Trouble in the Valleys by Francesca Capaldi

Author:Francesca Capaldi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hera
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

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‘Why don’t you go and see The Yeoman of the Guard this evening?’ said Delia as she buttered the end of the loaf before slicing it off. ‘Your dad and me’ll look after Herby for you.’

Polly could see that going down well after the day’s events, especially if she went on her own, and who was there to go with? Mabel certainly wouldn’t be feeling up to it, and it was too short notice to ask Jenny.

‘I don’t think so, Mum. I’m rather tired after my shift at the Arms, and then going down to the field to watch the races. And there were, you know, a few comments about Maurice.’

‘I noticed. As if it’s our fault ’e’s gone off with a—’ Delia looked at her grandson, where he was watching his mum take the top off his boiled egg. ‘With someone no better than she oughta be.’ She cut the slice of bread into five fingers and leant over to put them on her grandson’s plate.

‘No, but we’ll still be blamed.’ Polly stroked Herby’s soft blond hair.

‘Uh oh. Your dad’s in a mood,’ said Delia as the back door slammed shut.

The scullery door was pushed open to reveal Maurice, not Jim.

‘Hello Uncle Maury,’ said Herby as he dipped one of the pieces of bread into the top of the egg.

‘What on earth are you doing back ’ere?’ said Delia. ‘I thought you’d gone off in Reg Moss’s cart with that woman.’

Polly was tempted to pick Herby up and remove him from the room, but she didn’t want to leave her mother on her own with Maurice.

‘Reg brought me back,’ he said, ‘after a job he had to do. Went to my house to get some of my things, but Rhonwen was there with a coupla male cousins, so I couldn’t get past the scullery.’

‘Are you surprised? You oughta give her that money back.’

‘That’s my money. I’m the one what fought in the war. And if we men hadn’t been fighting, the women’d never have had a chance to earn such money.’

‘That is a really selfish thing to say,’ Polly hissed, standing away from Herby.

‘I agree with your sister,’ said Delia. ‘Who on earth do you think you are? Now, I dunno why you’ve turned up ’ere, but you’re not welcome.’

‘I’ve come here to find out if it’s true, what Amelia told me about Polly.’

‘Amelia knows nothing about me that you don’t already know, so I’ve no interest in what she’s got to say,’ said Polly.

‘Hello, I’m back,’ called Jim’s voice from the scullery. He came in swiftly, his face neutral, until he spotted Maurice standing next to the dresser. ‘What on earth are you doing ’ere? You were told by Sergeant Harries to leave, and I thought you had.’

‘I’ve come for a word with Polly.’

‘Mum, would you keep an eye on Herby? I’ll talk with Maurice in the scullery, out of the way.’

‘Good idea. Come on, Herby, eat up. There’s a nice bakestone for you when you’ve finished.

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