Winter at Bletchley Park by Molly Green

Author:Molly Green [Green, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-09-05T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rosie’s breath puffed out in cloudy circles as she sat on one of the chairs placed along the edge of the frozen lake and laced up the ice skates. Beryl was right. Although they were badly scuffed, they fitted as though they’d been made for her. A frisson of – well, not exactly excitement, but certainly anticipation, coursed through her. It did look fun. Maybe she wouldn’t make such a spectacle of herself as she feared.

‘Here, grab hold of me.’ Beryl skated towards her extending her arm.

Rosie did as she was told, relieved to be supported by Beryl’s sturdy figure.

‘Where are the others?’ Rosie asked.

‘Don’t worry about them. Diana’s with Yvette and Vi’s going to be a bit late.’ She glanced at Rosie. ‘Let your feet gently slide, one in front of the other.’

Tentatively, Rosie put out a foot and felt herself slide forward. She allowed the other foot to go in front.

‘You’re a natural,’ Beryl laughed as the two of them skated several yards. ‘How does it feel?’

‘Nice,’ Rosie said, surprised. ‘But only because I’ve got you there to hold on to.’

‘That’s how we all start,’ Beryl said. ‘Do you think you can go a little faster? It will actually help keep a better balance.’

‘I think so.’

At that moment someone shouted. Rosie automatically turned to see who it was. ‘Yvette’s fallen over,’ she said.

‘She’ll be okay.’ Beryl looked at Rosie. ‘It happens to all of us some time or other.’

‘She’ll have a bruised bottom, I expect. I’d better go and check on her.’

Frustrated that she wasn’t good enough to go to Yvette’s side and help, Rosie hung on to Beryl’s arm until they reached the edge and Beryl skated off. Rosie, managing by sheer willpower to stay upright, glanced around the lake at twenty figures or more, most of them looking as though it was second nature to them. One couple was holding hands, and two girls were arm in arm. She noticed one girl wearing a very short skirt twirling round and round on one skate in the centre of the lake. It was Pamela. Mesmerised, Rosie watched as Pamela stopped dead, then rapidly skated a few steps to suddenly crouch low, holding one leg, as she spun round like a top, and still spinning she gradually straightened up.

‘She’s good, isn’t she?’

Rosie half turned to see Hugo’s grin.

‘Yes, very,’ she responded coolly.

‘Is this your first time?’

She remembered how he’d said those exact words the day she’d told him she wanted him to make love to her. Now, blushing at the thought, she wouldn’t answer such a condescending question. But she’d show him. Gathering her courage, and not allowing herself to hesitate a moment longer, she skated off. It wasn’t that difficult at all. Whatever had she worried about? All you had to do was stop being nervous and simply keep your balance.

The next thing she knew, her foot had slipped from under her and she landed on her back. She tried to struggle up but every time she tried, she slipped again.

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.