Read Online A Child of Jarrow by Janet MacLeod Trotter - Free Book Online Page A

arrival.
    â€˜Ma’am,’ he mumbled. Alexander suddenly remembered him, or rather he was struck by the likeness to his son.
    â€˜It’s Peter Bain, isn’t it?’ he exclaimed. ‘You used to chase after me for climbing the apple trees!’
    The man gawped at him a moment, then realisation dawned. ‘It’s Master Alex! How do you do, sir?’
    Alexander stepped forward and wrung him by the hand. ‘Very well. And you?’
    â€˜Champion, sir,’ he blushed.
    â€˜I can tell this is your son, Peter; he’s your double.’ Alexander grinned at the older boy. ‘Hope you don’t give your father as much trouble as I did when I was your age. Threatened to make a scarecrow out of me if I didn’t stop trampling over his flowerbeds.’
    â€˜No, sir!’ Peter protested. ‘You were no trouble.’
    â€˜I can just imagine what a naughty boy he was,’ Lady Ravensworth intervened with a laugh. ‘You don’t have to worry. Now I just wanted to let Mr Pringle-Davies pick one of your wonderful peaches.’
    â€˜Please, allow me to show you, ma’am.’ Peter took the lantern from George and held it aloft. ‘Follow me, Master -er - Mr Pringle-Davies.’
    He led them to the far end of the hothouse, to a row of trees planted in huge wooden barrels, where the scent of sweet fruit was overpowering. Peter plucked a ripe peach and handed it to Alexander.
    Alexander at once bit into the soft furry skin. Juice dribbled down his chin as he ate.
    â€˜Well, what do you think?’ Lady Ravensworth demanded. ‘Aren’t they the best peaches outside of France?’
    â€˜Umm,’ Alexander agreed, wiping his chin and licking his fingers, ‘and as heavenly as their owner.’
    She laughed. ‘You are incorrigible!’
    They thanked the gardener and turned to leave. Peter led them back with the lantern held high.
    â€˜George will see you back to the house with the lamp, ma’am,’ he insisted.
    â€˜Thank you,’ Lady Ravensworth accepted, slipping her arm once more through Alexander’s.
    â€˜What about you, Peter?’ Alexander turned to ask, aware of the shadowed figure of the girl and her young bundle standing behind the gardener. The young boy was stirring and fretting about the dark. The girl hushed him hi a soft voice, but Alexander could not make out her face.
    â€˜We know these paths blindfolded, sir, and George will catch us up with the lamp.’
    So Alexander nodded at them and bade good night.
    Kate watched the handsome couple disappear arm in arm into the dark towards the black towering bulk of the castle.
    â€˜Was that Her Ladyship?’ she gasped.
    â€˜Aye,’ Peter nodded. ‘Lady Ravensworth likes her fancy fruits.’
    â€˜And the man?’ Kate asked. ‘Was he one of the family?’
    â€˜Distantly.’ Peter pulled the door shut behind them as if that was all there was to say. But Kate wanted to hear more.
    â€˜But you knew him?’
    â€˜Aye. Used to stay here as a boy now and then - troublesome as a wild pony, but a canny lad with it.’
    â€˜He seemed very friendly with Lady Ravensworth,’ she ventured.
    â€˜Aye,’ Peter grunted, ‘she has many admirers.’
    Alfred started whimpering that he wanted his bed. He was growing too heavy for Kate to hold.
    â€˜Can you walk, kiddar? It’s not far.’
    â€˜I’ll take the lad,’ Peter said, holding out stout arms.
    They walked home in silence, George catching them up where the path joined the back drive.
    â€˜Did they say anything else to you?’ Kate asked.
    George shook his head. ‘But the man gave me sixpence,’ he said with a note of glee.
    â€˜Did he? That’s canny!’ Kate exclaimed. But the others simply nodded and said no more.
    That night, Kate lay on her narrow truckle bed, gazing through the casement window at a dusting of stars above the