Though she did not plan her days with the intention of sneaking up behind people Velda often found she had a habit of doing so. Whether it was her quiet footing as she approached the dining table and made people stutter into their morning tea, or in her library where apparently people didn’t expect her to just simply be there, everyone’s ongoing surprise at her presence was somewhat vexing. Especially when it came in the form of one of her own children! Surely she had to be welcome somewhere!

“Hello dear,” wrapping a hand around the back of Maud’s chair she used it as leverage to lean down and press a kiss to her daughter’s cheek, ignoring how much it felt as though she was blocking her daughter’s escape route. Things with Maud had always been odd – even if she was the child Velda thought all things considered she was the least ashamed of – and they promised to be much the same. Oh well, she sighed to herself, she was here now and determined to impose her will because Merlin only knew the last time Maud had been in this condition and ignored her it had ended in a rather unfortunate funeral that had somehow ended more disastrously than even Velda could have direly predicted.

“You look terribly pale Maud, I do hope you’re looking after yourself. Or getting the cook to at least, you certainly don’t look quite so many weeks gone, but then you always were a slight thing.” She took a step back, all the better to observe Maud properly and immediately rolled her eyes. “You have been eating properly haven’t you? I have no wish to attend another funeral so soon my dear so please don’t oblige me.”

Velda resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she straightened back up and realised that, as she had predicted, Maud was as jumpy as ever and with no especially clear reason. She was being pleasant wasn’t she? It was usually a chore to be this cordial to anyone let alone one of her own children and she felt a stab of annoyance. Which wasn’t unusual really. But she didn’t really want to upset Maud – had never really wanted to upset any of her children but especially not her more sensitive daughter – it was just that inevitably, without really meaning to, she simply did.

Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. She was far too old to break habits and Maud was altogether too nervous!

Without passing comment she took the seat offered and folded her hands neatly in her lap, eyes roaming over her daughter as she did so, trying to think of how best to broach her next question without upsetting the girl. She did look terribly wan whatever Maud might say and she would be an even worse mother than her children thought her if she ignored it.

“I won’t be stopping long,” she offered, hoping it might make Maud stop looking quite so skittish. “I thought it would be nice to see each other, it seems like so long doesn’t it? How are you feeling about the baby?”

With any luck it wouldn’t be quite as terrible as last time. Her second had been easier after all: at least the birth had, afterwards was another matter.

Whatever it was she had done –

No, scrap that. She knew what she had done but that had been years ago and if Maud actually knew about that then surely she would be bolder for having that knowledge rather that looking like a dormouse about to be pounced on like a tiger at all times? Whatever the reason was it apparently hadn’t bothered her other children enough to make them behave themselves: at least Maud would never bring scandal on their name, even if she did insist on looking like a ghost and behaving like a child!

“Perfectly well thank you dear,” without comment she reached over and wrapped her fingers around Maud’s wrist, pulling her hand away so she couldn’t bite her nails. “I’m much more concerned for you,” she said with as much softness as she could muster, taking Maud’s hand between both of hers. “Is he looking after you?”

As far as her children’s spouses went she had to admit that Maud’s was a considerable cut above the rest and by some distance the most desirable as a relative. On the other hand there wasn’t exactly a great deal of competition when it came to her forced relations! At least he wasn’t notably the child of a whore, which was something she supposed.

“Lonely?”

The thought was odd and certainly not one she had considered before. For six years she had enjoyed peaceful summers and untroubled Christmases and though she had been alone – blissfully so! – she hadn’t considered whether she was actually lonely.

“It would certainly be nice to see a little more of you,” she said with utter honesty, rather surprising herself by how soft her voice came out, but she had nearly lost Maud and she hadn’t entirely allowed herself to think about that. She cleared her throat abruptly. “And your brother and sister of course.” Although the former at least came with a slightly unfortunate adornment!

“My dear, if I knew that then I certainly would not be working in a school library I can assure you!”

She chuckled dryly and ignore entirely the fact actually she didn’t need to work at all. One of the few good things Victor had ever done for her was to leave her extremely well provided for – not that he had known he was leaving at the time of course! – but without the students to rouse her ire every year she would likely die of boredom.

“There are old wives tales about the shape of your stomach and what food you crave but I’ve had two of each and never noticed the slightest bit of difference. Well,” she added with a small shrug and an inevitable pang as she thought about her first born. “Apart from Victor nearly killing me.”