Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1 by Josephine Cox

Author:Josephine Cox [Josephine Cox]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

‘Well, here we are, home again, my love.’

Thankful to have her back, Ronald swung the Jaguar into the drive of the big old house. He then got out, and rounded the car to help her out. ‘Take it easy,’ he said, when she stumbled. He caught her to him. ‘You mustn’t forget you’ve been in hospital for the best part of two months. It’ll take a time to get your strength back.’

‘I’m fine, Father . . . stop fussing!’ Alice was deeply nervous about coming back to the family fold. ‘I don’t want Mother thinking I can’t take care of myself.’

‘You’re not fine!’ Ronald knew she was deliberately putting on a brave face. Her long silences on the way here were a real source of concern to him. ‘I really needed to speak with the doctor. No matter! I’ll make an appointment to see him in the week.’

Alice began to panic. ‘Why would you want to see him?’ she asked. ‘I already told you . . . he was obviously satisfied with my state of health, or he would never have let me leave. Besides, you saw him yesterday and he told you exactly the same, didn’t he?’

‘Well, yes, but . . . ’

‘Well there you are. So, don’t go wasting the doctor’s time.’ Alice knew only too well how persuasive her father could be. The last thing she needed was for him to bombard the doctor with questions.

Once inside the porch, Ronald called out, ‘Maureen!’

When there was no answer, he reached into his jacket pocket for his house key. He was about to put it into the lock when suddenly the front door was flung open and there stood Pauline.

‘Ah! So, the prodigal daughter, returns?’ She stepped back, into the shadows. ‘Come in, why don’t you?’

Alice and her father went through to the drawing room, and there, standing to attention beside the fireplace, was her mother, looking regal and sour-faced as ever. ‘Well, Alice, here you are, back home again. When you got married to that Arnold fellow I really thought you had left this house for good. Apparently I was wrong, wasn’t I?’

‘Maureen!’ Ronald cut in. His stern face was a clear warning. ‘Your daughter has just been discharged from hospital. Have you nothing more encouraging to say to her?’

Maureen Jacobs was a proven expert at hiding her true feelings, so now she put on a smile, and spoke with a softer voice. ‘Why of course, Ronald dear. I was only thinking of Alice, and how she would prefer that none of this business had ever happened. I didn’t mean anything harsh.’

She stepped forward stiffly to plant a fleeting kiss on Alice’s forehead. ‘I’m well aware of our responsibilities, Alice. So you really mustn’t fret. I know you must feel very guilty about what happened, but I’m sure the whole shocking business was not altogether your fault.’

Her implication was well disguised, but Alice was not fooled.

And now it was her sister Pauline’s turn to pile on the sweetness. ‘Alice, this is Tony .

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