The Proposal by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels [NEELS, BETTY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon
Published: 2011-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER FOUR

Francesca was sitting by the fire, reading to Peggy, when Lucy came in. ‘Well, did you have a good lunch? What did you eat?’

Francesca recited the menu.

‘Nice …to think I was chewing on liver and bacon… Where did you go?’

‘To his house; it’s quite close by.’

Lucy flung down her school books and knelt down by the fire. ‘Tell me everything,’ she demanded.

When Francesca had finished she said, ‘He must be very rich. I expect he’s clever too. I wonder what his mum’s like.’

‘How’s school?’

‘OK.’ Lucy dug into a pocket. ‘There’s a letter for you, but don’t take any notice of it; I don’t want to go…’

The words were bravely said but palpably not true. A party of pupils was being organised to go skiing two weeks before Christmas. Two weeks in Switzerland with proper tuition and accompanied by teachers. The fare and the expenses totalled a sum which Francesca had no hope of finding.

‘Oh, Lucy, I’m so sorry. If it’s any consolation I’ll get the money by hook or by crook for next winter.’ She glanced at her sister’s resolutely cheerful face. ‘All your friends are going?’

‘Well, most of them, but I really don’t mind, Fran. We can have a lovely time here, getting ready for Christmas.’

So nothing more was said about it, although Francesca sat up late, doing sums which, however hard she tried, never added up to enough money to pay for Lucy’s skiing holiday. There was enough money set aside for her school fees, of course, but that wasn’t to be touched. She went to bed finally with a headache.

There was no postcard from Mrs Vincent; nor was there a phone call. Francesca reminded herself that the professor would be with her, and most likely he would bring back something for Peggy when he returned. The child showed no concern at the absence of news from her mother, although it seemed to Francesca that she was looking pale and seemed listless; even Tom’s antics were met with only a half-hearted response. Francesca consulted Mrs Wells. ‘I think she should see a doctor. She isn’t eating much either. I wonder if she’s missing her mother…’

Mrs Wells gave her an old-fashioned look. ‘I’m not one for telling tales out of school, but ‘er mum never ‘as had no time for ‘er. Disappointed she was; she so pretty and charming and Peggy as plain as a pikestaff. No, you don’t need to fret yerself about that, Miss Haley; little Peggy don’t love ‘er mum all that much. She was ‘appier when her granny and grandpa came to visit. That was when Dr Vincent was alive—loved the child they did, and she loved them.’

So Francesca had done nothing for a few more days, although Peggy didn’t seem any better. She had made up her mind to get a doctor by now. If only the professor had phoned, she could have asked his advice, but he, of course, would be wherever Mrs Vincent was. She fetched Peggy from school,

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