A Time Like No Other by Audrey Howard

Author:Audrey Howard [HOWARD, AUDREY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2007-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

17

Roly came home in October after being abroad for over six months and it was said in the kitchens of the best people in Moorend whose servants tittle-tattled with those at Mill House, which had been unoccupied except for the staff Harry had left in place as caretakers, that the recently returned young master went through the place like a whirlwind. Mrs Cannon was made to realise that Master Roly had become used to the finest cuisine in his travels and expected it to continue; that he demanded his shirts be ironed to perfection, his boots be polished to the highest standards, his home be warm and comfortable, that in short, as he was the sole master of Mill House, his every order must be seen to the moment he requested it!

He had travelled to all the main manufacturing towns in Europe and as far away as Russia, forming contacts that would keep the Sinclair mills busy for months, years even, building up connections with foreign businessmen, lavishly entertaining them and their wives, using not only his shrewd business acumen but his immense charm. Everywhere he went he was welcomed as a hell of a good fellow who knew what he was about, honest and trustworthy and could be relied upon to deliver on time the Sinclair cloth which was being produced by the mile.

From there he had moved to North America, travelling the length and breadth of that vast continent, for as he said in his weekly reports to his brother it hardly seemed worthwhile making the journey home when Harry was dealing so superbly with his side of the business which was the manufacture of the cloth. He did not word it quite like that, as it was not his way and Harry did not question it, knowing it to be true. They were to discuss building a new mill, or even mills on Roly’s return, it was rumoured in the town, for the many activities in the manufacture of wool needed more space than they had at this time, or so Harry Sinclair intimated to his business acquaintances, particularly with the orders that were pouring in. Harry and Roly Sinclair were fast becoming the wealthiest mill-owners in Yorkshire, or so their rivals whispered.

Lally was told quite casually at the dinner table, for how else could her husband inform her, that Roly had arrived home the day before, asking her courteously if she could arrange a small dinner party to welcome him back, since it would surely be expected by their shared acquaintances in Moorend. He did not tell her that it had been Roly’s idea.

Her heart had begun to beat an erratic rhythm the moment Roly’s name was mentioned, for it was the first time that it had been spoken since their marriage. Harry had accepted Roly’s child and treated her – astonishingly, to Lally at least – with as much affection as if he were her real father and since Roly had been absent for so long it had not appeared to be difficult for Harry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.