~ Two Weeks Earlier ~

"Have you seen the Standard?" Grady all but burst into the living room, newspaper in hand; Persephone could not help but notice that he looked somewhat uneasy. In truth, she cared not about the reason for his distress, yet she knew she would have to endure hearing all about it anyway, and so placed down her book, lifted her head and resigned herself to her dreary fate.

"No, darling. What is it?" Muriel Barrett cocked her head, looking up at her husband in bemusement. Grady, meanwhile, was watching Persephone - who knew at that moment, that whatever it was had something to do with her. He threw the newspaper down, sending it flying across the table where Muriel grabbed it and closely examined the front page. Persephone held her silence, folding her hands together neatly in her lap as she looked from her mothers face to her stepfathers; she was determined to keep her cool, even though she had a sneaking feeling what the article in question was about.

"Recently divorced Lord Helmsley finds solace in the arms of beautiful socialite!" Muriel launched the newspaper at her daughter, who looked down at it - only to see her own smiling face staring up at her from the front page. "Care to explain, Persephone?"

"How could you be so foolish, girl?" Grady broke in, pacing up and down the room and running a hand through his hair - making a mountain out of a molehill, as always.

"It's not what it looks like, I swear," Persephone retorted, reading through the article before she once again eyed the adjoining photograph in horror; there she was, emerging from the Ritz Hotel hand in hand with one of London's most important and influential politicians. Richard Carmichael, or Lord Helmsley as most knew him as, was a great deal older than she, yet he had somehow retained his rugged good looks and Persephone had found herself growing quite fond of the man in the short time they had known one another. They had met through a mutual friend not five weeks ago, and he had taken her out to dinner at least four times since then - though it was not until yesterday evening that the press had caught wind of their blossoming friendship. Persephone had no idea how it had happened; she had not quite expected the wave of photographers, gathered outside the hotel to greet her - and suffice to say, they had been relentless in their pursuit of her and the man they presumed to be her suitor.

"I cannot afford to have such... such bad publicity, at this time!" Grady came to a stop beside his wifes chair. Muriel placed a reassuring hand upon his, glaring down at Persephone who was still trying desperately not to break under the duress of the unfolding confrontation. "Six months it has taken me to persuade Anthony Pritchard to invest in my company... six months, and the papers have yet to be signed, therefore I cannot... will not, have you flaunting yourself about London with the likes of Helmsley! You may not flinch at the thought of tarnishing your own name, Madam, but I will NOT have you tarnishing mine!"

Persephone lowered her gaze, hoping that she would receive some support from her mother - but inwardly knowing that she would not, for she always took Grady's side in situations such as this; she claimed to know her daughter better than anyone else, yet she so often refused to believe a single word that came out of her mouth.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" Muriel spat.

"Lord Helmsley and I are naught but good friends, but I don't suppose you will take my word for it... why would you, when the local gossip column states otherwise?" Persephone rose from her chair, fists clenched behind her back.

"You will NOT leave this room until we have this sorted out, once and for all! This... behaviour cannot go on! I am growing tired of seeing and hearing of you in the papers! Even the Mirror printed a piece about your little outing with that Capper woman the other week! What next, Persie? Will you be joining the Suffragette movement too, so that you can continue publicly making a mockery of yourself and this family?" Muriel railed on at her, and by the time she had finished speaking, tears shone in Persephone's eyes.

"Mabel Capper is a friend of mine, Mama. But... oh, I forget; it seems I am not allowed to have those anymore, am I? Or should I rephrase that and say that I am not allowed to have friends unless they live up to YOUR expectations? That sounds more like it, do you not think?"

Muriel took a deep breath and turned to face Grady, "We cannot leave her behind, Grady. Lord knows what she would do, were we to leave her here! Is there any chance at all that you could get hold of another ticket?"

"A friend of mine is well acquainted with Bruce Ismay. I can try. But Muriel, are you quite sure about this?" Grady continued to watch Persephone from the corner of his eye, as he shuffled somewhat awkwardly on the spot and clung to his wifes hand.

"Of course I am sure! The girl will destroy us, and herself, if we leave her to her own devices! She is far too spirited for her own good, and you know full well how my sister is... she could not keep HER under control, if she tried." Persephone overheard them talking about her as if she were not there at all, which left her enraged. For a time, Muriel and Grady spoke in hushed tones, and try as she might - Persephone could not hear what they were saying. Eventually, Muriel rose and hooked her arm through Grady's. "You will come with us to New York, if Grady is able to purchase another ticket which I am almost certain he will be able to. I know I said that you could remain in London with your Aunt Clara, so to finish up your education but that is simply not an option anymore. I could not possibly leave now, knowing that you were left here practically unsupervised."

"I am not leaving London!" Persephone felt the anger bubbling up inside her, reaching dangerous heights as her mother waved away her objections and did not even bother to look her in the eye, "I will not let you do this! Not when you promised-"

"Save it, Persephone. Your mother and I have made our decision, you are coming with us whether you like it or not so I suggest you start making plans for our departure. We leave on the 10th. You may leave now, and begin making preparations for that day."

"I can assure you, here and now, that I am not going!" Persephone, by now overcome by emotion as she contemplated the seriousness of her situation, darted out of the sitting room and headed in the direction of her own apartments; surely, her mother would not follow through with her threats? It would be easier for all involved if Persephone remained in London whilst the rest of her family made for their much talked about new start in New York, for what was she but an unnecessary spare part? Empty threats were all Muriel Barrett had to keep her daughter in check; yet deep down, Persephone had a feeling that she had well and truly crossed the line, this time...