Get Away From Her

Evelyn Vale recovered her voice before she recovered her pride.

'You have no legal right to be in this house,' she said from the mat.

Caleb released her blouse and rose slowly, keeping himself between her and Clara. 'Then call someone.'

She almost did.

Her hand moved toward the pocket of her skirt before she remembered what would arrive with any official report: questions, statements, marks on Clara's arms, staff who had seen too much, and perhaps the recording Evelyn still did not know existed.

The hesitation was small.

Caleb noticed it.

Clara struggled upright behind him. 'Rose,' she said. Her voice broke on the name.

'Safe,' Caleb told her. 'Nurse Patel has her.'

At that, Evelyn's face sharpened. 'That nurse is employed by me.'

A voice answered from the doorway. 'Not anymore.'

Nurse Patel stepped into the corridor light with Rose asleep against her shoulder, bundled in a cream blanket. Beside her stood Mrs. Ainsley, rain still on her coat, and a man Caleb recognized from the photograph Clara had once sent: Daniel Reed, Oliver Vale's solicitor. He looked pale, as if he had arrived expecting signatures and found the house bleeding secrets instead.

Evelyn stood too quickly. 'Mr. Reed, remove these people.'

The solicitor did not move. 'Mrs. Vale, I have reviewed the file you sent this evening.'

'Then you know Clara is unstable.'

Clara flinched. Caleb's jaw locked.

Daniel Reed looked at the young widow and then at the fallen books and toys. 'No. I know you prepared a petition alleging that she is unstable. I also know you requested temporary control of the child and the estate shares attached to the child's trust.'

The playroom changed shape around that sentence.

Clara stared at Evelyn. 'Shares?'

Evelyn's thin mouth hardened. 'Oliver was confused when he drafted that will. Grief made him sentimental about you.'

'Oliver wrote the will before he died,' Daniel said. 'Very clearly. Clara remains Rose's sole guardian unless proven unfit by independent medical review. The family trust remains under Clara's protection until Rose reaches adulthood.'

Evelyn stepped over a stuffed bear as if it had personally offended her. 'She is a child herself.'

'She's Rose's mother,' Caleb said.

Evelyn swung toward him. 'And what are you? A hired thug with sentimental timing?'

Clara answered before he could. Her voice was thin, but it was hers.

'He's my brother.'

The words steadied her. She reached for the crib rail and pulled herself fully to her feet.

'And I am not signing anything,' she said.

Evelyn stared as though Clara had spoken in a language servants were not allowed to understand.

Mrs. Ainsley opened her raincoat and took out a small device, holding it in both hands like something she hated needing.

'There is more,' she said. 'From the nursery monitor. I saved it because I was afraid no one would believe her.'

Evelyn's eyes moved to the device.

For the first time that night, fear entered them cleanly.

Daniel did not play the recording aloud in front of Clara. He did not need to. Mrs. Ainsley had already given him a copy on the drive over. He had heard Evelyn's voice threaten to have Clara declared unfit. He had heard her tell Clara that a widow with no money and no family in England could disappear from her child's life if she made enough trouble.

The room had witnesses now.