Sorry it's been such a long wait - I had frigging maths coursework to do! Sorry guys - please enjoy x

As Lyra slept, I thought of her. My baby. My baby who had no idea of how much I loved her. I'd moved the chair round the other the side of the bed, so's I could keep a clear enough eye on her whilst I watched her sleep. I felt sick as I remembered what my little girl had been through – she was TWELVE! And yet she didn't even know I was her mother. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at her, and then checked my watch. 6:15pm. Dinner would be served within the next ten minutes – maybe I should make her something to eat?

On top of that, I definitely should tell her I'm her mother – but she will want me?

Twenty minutes later, I poured out some orange juice into a glass and placed it on the table next to the bed. I was just about to turn away, to leave the room to get Lyra something to eat, when she sat up, balancing on her elbows.

'Mrs Coulter?' Lyra was smirking playfully – I laughed as I perched myself on the end of the bed.

'What's up?' I asked her as she made a grab for the glass of orange, catching it before her and smiling as I handed it to her, slipping into the same playful smirk that she had on her face.

'You want something to eat?' I asked her tentatively.

I laughed again as Lyra's smirk deepened. 'I'd love something to eat – God, I'm starving.'

I eased myself off my bed and motioned Lyra to do the same. Once she was out of my bed, I pointed out the different rooms.

'Bathroom over here,' I pointed to a door on one side of my desk. 'Kitchen over there.' I pointed to a door on the other side of the desk – 'And the wardrobe's here.'

'Cheers.' Lyra looked round my chambers, curiously. 'Can I have something to wear over my t-shirt?'

'Sure.' I walked over to the wardrobe, searching through everything from my smart business shirts, skirts and dresses and heels until a creased but folded black hooded fleece fell into my hands.

'Here.' I tossed it to her as I closed the wardrobe door with my other hand. 'Try that on, hon.'

Lyra's smile widened as she slipped into the fleece round her shoulders and zipped it at the front.

'Can I keep it?' I could tell she was playing.

'Yeah – but don't ruin it – it may not look much but it's designer.' I changed my tone of voice into authority and then she looked up, laughing.

'I was joking. D'you really think I'd keep this?'

I laughed again as she raised her eyebrows and then extended my hand. She took it and I pulled her into my mini kitchen, closing the door behind me.

'Right!' I walked over to the stove, my heels clacking on the floor and watched as Lyra sat down at the dark oak wooded dining table – I could tell she was amazed.

I started shifting through the cupboards, busying myself with looking for food.

'Lyra?' Lyra looked up, smiling sweetly.

'What?' I laughed at her as her sweet smile faded to a scowl.

'Fancy a curry?' I raised my eyebrows, smiling widely as she nodded, laughing.

I finally felt like a proper mum to my daughter – even if I hadn't told her – I will though.

Will Mrs Coulter finally open up to Lyra and will they have their much needed heart to heart before its too late?

To de discovered in Chapter 10…