Read Online A Moment to Remember by Dee Williams - Free Book Online

Dance is really amazed at how quick she is.’ Jane held out her hand for Milly. ‘You are the best thing that’s happened to me.’
    Milly took Jane’s hand. ‘Would you like to go outside for a while?’
    ‘Why not? I love the warm sun.’
    When they were in the garden, Jane said, ‘Don’t let Richard upset you. He can be very hurtful at times.’
    ‘Don’t forget, my father was hurtful with more than just words.’
    ‘I know.’
    Milly had told Jane all about her family and how she would love to see her brothers again.
    ‘Perhaps you will one day,’ Jane had said.
     
    ‘Milly,’ said Richard when they were in the drawing room after they had returned from their walk. ‘I’m very sorry if I have offended you.’
    ‘That’s all right.’
    Jane looked at them both and smiled.
    ‘Now you are so clever and almost part of the family, I will have to teach you to play cards,’ said Richard.
    Milly knew that when the family were all together, they enjoyed their card games.
    ‘I wouldn’t if I was you,’ said Jane to her brother. ‘You know how quickly she can pick things up. She’ll have the shirt off your back before you go back to school.’
    Richard laughed. ‘That’s something I will have to see.’
    Milly stood and looked at him. She couldn’t believe that he thought of her as almost part of the family, and for the first time she saw him differently from the boy who always made fun of her. He was very handsome. When he laughed, his grey-blue eyes lit up, and he had a funny way of pushing his thick fair hair back from off his forehead. She stopped herself crossly. She was just a common cockney girl who he enjoyed laughing at. How could she even think of him like this?
     
    When it was time for Richard to go back to school, he called Milly to his room. ‘I have a present for you.’
    ‘For me?’
    ‘Hold out your hand, and close your eyes.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘The last time I did that, you put a slimy frog in my hand.’
    He laughed. ‘Yes, I remember, and you ran off screaming your head off and I got well and truly chastised by Mama and Jane and Betty. I did say I was sorry.’
    ‘Yes, you did.’
    ‘I can assure you this is not a frog. Now hold out your hand.’
    Reluctantly Milly did as she was told, and he placed a small package in her hand.
    ‘Open it.’
    Slowly she unwrapped the package. It was a hair clasp just like the one Miss Robbins had been wearing. She looked up at Richard, for he was head and shoulders taller than her. ‘Thank you. This is beautiful. But why?’
    ‘Well, you admired Miss Robbins’ clips, and I thought I’d better make it up with you. After all, you are so good for my sister, and despite the way I play about, I love Jane very much and like to see her happy. And I am very fond of you.’
    Milly could feel herself blushing. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’
    ‘Yes I did. Now help me downstairs with my bags.’
    She took the bag from off the bed and on a mad impulse went and kissed his cheek. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’
    He smiled. ‘I don’t mind one bit.’
    She felt such a fool. ‘Please. Don’t tell Jane or your mother.’
    ‘No. It will be our secret.’
     
    As he climbed into the carriage, he turned and waved at her.
    She felt her heart skip. This was silly. How could she be fond of someone like Richard? The handsome man who would go a long way? She looked at the hair clasp in her hand and knew that she would treasure it for ever.

Chapter 9
    I N NOVEMBER, WHEN it was Milly’s fifteenth birthday, everybody made such a fuss of her. Betty had made her a cake and Jane had bought her a tam-o’-shanter hat just like the one she’d been wearing when they first met. She knew that Milly had admired it since that day. Milly was overwhelmed by everybody’s kindness. Miss Dance gave her a book of poems, from Walton she had a scarf, and Mrs Green’s present was a rich ruby-coloured skirt. Milly stood with tears running down her