Children of Fortune by Val Wood

Author:Val Wood [Wood, Val]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473598379
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2021-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

‘How is it that all our children are leaving us?’ Edward said the next morning, looking at the trunks and valises littering the hall as Laurence and Ambrose prepared for their journey back to school, where they were going to be full boarders for the first time.

‘Not us, Pa, we’re not going,’ Luke said earnestly. ‘Not me or Izzy. We won’t leave you.’ He clung to his father’s leg and immediately Isolde clung to the other one, whereupon Edward attempted to walk round the hall with a twin stuck on each foot.

‘Are you sure?’ he said, pretending to dislodge them. ‘Ambrose is going too.’

‘I’ll stay at home if you like, Pa,’ Ambrose frowned. ‘I’ve plenty to do here.’

‘Oh, yes, please do.’ Isolde jumped off her father, ran to Ambrose and clamped on to him like a limpet. Ambrose had grown considerably over the summer, both taller and broader. ‘We can help you with the pigs, or Luke can, cos he doesn’t mind the mess.’

‘Well, maybe when you’re a bit bigger,’ Ambrose said decisively. ‘Looking after a special breed is very important, and besides, you do seem to end up in the sh— mud, don’t you, Luke?’

Edward raised his eyebrows significantly. Expressive farmyard language was not allowed inside the house, he had explained to Ambrose when he was still very young, as the boy had a habit of listening to the estate workers and then repeating their sometimes fruity expressions at home. But Ambrose had remembered just in time, probably because his mother was coming down the stairs.

‘What’s this?’ she said. ‘Why are all of our children leaving us?’ she echoed. ‘Pa? Have you been beating them again?’

‘No, no!’ Luke and Isolde spoke up in unison, as they so often did. ‘We’re not leaving; it’s only Ambrose and Laurie going back to school. I’m going with them, and then I’m going to look after Ambrose’s pigs,’ Luke added. ‘Pa will show me how, and then when I’m old enough I can be second in command, can’t I, Amby?’

Ambrose is growing up so fast, Beatrix thought. It’s not so long ago that we were all calling him Amby, and now it’s only the twins.

Behind her Laurie ran down the stairs; her precious boy who was almost a man. He had been her salvation during the turbulent life she had had with Charles; the child who had given her the courage to remain strong throughout her difficulties.

He put his arms round her and gave her a hug. ‘I think I know what I’m going to do with my life after school, Mama,’ he whispered. ‘I’ve been thinking about it during the holidays. I want to discuss it with my form teacher first and find out what will be involved, and what studying I’ll need to do and how long it will take to achieve the qualifications, for I know nothing about it; and then I’ll go through it all with you and Pa.’

She kissed his cheek. She could smell the soap that he used and saw the slight shadowy down on his upper lip and chin.

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