She saw how her mother's expression suddenly hardened and her eyes grew blank. It was as if she'd stepped behind a veil to hide her true feelings.
Celia felt a little sick with remorse. Should she have just left the subject alone instead of risking hurting her mother?
"Who told you I had a twin?" Violet asked glacially.
"Several people." No point revealing that she'd known for years, thanks to Lauren's mean spirited gossip. That would only make her mother even angrier and then she'd likely clam up and refuse to say another word about it.
"Fine, then. Yes, I once had a twin sister. She died many years ago, before you were born. Why are you raising it now?"
Celia picked her words carefully. "Because there has to be a reason why you've never breathed a word about her."
Silence.
"It must have been a terrible shock when she died." Celia said tentatively.
"It was." Violet said shortly. "It shattered my heart beyond repair."
