Mistress of Greyladies by Anna Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ve always found her very helpful and willing, I must say.’
    He frowned, seeming uncertain still.
    ‘Oh, go on, Constable. You can’t let that poor lass lose all she owns as well as her job. It’s not her fault they’re foreigners. She’s as English as you and me.’
    ‘All right. Get your things, miss. But nothing else. And hurry.’
    Inside the shop, Mrs Harby stared round, clearly enjoying the drama. ‘What a waste! Look at how the broken glass has torn that lovely material.’
    Phoebe couldn’t bear to look at the destruction and led the way quickly to the rear. ‘I packed some things this morning and put a bag in the coalhouse. I wonder if it’s still there.’
    ‘Let’s go and look.’
    They retrieved the bag, then Phoebe said, ‘The furniture upstairs is mine, and there are all sorts of bits and pieces I don’t want to lose.’
    ‘Well, you can’t carry everything. You can leave some of your stuff with us, if you like, though, just till you find somewhere else to live.’
    ‘Can I? That’s very kind of you. I know I can trust you.’
    ‘You definitely can. I haven’t forgotten you getting my washing off the line when it came on to rain, and more than once, too.’
    ‘We should all help neighbours.’
    When they’d finished gathering together Phoebe’s bits and pieces of crockery from the kitchen downstairs, Mrs Harby asked, ‘Do they – um, keep money on the premises?’
    ‘No. Well, only the petty cash for buying milk and tea.’
    ‘You should take that with you. It’ll just get stolen otherwise.’
    ‘I can’t do that. It’d feel like stealing. Anyway the tin’s locked and it’s quite big.’
    ‘Leave it with us, then. Me and Mr Harby will look after it for them.’
    Phoebe had a feeling that the Steins would never see the money again, but she didn’t say so. And better the neighbours had it than a mob. She packed the rest of her things rapidly, bundling her bedding into a sheet.
    ‘I suppose these were your mother’s,’ Mrs Harby commented. ‘It’s sad you lost her so young. Do you have any relatives to go to now?’
    ‘Yes. A cousin of my mother. He has a farm. I’ll go to them till I can get another job, but I’ll have to find someone to take all my stuff there.’
    When Phoebe had finished packing, Mrs Harby brought her husband and son to help carry the boxes of smaller things next door.
    The policeman checked everything. ‘You’re sure she’s not stealing these?’
    ‘Of course she isn’t!’
    A police sergeant came up just then, and the bundleshad to be explained to him. He nodded. ‘Take your things, Miss Sinclair, and don’t work for foreigners again, if you can help it. We’re keeping order here, and it’s only property that’s been damaged, but there are other towns where people have been harmed and buildings set on fire. Foreigners bring trouble with them.’
    She answered with a slight nod because she wanted to get her things away. She didn’t agree with him about foreigners, though, not when they were as nice as the Steins.
    When they’d got Phoebe’s bags inside her house, Mrs Harby filled the kettle. ‘We’ll have a cup of tea, then you’d better go and look for someone to take you and your things out to your cousin’s. We haven’t got a spare bedroom, though if you’re desperate, you can sleep on the sofa tonight.’
    ‘I think I’d better go and see my cousin’s son. He works in Swindon. He might know someone.’ She didn’t like asking Frank, but there was no one else.
    ‘Good idea.’
    ‘Thank you for your help. I’m very grateful.’
    Mrs Harby had said nothing about the petty cash, either to the police or her family. Phoebe didn’t mention it, either. She thought it a small price to pay for the neighbour’s help.

Chapter Four
    Phoebe walked to the address Frank had given her, not liking the mood of the people she met in the streets. She passed quite a few small groups talking and gesticulating, and felt there was a hard,