The Girl From the Workhouse [The Potteries Girls #1] by Lynn Johnson

Author:Lynn Johnson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: WW1, War Saga, Historical Saga
ISBN: 9781912973408
Publisher: Hera
Published: 2020-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

A Carpetbag and A Doll

Haddon – May 1914

Ginnie catches Sam at teatime as they come out of the dining hall. Although he’s washed his hands, there’s dirt under his fingernails and a black mark across his forehead where he must have rubbed sweat from his eyes. Mabel’s visit is preying on her mind. She follows him from the crowded hall.

‘I need to tell you something.’ She doesn’t know what she’s going to say but she’ll feel better once she’s said it. Nothing can be as bad as this horrible sinking feeling in the pit of her belly. ‘Veg patch. Half an hour.’

He nods and disappears with the rest of the lads.

She wanders into the kitchen and ignores the sinks full of bowls, dirty cutlery, and the piles of pans she certainly won’t miss in her new life. She tries rehearsing what she’s going to say to him. Should she just come out with it? Will he miss her as much as she missed him when he went away?

She can’t wait any longer. She slips out of her apron and heads for the back door. Once outside, she hurries down the yard and picks her way carefully over the grass and undergrowth in the bright early evening sun. Sam is lurking between the bushes at the back of the tater patch.

‘Hiya Sam.’

He wipes his hands down his trousers. ‘You’re early. What’s up?’

‘I couldn’t wait. Quick…’ She grabs his hand and leads him to the small wall between the compost heap and the tool shed.

‘It’s not every day a lad has a wench telling him she canna wait.’ His grin stretches from ear to ear.

She sits on the wall and picks nervously at her fingers. ‘I don’t know what to say now I’m here.’

He steadies her hands, his face suddenly serious. ‘Ginnie, if it’s that bad, it’s best to just get it over with.’

‘It’s good and bad. At least, I’d like to think there is good in it.’ She feels cold stone through her dress, and shivers. ‘Dunno what you’ll think.’

‘You shouldn’t have come out here without putting on something to keep warm. It’s not summer yet, duck. “Ne’er cast a clout till May is out.” Did yer Ma never tell yer?’

He sits beside her, his arm around her shoulders, waiting for her to say something. That’s another thing she likes about him. He doesn’t push her into saying something until she’s good and ready. She’s so comfortable in his arms. How she longs to put everything else out of her mind and stay there forever.

She takes a deep breath. ‘My big sister’s come looking for me.’

He whistles. ‘That’s a turn-up. Did she say why she’s never been to see yer in all this time?’

‘Well… she’s got married and she’s got a baby on the way, though you can’t really tell yet.’

He whistles again. ‘Bet you didn’t expect that.’

‘No.’ Her bright and cheerful voice has gone and a choked voice has taken over. ‘Mabel wants me to go and live with her, Sam.

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