The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley

Author:Lucinda Riley [Riley, Lucinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: C429, Extratorrents, Kat
ISBN: 9780141970615
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2011-08-08T14:00:00+00:00

25

Grania was trying to coax Aurora into eating a fresh mackerel Shane had caught and given to her to cook for their supper, when the phone rang. ‘Hello?’ she asked, licking her fingers clean from the fresh, salty taste of the fish she’d been prising into Aurora’s mouth.

‘Is that Grania?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s Alexander Devonshire here.’

‘Hello, Alexander.’ Grania put the receiver between cheek and chin, and responded to Aurora’s mouthed ‘Is that Daddy?’ with a mouthed ‘Yes’ in return.

‘How is Aurora?’

‘Extremely well, I’d say.’

‘Good. I’d obviously like to speak to her, but I also wanted to let you know I’ll be home on Saturday.’

‘I’m sure she’ll be thrilled. She’s missed you.’

Aurora nodded vehemently in response.

‘And I’ve missed her. Everything else OK?’

‘We’re doing just fine, I promise.’

‘Good, good.’

The conversation felt as if it was dwindling, so Grania said, ‘Would you like to speak to her now? I’m sure she’s got lots to tell you.’

‘I’d love to. I’ll see you on Saturday, Grania.’

‘Yes. Here’s Aurora.’

Grania passed the phone to Aurora and discreetly left the room. She knew stories of puppies and ballet lessons would be forthcoming, and she went upstairs to run a bath for Aurora.

As she sat on the edge of the bath watching it fill, she realised Alexander’s imminent return was a call to arms to make some decisions.

Aurora and Grania spent much of their last few days before Alexander returned down at Dunworley Farmhouse. A relationship had sprung up between Aurora and the Ryan family. As her father had said, she was a grand little girl. Kathleen, so eager to dislike, was now asking Grania if she could bring Aurora down to the farm before breakfast, so the child could collect the fresh eggs with her. Aurora had subsequently named every chicken in the coop, and been inconsolable when a fox had run riot and eaten Beauty and Giselle.

‘For all the sophisticated Lisle ways, that small one’s a natural with animals. She’d make a wonderful farmer’s wife one day,’ Shane had said one night while Aurora was busy saying goodnight to each of the cows in the shed.

‘And that’s not something you can manufacture,’ added John.

Grania made sure Aurora had a good scrub in the tub on the morning of Alexander’s arrival home. She didn’t want the child smelling of the animals she’d spent so much time with. She thought proudly that Aurora looked as pink and pretty and healthy as it was possible to be. They waited on the window seat in Aurora’s bedroom. When they glimpsed Alexander’s taxi snaking up the hill towards the house, Grania stayed upstairs as Aurora ran down to greet her father.

Eventually, Grania heard her name being called, and walked downstairs to join them. Aurora was standing in the entrance hall, her face a mixture of pleasure and consternation.

‘Oh, Grania! It’s so wonderful to have Daddy home. But I think he’s been working too hard. He looks very thin and sort of grey. We need to take him on to the beach to give him plenty of fresh air.

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