The Constant Heart by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online Page B

the reins, Harry. The child is not strong enough to hold such a mettlesome animal.'
     
Harry snatched the bridle from the boy's hand. He tossed a penny into the air and the boy made a dive for it: he would have tumbled over the edge of the wharf into the water if Walter had not caught him.
     
'Ta, mister.' The urchin closed his fist around the coin and backed away, as if afraid that someone might steal his money.
     
'Harry, I promised him twopence.' Rosina held her hand out to the child. 'Wait, boy. I think the gentleman has something more for you.'
     
Reluctantly, Harry took another penny from his pocket. 'I say, Rosie. You'll bankrupt me and spoil the brat.'
     
'Give him the money and don't be so mean.' She raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to throw the coin and nodding with approval when he did. 'There, that didn't hurt, did it?'
     
'You don't understand these people, Rosie,' Harry said, scowling. 'The boy will squander the money on raw spirits or tobacco.'
     
'Or maybe he will waste it on luxuries like bread and dripping, or a decadent meat pie.' Walter's lip curled in contempt.
     
'Did I ask for your opinion?' Harry rounded on him angrily. 'Get back to work, fellow.'
     
'Harry, that's no way to speak to Walter. Walk me home and let's have no more of this bad feeling between you.' She turned to Walter with a grateful smile. 'You've done so well today. I can't thank you enough.'
     
'I don't know why you're thanking him,' Harry grumbled as they walked slowly towards home with Nero following them on a loose rein. 'You shouldn't be too familiar with servants, Rosie. They'll only take advantage of you.'
     
'Walter isn't a servant. He's my pa's right-hand man. I don't know what we'd do without him.'
     
'He's probably fleecing your papa left, right and centre. I know his type, Rosie. He tries to act like a gentleman but don't be fooled by that. My father keeps a pretty tight rein on the clerks in our office. He don't stand for any old nonsense from them and they know their place.'
     
'I'm sure they do,' Rosina said sweetly. 'Thank you for walking me home, Harry.'
     
They had reached the house and Rosina was about to go inside when he caught her by the hand. 'Will you allow me to take you to supper tomorrow night, Rosie?'
     
'I'll have to ask Papa.'
     
'Then I'll call on you tomorrow morning.'
     
'All right, Harry.'
     
He hesitated. 'Perhaps I should speak to your father now.'
     
'I don't think that's a very good idea in the circumstances. He'll be anxious about the cargo and I expect he's still out of sorts with Captain Barnum.'
     
'This damned silly affair between them is getting out of hand.'
     
'It's not really your business, Harry.'
     
'It is if it affects trade. My old man won't stand for too much of it, Rosie. You can pass that message on from me, as a friendly warning. I wouldn't like to see your papa put out of business, but that's what will happen if he can't settle things with Captain Barnum.' Harry put his foot in the stirrup and mounted his horse. 'I'll see you tomorrow.' He tightened the reins so that Nero performed a caracole, and he doffed his hat, bowing from the saddle.
     
Rosina laughed at his antics. Really, she thought as she watched him urge the horse into a canter, Harry Gostellow was a dreadful show-off, but she was genuinely fond of him.
     
The interior of the old house felt cool and slightly damp after the warm sunshine outside. She went straight to the kitchen where she could hear Pa's deep tones and Bertha's higher-pitched voice; it sounded as though they were arguing, but that was nothing new.
     
'Ah, there you are, poppet.' Edward turned to her with a welcoming smile as he struggled into his reefer jacket, hampered by a fit of coughing.
     
'What did I tell you, you old fool,' Bertha said crossly. 'You're not fit enough to go out on the river so soon.'
     
'Hold your tongue, you old harpy. It's none of your business.'
     
Rosina looked from one red face to the other,