Free A Place Called Home by Dilly Court Page A

the arrangement with your grandmother, and she agreed that your needs would be best suited if you lived with me.’
    She looked up, blinking back tears. ‘I don’t belong here. I want to go back to Hairbrine Court.’
    Bedwin sucked air in through the gaps in his teeth, but he remained standing to attention, saying nothing.
    â€˜Go to your room, Lucy,’ Sir William said firmly. ‘Of course it will seem strange at first, but you will settle down in time. Tomorrow I will advertise for a governess and you will learn to be a young lady, as befits my son’s child.’
    Bedwin helped Lucy to her feet and she did not resist, but she held onto the dog as if her life depended upon it. ‘I want me nana,’ she muttered rebelliously.
    â€˜Your accent is dreadful and your grammar is appalling,’ Sir William said coldly. ‘But I am not a hard man. You may keep the dog with you, but you will be responsible for taking the creature for walks. James will accompany you to the park at all times, and if you make any attempt to run away the dog will be taken from you and destroyed. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
    Lucy nodded wordlessly. The threat on Peckham’s life was more frightening than anything they could do to her.
    â€˜Answer me, child. You are not a mute.’
    â€˜I understand, mister.’
    â€˜You will address me as Grandpapa.’
    â€˜Yes, Grandpapa.’
    â€˜That’s better. James, take Miss Lucy to her room and lock the door.’ Sir William held his hand up as Lucy opened her mouth to protest. ‘You will remain so until I’m certain that you are ready to obey me.’ He turned on his heel and ascended the stairs.
    That night Lucy slept with Peckham curled up beside her. She was awakened next morning by the sound of the key turning in the lock. Peckham leapt off the bed and stood by the door, hackles raised. Susan burst in carrying a jug of warm water. ‘Keep that bloody mongrel away from me,’ she said, eyeing him nervously as she made her way to the wash stand. ‘If he bites me I’ll tell Mr Bedwin and he’ll have him put down. I don’t like dogs.’
    Lucy sat up in bed. ‘He doesn’t seem to like you either, so it’s tit for tat, ain’t it?’
    â€˜You’ll get your comeuppance, guttersnipe. The master will realise his mistake soon enough and then you’ll be back on the streets where you belong.’ Susan slopped the hot water into the wash bowl and thumped the jug down. ‘Get up and get dressed. I ain’t no lady’s maid.’
    â€˜I don’t want to be here,’ Lucy said, holding her arms out to Peckham as he leapt back onto her bed. ‘If you’ll help me I could be out of here and away afore anyone realises what’s happened.’
    â€˜I’d be dismissed without a character. I suppose you’d like that, you little monster.’ Susan made for the door. ‘Looks like we’re stuck with each other. I don’t like it any more than you do.’ She left the room, slamming the door behind her, and the key grated in the lock.
    Outside the sun was shining with the promise of a fine day ahead. Lucy got up and went to look out of the window in an attempt to get her bearings. The street below was quiet and orderly by comparison with the hustle of the East End. A crossing sweeper was busy at work, clearing the straw and horse dung so that ladies could negotiate the streets without getting their skirts soiled, and gentlemen did not muddy their shiny shoes. Private carriages vied with hansom cabs and there was not a costermonger’s barrow to be seen. Lucy had hoped that her grandmother might have had a change of heart. She searched the well-dressed crowds that thronged the pavements for a sign of her, but she was nowhere to be seen. It was hard to believe that Granny could have abandoned her, or that she had quite literally sold her for