Parents

Lucien

He had just gotten off the phone with his children back in the mansion at Hollowford.

Understandably, Ria was slightly piqued to hear that she had a baby sister.

She took it to mean that there would be a contender for her father’s attention.

She had had visions of lording it amongst an all-boys crew.

Now …

*

But she had perked up when he had slyly insinuated that she could of course be the one in charge on account of her being the eldest.

Immediately, she had bounced back, cheerful as ever.

*

But when she mentioned Paddy, the little autistic nephew of Sophia, he had been furious. The boy was still in his home although his aunt had been captured and was in one of his cells. Beatrice had said firmly that it was what Proserpina would have wanted.

“The boy shall be sent away.” he snapped, thinking of how Sophie’s actions had resulted in so much pain and trouble for Proserpina.

“No, Pappa.” said Ria earnestly. “Paddy loves Mumma. And Mumma adores him too. You know that.”

And then, i