[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
What does it matter whether he has married or not? Clarice Ethan frowned, recalling the meeting. Isabelle, that was her name.
asked, forcing him to look at her. He flinched as she licked her He sat at his desk and drummed his fingers on the polished top.
sticky fat fingers and then immediately searched for another sweet Isabelle. He remembered how she had raised her chin and stared at
at the bottom of the cone paper cup. Beside her, on a small occa- him boldly. A spark had lit her unusually pale blue eyes. Defiance.
sional table, was a selection of ornamental jars holding various Character. In only those few minutes together, he saw in her some-
sugared fruits and chocolates. thing special. Yes, she wore filthy, shabby clothes and her red hands
It matters, Clarice, because the man is a wastrel and a thief. He showed how hard she worked, but despite it all her supple strength
cannot afford to pay his rent on time, so how can he afford to of spirit had reached inside him.
support a wife? He would find out more about her, this woman called Isabelle
Clarice shrugged, pulled the nearest jar closer and poured out Gibson. Resting back against the padded leather of his chair, he
two brandy-balls, which she promptly popped into her mouth. nodded. Isabelle Gibson never Farrell.
Elizabeth clicked her tongue. It s four o clock, Clarice. Time to
stop, my dear. Choking smoke billowed into Isabelle s face. She coughed and
Ethan cringed. He felt filled with shame that his mother had to flapped the dishcloth. Dratted chimney!
chastise his wife like a child. He moved his gaze away from his An assortment of cakes and tarts cooled on the table. With prac-
wife s down-turned mouth. This is a nightmare. He had been tice, she had become more skilled at cooking. Her new plan to sell
married for six years to this greedy, unintelligent half woman, half cakes at the Hebden Bridge markets caused her no end of heart-
child. For the first year he had tried really hard to find some break as she perfected her rudimentary skills of pastry making.
common ground with her, but they shared none of the same inter- Hughie entered through the back door, bringing with him a blast
56 57
ANNE WHI T F I E L D T HE GE NT L E WI ND S CARE S S
of cold air that circulated the smoke. They look good! He nodded later, I couldn t see what he d been doing. He was supposed to be
at the display on the table. Can I have one? fixing the broken boards on the back wall. He took a sip of his tea
Yes, you can, after you ve washed your hands. She glanced out and then added more milk. Oh, he did trim some of the fruit trees
of the window. Long shadows stretched across the yard. Are the in the orchard. There s only about five left to prune now. I ll do
ewes in the house field? them tomorrow.
Yes, all in. Farrell says they ll have to be put in the barns next Isabelle nodded. You re a good boy.
month before lambing starts. That means I ll have to do more clear- So, we re off to market tomorrow? Hughie asked, wiping his
ing. hand across his mouth.
Is he still out there? She stood and opened the oven door to check on the golden
Hughie sat on the scullery step and pulled off his boots. No. currant buns cooking. Yes, if Farrell brings the cart back in time.
He s gone. Hitched up the cart about an hour ago. He didn t say I checked his hidey-hole today.
where. He stood and placed his boots by the back door before Isabelle spun to face him, her eyes wide. You shouldn t have.
going into the scullery to wash. You know how he reacts. She paused, her voice dropping to a
Isabelle sighed. It wouldn t have hurt him to tell his wife his whisper: Tell me there wasn t anything in there.
whereabouts. To save her from further unhappiness in soul-search- It was empty. Hughie stretched and yawned. But you can t tell
ing her bizarre marriage, she dismissed Len Farrell from her mind. me he s stopped.
He treated her with mediocre respect, but still kept his distance, Her heart drummed in her chest. He promised he would.
which suited her admirably. Hughie snorted, suddenly looking much older than his fourteen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
What does it matter whether he has married or not? Clarice Ethan frowned, recalling the meeting. Isabelle, that was her name.
asked, forcing him to look at her. He flinched as she licked her He sat at his desk and drummed his fingers on the polished top.
sticky fat fingers and then immediately searched for another sweet Isabelle. He remembered how she had raised her chin and stared at
at the bottom of the cone paper cup. Beside her, on a small occa- him boldly. A spark had lit her unusually pale blue eyes. Defiance.
sional table, was a selection of ornamental jars holding various Character. In only those few minutes together, he saw in her some-
sugared fruits and chocolates. thing special. Yes, she wore filthy, shabby clothes and her red hands
It matters, Clarice, because the man is a wastrel and a thief. He showed how hard she worked, but despite it all her supple strength
cannot afford to pay his rent on time, so how can he afford to of spirit had reached inside him.
support a wife? He would find out more about her, this woman called Isabelle
Clarice shrugged, pulled the nearest jar closer and poured out Gibson. Resting back against the padded leather of his chair, he
two brandy-balls, which she promptly popped into her mouth. nodded. Isabelle Gibson never Farrell.
Elizabeth clicked her tongue. It s four o clock, Clarice. Time to
stop, my dear. Choking smoke billowed into Isabelle s face. She coughed and
Ethan cringed. He felt filled with shame that his mother had to flapped the dishcloth. Dratted chimney!
chastise his wife like a child. He moved his gaze away from his An assortment of cakes and tarts cooled on the table. With prac-
wife s down-turned mouth. This is a nightmare. He had been tice, she had become more skilled at cooking. Her new plan to sell
married for six years to this greedy, unintelligent half woman, half cakes at the Hebden Bridge markets caused her no end of heart-
child. For the first year he had tried really hard to find some break as she perfected her rudimentary skills of pastry making.
common ground with her, but they shared none of the same inter- Hughie entered through the back door, bringing with him a blast
56 57
ANNE WHI T F I E L D T HE GE NT L E WI ND S CARE S S
of cold air that circulated the smoke. They look good! He nodded later, I couldn t see what he d been doing. He was supposed to be
at the display on the table. Can I have one? fixing the broken boards on the back wall. He took a sip of his tea
Yes, you can, after you ve washed your hands. She glanced out and then added more milk. Oh, he did trim some of the fruit trees
of the window. Long shadows stretched across the yard. Are the in the orchard. There s only about five left to prune now. I ll do
ewes in the house field? them tomorrow.
Yes, all in. Farrell says they ll have to be put in the barns next Isabelle nodded. You re a good boy.
month before lambing starts. That means I ll have to do more clear- So, we re off to market tomorrow? Hughie asked, wiping his
ing. hand across his mouth.
Is he still out there? She stood and opened the oven door to check on the golden
Hughie sat on the scullery step and pulled off his boots. No. currant buns cooking. Yes, if Farrell brings the cart back in time.
He s gone. Hitched up the cart about an hour ago. He didn t say I checked his hidey-hole today.
where. He stood and placed his boots by the back door before Isabelle spun to face him, her eyes wide. You shouldn t have.
going into the scullery to wash. You know how he reacts. She paused, her voice dropping to a
Isabelle sighed. It wouldn t have hurt him to tell his wife his whisper: Tell me there wasn t anything in there.
whereabouts. To save her from further unhappiness in soul-search- It was empty. Hughie stretched and yawned. But you can t tell
ing her bizarre marriage, she dismissed Len Farrell from her mind. me he s stopped.
He treated her with mediocre respect, but still kept his distance, Her heart drummed in her chest. He promised he would.
which suited her admirably. Hughie snorted, suddenly looking much older than his fourteen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]