Each month, she growled at the delivery of her fifty pounds, which obligated her to be oblivious to the existence of Lord Hornblower and his family. She paraded before me, but she did not pounce for the money that would purchase her the aroma of alcohol. She was impatient like the hungry predator, but today she attacked with idle and antagonistic conversation.

She snarled, �Oh, so they think I can be kept from my own flesh and blood? Well, I agreed with Lady Barbara she could raise him, but Horry won�t let me see him! The bloody bastard! And I took him in when he was a penniless rake. Feed him and clothed him I did! And this is the thanks I get? Bah! I hope he gets court-marshaled someday, turning me out into the street like some whore!�

I remained silent as she scorned Lord Hornblower and his family, fearful that she would asunder me in her drunken stupor should I defend my employers. She strode across the floor, continuing her incoherent babble as I inched backward toward the exit; but her predatory eyes caught me, piercing as she revealed her blackened smile.

�Well, leaving me like he left Maria and me to rot in Portsmouth? Well, Let me tell you a true thing a two about your Lord--�

Before she could lounge after me, I scattered the contents of my purse to distract her animalistic greed. Her lips curled, as she trounced upon the extra coinage I had surrendered to her, but I needed to escape from this lady who dared to describe Lady Barbara as no better than street harlots. I would report this to Lord Hornblower, in hopes that he would attack as he had Napoleon to cease her effort to cause scandal.