The Fortunes of Francesca by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

FRANNY WAS WORRIED, and puzzled, too. There had been no letter from St Giles’ reminding Auntie of her appointment, and when she’d told her uncle this, and asked if she might phone the hospital, he had told her coldly that he would do so himself. He wrote down the phone number and assured her that he would attend to the matter, before picking up his newspaper again.

‘And the local doctor,’ persisted Franny. ‘Auntie isn’t as well as she should be.’

‘You are being unnecessarily fussy, Francesca. I have told our doctor that your aunt is living here and given him some idea of her operation. He will call if he thinks it necessary.’

Franny persisted. ‘But it is necessary. It is very important that for the next few months she is under a doctor’s care. Did you give him our doctor’s letter about Auntie?’

Uncle William lowered the newspaper and glared at her. ‘I find your lack of trust in me quite beyond comprehension. Stop this silly interfering and go and make yourself useful to your aunt.’

‘I’m not fussing,’ said Franny. ‘And I’m already being useful, doing Rose’s work. Tell me, uncle, do you expect me to go on doing the housemaid’s work—unpaid, of course?’

He answered harshly, ‘Yes, Francesca, I do, in return for the care and attention my sister is receiving. Did you think that you would be treated as a daughter of the house? New clothes, pocket money, a social life?’ He laughed nastily. ‘It will be my sister who suffers if you try and alter my plans.’

She wasn’t puzzled any more, only her worry had increased.

Going to the village to shop for the housekeeper, she used some of Aunty’s scanty money to phone Finn. There was no answer. She got her money back and tried the hospital. She had to wait for a reply, and then there was a delay while she was put through to the cardiac department. She waited again until a voice asked her what she wanted. At the same time she was cut off. She had no more money.

It was wretched weather, a cold rain and a nasty wind, but she didn’t notice that as she walked back to the house with her shopping. She gulped back tears of frustration and tried to think what to do.

Uncle William had made it very plain that, in return for giving them a home, he expected something, and since Auntie’s health was what mattered Franny had no choice but to take up the role she had been given—a job which seemed to cover almost everything from washing to making a fourth at bridge. She would have to dance to his tune for the moment, but she would write to the hospital and do her best to discover why Auntie had had no letter to attend the clinic. And somehow or other—she didn’t quite know how—she would go and see Uncle William’s doctor and explain about Auntie.

The next morning she was up early. Mrs Beck, Aunt Editha had told her, was to have a few days off.

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