The Blessed Child by Rosie Goodwin

Author:Rosie Goodwin [Rosie Goodwin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction
Published: 2018-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nessie peeped beneath the mattress of Reuben’s bed and frowned when she saw the money that had been there was gone. Half of her was relieved, the other half wondered what was going on. Reuben couldn’t possibly have spent that amount and how had he come by it in the first place? On many occasions she had come close to questioning him about it, especially since she had seen him speaking to Snowy White. Thankfully, she hadn’t and now she just hoped that this would be the end of it. Reuben seemed so happy at the minute and she had a suspicion that it was something to do with a certain Miss Maria Harding, whose father owned a shop in town. Twice this week he’d got all togged up in his Sunday best and disappeared out sporting a posy of flowers. Nessie had teased him about it and he’d got all defensive.

‘Why shouldn’t I have a lady friend?’ he’d asked and Nessie had giggled.

‘I’m actually really pleased for you, I haven’t seen you looking so happy in ages,’ she’d teased and his face had turned the colour of a boiled beetroot. ‘So when are you going to bring her home to tea so that I can meet her?’

‘Soon, I suppose,’ Reuben had muttered and Nessie was looking forward to it. Molly had told her that the Hardings were a lovely family.

Now Nessie hurried away to get ready for Oliver who was coming to pick her up to take her to see the room that might become the new soup kitchen.

She took especial pains over doing her hair and changed into her best lilac gown. Then she daringly applied a tiny amount of rouge to her cheeks and a small amount of lip salve to her lips.

‘I shouldn’t be too long, Molly,’ she told her. ‘And you do know that Joseph’s dinner is all ready for him and—’

‘Will you please stop fussing.’ Molly giggled. ‘I’m more than capable and take as long as you like.’

Nessie gave her a grateful smile, marvelling at how much Molly had changed in the time she had known her. She had gained a little weight and there was colour in her cheeks and a twinkle in her eye now. She was always spotlessly dressed, even if her clothes were still somewhat shabby and sometimes Nessie wondered how she had ever managed without her. They heard the rattle of wheels on the cobbles outside and seconds later a carriage drew up and Oliver hopped out and hurried in, his eyes alight with excitement.

‘All fit then?’

Nessie could hear the enthusiasm in his voice and nodded.

‘Then let’s be on our way, shall we?’ He smiled at Molly as Nessie headed for the door and soon they were on their way to Red Roofs, the surgery in Riversley Road.

‘It’s been shut up for some time, so Dr Peek informs me, so I don’t know what state it will be in,’ Oliver warned her as he fiddled with a bunch of keys.

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