Snow Angels by Elizabeth Gill Read Free Book Online Page B

He spoke so kindly that Abby liked to hear him and tried to say the right thing back. He made her feel easier. It was late, but the night was not dark. A star peeped through here and there.
    ‘Helen Harrison is very beautiful,’ Abby said, unable to stop thinking about her.
    ‘She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,’ he agreed. ‘We’ve met on several occasions. I can’t think why she’s throwing herself away on Edward Collingwood. She could have had a title. She could have married old money and an old name. She took London by storm and now look at her.’
    ‘What’s wrong with Edward?’
    ‘Forgive me, the Collingwoods are common.’
    ‘Charlotte married one.’
    He smiled just a little.
    ‘There are people who have not forgiven her. The woman is vulgar.’
    ‘She’s very kind.’
    ‘She introduced us. I’m thankful for that,’ he said.
    *
    Gil knew that, having danced with Helen, he should have danced with other young women. He looked for Abby, but couldn’t seeher and then spotted Rhoda Carlisle standing alone. She refused. Gil was relieved. He had done his duty and could now go off to think about what had happened. He went into an empty room away from the noise of the party. Beyond the window, in the gardens he could see Abby with Robert. The night was finally beginning to steal past the trees, but he could see clearly in the fading light that they were close together as they walked back across the lawns towards the house.
    *
    Gil’s only hope was that Helen would go home. During the next few days he did everything he could to avoid her. He stayed at work, but for once work had lost its attraction. He could not put Helen from his mind. She remained at the house. Each evening after Edward came home they would read together and walk in the garden. Charlotte took her visiting to all their friends. In the morning at weekends she would go riding with Edward. In church on Sundays, Gil could hear her sweet voice. Gil wished that she would go away. He wanted to be with her so much he was sure it must have looked obvious, but he could tell that nobody noticed anything different.
    He thought that she would probably go after a week, but she didn’t. She stayed on because she said she could not bear to be parted from Edward. There was much talk about a wedding at Christmas. Charlotte and Helen spent hours making plans and long lists. Edward and Helen travelled to Durham to talk to the vicar of St Oswald’s. Helen’s parents had bought a house in Durham so that they could be near to their daughter after the marriage.
    Gil couldn’t eat or sleep and Mr Philips was beginning to complain about his work. Helen floated in and out of his dreams. When he was with her, he was conscious of his hands because he wanted to touch her so much. Worse still, she seemed to like him and often met his gaze over the dinner table or across the room. Desperate to get away, Gil went to see Abby. He suggested theymight go for a walk. Abby looked surprised, as well she might, he thought. For a moment it seemed as if she might refuse, but she didn’t. They left the house and walked through the dene near her home. It was pretty, with a stream and trees and shrubs, a bridge and little waterfalls. There were lots of people about since it was a hot July day and Sunday.
    ‘How’s Helen?’ Abby asked stiffly.
    ‘She’s going home this week, I think.’
    He hoped. She was sleeping in the room next to his. Why did they have to put her there? He could remember being with her, watching her turn in her sleep, her soft sighs, the sunlight breaking across the room, the shadows against the white walls … He dragged his mind back. Abby was talking to him.
    ‘What?’
    She looked accusingly at him.
    ‘You haven’t heard a word I’ve said. Why did you ask me to go for a walk? You don’t want to talk to me. You never do talk to me or dance with me. You told me you couldn’t dance.’
    The words stuck in Gil’s throat like dry