The hall was in almost total darkness when she got to the bottom of the stairs with just a little light spilling out under the door from the waiting room to her father’s office. Lydia was barefoot and so moved silently across the polished boards towards the dining room. She had scarcely taken a few steps, however, when a shadow moved suddenly, from the deeper darkness under the stairs.
“Miss D’Shan!”
“What?” The word came out almost as a short scream. In the bedroom upstairs, Elaine stirred. The sense of uneasiness returned with a sudden, desperate urgency.
“Ah! Do not be alarmed. I startled you. I do apologise.” The voice was smooth and polite. The figure of a man Lydia had seen a few times before emerged further into the half-light. As he spoke, he bowed apologetically in a perfect display of good manners. Lydia took a deep breath to regain her shaken composure but remained slightly on guard.
“You are forgiven,” she assured him, wanting to get the meeting over as swiftly as possible. Any thought of the kitchen had gone, but the figure was between her and the stairs. “You are?” The question hung in the air.
“Here to see your father, my dear,” the man replied smoothly. “How you have grown! There is much of your mother about you. You have become quite a young lady I see.” The tone was very familiar, like that of an uncle or close family friend. As he spoke he took another step towards her. On pure instinct, Lydia took another step back. “But schooling helps, I daresay, and Miss Drake is an excellent teacher. You had a pleasant trip to Perth Calran I gather. I trust you got home without further incident?”
“Indeed,” Lydia replied, desperately trying to think of a way to escape. “My father is expecting you?” This was intended as a prompt to end the conversation but it failed.
“Keeping me waiting as ever!” the man replied with a dry laugh. “Thus am I reminded of my humble position. Your father likes to make a point, Lydia.” This use of her first name brought a slight flush of colour to Lydia’s cheeks. It was utterly impolite of the man, since she hardly knew him. He had taken another step towards her, which she mirrored with a step back of her own. The cold panelling of the wall was against her back now and there was nowhere to go. “Such games can be dangerous,” the man continued. “They have two players you see. Your father should remember that! I can make a point too.”
The man’s bearing changed subtly. He was very close to her now. He seemed to bring a shadow of darkness with him and Lydia began to feel real fear. “Everyone has their weakness,” he spoke softly and deliberately. “For some, it is money. For your father it is you.” His hand reached out to touch Lydia on the cheek and she was so paralysed by the sudden cold terror this man’s presence seemed to cause that she remained utterly still.
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