Seasons of Love by Anna Jacobs Read Free Book Online

Cheltenham, however, Helen’s happiness came to an abrupt end. The company played there regularly and Robert had his best following among the sentimental old ladies who yearned for the heroes of their youth, heroes who had probably been as much creatures of their imagination as Robert was.
    When he came home from the theatre, flushed with success, he found that his wife had started her labour and had never looked as ugly. The landlady had sent for the local midwife, and the latter had come, inspected her patient and said it would take a while yet. After that, she had gone home to continue her night's sleep.
    Helen bore the labour pains stoically, stifling her cries under the pillow during the night, for fear of waking Robert.
    But as the process dragged on for two days, he thought it best to move out and share a room with one of the other actors, so as not to lose his sleep and appear haggard on stage.
    Helen was left to the tender mercies of an indifferent midwife, who looked in from time to time and didn’t even think of giving her a drink or seeing that she had some food to eat. It was Roxanne who did that when she called upon her friend during the afternoon.
    When it was all over, the midwife dumped a mewling bundle into her patient's arms and told her she had a son. ‘And you're a brave lass,’ she added unexpectedly.
    Helen wept tears of joy all over the baby's head and covered his little face with kisses. She had always known she would love her child, but hadn't realised how fiercely. Oh, you shall be happy, she promised the child silently, and you shall always be most dearly loved. And no one shall ever, ever whip you!
    Roxanne came in again after the show and stayed the night with her, but Robert didn’t turn up at all.
    Helen tried to hide the unhappiness this caused her, saying stoutly that he needed his sleep, was useless without it, and the show must go on. ‘He has some new lines to learn, has he not?’
    Roxanne, who knew that Robert was out gambling, not learning lines, said nothing, but she went and confronted him the next day. ‘Have you been to see her yet?’
    ‘Not yet. I've been busy.’ He flicked a speck of dust off his coat.
    ‘Well, she needs you. You should have stayed with her.’
    ‘What use would I have been? I’d just have been in the way.’
    Roxanne held on to her temper with an effort. ‘She's your wife. And you haven't even been to see the baby. Your own son! My God, you're a rotten sod!’
    Robert scowled. ‘I'm no hand with babies. I never did like the damned squalling things!’ He was the eldest of seven. He knew exactly what babies were like.
    ‘You should have thought of that before you seduced an innocent girl!’
    He drew himself up. ‘It was love at first sight, not seduction.’
    Roxanne threw back her head and laughed. ‘You can save that sort of talk for the theatre and for those stupid enough to believe it, Rob! I certainly don't. Anyway, if you love your dear Helen so much, go and see her. Praise her a little. She's been very brave.’
    He looked at the clock on the theatre wall. ‘If you must know, I've arranged to meet a few chaps again after the show. I can't stop now. I'm on a winning streak.’ He put an arm round her and said coaxingly, ‘You stay with her for a day or two, Roxanne. You're her friend. You'll be much more use than I would. Please!’ His hand wandered over her breast and she slapped it away.
    ‘Shame on you, with your wife lying there waiting for you!’
    He grinned at her. ‘Will you, though, Rox?’
    She sighed and shook her head. ‘I must be getting soft in my old age. I will - but on one condition. You go and see her quickly now, this very minute, before the show. Take her a bunch of flowers. And don't forget to admire the baby! It's a pretty little thing.’ She saw sheer disinterest in his face. ‘I mean it. If you don't go to see her, I won't help you.’
    He shrugged. ‘Oh, very well. But you'll have to lend me something to