Scorpion Sunset by Catrin Collier

I’d been walking.’
    â€˜It’s a difficult situation. Tom has always been close to his brother, so close it bordered on hero-worship.’
    â€˜And it’s upset him to discover that his brother’s wife has the reputation of a whore.’
    â€˜He was disturbed to discover that your child isn’t John’s,’ Michael commented diplomatically.
    â€˜Yes, well, there’s no denying that.’ She drank her wine.
    He refilled her glass. ‘Mrs Smythe told me you’d been raped.’
    â€˜What’s done is over and finished with. There’s no point in talking about it.’
    â€˜You’re obviously upset about more than what Tom thinks of you,’ Michael ventured. When she didn’t answer, he said, ‘Tell me to go to hell if you think I’m prying.’
    Maud looked at him. He was so like Harry, it would be easy to fool herself that she was talking to Harry. Wasn’t that just what she’d wished for earlier that day?
    â€˜What happened tonight to send you out on to the street without a hat, shawl, or gloves?’ he pressed.
    â€˜Nothing,’ she said quickly. Too quickly.
    â€˜You have a cut and the beginnings of a spectacular bruise on your face.’
    Maud instinctively lifted her fingers to her left cheek.
    â€˜Mrs Smythe told me that you were moving in with your father.’
    â€˜I did. He went to the mess straight from his office this evening …’ She fell silent.
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜He returned drunk and ordered me out of the bungalow.’
    â€˜After hitting you?’
    Michael was shocked at the silence which confirmed his suspicions. ‘You left your baby with him?’
    â€˜The child will be fine. His nurse is with him.’
    The door opened. John’s brother Tom Mason walked in with his bride Clarissa, David Knight, and Georgiana Downe.
    Tom stared at Maud. The silence was absolute, claustrophobic, and embarrassing until Tom broke it. ‘This is Clary’s and my wedding breakfast.’ He pointed at Maud. ‘I didn’t invite her, so what in hell is she doing here?’
    Maud left her chair. ‘I’m leaving.’
    â€˜Not until I’ve seen to that bruise. Michael, send down to the kitchen for ice.’ Always the doctor, Georgiana examined Maud’s face. ‘How did this happen?’
    â€˜I hit myself on a cupboard door. Please, excuse me. I really do have to go.’
    â€˜Can’t bear to be in the same room as your brother-in-law,’ Tom taunted.
    Maud slipped past him and fled down the stairs.
    â€˜I’ll make sure she’s all right.’ Michael went to the door.
    â€˜I’ll go with you.’
    â€˜No, Georgie.’ Michael stopped his sister from following him. ‘I was the one who managed to get Maud in here, which in retrospect was not the wisest move I could have made. And as Basra’s been flooded with sick and wounded since Kut fell, you and David have scarcely had a free moment in weeks. Stay with Tom, and wait for the others. Order me a pilaff. That can be easily heated up if I’m delayed. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve seen Maud somewhere safe.’
    â€˜I heard she’d moved in with her father.’ Tom realised Clary was looking at him. ‘I haven’t been watching her but until John divorces her she’s still my sister-in-law.’
    â€˜If she doesn’t want to return to her father’s bungalow, Mrs Butler might find her a bed in the mission, at least for tonight.’ Georgie advised. ‘If there’s no room in the Lansing, Angela and Peter might take her in. I’ll ask them when they get here.’
    â€˜Thanks, Georgie, I’ll try the mission first. That’s if Maud will go there.’
    â€˜You sure …’
    â€˜Stay here, toast the bride and groom, and enjoy your meal, Georgie. You work such long hours you get hardly any free time.’ Michael ran