As she drew closer to the stables she heard the unmistakable sounds of yipping and turned a corner to see Henry crouched down and playing with the puppies. Five in all with various color patterns; they were running about on short little legs and doing their best to bark, even though they weren’t any more than a week old.
Henry must have heard her approach, for he turned around and rose. He crushed his hat in his hands and lowered his head. “Miss Welton. I was just takin’ a break from my work—”
She waved away his explanation. “It’s fine.” She bent down on her knees and watched the little dogs scamper about. Lady was lying to the side and doing her best to relax while they were occupied. Sephy scratched behind her ears as she spoke to Henry. “Do you have names for them yet?”
He shrugged. “Just this one.” He returned to his previous position and tapped the nose of a particularly enthusiastic one with black and white markings. “He’s a male and seems to be the bully of the litter. I call him Butch.”
Sephy smiled. “I think that’s rather appropriate.” She glanced around at the rest of the puppies and while a few of them decided to start playing together, one trotted over to her and laid a paw on her knee, as if to say hello.
She picked her up and held her closer to her face so the puppy could see her better, and perhaps gain some of her scent. “And what’s your name?” she cooed gently, noticing that it was a female.
In reply, the animal barked.
“What was that, you say?” Sephy held her face closer, pretending that she was listening. In return she received a delicate lick to her cheek. “I think I heard Evalina. Is that right?”
Another bark.
“That sounds like approval to me,” Sephy said and then set the puppy back down. But instead of returning to her siblings, she lay down in front of her then rolled over and offered her belly. “I suppose you’d like to be rubbed, wouldn’t you?” She gave Evalina the attention she’d requested and decided that this would be her dog when she was ready to be weaned. That was, if she was even allowed to remain at the duke’s townhome for that long.
Again, she chided herself for her wayward thoughts and left the stables a short time later.
After she had afternoon tea, which she had alone in the parlor, for Hunter reluctantly told her that he had to run out on an errand, the clearing of a man’s throat brought her attention to the doorway. “Pardon the intrusion, Miss Welton, but there is a caller for you.”
With a frown, Sephy strode into the foyer to find one of her mother’s girls in a dark cloak and pacing the floor rather anxiously. She recognized her as Jade’s replacement. While she hadn’t had very many interactions with the girl, she recognized her easily enough.
“Zayla?”
The instant she heard her name, the harlot burst into tears and rushed forward to embrace her. “Oh, Miss Welton. Thank goodness! You must come quickly! Your mother… she… collapsed and…” She shook her head as if she found it difficult to even continue the thought.
The blood left Persephone’s face. “Has a physician been sent for?” She asked as she gathered her cloak and slipped it on.
“Yes. But you must hurry!” She grabbed hold of her hand and tugged urgently.
At this point, fear was a palpable thing, like the air in her lungs and every beat of her heart. It was a physical part of her. “Of course. Just let me leave a note for—”
“We don’t have time! You must come now!”
Her voice was shrill as her gaze darted about wildly, evidence of her upset, and so Sephy nodded. “Of course, you’re right. I’ll send word once we arrive.”
Sephy descended the stairs with Zayla directly behind her.
“In there.” The harlot pointed to the waiting hackney.
Sephy climbed inside and once Zayla was settled, they set into motion. She tried her best to sit still, but anxiety about her mother was forefront in her mind. “She hasn’t told me she’s been ill,” she murmured, more to herself than her companion.
After an interminable ride through London, the carriage finally came to a halt. Her mother’s lackey, Abraham, held the door for her as she approached. “Where is she?”
“Upstairs, first door on the right,” he said more somberly than usual.
Since he generally greeted her with something at least resembling a smile, she realized it must be very grave indeed. She didn’t even question why her mother might have been taken to one of the girls’ rooms instead of staying in her own apartments, but rushed up the stairs and pushed open the door she’d been directed to — and found nothing but an empty bedchamber. She frowned, wondering if she hadn’t heard him wrong, but just as she turned she saw her mother in the frame. She tossed a purse to Zayla and said, “Good work,” just as the door slammed shut in Sephy’s face. It was quickly followed by the click of a lock.
Shock rendered her momentarily speechless, but then she walked over and pulled on the knob. It wouldn’t budge. Abruptly, fear of an entirely different sort struck her in the middle of the chest. “Mama! What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, dear, but I had no other choice,” came Phryne’s voice from the other side. “My gambling debts have quite overtaken me, and I can’t afford to lose my house.”
“So you are offering me as ransom?” Sephy snorted in disgust.
She truly had no idea the lengths her mother was willing to go through to ensure her legacy remained untarnished. Looking back, she’d seen the signs, the subtle hints that she was in financial trouble that Sephy hadn’t heeded properly. But
