The Legacy by Lynda La Plante Read Free Book Online Page B

to the door. ‘Evie, think about seeing that schoolteacher. You’ll have more time now, promise me?’
    She smiled but couldn’t speak, she was too close to tears.
    ‘Goodbye, darlin’, and God bless you.’
    She watched her two brothers walk down the cobbled street, their arms about each other’s shoulders. Will came and stood behind her, put his arms around her, ‘So they’ve gone. Da was too drunk to understand last night; I’ll tell him.’
    Deep down he knew his own days at home were numbered, he could be called up at any time.
    Six months had passed since the schoolteacher’s visit, and Evelyne popped a note through Doris’ door. She had worked out how many hours a week she would be able to spend with Doris, although it had not been easy to arrange. Lizzie-Ann refused to take charge of little Davey so Mrs Pugh had promised to look after him.
    ‘I don’t know why you bother learning, Evie. Find yourself a boy, that’s what you should be doing.’
    Evelyne looked at Lizzie-Ann. She was wearing only her bloomers with one of Will’s shirts over the top, her belly sticking out.
    ‘I’ve no interest in boys, Lizzie-Ann … if you could turn your charms on at the bakery I’d be grateful, we’ve no bread.’
    ‘I’ll do me Theda Bara for that old bugger … well, go on, if yer going.’
    A plate of sweet, home-made biscuits and a glass of warm milk were waiting for Evelyne, and Doris had been back and forth to the window to see if she was really coming. All her precious books were laid out neatly on the table with a clean notebook, ready for work to begin.
    Evelyne tapped the polished door knocker. She was acutely self-conscious about her appearance; her hair needed washing, her cardigan was darned and threadbare, even her skirt was torn at the hem. She wore a pair of her mother’s shoes, three sizes too large, and she went pink with shame when she noticed that her heels were black with soot.
    ‘Well, dear, better late than never. Now come in, wipe your feet on the mat.’
    She stepped on to the gleaming linoleum in the narrow hall, her heart pounding, hardly able to say a word. She had never seen such lovely, gleaming furniture. There was a sofa covered in velvet with crocheted white cloths on the head rests, and there was a lovely rug in front of the fire.
    ‘You could eat your dinner off your floor, Mrs Evans.’
    They sat at opposite sides of the table and gradually became more relaxed. Evelyne soon forgot her shyness and turned the pages eagerly, clapping her hands when she discovered a word she had not heard of before. She thumbed through Doris’ heavy dictionary.
    ‘And how, Evelyne, would you spell chameleon? Look it up … now remember, it might not begin with a “k”, it could be a “ch”, so search for the word …’
    The wall clock chimed nine and Evelyne looked crestfallen.
    ‘Never mind, dear, we can continue next time.’
    Evelyne found herself watching the clock in the kitchen waiting for Mrs Pugh to take little Davey, and then she was off, running as fast as her legs would carry her. Doris was always ready, standing at the door, biscuits and milk waiting on the table. She would dearly have loved to open her thin, bony arms and hug the child. Evelyne delighted her so, but she was too shy.
    ‘Oh listen, Mrs Evans, I know it by heart now. All night I practised just as you told me … “From her celestial car the Fairy Queen descended, and thrice she waved her wand, circled with wreaths of amaranth. Her thin and misty form moved with the moving air, and the clear silver tones as thus she spoke, were such as are unheard by all but the gifted ear”.’
    Doris watched as Evelyne stood with her arms held up, her wondrous red hair wild from running, her cheeks flushed.
    ‘That was very good, dear, now drink your milk, and remember descend is “s” before “c”.’
    She nibbled her thin lips, watching Evelyne eagerly thumbing through the dictionary. She had received a letter from