Gather the Anarchists by Tilly Wallace

Author:Tilly Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ribbonwood Press

Tuesday evening, I sat at the kitchen table and waited for Frank. Theo belted out ‘God Save the King’ at an uncomfortable pitch while Dad and I listened with rapt attention. My son was part of the school children’s display for the prince, and Theo practised the song they would all sing. I wondered if the song should be renamed ‘God Save the Prince’s Hearing’.

The door swung open to admit Frank, who immediately slid his hat off, clasped it to his chest, and stood to attention as Theo sang the last verse.

We clapped for the performance. Rising from my chair, I kissed my son’s cheek. “Well done, Theo. I am sure that Prince Edward will be most impressed by the performance from Thorndon School next week. Have a good evening with Poppa, and I will see you in the morning.”

“Ready to trip the light fantastic, Gracie?” Frank held my coat open, and I slipped my arms into the sleeves.

A bubble of excitement welled up inside me. We hadn’t been dancing since the night at the Cricket, which had ended with a brawl in a dark alley. I had quite forgotten about Frank until he ran out into the alley as we were leaving, worry etched deep on his face at all the commotion and sounding of the police whistles. Part of me had thought he’d run in case it was a raid. But then Frank’s ties to family were strong and overrode his instinct to dodge the authorities.

“Yes. And I promise not to wander into dark alleys this time.” I tried to make light of the other occasion.

Frank’s gaze narrowed. “Too right you won’t.”

Even Dad had his eyebrows pulled together in concern that I’d find another fight to try to break up. “Try to come home uninjured, Grace. I’m relying on Frank to look after you.”

A stern look passed between Dad and the man he didn’t entirely want to become a larger fixture in our lives.

“I’ll always look after her, if only she’d let me.” Frank popped his hat back on his head.

The conversation was turning far too serious for me. I tapped Frank on the arm. “Come on, I shall dance the night away. Or at least until ten.”

“Ten?” Frank stared at me, then shifted his gaze to Dad.

Dad held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’ve never set a curfew for her, and hitting the sack early was never a Sullivan trait.”

Frank shook his head and clucked his tongue at me. “Devines are night owls. Maybe she needs to spend more time with me for it to rub off, since Freddie wasn’t around much.”

“Or perhaps I inherited the trait from my mother. I wouldn’t know.” My words came out sharper than I intended. Both men fell silent.

“Have a lovely evening, you two,” Dad said with a weak smile on his face.

Bless him. He was trying to like Frank, but I feared the actions of one brother would forever tarnish the other in Dad’s eyes.

“Will do, Mr Sullivan.” Frank touched his forehead in a loose salute and held the door for me.

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