The Castlefield Collector by Freda Lightfoot

Author:Freda Lightfoot
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788636674
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2019-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

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Aggie came home from honeymoon and settled into her new home, looking very content and matronly. She expressed herself flabbergasted to hear Dolly’s news. ‘You’re marrying Sam Clayton? By heck, you’ve kept that quiet. You must be mad to even think of getting wed at your age. You’re only seventeen.’

‘Can’t you just be pleased for me? Anyroad, we’re not getting married till I’m eighteen, which will give us a few months to save up.’

‘Have you got a job then?’

‘No, but I’ll find something soon, I’m sure.’ Dolly frowned. ‘Have you any suggestions where I might try next? Do you know of any place taking operatives on?’

‘There are no vacancies at Barkers.’ To Aggie’s great surprise, Harold had taken it for granted that she would return to her job at the mill, so it was just as well, as it turned out, that Mr Barker hadn’t accepted her resignation. She was now earning nine shillings and sixpence a week and Harold expected her to use that for the housekeeping money as well as put a bit by for a rainy day. This had been something of a blow, as she’d pictured herself swanning about the house all day with nothing more taxing to do than a bit of washing and ironing, putting up lace curtains, shopping with money in her purse for a change, and making delicious little suppers for the two of them.

But Harold had promised her that if they both worked hard for a year or two, and held back on starting a family, they could afford a place in the suburbs; somewhere a bit more upmarket like Rusholme, Didsbury or Wythenshawe. So it pleased her to see Dolly was still struggling, and she sincerely hoped that even if Sam was better looking than dear Harold, he was less of a provider. She didn’t want her younger sister getting above herself, or worse still, becoming better off than herself.

‘So when are you going to tell him about – you know?’

‘Cabbage Lil said that I mustn’t, that men were a bit two-faced about sex and didn’t want to know anything – unpleasant – about their girl. Sam said he didn’t need to know all the details, so why should I tell him?’

‘You know that he’ll find out anyway. Someone will tell him, even if you don’t.’

Dolly stared at her sister, wide-eyed, and drew in a shaky breath. ‘You wouldn’t!’

Aggie merely flickered her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders in a non-committal gesture as she gave her full attention to polishing her new sideboard. She wasn’t in a particularly good mood today since Harold, having promised her a new summer frock, had gone back on his word, claiming money was a bit tight at present, what with the wedding and honeymoon and all, so would she mind making over last year’s instead? Would she mind? Of course she flipping well would. So she certainly had no patience for Dolly’s self imposed little problems, particularly when they involved Sam Clayton. Serve her right for running away in the first place.

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