Of course they’re not fighting,’ says Penelope. ‘Odette is overwrought. Let us all go downstairs and leave her be.’
Cecilia has slid through the group and is edging towards Odette’s side. Odette wants to reach for her, but she must not. Not now, not here.
Still, it is like a cut to the heart that Cecilia will come to her after everything.
The girl walks blindly into danger, for love.
How dare Claudine take so much from all of them.
Penelope touches her hand to Claudine’s elbow, tries to draw her off. ‘Come now. Leave her to her own dramatics.’
Claudine shakes her off. ‘No. I will have this finished now. I will not allow a spoilt child to dictate the way we live. Odette owes us all an apology for making a misery out of what should be a joyous time.’
Odette is not looking at Claudine as she speaks. Over her shoulder is a flash of white, the outline of a figure moving from the darkness.
The room is dimly lit, only the glow of the fire and an oil lamp placed on the desk holding back the winter gloom. But it is enough to see the face drift into shape, the line of a nose, the too-familiar mouth, eyes all drained of colour.
Lydia’s ghost steps forwards, the soft tap of bare feet against the floor.
No one else seems to notice.
Of course.
This is a gift just for her.
Like a shadow double, her mother stands behind Claudine, a pale echo, a restless spirit.
Her mother has not left her. Odette could cry.
Her mother ishere.