She cannot remain here.' The new Lady Kerslake's voice, almost strident in its vehemence; resounded plainly through the closed drawing room door, freezing Morwenna where she stood, her hand already raised to knock. A number of thoughts chased wildly through her head as she assimilated Cousin Patricia's words—among them that it would be far more honourable to turn and walk away, pretending to herself that she had heard nothing, and that eavesdroppers never heard anything good of themselves anyway, but at the same time she knew that wild horses could not make her budge an inch. And it might be a relief to find out what her cousin really thought, as opposed to the saccharine sweetness she had been treated with up to now. 'Oh, Mother!' It was Vanessa speaking now, her voice slightly impatient. 'You can hardly turn her out on to the streets. She has no training and no qualifications. You know as well as I do that she simply wasted her time at school. What on earth's she going to do?' 'That is hardly our responsibility,' Lady Kerslake returned coldly, 'She chose to neglect her opportunities.
