The Heart Will Lead by June Francis

Author:June Francis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788631723
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2018-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

A week later Ellen called round. ‘I’ve come to get my clothes out of hock and to pay anything else I owe,’ she said, resting her elbows on the counter.

‘The dance hasn’t been and gone already, has it?’ said Margaret.

‘No!’ Ellen chuckled and placed her pawn ticket and several banknotes on the counter. ‘You’re not going to believe this but Mr Brodie knew this horse and persuaded me to put the money I’d borrowed from Sandy on it. It won!’

Margaret swore.

A startled Rita stared at her. ‘I’ve never heard you swear before.’

‘Well, you have now,’ said her aunt fiercely. ‘That man! I could strangle him. He said he’d learnt his lesson but he’s leading this girl astray.’

‘No, he’s not! I like a flutter. He also gave me this for you.’ Ellen produced an envelope from her pocket.

Margaret had very mixed feelings about taking the envelope, guessing what was inside. Maybe he’d borrowed money elsewhere and there were hundreds of pounds in the envelope. Perhaps it would pay off all he owed her and that would be that, and she would never see him again. Unable to bear the suspense she slit open the envelope. A handful of banknotes fell out and she sighed with relief.

That evening Margaret placed three pounds, ten shillings on Rita’s bread plate. ‘What’s that for?’ asked the girl.

‘I think it’s only fair that your money is returned to you.’ Margaret sat down, pulling her chair in with some force. ‘Again Will’s been saved in the nick of time. If you hadn’t given all your savings, though, I’d have had them out… sold the place and got my dream house. You’re too soft-hearted for your own good! I only have to think of the price you gave for that squeeze box to know that.’

‘Sam needed the money. I wonder what’s happened to him?’ She sighed.

‘Never mind him. You buy yourself a new frock for the dance.’

‘You don’t mind if I go?’

‘No! I’m thinking of going myself.’

Rita almost dropped the money. She didn’t want her aunt there watching her every move. ‘Why? Who asked you? I didn’t know you danced.’

Margaret smirked as she buttered a slice of bread. ‘There’s lots of things about me you don’t know. As it happens, the padre invited me along. He thought I might enjoy it.’

Rita could not think what to say. It seemed there was no end to the surprises some days.

The room where the dance was being held was nothing to write home about, but balloons and garlands festooned the walls and a twisting sparkling ball hung from the ceiling. Despite the fact that only soft drinks were being served, there were plenty of sailors present. They outnumbered women and girls by at least eight to one. A lot of the girls were from local churches doing their bit to keep the seamen away from such dens of vice that would fleece them of every penny.

Jimmy stood behind Rita’s chair, which annoyed her no end. She had hinted him away but he refused to move, saying he had a good view of the stage from where she was.

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