175 wivesbehavingbadly

they are bewildered , but okay . so far . i triedf to tell them the best way i could , but i'm not sure they 've taken it in . how could they ? they're so little ."
poppy made an inarticulate noise and covered he eyes with both hands . richard cleard his throat and said very nicely . " would you like us to have them for a day or so ? poppy and i could take them for the wekened ? rose said she'd help ."
i had a sudden and terrible premonition of what life would be like without them  ." no , please no .... " i had not intended to be so confrontational but i could not bear the idea . " they stay here . you mustn't steal them ."
"minty ..." poppy sat up straight ." we didn't want to steal them . we only wanted to help . we thought it might be best for them while you get on with arrangements ."
richard was appalled ." the offer wasn't meant in that way , minty , believe me ."
i felt my way into a chair ." i'm sorry . of course you did not mean it that way . things are a bit odd at the moment , and i'm not sure what i'm saying ," richard looked as though he might understand ."it was kind of you , but i don't know think they 'd want to be taken away from home by strangers ."
"we 're not strangers , " countered poppy . " i'm their half sister ."
i licked my lips ." rose is a strangers ."
" okay . okay . we're not going to steal the twins . but the offer still stands , whenever you want to take it up ." poppy pushed herself awkwardly to her feet . she hesitated . " was it ... was it heart failure as mum thought ?"
"probably . we won't know until after the postmortem ."