Chapter 3 - LILY’S WARNING
Rachel unlocked the library door.
Lily slipped inside and closed it quickly behind her.
Her engagement dress was pale gold, but there was a dark stain near the hem where champagne had spilled. Up close, she looked less like a happy bride-to-be and more like someone standing on the edge of a cliff.
“Is Emma all right?” she asked.
“She is frightened.”
“I saw what Mother did.”
“So did everyone else.”
Lily sat on the opposite end of the sofa.
“She will say it never happened.”
“I know.”
“She will make the photographer delete any picture showing Emma crying.”
“I know that too.”
Lily looked toward the door.
“You cannot leave Emma alone with her today.”
Rachel’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“I never leave Emma alone with Margaret.”
“You did once.”
Rachel felt a chill.
“When?”
“Last Christmas.”
Emma had been eighteen months old then. During dinner, Daniel had asked Rachel to help Lily in the kitchen. Margaret had offered to watch Emma for less than ten minutes.
When Rachel returned, Emma had been sitting silently in a high chair.
Too silently.
That night, she had cried whenever anyone tried to close a door.
“What happened last Christmas?” Rachel asked.
Lily rubbed her palms against her dress.
“I don’t know everything.”
“Tell me what you do know.”
“I heard Emma crying in the upstairs hallway. When I went to check, Mother was carrying her out of the linen closet.”
Rachel stood.
“She locked my baby in a closet?”
“She said Emma crawled in by herself.”
“Emma could barely walk.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“My mother.”
Rachel stared at her.
Lily had grown up surrounded by money, staff, private schools, and protection. From the outside, she had everything.
But at twenty-eight years old, she was still afraid to speak when Margaret entered a room.
“What else has she done?” Rachel asked.
Lily shook her head.
“Today is not the first time she has talked about keeping Emma out of photographs.”
“I know she dislikes the birthmark.”
“It isn’t only the birthmark.”
Rachel waited.
Lily glanced toward Emma, who had fallen asleep against Rachel’s side.
“She says Emma is not an Ashford.”
Rachel’s chest tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“She says Emma has none of our family’s features.”
“Daniel knows Emma is his daughter.”
“Mother doesn’t care what Daniel knows. She cares what she can make other people doubt.”
Rachel sat slowly.
For months, Margaret had made comments about Emma’s dark eyes and curly hair. She had asked whether Rachel’s family had any unusual medical history. She had once suggested Daniel order a genetic health test “for future planning.”
Rachel had recognized the insinuation.
Daniel had dismissed it as Margaret being intrusive.
“Has she said this to Daniel?” Rachel asked.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Several times.”
“And he never told me.”
Lily shook her head.
Rachel looked at the draft email on her phone.
Something hot and bitter spread through her.
“What does Margaret want?”
“I think she wants Daniel to leave you.”
“That is not new.”
“No.” Lily looked down. “But now she thinks she has a way to force him.”
“What way?”
Before Lily could answer, someone tried the door handle.
“Lily?” Margaret called from the hallway.
Lily stood so quickly that her knee struck the table.
“Open the door.”
Rachel remained seated.
“We are talking.”
“This is my home.”
“And this is a locked room.”
Margaret knocked again.
“Lily, Oliver’s parents are asking for you.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Now.”
Lily moved toward the door, then turned back.
“Keep Emma with you.”
“You still haven’t told me what your mother is planning.”
Lily lowered her voice.
“She hired someone to follow you.”
Rachel stared at her.
“What?”
“A private investigator. I saw the invoice in Father’s office.”
“Why?”
“To find evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“That you are unfaithful. Neglectful. Unstable. Anything she can use.”
Rachel’s mind raced.
She worked from home as a medical illustrator. Most days, she took Emma to the park, the grocery store, or pediatric appointments. There was nothing for an investigator to discover.
Unless Margaret intended to create something.
“Does Daniel know?”
“I don’t know.”
The handle turned again.
Margaret’s voice became colder.
“Lily.”
Lily opened the door.
Margaret stood outside.
Her gaze moved from Lily to Rachel and then to the sleeping child.
“The guests are waiting.”
Lily stepped into the hall.
Margaret remained in the doorway.
“Rachel, Daniel wants you outside.”
“He can come speak to me.”
“He is occupied.”
“So am I.”
Margaret looked at Emma.
“The child cannot remain in here during dinner.”
“She will be with me.”
“The main tables are crowded.”
“Then remove two flower arrangements.”
Margaret smiled faintly.
“You continue to misunderstand your position.”
Rachel stood while holding Emma.
“My position is her mother.”
“For now.”
Rachel went still.
Margaret’s eyes revealed nothing.
Then she turned and followed Lily down the corridor.
Rachel looked at her phone again.
This time, she pressed send.
The email disappeared.
A confirmation appeared on the screen.
Message sent.
May you like
Rachel did not feel relieved.
She felt late.
