Eve and Her Sisters by Rita Bradshaw Read Free Book Online Page B

said, ‘You’re making this up.’
    ‘If you go to the police station I shall swear it’s true.’
    ‘You’d really do that?’
    Phoebe’s chin rose. ‘Aye.’ Her eyes never flinched from Eve’s as she repeated, ‘Aye, I would really do that. And with your attack on Josiah you would most likely be facing a prison sentence, and Nell and Mary, like Josiah said, would be put in the workhouse.’
    Eve attempted to say something but the words stuck in her throat. She felt sick with disgust and disillusion.
    The look on her face caused Phoebe’s countenance to crumple and her voice held a pleading quality when she next spoke. ‘Please, Eve, for the sake of the bairns.’
    ‘Whose bairns?’ Eve’s voice was no longer like that of a thirteen-year-old girl’s but someone far older. ‘Your boys? And what of Mary? She’s a bairn too.’
    ‘You heard what she said.’ There was relief as well as bravado in Josiah’s voice. ‘We’re on to you and the best thing you can do is clear off before you find yourself in real trouble.’
    Phoebe turned her head and looked at her husband.The look shocked Eve as much as anything that had gone before. She would not have thought gentle Phoebe capable of such hatred.
    ‘Please, Eve, please don’t make me tell no one.’ Mary was tugging at her sleeve, whispering. ‘I couldn’t bear it, I couldn’t. Don’t make me. I’ll run away, I will.’
    ‘It’s all right.’ She patted her sister’s thin arm, her mind racing. She couldn’t bear the thought that Josiah was going to get away with what he had done, but what was the alternative? If Phoebe stuck to her guns, it would be their word against the married couple’s, and with Mary and Nell having bought sweets for who knew how long, it wouldn’t look good. Oh, why hadn’t Mary confided in her? How long had it been going on? What had he done to her? How could Phoebe lie for him when she’d looked as though she hated him? Eve felt sick, bewildered. If she reported Josiah to the law and it went against her, who would take care of Mary and Nell? Phoebe was right, it would be the workhouse for them, the very thing she had fought against all along. Looking at Josiah’s wife, she said, ‘You’ll live to regret this day.’
    A spasm passed over Phoebe’s face but she did not answer.
    ‘Go and get your things together.’ Eve pushed Mary and Nell in front of her as she spoke and then turned to tell Josiah what she thought of him one last time, but as she did so he sat down suddenly on one of the hard-backed chairs, saying, ‘I feel bad.’
    That gash would need stitching. The thought brought little satisfaction, she wished him dead, but as she followed her sisters out of the kitchen, she noticed Phoebe made no move towards her husband.
    She hoped the pair of them drowned in misery from now on. As she climbed the stairs her eyes were dry but her heart was weeping for her sister. For that man to take a little lass who had just lost her da and brothers and betray her trust the way he’d done was wicked, evil, and Phoebe was as bad. Protecting him like that, she was as bad as him.
    The anger kept her going while they packed their belongings into three parcels she made by ripping and knotting the sheets off the double bed. Apart from telling Mary and Nell the large trunk was too heavy to carry and they would have to send for it later when they were settled somewhere, Eve said nothing. For once her sisters were silent too. It was as though the three of them had agreed by unspoken consent that any questions and answers would be kept for when they had left the house. The only sound in the room was Mary sniffing.
    When they were ready, the bible and her father’s harmonica at the bottom of her parcel, Eve squared her shoulders. She didn’t know where they were going to go or how they were going to manage without a penny to their name but they couldn’t spend another night under this roof. Anything, anything would be preferable to