Fields of Blue Flax by Sue Lawrence Read Free Book Online

pulled out a bottle of wine. ‘Can you pop round after yourlesson’s finished? Okay, see you soon as you can, darling.’ Mags hung up and reached for a wine glass on the drying rack.
    ‘What are you doing?’ said Doug. ‘We might have to drive to Newcastle. Put the kettle on instead!’
    ‘Put the bloody kettle on yourself, I need a drink.’
    ‘I’m going to find out the names of the hospitals in Newcastle and phone round, find out where they are.’ He opened his laptop and typed ‘A&E Newcastle’ into Google.
     
    An hour later, Lottie rushed into the kitchen. ‘Any news?’
    Mags put down her glass and hugged her daughter.
    ‘Gerry’s just phoned Dad, but there’s not much more. They were on their way to intensive care. Said they’d text.’ She motioned towards the wine bottle. ‘Want a glass?’
    ‘God, Mum, it’s only four o’clock. I’ll make myself a green tea.’
    Doug hugged his daughter tightly then went to fill the kettle. ‘They’re at the Royal Victoria hospital in Newcastle. I think we should get down there right now but Mum says Auntie Chris won’t want us.’
    ‘I didn’t say she won’t want us, but she’ll be so stressed, it’s best with someone like her to wait. Besides, Gerry said there’s nothing we can do, not until they know what’s happening.’
    ‘Well, I think we should just drive down anyway. That way, if anything happens, if they need us, we’ll be there.’ Doug rubbed his hands through his hair. ‘I can’t stand being stuck up here like this, just waiting.’
    Mags glowered at him then turned to her daughter, ‘Darling, don’t you agree with me? We should wait, shouldn’t we?’
    ‘I don’t know, don’t make me take sides as usual.’
    Mags took her hand. ‘Sorry, darling, we’re just undecided. Gerry said Chris is too distraught to speak to us, and we don’t want to tip her over by pitching up. You know what she’s like, Lotts.’ She sighed. ‘But we don’t know how the kids really are. What exactly did Gerry say?’
    ‘He couldn’t say anything except Anna was black and blue. He had no idea how Jack was.’ Doug bit his lip and turned away from his wife and daughter, his eyes glistening.
    ‘Let’s go,’ said Lottie. ‘Dad’s right. If anything happens to them… Just for moral support?’
    Mags stood up. ‘Okay, I’ll pack an overnight bag.’
    Doug went to the back door and pulled the snib along at the top.
    ‘Mum, why don’t we take some food too, some of your flapjacks or brownies?’
    ‘Good idea.’ Mags bustled over to the other side of the kitchen and lifted a cake tin down from the shelf. She glanced at Doug and Lottie’s backs then at the bottle on the table. She upended it into her glass, tipped her head back and slugged the wine down.

 
    Chapter Eight
    1874
    Elizabeth Barrie adjusted her bonnet and rang the bell at the back of the big house. The door creaked open and a plump woman wearing all black with a white apron and small lace cap greeted her.
    ‘The mistress is waiting for you,’ she said. ‘Whit d’you ken aboot the job?’
    ‘It’s a maid-of-all-work, but maybe helping in the kitchen? I heard Mrs Donaldson likes to sometimes dae some cooking for herself?’
    ‘It’s the “mistress” tae you. An’ I wouldnae exactly call it cookin’. She has these queer recipes wi’ fancy French names but Cook refuses to mak’ anythin’ she cannae pronounce.’ The woman, who looked in her late twenties, had a scowl on her face. As Elizabeth followed her into the house she noticed that she was not, in fact, fat. She realised this must be Meg, whose job she was hoping to take over when she left to have her baby.
    ‘Excuse me,’ Elizabeth whispered, as they traversed the wide expanse of polished black and white tiles in the hall, ‘are you Meg?’
    ‘Aye,’ she said, still surly.
    ‘Meg, is there anything I need to ken before I see the mistress?’
    Meg studied Elizabeth’s face and said, ‘She’ll be fine