Cordelia Duckworth dismissed her maid with an angry word and turned back to the mirror. Her dress was so tight she could hardly breathe, and she blamed her son Richard for this fact. Richard and a few people from town. They were actually trying to gain control of matters that were lawfully hers to manage. It wasnt the first time the townspeople had tried something like this, and when they did, Cordelia ate.

She was a very big eater on a regular basis, but when upset, her appetite became enormous. Since Richard had been acting so strangely, she had been very upset indeed. Her eyes slid shut on her image as she remembered the argument theyd had a week ago.

Im thinking about moving back, Mother.

Back where? Cordelia had almost been afraid to ask.

To Willits, of course. You could keep the west wing, he went on conversationally, and Beverly, Sydney, and I would take the east wing.

I will not live with that woman, Richard, Cordelia told him, her voice turning shrill.

You forget whose house this is, Mother, Richard said coolly. It had taken years of living apart from his mother to finally put his own life together. He now saw Cordelia with new eyes. Ive let you run things for a long time, but lately Ive been observing the situation a little more carefully. Youve set yourself up as a queen in this town. His voice had turned scornful.

Father would never have wanted that. Sydney has not been able to speak of it until lately, so I had no idea. What youre doing here is criminal, and it had better stop.

I will not be talked to this way by my own son. How dare you come here and threaten me

Richards laughter had cut her off. Threats, Mother? No. Promises. Where Willits and Sydney are concerned, I will be more involved in the very near future.

What do you mean?

I mean that if you want to see your grandson, youll watch your step in this town.

He had never threatened her before, and she was so taken aback she was speechless. It was unfortunate that she chose to remember that scene on this particular morning, since it put her in a horrid mood. She nearly shouted when someone knocked on her bedroom door.

What is it?

The door opened cautiously, and her personal maid tentatively stuck her head in. Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery are here to see you, maam.

Cordelias brow furrowed, and the maid steeled herself for a hairbrush or some other handy object to fly at the door.

Tell them Ill be down shortly was all the older woman said, and the maid, from years of experience, knew enough to close the door without a sound.