Free The Secret of Greylands by Annie Haynes

often.”
    â€œWhat have you heard?” The tone was abrupt, almost harsh.
    Cynthia bent forward.
    â€œDear Cousin Hannah, principally of your kindness to your relatives, I think. That was what emboldened me to come to you when I was in trouble—that and your letter.” 
    There was a moment’s silence and then the invalid said slowly:
    â€œAh, my letter! I had almost forgotten it. I wrote it when I was feeling ill and lonely. Henry is very good to me, but when you are ill a man is not everything, and I wanted some of my own blood, so I wrote to you. You did not come, so I then sent for Sybil. What is your trouble, child? I think—I have a feeling that I ought to know, but my memory is bad, I forget everything now; I—I can’t recall it.”
    Cynthia’s head drooped.
    â€œI—I don’t think you have heard of it, Cousin; Hannah, but when you wrote to me you said you were going to give me a present. A great change was coming in my life. I was—”
    â€œYou were going to be married,” the low, harsh voice finished. “It is coming back to me now, Cynthia. That is your trouble, child? Your engagement was broken off?”
    â€œNo!” said Cynthia in a dull, shamed voice. “It—it was not broken off!”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Lady Hannah’s tone sounded hopelessly puzzled. “It was not broken off, and yet you are here!”
    Cynthia’s head sank lower and lower. “An hour after the ceremony I found that he—my husband—had deserted and betrayed my greatest friend. I”—she put up her hand to her throat—“could not bear it. I left him. Then I thought of your letter—it only reached me that morning—and I came here. You will not send me away—you will protect me!”
    Lady Hannah drew a deep breath.
    â€œI—I don’t know what to say, Cynthia. I never thought of this. He will be looking for you—your husband—and if he finds you, what can I do? I am only a poor weak woman—” beginning to shake violently. “I don’t think you ought to have come, Cynthia.”
    Cynthia stood up, her hands loosely linked before her; she looked very tall and slim in the flickering firelight.
    â€œIf this is how you feel about it, Cousin Hannah, I am sorry I did; but,” faltering, “I was so lonely and so frightened of him—Lord Letchingham. Your letter was very kind, and I thought you really wanted me. Perhaps I ought to have applied to my solicitors in the first place. However, it is not too late to remedy my mistake. I will go back to-morrow.”
    â€œDo not be foolish, child,” Lady Hannah said fretfully. “It is not that. I do want you; but it is such an extraordinary position. I never thought of anything like this. However, you will stay here, while I think what is best to be done. My husband tells me that your trunk was marked ‘Hammond.’ I think while you are here you had better keep to that name; it will at least make it more difficult for you to be recognized.”
    â€œThere is no need—” Cynthia began, her voice sounding cold and steady; somehow she felt even her cousin’s weakness left her untouched; she wished more heartily than ever she had not come to Greylands. “I—if I had put Densham on the box I should have been traced at once, and Hammond seemed the only name I could think of,” she confessed.
    â€œYes, it is best. Let people think that you and Sybil are cousins. Oh”—with a queer sound between a moan and a sob the invalid slipped down among her pillows—“I feel ill!” she gasped. “Call Henry. I—I think I am dying. Henry, quick, quick!”
    Cynthia seized the bell-rope that hung beside the bed and tugged at it violently. Then she poured some water in a tumbler and tried to raise the invalid.
    â€œDear Cousin Hannah!” she pleaded. “Do let me give