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

angry edge to them. She didn’t feel comfortable near them, was sure the slightest thing would set them off like roasting chestnuts exploding near a fire.
    Frank’s home was in a very seedy street, and people there stared at her strangely, as if assessing what she had in her pockets.
    She didn’t expect to find him home at this hour of the day, but hoped someone would know where he was. To her relief, the woman who answered the door yelled over her shoulder, ‘Frank! It’s for you.’
    He came to the door, not wearing a shirt, pulling his braces up over his vest as if he’d been getting dressed. He studied Phoebe. ‘I was just having a lie-down. Trouble?’
    ‘Yes. I need help. Would you mind?’
    ‘I’ll finish getting dressed and take you for a cup of tea at the corner cafe. Keep an eye on things here, Flo.’
    ‘Is this the new girl?’
    ‘No. She’s a relative of mine.’
    ‘Pity. She’s quite pretty.’
    The predatory look in the woman’s eyes made Phoebe shiver.
    He gripped Flo’s shoulder so tightly she winced. ‘Remember: this one’s a relative of mine. Not to be touched.’
    ‘Yes, Frank. Frank, don’t! You’re hurting me.’
    ‘Remember.’ He shoved her away so hard she nearly fell, then said to Phoebe, ‘Wait for me outside. I don’t want you in here.’
    She wondered why he was undressed so late in the day and why he didn’t want her here. What was this place?
    As they set off down the street, she told him what had happened.
    ‘You’re all right, though?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Lost your things, have you?’
    ‘No. Mrs Harby next door helped me get the smaller things out and she’s looking after them for me till I can find some lodgings.’
    Another of those stares, then, ‘Better go out to stay with my mother.’
    ‘Yes. That’s what I thought. For the time being, anyway. But I’ve got quite a bit of furniture still in the house and I don’t want to lose it. Do you know anyone with a cart?’
    ‘Might do. We’ll see what you’ve got, but first we’ll have something to eat and drink.’
    She didn’t feel hungry, but forced some food down. She had to keep her energy up. Frank didn’t talk much, but he ate a lot and finished off what she’d left on her plate as well.
    ‘You don’t eat much, Phoebe. No wonder you’re so slender. It suits you, though.’
    She didn’t want him talking about her appearance. He looked fatter and puffy. ‘I’m not hungry today. Too upset.’
    ‘About them Germans?’
    ‘They’re
not
Germans.’
    ‘Whatever they are, they’re foreigners and I bet the police will lock ’em away till the war’s over.’
    ‘Where will they send them? Will I be able to visit them?’
    ‘How should I know where they’ll be going? Don’t you go near them. You’ve got to start looking after your own interests.’
    ‘They’ve been kind to me.’
    ‘You’re too soft for your own good, you are. People take advantage.’
    She’d rather be soft than hard like him, but she didn’t say so. She was watching what she said today.
    She would not, she decided, tell any of them about the money. Especially Frank. She had to find some way of hiding it. On her person would be best. She’d need to make some sort of money belt.
    She’d sew one tonight after everyone else had gone to bed.
     
    When they got to the shop, the policeman called out, ‘There she is! Hoy, miss! Come here.’
    Another policeman standing there, called, ‘Are you sure she’s the one?’
    ‘Yes. It’s definitely her.’
    Frank took hold of her arm and edged her forward. ‘No use running away,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Smile at them.’
    But Phoebe couldn’t summon up a smile, just couldn’t.
    ‘You’re Miss Phoebe Sinclair?’ the policeman asked.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I have this letter for you. It’s been opened to check it’s got nothing dangerous in. It’s from your former employers.’
    ‘Are they all right?’
    ‘Mr Stein isn’t well, but he dictated this letter to his wife,