Read Online A Pearl for Love by Mary Cummins - Free Book Online Page B

remember Joan, dear? ’
    Catherine shook her head, smiling.
    ‘ Oh no, it ’ s your mother who knew her well. Alison didn ’ t keep up with many of the girls we knew. She used to leave that to me. And now Joan is a grandmother. She ’ s beaten me to it, anyway. ’
    ‘ Now you know you ’ re in no hurry to be a grandmother, ’ said John teasingly, as he handed her a cup of coffee.
    ‘ I haven ’ t much choice, have I? ’ asked Lucille.
    ‘ There ’ s Elizabeth shying off from fixing a wedding date, even though she and Michael have been engaged long enough now, and you calling it off with Rosalie Craven. I saw Mrs. Craven only the other day and she says Rosalie will be back from America in another week or so. ’
    Catherine saw John ’ s fingers tighten, and his face went hard.
    ‘ I don ’ t know why that should interest me, ’ he said quietly.
    ‘ If you aren ’ t interested, you should be. Even if you ’ re no longer engaged, it ’ s natural to be interested in an ex- fiancée . Isn ’ t it, Catherine? ’
    Catherine did not know what to say. She could see that John had no wish to discuss his ex- fiancée , and wondered if that was because he was still in love with her.
    Had she thrown him over for someone else? Yet if she had, wouldn ’ t Aunt Lucille also have had news and gossip about her engagement or marriage to that other person?
    She looked again at John, but he had turned away, and was urging her to eat another biscuit. His eyes were dark as they looked at her, then he smiled.
    ‘ Keep up your strength for sorting out all those papers. ’
    ‘ Oh, are you sorting out your things, Catherine ?’ Lucille asked, diverted. ‘ Have you found it yet? ’
    ‘ Found what? ’ asked Catherine, and surprised a look of annoyance which John directed towards his mother.
    ‘ Anything, dear, ’ the older woman amended hastily. ‘ Anything of interest, I mean. ’
    ‘ Only old bills. Paid, thank goodness, ’ she replied, and there was a long awkward silence. She could see a muscle twitching on John ’ s face, and knew that he was upset. Maybe he had been badly h urt by Rosalie Craven.
    ‘ I ’ d better get back to work ,’ she said lightly, putting down her coffee cup.
    ‘ Finish early and we can go and see a film. Your choice ,’ John offered.
    ‘ Thank you, John .’
    It was a nice offer, and she was happy to take him up on it. As she closed the door she could hear John ’ s voice, suddenly full of annoyance.
    ‘ Honestly, Mum, your tongue runs away with you at times! ’
    She could not hear Aunt Lucille ’ s reply, and she walked on thoughtfully. Was that because of Rosalie, or because she had asked if Catherine had found ‘ it ’ ? Found what? she wondered, then shrugged. Lucille was a very curious person. Going through a lot of personal things would no doubt give her a lot of pleasure, except, of course, if the circumstances were the same as Catherine ’ s. No doubt that was what she had meant.
    Catherine got few letters, except from Mrs. Neill and a few friends she had known in Perth, but she exclaimed with pleasure when Elizabeth handed her a blue envelope with large rather scrawling writing.
    ‘ Oh, lovely ! One from Janie. She never writes, either, unless she really has to. ’
    ‘ Janie? ’ asked Aunt Lucille.
    Catherine ’ s smile wavered for a moment.
    ‘ Yes—Janie Howat. She was going to have been my bridesmaid. ’
    Her voice trailed off as she read the letter, then the joy and laughter was back on her face.
    ‘ Janie ’ s getting married. On Saturday, no less. She ’ s dithered about writing to tell me, because ... well, she felt I would be upset since she never was my bridesmaid. But of course I ’ m not. Not at all, ’ she added firmly.
    ‘ Of course not, dear. You ’ ll have to choose something nice for a wedding gift. No doubt James could help you with that ...’
    ‘ She ’ s wondering if I can go to the wedding. ’ Catherine bit her lip. ‘ But it