Children of the Tide by Valerie Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

heartily, though inwardly disagreeing. There was nothing sentimental about this hard-hearted banker, except where his daughter was concerned, and Gilbert knew with a sinking heart that, if word should get out about the child, he would be finished completely in this town. Billington would make sure of it. He walked with him to the steps of his bank and then turned to go back to the High Street. James and Sammi had gone. He was sunk in misery. Perhaps, he thought, they had been turned away from the hospital, and it seemed to him now that the only solution would be to find a foster home for the child, and for that, someone would have to pay.
    As he walked into the yard, Sammi was stepping into the carriage. She was empty-handed. ‘Hello, Gilbert. I can’t stop, I’m afraid. I’m already in trouble with Johnson for being late.’
    He gave her a small smile. ‘I’m in trouble too, Sammi. It’s not a very good start to the day, is it?’
    She got down from the carriage steps. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Gilbert, everybody’s got such troubles, and poor James more than anybody.’
    He nodded, hesitating. ‘Where’s the child, Sammi? What’s happening to him? Has James taken him somewhere?’
    She looked up at him solemnly, her brown eyes appealing to him. ‘You won’t tell anyone just yet?’
    He swallowed hard, he was hardly likely to. ‘No. I won’t, Sammi. Trust me.’
    She took his arm and showed him inside thecarriage. There, tucked up in a corner of the upholstered seat, was a small wrapped bundle. ‘I’m taking him home to Garston Hall.’
    He felt such a tremendous lightening of spirit, a great sense of relief flooding over him. Aunt Ellen! Of course! She wouldn’t turn the child away. He wasn’t so sure that Uncle William would approve, but he was convinced that Sammi’s warm-hearted mother would come up with a solution.
    Perhaps I won’t have to confess after all
– not yet, anyway. His mind flickered to his wedding: perhaps afterwards he could tell? And it wasn’t unusual, he thought, as his conscience eased, for families to look after each other’s children. The poorer working classes did it all the time.
    ‘Oh, Sammi. What an angel you are.’ He put his arms around her and gave her a great smacking kiss on her cheek. ‘I love you.’
    She pushed him away. ‘Get off, Gilbert! You’re as bad as James. That’s just what he said.’
    He watched the carriage as it lumbered away, then Sammi put her head out of the window. ‘Will you give my love to Billy? Tell him I can’t stop.’
    He nodded. Her brother would be beavering away, anxious to be doing well at his first week’s work with Masterson and Rayner.
    ‘I’m sorry, Gilbert,’ she called again, just before the carriage pulled out into the street. ‘I forgot to ask. What did you say your trouble was?’
    ‘It’s nothing. Nothing at all.’ He waved a good-bye to her. ‘It’s only that I’m late.’

4
    As the carriage approached the village of Tillington, Sammi put her forehead against the window and looked out. The mill beyond the church showed black against the wide sky, and the white canvas sails were sweeping square to the north-east wind, their shades partly closed to spill the gusty breeze.
    Her father’s cousin Thomas and his three sons Tom, Mark and George would be working hard in the heart of the mill, harnessing the power of the wind which drove three pairs of millstones to grind the raw grain. She thought of them running nimbly up and down the steep and narrow access ladders to the five floors, while their sister Betsy would perhaps be indoors, going about the womanly tasks which she had reluctantly undertaken four years ago at the age of fourteen, when the housekeeper, who had looked after them all since their mother’s death, had also died.
    The pair of greys pulling the carriage turned instinctively down the winding road towards her home village of Monkston, even before Johnson gave the signal. Sammi was thankful that the