The Price of Desire by N. K. Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

the other end was a small tea shop. The largest building by far was The Greenman pub, which dominated the high street.
    The large supermarkets were yet to monopolise this small corner of England as they had the rest of the country. Just as well, because if they squeezed out the family run shops the population of Coxham Marsh would probably halve.
    She walked into each shop in turn, impatiently waiting in line, listening to the conversations between the shoppers and the shop assistants, frustrated at the length of time it took them to pay for their purchases. When she finally reached each counter she pulled out a photograph of Lily, dressed in the pleated blue skirt and white shirt of her school uniform. The photo was only about six months old and had been taken in her last year of school. Most of the people she spoke to were kind enough to take the time to look at the picture, but all of them looked back at her, shaking their heads, no sign of recognition in their eyes.
    There had been no sighting of Lily. Georgie wasn’t really surprised but she had to do something. It had been a long shot, and she hoped her father was having better luck contacting her college friends.
    Still, Georgie didn’t want to go home. She’d feel useless just sitting around trying to console her mother. She would much rather be doing something positive. She needed action, so she decided to walk along some of the more rural paths and ask anyone she happened to pass.
    Georgie walked out of the village centre and followed one of the country roads that linked the farms to civilisation. After what felt like miles she still hadn’t met another living soul. She considered heading back to the Manor, but as she turned a corner she came across a small church. She had never been inside before, always using the one on the estate, however she decided it would be the last place she would check before heading home. So she followed the narrow pathway through the churchyard to see if there was anyone around she could talk to.
    Either side was lined with gravestones, many looking extremely old, the names once carved upon them now unreadable, eroded by weather and time. She passed a tiny mound of dirt, a new occupant of the hallowed ground. Fresh flowers covered twice the area of the tiny grave. Georgie quickly averted her eyes, uncomfortable, like she was intruding on a stranger’s grief.
    The church was a traditional stone building that dated back to the 17th Century. The bell tower was purely for decoration as the bell itself had not been replaced for the last hundred years. Georgie had to throw all her weight against the large oak doors to open them, and she stumbled across the threshold into the cool interior. It wasn’t a large place; it could probably hold a congregation of about two hundred. Rows of pews led to the altar, upon which was a large gold crucifix. Stained glass windows dominated the walls bathing the church in a rainbow of colour, the roof still supported by the original timber beams.
    She took a seat in the back pew and stared down at her hands on her lap, unsure why she was there. She didn’t expect to find her sister here but she was worried as it was not like Lily to just take off without telling anyone.
    Georgie heard footsteps heading towards her. She kept her head bowed, not wanting to be disturbed, but the footsteps stopped right in front of her. She looked up, and the vicar looked down upon her, smiling broadly. Even though his eyes shone kindly she felt intimidated by his presence, and her pulse quickened.
    â€˜Are you all right, my dear?’ he asked, his voice full of concern.
    Suddenly Georgie was trembling all over, and she couldn’t stop tears spilling down her cheeks. Hiding her face in her hands she sobbed silently. The priest sat down next to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
    â€˜My dear girl... there, there. What is wrong? Is there anything I can do?’
    Georgie looked up at