Free A Dream Come True by Barbara Cartland

nonsense. Your Mama will be perfectly cared for by Mrs. Darrowby.”
    Lucia ran from the room to hide the fact that she was starting to cry.
    â€˜I must not show him how upset I am,’ she determined, as she returned upstairs. ‘But I am just a pawn in my stepfather’s game of chess.’
    She was just about to make for her room when she saw Mrs. Darrowby coming towards her with an anxious look on her face.
    â€œOh, Miss Lucia. There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
    â€œMama – she is not worse?”
    â€œNo, she is still sleeping, but I would speak with you in private.”
    Lucia led her into her room and closed the door.
    â€œWhat is it, Mrs. Darrowby?”
    â€œIf I may speak plainly, miss. It’s Doctor Maybury. I don’t think he is very good. He barely examined the Mistress this morning and then proclaimed that she was suffering from a slight chest infection.”
    â€œMama has had this trouble before.”
    â€œNo, miss. I knows chest infections. She was bringing up blood before the doctor came and I did not like to alarm you. He did not seem interested when I told him, but who am I to argue with such a man?”
    Lucia thought for a while before replying.
    Her stepfather would not countenance her sending for Doctor Glossop and she had no money to speak of herself. His fees were far too dear to be hidden amongst the household expenses.
    â€œMrs. Darrowby, we must do our best with what resources we have. Watch Mama like a hawk and if there is any change, you must send for me.”
    â€œSend for you? Why, are you going away?”
    â€œFrom Monday, I will be away from the house during the week, but I shall return home at weekends. You will have to manage.”
    Mrs. Darrowby’s face crumpled.
    â€œOh!” she cried. “I don’t know how the Mistress will take this news. Is this your stepfather’s doing?”
    â€œHush. There is nothing to be gained by apportioning blame. I do not wish to alarm you, Mrs. Darrowby, but we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. I would ask you to bear whatever hardship comes along until such time as things improve.”
    â€œOf course, miss,” she sniffled in response. “I’ll go and make some tea.”
    Mrs. Darrowby left the room and Lucia dissolved into tears.
    â€˜She is right. How will Mama bear the news that I am to be sent away all week? It should be my stepfather who breaks it to her – not me or a servant.’
    She hit the pillows in anguish.
    â€˜I would never forgive myself if this contributed to Mama’s demise,’ she sobbed. ‘And I would never, never speak to my stepfather again either.’
    But she knew that her fate was sealed and that her future lay some ten miles away at Longfield Manor.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Lucia wandered over to her mother’s room.
    Quietly she opened the door and put her head inside. Her mother was asleep and her mouth had fallen slightly open. Her skin was grey and her breathing laboured.
    It brought tears to Lucia’s eyes to see her.
    â€˜Mama ’ she cried under her breath.
    Tiptoeing quietly towards the bed, Lucia smoothed down the coverlet and sank down in the chair close by.
    She sat there for a while gazing at her mother while her heart contracted with sorrow.
    â€˜What will I do if we lose her? She looks so ill.’
    Lucia looked at the cluster of bottles on the bedside cabinet and picked up each one in turn.
    Taking up the brown bottle at the back with a cork stopper, she furrowed her brow at the dried trickle of fluid that had collected around the rim.
    â€˜I shall speak with Mrs. Darrowby about ensuring better hygiene in the sick room,’ she muttered to herself.
    It was then that she noticed the printed label.
    â€˜Laudanum!’ she gasped in horror.
    At the same moment, Mrs. Darrowby came into the room with the tea tray.
    â€œThere you are, miss. I went to your room and found the door