The East End Girl in Blue by Fenella J. Miller

Author:Fenella J. Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838933487
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

*

He couldn’t believe how much Billy and Betty had changed in the time he’d been away. The boy was more articulate, unrecognisable from the child he’d been when he’d arrived from London. Betty was now talking and he found her mispronunciations and babble enchanting. They scrambled all over his lap and he was happy to have them there.

‘Come along, Billy, Betty, time to go to bed. Doctor Denny will be here tomorrow when you get up and so will the dog.’

‘All right, Auntie Mary, we’re coming. Can you tell us the story about Hansel and Gretel again, please? I like the bit about the horrible witch being cooked in the oven.’

Nancy kissed both the children and so did he. They went off chattering and laughing and he dreaded the possibility of having to tell them that their mother, however inadequate she’d been, had died. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary but feared the worst.

‘Are you going to eat with me tonight, Nancy? I don’t think there’s any point in waiting for Simon. In fact, I think it quite likely he won’t be back tonight as there’ll be no transport.’

‘I told Mrs Stanton I wouldn’t be back until late.’

He was about to reintroduce the topic that had been interrupted by the arrival of his dog but thought it might be better to put this on hold for the moment.

‘Fred doesn’t seem a very convivial sort of person. Surely he can’t still be outside?’

She laughed. ‘He doesn’t like children, which is odd considering his wife’s a nanny. He’s converted the tool shed into his own domain. He’s got an oil lamp and a paraffin stove and a battered armchair. He doesn’t come in until after I’ve gone home. I don’t think he likes me very much because I’m expecting.’

‘Is he doing a good job outside taking care of the animals and so on?’

‘You’re going to have plenty of bacon when those pigs are slaughtered, that’s for sure. There seems to be a constant stream of your neighbours coming in with buckets of slops to feed them.’

‘That’s all that matters then. That smells wonderful – I’m absolutely starving after all that tramping about the countryside.’

He glanced at the antique carriage clock that had been his wife’s, which still stood on the top shelf of the custom-made dresser. It had been three hours at least since the ambulance had left. This had to be good news as if she’d died Simon would have let them know at once.

Jill had rearranged Simon’s appointments for the afternoon and he’d offered to take morning surgery himself if necessary.

He was just on his second helping of fruit crumble and custard when the telephone rang shrilly in the hall. Nancy was on her feet but he shook his head. ‘I’ll go; finish your pudding.’

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