Mary's eyes went wide and her jaw fell open. Slater had brought someone home? Someone who would meet Delia? And hadn't even told Delia? And right after she'd lost out on an engagement? The whole world was goin' mad and that was no mistake.
"All right, I won't bother about the bit where some fool didn't marry you because I'm sure you already know he's an idiot and lord knows you can make him sorry later but..." She took a drink of the gin and didn't even choke. Some things just called for gin. "No wonder you're mad. He ought to have known you'd find out; the house ain't near big enough for hidin that."
She bit her lip and considered. Slater didn't always tell Delia things and Delia didn't always go about askin' things right in any case. "Maybe... he's got other reasons for her?" She shook her head, as nothing made sense at all. Slater never would've said anything like all that to Delia... would he? Well, maybe.
"Del, maybe your papa's got something else going on. You know he gets a bit touchy when business goes bad. And things are right sketchy lately. You ain't been around but stuff's all odd here nowadays. He don't take that well and maybe she ain't just a harlot but maybe she ain't just what he's tellin you either?" It wasn't the best explanation but it did sound a bit better than Slater losing his bloody mind and all but throwin his little girl out.