A Daughter's Price by Emma Hornby

Author:Emma Hornby [Hornby, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473560109
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2020-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

OF COURSE, MRS Price had been all for Widow Jessop staying and, immediately upon meeting, the two elderly women had struck up a genuine friendship. Evenings in the small house at number one were now filled with laughter and chatter as, wrapped in their ancient shawls, they reminisced about the ‘good owd days’ over tea and toast by the fire.

Warm, contented, safe – Laura would watch them with a small smile, the winter frosts shut out, the soft candlelight lending the room a cosy glow. She’d be sad to leave them. They had taken on the role of mother figures and, once she set up home with Nathan, she’d sorely miss them.

Days had rolled into weeks and Laura allowed herself to be pulled along with the upcoming nuptials. Joyce, overjoyed with the news, had taken over the planning, and Laura was content to let her. Her take on the matter had switched to that of apathy – marry they must and so she awaited the festive morning with quiet acceptance.

Today marked ten days until the event, and Laura was whiling away the slow Sunday at number five with Lizzie. It felt strange being in what she still deemed her and her father’s house – Bee O’Brien’s was bursting at the seams with children, and Laura had given Lizzie the use of her kitchen to bake a birthday treat in peace for a friend of hers.

Wiping the back of a floury hand across her brow, Lizzie smiled. ‘Ta for this, Laura. It’d take me twice as long to make this at home, what with the little ’uns careering in and out every two minutes and getting under my feet.’

‘That’s all right.’

‘Eeh, smell that,’ said Lizzie appreciatively, closing her eyes with a long sniff as the heady tang of hot lemon cake permeated the air. ‘It’ll be browned in a minute and ready to take round to Eliza’s. Has a bad leg, she does, and it’s been playing her up – bring a much-needed smile to her, will this. I’ve been saving for the ingredients ’specially.’

‘You’re a kind soul, lass.’

‘Nay.’ Modest to a fault, Lizzie would take no claim of the compliment. ‘Anyone would do the same.’

‘Well, I say you are, and you are! And another thing: Daniel’s blind if he can’t see thee for the sound catch you are—’ She paused and bit her lip as colour rushed to Lizzie’s cheeks. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to put my nose in your business …’

‘It’s all right. It’s no secret, I suppose. I like the lad, aye. I like him a lot.’

She nodded awkwardly. What was there to say? That Daniel didn’t share her keenness was also common knowledge and the sting of this was clear on Lizzie’s face – she shouldn’t have brought the subject up. It had nothing to do with her, after all. She busied herself with clearing away the dirty bowls and spoons whilst Lizzie turned her attention back to the finished bake.

‘Sorry, lass,’ Laura said again later, breaking through the silence that her statement had created.

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