A Daughter's Disgrace by Kitty Neale

Author:Kitty Neale
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007587926
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Fred sat in one of his two new armchairs, the untouched Dundee cake in front of him. Alison had been asleep for two hours. He wondered if he ought to send a message to Cora to let her know her daughter was all right, but he didn’t want to leave in case the girl woke up. He was afraid that if she came to and saw she was alone she might take off again and harm herself. He couldn’t live with himself if that happened. For the time being she was his responsibility and he had to look after her.

It didn’t mean he had to starve though. He reached out and picked up the knife he’d taken out to cut the cake, and the noise of blade on china made her stir. Slowly she sat up, confused and disoriented.

Trying for normality again, Fred asked, ‘Do you fancy that slice of cake?’, cutting into it and helping himself to some.

Alison wasn’t totally sure where she was but Fred seemed to be there so it was probably all right. Groaning then she remembered what had happened. She’d tried to kill herself but had failed. She couldn’t even do that right. ‘Where am I?’

‘In my living room above the butcher’s,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry, you can stay here till you’re ready to leave. You’ve slept for ages. You must be hungry.’

Alison realised he was right. She’d had nothing since the half of a ham sandwich hours before. Now there didn’t seem to be any good reason not to eat, as the bump wasn’t a secret any more. ‘Thanks, I’ll have some.’

‘Good, you’ll like it,’ Fred beamed, passing her a slice on a delicate plate. ‘Now you’re awake I’m going to get a note to your mum to say where you are. She’ll be concerned.’

‘She won’t,’ said Alison. ‘You don’t know her like I do. She won’t care.’

‘I’m going to do it anyway,’ said Fred. ‘There’s a young lad who lives opposite who’s always glad of an extra bob to take a message. Many’s a time I’ve thought of a delivery I need after the post has gone and he’s always happy to help. So I’ll ask him. Won’t be a mo.’ Quietly, he slipped out.

Alison finished her cake, and eating for comfort too now, cut herself some more. She didn’t think he’d mind. As she ate it, she took in the room where she was sitting. Even though she was tired and distressed she was surprised at what it was like.

The furniture was sparse but looked new. It was obviously not utility, the only modern type she had ever come across. It had spindly legs and shiny surfaces, and there were cushions with very strange shapes printed on the fabric. It all felt a bit empty, as if there had once been more things there but they’d been taken away.

She puzzled at this new side of Fred. This must have all cost a lot. He was careful with his money in the

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