Edith went white. She stepped back, the glass falling from her hand and smashing on the floor. 'I thought…no one knew…' She whispered faintly. Her eyes were fixed on Sherlock, a mixture of love and hate in her gaze.
Sherlock shook his head. 'I saw the pregnancy tests on your bathroom sink but I thought they were your flatmate's. Then they said you were raped three months ago…. which would explain the alarming decrease in nights out this month and the soda water in your glass.' He shifted uncomfortably.
'So you didn't abort it?' Mary's voice was brittle. She stared at Edith's midsection and flinched.
Sybil rounded on her. 'Stop it! You're making it worse.' She put down her glass and took Edith's hand. 'Why didn't you tell us? I would've helped.'
Edith closed her eyes. Maybe because you all have never given me any reason to trust you. Maybe because I was afraid of Mary's scorn, Dad's anger, Mum's disappointment, the shame. Maybe I just wanted to figure it all out myself, maybe my family's so-called 'support' would be worse than none at all. 'I didn't think any of you would care…' She said wearily.
'Of course we care!' Sybil said.
Mary snorted. 'I think you overestimate my sisterly affection. This, this is so like Edith, too plain to get a man, too stupid to stop herself from being raped. Really, Sybil, I think we should just leave her alone.'
Edith sighed. 'See? This is what I knew would happen.' She sat down heavily on the sofa. 'Mary despises me, well, more than she did. You, Sybil, probably think I'm a fool for not being on birth-control, and Sherlock…. you caused all of this in the first place! Why did you have to blurt it out to everyone, I was doing perfectly fine on my own!' She blinked back the angry tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Matthew winced. 'I... I don't really think I need to be here…' He mumbled, embarrassed. No one noticed as he sidled out of the room.
Mary's lips were set in a tight line. 'What a betrayal! You were going to keep it secret, from your long-suffering family! First there was the Patrick fiasco, then Anthony Strallan dumped you spectacularly, not that you can blame him, then that Brazilian waiter at the Ritz, then Michael Gregson, now this!' She spat out, face contorting in hate. 'Pathetic!'
Sherlock glared at her. 'Shut it. It's annoying and I'm trying to think.'
Edith laughed tiredly, the hilarity of the situation increased by her weary, heart-broken mind. 'Oh, please, Sherlock, there isn't a way out of this mess is there? Nobody can do anything, and if they did it would be illegal.'
Sherlock shook his head and muttered something under his breath. 'No, not that, too bloody…..Where does he live?'
Mary stared at him icily. 'Who?' She inquired coolly.
'The man, whatshisname, Michael Gravesman?' He continued to mumble. 'Ah, Gregson!'
And then the scream from upstairs.
Lavinia burst in, her face white with shock and her hands….dripping blood.
'Someone's dead up there!' She whispered, blood spattered all over her and then a bubbling, maniac laugh spilled from her throat.