Hearts of Gold by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online Page A

in hand, dejectedly back up it.
    ‘No work today?’ Bethan commiserated.
    ‘There were fifty in Leyshon’s yard this morning. Old Prosser said that I’d had more than my fair share and it was the turn of the married men. Can’t argue with that, I suppose.’
    ‘Could be just as well,’ Bethan said, trying to cheer him up. I need you to do me a favour.’
    ‘What kind of favour?’ Haydn asked suspiciously, his pride bristling at the thought of taking charity from his sister.
    ‘There’s a sale on in Wien’s and Laura says they’re selling youths’ overcoats for four and eleven. You know where I keep my money?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Take it and see what you can get for Eddie. If you like it, Eddie’ll wear it.’
    ‘Beth, you shouldn’t have to do this …’
    ‘If you see anything for yourself, get that too. If you and Eddie look smart I know, I just know, you’ll get jobs,’ she pleaded. ‘You can pay me back then. Think what a difference it would make at home if you two were in regular work.’
    ‘You’ll let me and Eddie pay you back?’
    ‘Of course I will. You’ll go then? To the sale I mean.’
    ‘I’ll go,’ he agreed dully.
    ‘Thanks a lot,’ she smiled.
    ‘We’d best run, Bethan.’ Laura grabbed her arm. ‘If we don’t, Sister will have us for breakfast. Bye, Haydn.’ Laura flashed a look, half shy, half coquettish in Haydn’s direction.
    ‘Your Haydn?’ Laura began as soon as they were out of ear shot.
    ‘Yes,’ Bethan murmured absently, trying to walk carefully and quickly around the slush at the same time.
    ‘Is he still sweet on Jenny Griffiths?’
    ‘As far as I know.’ Bethan looked at Laura, wondering if she knew more about Haydn’s affairs than her.
    ‘Shame,’ Laura sighed wistfully.
    ‘Laura!’ ‘Bethan exclaimed. ‘He’s a year younger than you.’
    Laura halted at the huge wooden gates of the workhouse, and gazed after Haydn’s retreating figure. ‘When it comes to some things, age doesn’t matter,’ she said, grinning suggestively.
    ‘Your father and Ronnie been chaperoning you everywhere again?’ Bethan asked as she led the way around the corner to the main gates.
    ‘Absolutely everywhere!’ Laura complained. ‘This morning Ronnie shouted at me for saying good morning to the paper boy. And he’s only twelve, poor lamb.’
    ‘Poor you, more like it,’ Bethan laughed.
    ‘It’s all right for you,’ Laura said testily. ‘Your father’s quite human. I told Ronnie straight last night that Italian men only lock up their wives and daughters because they know from personal experience that Italian men can’t be trusted to keep their hands off any woman between fifteen and thirty that they’re not related to.’
    ‘That must have gone down like a lead zeppelin.’ Bethan smiled at the porter on gate duty as he waved them through after they’d signed in.
    ‘Remember Cardiff Infirmary?’ Laura murmured wistfully. ‘There I could talk to anyone I wanted
    ‘And generally did.’
    ‘You can’t blame me,’ she retorted. ‘Not after being wrapped up in cotton wool by Papa and Ronnie until the day I left home. And to think I was stupid enough to come back. I must have been insane to have even considered it.’
    They walked across the women’s exercise yard and made their way towards the towering, grey stone maternity block.
    ‘And now look at me,’ Laura continued to grumble, ‘working on a maternity ward of all things, when I really want to be on men’s surgical.’
    ‘Last time I looked in there, I didn’t see any tall dark handsome men waiting to fall in love,’ Bethan teased.
    ‘Were there any fair ones?’ Laura mocked, still thinking of Haydn.
    ‘None that would have interested you.’ Bethan opened the heavy oak door of the ward block that housed the maternity unit.
    ‘Oh well I can live in hope. And who knows if Frederick March or Gerald du Maurier is brought in, they may mix maternity up with men’s surgical. And even if they