The room fell silent, none of us really knowing what to say. Lady Du Bellay was just looking at me with tears in her eyes, Miss Campbell was just looking at me waiting for a reaction…as for me, I just felt dumfounded and speechless. How was I even to respond to that statement? Did this mean that Lady Du Bellay was my family? Or had she just moved there?
I swallowed, which seemed so loud in the silence of the quiet study. “Have you always lived there?” I had to ask.
She nodded solemnly. “Well yes, for the last forty-four years. Just after we got married and moved here to London.” She pulled a handkerchief from inside her sleeve and dabbed her eyes. “Certainly, a long time.” She muttered to no one in particular. I could see that the older woman was in a bit of shock. I knew exactly h
