Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Louisa had recently woken from a nap. She’d gone to sleep with a blinding headache, hoping to rid herself of it, but it was still there. She sighed in frustration. Is this all she had to look forward to in life now? More debilitating pain and exhaustion?
A few minutes later, she dragged herself up from the bed and popped in to see Daisy. She was still asleep, all curled up like a kitten, so she left her there and went downstairs.
In the kitchen, Richard and Sarah were sitting at the table. They both glanced at her, but it was Richard who spoke first.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, sensing something was wrong.
‘We need a word with you,’ Richard said.
Her brow furrowed. ‘What about?’
Richard pointed at an empty chair.
After a pause, Louisa sat across from them, hands in her lap.
She wondered if this was it. The moment where they confessed they were in love and wanted her and Daisy to leave.
A feeling of relief flooded through her at the thought she would be able to get away.
Sure, her sister had betrayed her, and her husband was a bastard, but she would have the chance to start again, somewhere fresh with Daisy and get the treatment she needed to be well again and…
‘Louisa,’ Richard broke into her thoughts. ‘We want to know how you are… after last night.’
She threw him a look. ‘Sorry, I’m not with you.’
‘I said she wouldn’t remember anything.’ Sarah shook her head sadly.
‘What do you mean?’ Louisa looked at Sarah for further reference. ‘What’s going on?’
‘You were in the woods,’ Richard enlightened her.
‘No, I wasn’t.’ Louisa paused. ‘Was I?’
Sarah reached a hand across the table and gave Louisa’s a gentle squeeze. ‘I wondered whether to tell you or not, but you gave us a fright and—’
‘Us? What exactly happened?’
‘I was getting ready for bed when I saw you through the window,’ Richard said. ‘I raced out after you. I found you in the clearing. You were kneeling down, crying uncontrollably.’
‘I – no. I would remember.’ Louisa looked aghast as she ran a hand through her hair. ‘Are you sure?’
Sarah nodded.
‘Was I in there long?’
‘About ten minutes,’ Richard replied. ‘I went to you eventually, and guided you back out. You were wearing pyjamas and had nothing on your feet.’
‘But that’s absurd. I don’t recall a thing.’
‘We’re worried about you.’
Louisa looked at them both in turn, hoping they would explain things to her.
‘When you didn’t mention it, we thought you were embarrassed,’ Sarah went on. ‘We didn’t think you wouldn’t remember.’
‘I don’t. Is that wrong?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Richard said.
‘I should have gone to the doctors. Perhaps now you’ll let me.’
‘No one is saying you can’t go, Louisa.’ Richard sighed, as if he was speaking to a petulant child. ‘It’s just that there is nothing else they can do for you. You’re on the strongest medication for your condition. And if you start mixing it with other things, imagine the side effects.’
‘You’re not a doctor,’ she said.
Richard sighed. ‘Fine, I’ll make an appointment for you if you want him to go through the same things he discussed with you on the last visit.’
‘That was six months ago!’
‘And you’ve changed since then, personally I feel for the worst. You don’t want to leave Daisy while you get some help, which is probably what will—’
‘Stay away from Daisy,’ Louisa growled.
‘We have to think of her safety.’
‘I know what you’re up to.’ She pointed to them both. ‘You’re trying to say I’m mentally ill, unable to cope with her so you can get rid of me.’
‘It’s not like that at all,’ Sarah cried.
‘Calm down, Louisa.’ Richard looked at Sarah. ‘See, this is what I mean. She’s unstable.’
‘I am not unstable!’ Louisa screamed. The silence that followed made her realise that they could be right.
‘Well, we’re both here if you want to chat about anything.’ Sarah stood up, urging Richard to do the same. ‘I’d better go and check on Daisy.’
‘She’s fine!’ Louisa snapped. ‘She’s gone down for a nap.’
Richard sighed. ‘No one’s trying to get at you, Louisa.’
Her shoulders sagged as she gave in. ‘I’m sorry. I know you mean well. I just don’t understand.’
‘Why don’t you go and have another lie down?’ Sarah suggested. ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea and bring it up to you. Don’t worry about Daisy. I’ll take care of her too.’
Louisa could only nod. She left the room in a daze and headed upstairs. What was happening to her? Was she losing her mind? Or were they ganging up on her? Did she have two people to worry about now, instead of the one?
Sarah waited for the kettle to boil, glancing out of the kitchen window. She had never seen Louisa so agitated, and it was slightly concerning. She turned back in time to see Richard sprinkling something into the mug she’d put out for Louisa.
‘What’s that?’ she questioned.
‘I’m giving her something to help her sleep.’
‘But it’s lunchtime.’
Richard’s smile was snide. ‘So it is.’
Sarah paused, her mind working over his words. ‘Is this a regular occurrence?’
‘I like to keep her under control. Without the medication, she’s feisty and I don’t like how she acts.’
‘So instead you use drugs to calm her down? How long have you been doing that?’
‘If I told you, I’d have to kill you.’
His tone was comical, but Sarah wondered how much of a threat was hidden in his words. Richard had a darker undertone than she’d first imagined.
‘Seriously, why don’t you tell her to leave?’ she said. ‘You don’t love her anymore, do you?’
‘I’ve never loved her. She’s too clingy.’
‘So why did you marry her?’
‘Because I wanted someone to look after me.’
‘You could have paid for a housekeeper.’
‘Why should I when I have Louisa to do it for free?’
‘You’re such a bastard.’
He smiled at her again.
‘You’re weird. You marry my sister, you get her pregnant so she is kinda chained to you. Then when she starts complaining because she wants more from you, you drug her to keep her dependent on you. You’re manipulating her mind. I’m not sure I like that.’
Richard was quiet for a moment. ‘So what do you suggest I do instead?’
‘I think you should let her go back to Derby. I could persuade her.’
He smirked. ‘So you want to be the housekeeper and nanny now?’
‘Absolutely not. Daisy would go with Louisa. You could still see her on a regular basis.’ She leaned closer to him.
‘I want you, and all of you. I think we should start planning to ensure it happens. Maybe we should up Louisa’s dosage,’ she suggested, holding Richard’s eye as he stared at her.
‘A little more would work in our favour, don’t you think? ’