She's Bad News

'Mother, please. I do not feel at home here and I will not do anything to make myself less comfortable than I already am.' Richard stormed out of the house.

He was frustrated and his mother knew why. They had spent many days in Saur and the plans for Thomas' burial were not moving forward. But that was Oliver's fault.

In Saur, funeral planning was headed by the oldest man in the family of the dead. At the time of Thomas' death, Oliver was the oldest man in the family and he refused to take part in the planning.

'You must forgive him, Cordelia. He is but a child.' Lucy said to her late husband's sister.

'Do not make excuses for your son. He does not know how to speak to his elders, and I cannot say that is no fault of yours. Whatever were you doing with him after you ran to Garld?' Cordelia asked.

She leaned into the chair and looked out from the terrace. The sky was clear and the distant chattering of people distracted her a little.

'Cordelia, we must not speak if you do not want to.' Lucy said.

One of Lucy's greatest mistakes was marrying Thomas. She saw all the signs of how terrible his family was, but she told herself that love was all that mattered.

However, the love she shared with Thomas was not enough to make his family accept her and so she bore her cross of unacceptance.

'I shall talk to Oliver on my way here tomorrow. Thomas must not begin to smell before we plan his funeral.' Cordelia stood up and walked out leaving Lucy to her thoughts.

Lucy thought about her son and wondered who the woman he had mentioned that he found was. But that woman, Missy, was not thinking about Richard.

Missy was thinking about the tavern and her discussion with Gina to continue working there. She had spoken to her father, Benedict about it but he refused her request.

'Whatever shall we do then?' Missy asked Gina.

They were both in Gina's room thinking of ways to convince Benedict to have them work at the tavern.

But Gina thought more about what Ansley was going to do to her. She had not honoured his request to lay with her many days before because the rain came. But she knew Ansley was not an understanding man, he was not going to forgive her absence over the rain.

'Gina, did you not hear what I have asked you? How shall we convince my father to allow us to work for him?' Missy asked as she placed her hand on Gina's shoulder.

'I do not know. Whatever is your father's reason for not wanting you to work there anymore?' Gina asked.

Gina looked at her cousin and wondered why men were not flocking around her for she looked like an angel. But Missy's beauty was nothing compared to Martha, the unwanted's.

Gina had not mentioned her stay in Martha's house to anyone for she knew the consequences.

'I do not know but I know someone that might have a clue.' Missy said.

She noticed how Gina stared at her but did not say anything about it.

'Whoever is it? Your mother? Marlow?' Gina queried.

'Far from it. Tabitha.' Missy removed her hand from Gina's shoulder.

Gina was not at all surprised that Tabitha knew why Benedict did not want Missy working at the tavern. In fact, what would have baffled her was Tabitha's ignorance.

'However, are you sure about it? Did you speak with Tabitha?' Gina asked.

Missy stood up from the bed and walked to the door. She closed it and went back. Gina did not understand why she had done that given that they were not discussing anything private.

'Many days ago, when my mother and I went into town, we visited Irene's outlet to have our dresses made.' Missy stopped to see her cousin's reaction to that information.

Gina felt indifferent about it. She had many dresses and so had no need for one but what surprised her was her cousin visiting the outlet. Gina's father, Edmund always had seamstresses visit the house to size her.

'Well then, go on.' Gina tapped the bed.

'Tabitha was there and she questioned my mother on my position in the tavern. She asked her if the burden of the tavern has been lifted from me.' Missy widened her eyes.

'Then whatever happened?' Gina asked.

'That is all. But I know Tabitha knows something that neither my mother nor my father wants me to know. We must go to her.' Missy laid on the bed with her back. She looked at the high ceiling and wondered what Tabitha could know.

'Have you lost your mind now? We cannot go to Tabitha. That old woman is bad news.' Gina said.

Gina was scared because she remembered what Ansley had said when Richard and she met him in his workroom. He mentioned telling Tabitha about their meeting in the shed.

Given that she did not go to lay with him, she was scared that Ansley had spoken to Tabitha about it already.

'Whoever says we cannot? I shall not waste my time querying my father anymore.' Missy sat up.

She was very eager to meet Tabitha even though she feared what she was going to find out.

'I shall not go with you to Tabitha. That woman never tends to her business. Do you want her to know our family secret?' Gina asked.

'Whatever are you speaking of? What family secret is there to tell? Do you know something about our family that I am in the dark on?' Missy moved closer to Gina.

Gina did not know any family secrets, she had only mentioned that to keep Missy from going to Tabitha but of course, that was not enough.

'Missy, surely Tabitha must have said something more.' Gina made to stand up from the bed, but Missy dragged her back.

'Yes! Of course, she said other things!' Missy smiled broadly.

'Whatever is it? Do you not know how to speak to people? Shall I force words from your mouth?'

Gina was not a very patient person and so it disturbed her that Missy did not divulge complete information in a breath.