Deborah wasn't in the cookhouse.
"Missis already here," said Lila, offering Diana a steaming portion of her famous chocho pudding.
Diana made her way back upstairs toward her father's bedchamber. The door was closed. She paused a moment, her hand raised to knock. She heard soft sobbing from within.
Deborah! Crying? Very slowly, Diana turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Deborah was sitting in her father's chair by the French windows, her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking.
Silently, Diana walked to her and gently laid her hand on her shoulder. "What is it, Deborah? Can I help?"
Her face was tear-ravaged and her lower lip trembled. Then she got a hold of herself. "What do you want?" Her voice was harsh and raw from her crying.
"I heard you crying. I want to help."
"Ha! You want nothing more than to see me gone. I'll tell you something, miss, your father was miserable when I met him, couldn't forget that mother of yours. I made him happy, I tell you. I made him forget her."
"Is that why you had my mother's
portrait removed from the drawing room? To make him happy?"
"She haunted him. I removed it so he could be free of her, finally."
"Why did you hate Moira?"
Deborah sucked in her breath. "So," she said finally, very slowly, "this is why you want to help me. You want your father to believe that I strangled the girl. I will tell you something. I wanted Moira gone. She was stupid and very sly. I couldn't make her realizeOh, it is too much! I didn't want her hurt. I just wanted her gone. That's all. Just gone, from Savarol."
Diana remembered that smug look on Moira's face that day Lyon had taken the riding crop from Deborah. Sly? Yes, smug and sly.
"But why? Did she displease you so mightily?"
Deborah firmly closed her mouth.
Frustrated, Diana changed course. "You know, it is Lyon's idea that Patricia and Daniel return with us to England. Lyon wishes to provide Daniel a substantial allowance so that he may study medicine, as he wishes to."
"No!" Deborah rose abruptly from her chair, her movements clumsy, frantic. "No," she said again, more calmly. "Daniel's place is here, on Savarol Island. With me. Do you understand? You will not interfere."
"And Patricia? She would likely sell her soul to dance at balls in London."
"Patricia is aShe is young. She will do as she's bid."
"Daniel is a grown man, Deborah. I daresay he will do as he pleases."
Deborah just shook her head, not looking at Diana. "Leave now, Diana. Just go away."
"Very well. But, Deborah, if you wish to have someone to talk to, I am willing. I really don't hate you, you know. If you make my father happy, then I am happy for him."
The older woman looked as if she would have said something to that, but she didn't. Diana left the bedchamber, gently closing the door behind her. Her expression was thoughtful.
"Missis is upset."
"Yes, Dido, she is. You are obviously the one I learned my eavesdropping from. How long have you been lurking here anyway?"
The old woman gave her a smug look. "Long enough. So much trouble since she and de others come here."
"Dido, tell me about Moira. She'd just come to the great house before I left for England."
"Moira a pretty little girl. Too pretty. Sly, dat one. Missis wanted her gone."