The Oyster Catchers by Iris Gower Read Free Book Online

bodice. Her breasts, full and round, sprung from the confines of the cotton and, greedily, he held them, his mouth finding the erect nipples.
    Nina moaned; she always did respond most gratifyingly to his love making. He caressed her ardently, her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed, she really was a lovely, earthy woman, his kind of woman, he thought in surprise.
    ‘Come on, Joe, my love,’ she whispered, ‘give me your vigour like you used to, I’ve waited so long.’
    When he came to her, she cried out in joy and he felt power surge through him. Joe was in charge, guiding Nina through the course of love and passion, bringing her to sobbing fulfilment.
    And then the starburst came to him, searing him, drowning him. He was lost in the sweet sensation that he felt he could kill-for. And later, as he rested beside Nina, he felt as though he had come home.
    April was almost out, the blossoms were beginning to come to the trees. Hari Grenfell stared through the window of Summer Lodge and counted her blessings. She had achieved such wonderful things in her life and most dear was her happy marriage to Craig.
    Behind her she could hear her son repeat his lessons in a bright intelligent voice. Mr Barnes was an excellent tutor and had been with the family for some time. David was a small boy eager to learn and when he was older, he would go away to school just as his father had done.
    Hari shivered a little, not wanting to think of being parted from David, she needed him with her always at her side. But that was not the way the gentry lived and, even if she would never truly be one of them, Hari knew her son must be given every advantage so that he might live up to his father’s expectations.
    She moved from the window and went over to her son. David stared up at her, his dark eyes so like Craig’s that love swept over her. She longed to kiss and hug him, but she knew that David, even at his tender age, would be mortified at such a display of affection in front of his tutor.
    ‘I’ll leave you now,’ she said gently. ‘I’m going to Oystermouth to see William, be good for Mr Barnes, David, learn your lesson well because your father will want to know what you’ve been doing today, mind.’
    In the hallway, Jenny held her coat and gloves at the ready, the maid’s good-natured young face wreathed in smiles.
    ‘Shall I take some refreshment to Mr Barnes?’ she said artlessly. ‘And to young master David, of course.’
    Hari hid a smile, Jenny’s fascination with the serious young tutor was well known both below and above stairs.
    ‘That would be very kind, Jenny.’ Hari stared into the mirror and adjusted her hat, thrusting the long enamelled pin through the velvet to secure it. The spring winds could be wicked along the coast.
    She stood still for a moment, staring at her reflection; her hair was dark and tamed now by good cutting, it no longer flared over her shoulders in an unruly cloud.
    Hari was no longer the girl from the slums of World’sEnd, but the rich and successful Mrs Grenfell who had a string of boot and shoe shops to her credit. She had worked hard for them by the sweat of her brow and by using her initiative and her flair for design.
    It was true that her husband was also a rich business man, for Craig owned the Grenfell and Briant Leather Company, but Craig’s business was quite separate from Hari’s. That way there was a mutual respect between them as well as a deep and abiding love.
    Jenny, impatient to spend a few minutes with her idol, held open the large front door and Hari stepped outside into the brightness of the morning.
    The carriage was waiting for her and the footman respectfully helped her inside. ‘We’re going to Oystermouth.’ Hari eased on her gloves. ‘Tell the driver not to travel too fast, I want to look at the scenery.’
    The road winding from Swansea to Oystermouth was right on the edge of the sea. The bay curved in a golden sweep that culminated in the outcrop of rocks at