Chapter Thirty-Two

Heavy black thunderclouds hung low in a leaden sky as Lavinia sought Cissie out after breakfast one morning to tell her, ‘I have decided to pay a visit to Hatter’s Hall today, dear. Would you care to accompany me?’

Cissie turned alternately red and white in the face as she clutched her throat before croaking, ‘Yes, I think I would. Thank you.’

Lavinia nodded. ‘Good. But I can’t promise anything, mind. It just seems as good a place as any to start the search for your son.’

Sunday and Tom were there and he reached instinctively for his wife’s hand, but as always, she tugged it away then silently cursed herself. Why did she keep doing that? she asked herself, but the damage was done and Tom had moved slightly away from her. She was even more annoyed with him now, could he have known it, because as yet he hadn’t made the time to go to London with her to try and track Kitty down. Admittedly she knew that he was always busy with jobs to do about the place but she was growing impatient and decided that if he didn’t arrange a date with her soon, she would make the journey alone.

‘I’ll get Ben to bring the carriage around to the front in an hour. Will that give you time to get ready, dear?’

‘Yes, thanks,’ Cissie told Lavinia gratefully, suddenly hardly able to contain her excitement, and she scooted away to get dressed in her Sunday best hat and coat.

As the carriage rattled towards Hatter’s Hall, Lavinia squeezed Cissie’s hand.

‘There were times when I thought this day would never dawn,’ Cissie muttered thickly and Lavinia felt her pain. She knew only too well what it was like to lose a child in whatever circumstances, and was prepared to do all she could in her power to help Cissie find her long-lost son. All around them the rain was hammering down and the day was dark and dismal – and yet Cissie felt happier than she had for a very long time.

When the carriage pulled up at the gates of Hatter’s Hall the gatekeeper opened them immediately and allowed them to pass through. Lady Lavinia Huntley was one of the benefactors of the Hall and was allowed entry any time she liked.

‘I think you’ll like Mr Wilkins, the new superintendent,’ Lavinia told Cissie as they rattled down the drive towards the tall imposing building. ‘He’s a far cry from that dreadful Augustus Crackett, who was the superintendent here when you were admitted.’

When the carriage pulled up at the bottom of the steps, Ben jumped down from the driver’s seat and helped the ladies alight. They then climbed the steps and Lavinia rang the large brass bell to one side of the entrance.

‘Why hello, Lady Huntley,’ the little maid who answered the door greeted them. ‘Here to see Mr Wilkins, are you?’

‘Yes I am, if it isn’t inconvenient, dear.’ Lavinia smiled as she peeled off her gloves and the girl bobbed her knee.