The Beekeeper's War by Deborah Carr
Author:Deborah Carr [Carr, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008534578
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
The following morning, Pru woke to Jean giving her forearm a gentle shake.
âHappy Christmas, Pru,â she said.
Pru rubbed her bleary eyes and pushed herself up against the metal headboard of her bed. She had taken a long time to fall asleep the previous night, unable to still her mind after what she had heard. âWhat time is it?â
âSeven oâclock. I know itâs a little early for us to get ready for our shift but I wanted to give you this first.â
Pru yawned. Then, seeing the small, neatly wrapped packet in her friendâs hand, she smiled. âI have something for you, too.â She leaned across to her small bedside table, opened the cupboard door and took out two packets, one for Jean and the other for Gladys. Gladys was still on duty so she would have to hand hers to her later.
âHereâs yours,â Pru said. âI hope you like it.â
âLikewise.â Jean placed her gift in Pruâs hands.
They both opened their gifts carefully, untying the ribbon and unfolding the valuable paper that they would each use for the next birthday or special occasion.
Pru waited for Jean to look at the polished wood picture frame she had bought her from the village the previous week. âI thought you could keep a photograph of Monty in it.â
Jean held the frame to her chest and beamed at Pru. âThank you. I love it.â She pointed to Pruâs gift. âI hope you like what Iâve bought you. I had no idea what to buy, when thereâs so little to choose from near here.â
Pru folded back the last piece of paper and picked up the delicate grey leather gloves. âTheyâre beautiful,â she said, stroking them. âAnd so much smarter than my knitted ones.â
Jean smiled. âI hoped you might like them.â
âI love them.â She leaned forward and kissed Jeanâs cheek. âThank you.â
They put their gifts away and Pru caught her friend watching her. âIs anything the matter, Jean?â
Jean frowned. âI was hoping youâd tell me.â
Confused, Pru tried to imagine what her friend meant. âIâm sorry, Iâm not sureâ¦â
Jean glanced at the bedroom door, then taking Pruâs hands in her own, leaned forward and lowered her voice. âAre you pregnant?â
Pru snatched her hands back and gasped. âWhat?â
Pru watched an apologetic look cross Jeanâs face. Then, shaking her head, Jean narrowed her eyes. âNo. I wonât be sorry,â she said almost to herself. âIâve noticed youâre unwell and have been for a few days, even maybe weeks now. Youâre eating far less than you usually do and I canât ignore how pale you go when dealing with blood.â
âWhat do you mean?â Pru asked.
Jean narrowed her eyes. âI saw how you blanched and changed your mind about taking out those bloody dressings in those kidney bowls.â
Jean was right. Now that she thought about it, the smell of blood agitated her and had done for weeks now.
âI remembered my mother saying how sensitive her sense of smell was when she was pregnant with me,â Jean said, giving Pru a pleading look.
Surely she couldnât be carrying a baby? She thought back to when she and Jack had made love in the folly.
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