The Boy I Love by Marion Husband Read Free Book Online Page A

about the nuns. Her mother’s solution had been worse. She would go to Aunt May’s in Carlisle and stay there until the baby could be given up for adoption. Margot remembered the aunt from childhood visits, a spinster who smelt of camphor and attended spiritualist meetings. There were cats, she remembered, and shuddered.
    â€˜Do you honestly think that boy is fit enough to marry you?’
    â€˜He’s fine. You make him nervous, I think.’
    â€˜He makes me nervous. At least he’s given up wearing that eye-patch. He looks almost normal, at least.’
    The patch had been abandoned the day they’d told her parents. She remembered how startled she was, for a moment imagining he’d been miraculously healed. The dead glass, a paler green than his eye, was horrible, and so she ignored it.
    â€˜Has he found a job yet? You can’t live with his father for ever.’ Bitterly Daniel added, ‘Even in a great big mausoleum like that.’
    Hesitantly Margot said, ‘He’s found a house to rent. In Tanner Street.’
    â€˜Tanner Street’s a slum!’ He shook his head. ‘I’ll talk to him. I’m not having you and the baby living there.’
    The baby. It was the first time he’d referred to it directly. She felt herself blush. Looking down to hide it she heard her father sigh. ‘Oh, Margot. How did this happen? I thought it was Robbie you were sweet on, but then this, this other one comes along and …’ He closed his eyes and his face became pinched with anger. At last he said, ‘How could he? He hardly knew you …’
    The door opened and Paul came in and sat beside her. He took her hand. ‘Is there anything else you want to talk to us about, sir?’
    The Reverend dropped the pretence of civility. ‘Do you have a job yet? How do you intend to pay for a decent home for my daughter, because she won’t be moving into Tanner Street, I’m telling you that now.’
    â€˜If you saw the house yourself, sir, I think you’d find it’s not as bad as you imagine.’
    â€˜For heaven’s sake stop calling me sir, boy! You’re not in the army any more!’ He glared at Paul. ‘And I have been inside those houses. Members of my congregation live in those streets.’
    â€˜Then you’ll know decent people live there.’ Releasing her hand he stood up. ‘Is that all, Reverend Whittaker?’
    â€˜Yes. So what do I say now? Dismissed, lieutenant?’
    He was never sarcastic. For a moment he looked ashamed of himself and Margot blushed for him.
    Paul took her hand again. ‘Goodnight, Reverend.’
    He waited. When there was no reply he turned and led her out of the room.
    She saw him outside.
    â€˜I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘He’s upset.’
    Paul took out his cigarettes and lit two at once. Handing her one he said, ‘He’ll get over it, they all will, eventually.’
    â€˜I think Mummy likes you.’
    He looked at her. ‘Did she like Robbie?’ Her silence made him laugh. ‘Mothers usually did like me best.’
    Margot leaned back against the vicarage wall, tilting her head to rest on the cold bricks, wanting to press her hot face against them. A bright moon shone its ghostly light and the air was sharp with frost. She shivered.
    Paul said, ‘Dad’s out at a patient’s.’ He hesitated. ‘We could go to Parkwood …’
    She glanced back. ‘I should go and tell Mummy where I’m going.’
    â€˜Do you have to? She knows you’re safe with me.’ Taking off his coat he put it over her shoulders. ‘Come on. I’ve set the fire in the kitchen – it only needs a match. We might even stretch to a cup of cocoa.’
    Paul wondered if she’d been in the house before but she looked around her with such curiosity he guessed she hadn’t. Picking up a pile of newspapers from one of the