One cold December morning, I was greeted with the news that Sally was going to get married again. 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS2fwX9dbg

How did I learn about the wedding? Aunt Tempe summoned me directly to her study the moment she woke me up, where she and Dad sat at the desk, their faces like thunder as they looked at the bit of paper lying on the desk in front of them. "Sally is getting married," Dad said, more angry than I'd ever seen him. "We only finalised the divorce a couple of weeks ago, and now she's doing this to me?"

Since I'd learned never to speak till I was spoken to - Aunt Tempe had a very strong arm, as I'd seen around the house with the other servants - I kept my mouth shut. Aunt Tempe wasn't bound by this rule, and she gave sharp comment. "She's unfortunately allowed to do as she wishes," she said. "It's a pity you divorced her, James. You could have claimed that child as yours and shown your brother what happens to those who cross you."

Dad grunted. "It's too late," he said shortly. "She's going to put his name on the birth certificate when that brat is born, so what chance do I have?"

"You find out the hospital where she's giving birth," Aunt Tempe said sharply. "You tell them that she's to do nothing without your permission, and if she dares to put anyone's name on the birth certificate that isn't hers, you'll be pursuing parental rights on that child."

I shivered despite myself. Sally was, deep down, a good woman, and I knew her hellish behaviour had been a product of Dad's ways. Her baby - my cousin - didn't deserve the fate Dad had planned for them, and I hoped Sally would have the good sense to keep her birth plans a secret. Besides, there was over 200 miles between Bodman and Oxford - if Sally gave birth suddenly, Dad would have an almost 4 hour drive to get to wherever she was giving birth, and if she'd registered private, no hospital in Oxford would give Dad the details he wanted. 

Dad saw my shiver and frowned. "What's your problem?" he demanded angrily. "Why do you care about her so much?"

"Because she showed how good a person she was the day you forced me to leave," I said. "She was only a cow because you made her be one."

"That's enough," Aunt Tempe cut in. "Charlotte, you weren't called here to be a smart snip. You were called here because Sally kindly requests your presence at her wedding. I've already told her it's impossible, but she is quite insistent you attend. As you see-" she gestured to the bit of paper lying on the desk in front of her "-she's taken my refusal to let you go to heart. That is a court order overturning the 'illegal' removal that took place in July."

I sighed. "Aaaand you're going to ignore it until men in suits come to enforce it," I said.

"Of course we are," Aunt Tempe said, as if it were the most obvious thing. "But when those 'men in suits' come to take you away, you will be as far away from this place as possible. I've already arranged it; you'll be going to Inverness today. I've booked the ticket, so don't even think you'll be able to avoid being on that train - James will take you and ensure you stay on until it leaves. He's also told off the conductors to make sure there's people at each interchange to make sure you get on and stay on each train until you reach Inverness."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPguqlvuMn

"Good luck," I said angrily. "The courts don't take too kindly to orders being flouted."

"We'll see about that," Dad said shortly. "Go get showered and dressed; the train leaves at 7.42, and you will be on it, even if I have to drag you there myself."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JuGi9wopU

I closed my eyes in frustration as I went to my room to get ready. It was 6.00am - I had an hour and 42 minutes to make a miracle happen, but given Aunt Tempe's determination to send me away, I knew I was short on miracles. But I would make a miracle happen for Sally - if there was any way I could prevent Dad from seizing her baby, I'd do it. I just had to find a way how. 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPSJSEvmlE