She should have been stronger, shouldn’t have allowed it to shatter so easily by what might be false words. But what was broken, when repaired, became stronger.

At least that was the mantra running through her mind as she stepped out of the carriage, with the assistance of the footman. When Fancy stepped inside, her mum sang from the kitchen, “I’ve just put the kettle on.”

This woman she loved so very much wandered into the living room and staggered to a stop. “Oh, my dear girl, whatever has happened?”

Fancy felt the tears forming and was powerless to hold them back as her mum’s arms came firmly around her. “Mum, please tell me it’s not true. Please.”

Her mum went very, very still, so still Fancy wasn’t even certain she continued to breathe. Or perhaps she simply couldn’t because her daughter was holding her so tightly.

“What are you talking about, love?”

The slight tremble in her mum’s voice, the hesitation as though she already knew the answer and hadn’t wanted to ask the question caused Fancy’s chest to tighten to such an extent, she thought it might cave in on itself. “A man came to see me last night. His name is Dibble.”

Her mum’s body jerked as though she’d been delivered a physical punch by a giant. Leaning back, Mum studied her face. “What did he do to you?”

“Nothing.” Not wanting her mum to worry, she couldn’t confess how for a few moments he’d terrified her, and she’d been afraid he would hurt her—until Matthew put a stop to that. “He wanted money, claimed to be my father.” Based on her mother’s reaction, she feared she had the answer she’d been seeking, but still she asked the question anyway. “He wasn’t lying, was he?”

Her own eyes damp, her mum cradled her face with one hand. “I’m so sorry, pet.”

“Did you love him?” She was well aware one didn’t always have control over one’s heart and the path it wanted to travel.

“Ah, no, pet. How could you think I’d love such a vile excuse for a human being? But from the moment I realized I was increasing, I wanted you.”

She shook her head. “But I don’t understand why you ever let him touch you.”

Her mum stepped back. Her eyes grew damper before she finally shuffled to her chair and dropped into it as though a boulder had suddenly landed on her. “Sit down, pet.”