The Snow Angel by Lulu Taylor

Author:Lulu Taylor [Taylor, Lulu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447230502
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

She felt the sickness of guilt as she read it over twice. She could imagine Catherine curling up to write it, sitting on the sofa, a book on her lap as a table. The light from the arched window fell on her pale complexion and touched the glints in her dark hair. Nearby Ralph was saying, ‘Perhaps we should leave it, Cat. She doesn’t want to return, that much is certain. Let’s send the picture to her dad, get the last of the money and forget all about it.’

‘No, no,’ Catherine insisted as she wrote. ‘We can salvage this. She’s scared about something but we can calm her down and win her back. Perhaps I told her too much when I mentioned your heart. Perhaps our little argument over the colours distressed her. She’s evidently very sensitive. Don’t worry. I know how to reach her.’ She waved the letter to dry the ink. ‘This will do the job.’

Cressida folded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope. She would send a pleasant letter in return, saying how sorry she was that she couldn’t come back to Blackheath for the foreseeable future. They must finish it without her. It was already marvellous; there was no need for her to be there.

At the school, as she made her way to the first class, she was startled to be stopped in the hall by a small, slight figure standing in her way.

‘Oh, hello, it’s you, Baxter.’ She smiled down at him. He was the only person who could cheer her up at the moment.

‘I wanted to thank you, miss,’ Baxter said in his high voice. ‘The postman brought a terrific parcel around last night an’ I opened it. So many beautiful books. You’re an angel, miss, you really are. An’ I got your card too. I will read ’em all, I promise, an’ I’ll do my very best in Australia.’

Cressie’s smile grew. She wished she could have witnessed Baxter’s pleasure when he opened the box she’d ordered to be sent to his house. ‘I’m so glad you like them,’ she said happily. ‘There are some wonderful books in there, some you might not like at once but you will one day, I’m sure of it. What did your mother think?’

‘Well . . .’ Baxter’s glance slid away with a touch of embarrassment and then he said, ‘Well, she did say that she wished you could of sent something useful, like the money all them books cost. But she was dead impressed that you thought enough of me to send ’em all. And she’s said I can keep some of ’em with me for the trip. The rest’ll go in our boxes that follow along afterwards.’

‘That’s excellent news.’ Cressida laughed as she reached out and ruffled Baxter’s hair. ‘I’m going to miss you, Terence. I hope you have a marvellous life in Australia.’

‘But . . .’ He looked up at her hopefully. ‘Miss, will you let me write to you? I’d be ever so honoured if you would.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.