Read Online Accidental Engagement by Cally Green - Free Book Online Page B

with a glimpse of what her past had been.
    ‘My dear, that was magnificent,’ said Mr Leverington. ‘I never imagined - but of course I should have known. Any time you want to borrow the piano you must come over here - don’t wait to be asked. Just whenever the fancy takes you.’
    ‘You’re very kind, but I won’t be here much longer,’ she said.
    ‘No?’ He sounded disappointed.
    ‘I have commitments,’ she explained.
    ‘I understand. Well now, I mustn’t monopolise you. There will be plenty of other people who want to talk to you.’ He turned to Mark. ‘But look after her, Mark. Make sure she doesn’t get too tired.’
    ‘Don’t worry. I will.’
     
    It was early evening when they finally returned to Little Brook. The rest of the aft ernoon had passed off enjoyably. O r at least, it would have done if Mark had not been so moody. But although Anna had been disturbed by this, she had nevertheless made the most of the opportunity to get to know some of his friends. And when they finally returned to Little Brook she had plenty to tell Emmy, who was eager to hear all about it.
    ‘And Claire will want to know, too, but she isn’t as shameless as me about asking!’
    Anna laughed. She was pleased to find that Emmy, although spending the evening quietly in her own room, looked much better. The worst of her headache had passed off, leaving her in a mood for a little light diversion.
    ‘So, my dear,' said Emmy with a twinkle. ‘How did it go?’
    ‘Better than I expected,’ Anna smiled.
    She entertained Emmy for the next half hour with an account of the afternoon. Emmy was delighted to hear all about it, and to learn that Anna and Mark had been invited to a charity ball at the start of the following week.
    ‘Oh, I’m so glad you’ll still be here, it would have been an awful shame to miss it,’ said Emmy. ‘The Kettering ’s charity balls are renowned. I used to go to them myself when I was younger . I find them too tiring now. But you’ll have a wonderful time, my dear.’
    Anna returned to her room in happy mood. Happy enough, and confident enough, to do what she knew she must do next: try and recover some more of her memories.
    The afternoon had already produced some new images, the music unlocking a few previously hidden details, and she wanted to try and concentrate on those images, hoping they would expand into something even more revealing.
    She went over to the bag of music which lurked behind the curtains. It had frightened her when she had looked at it before, but she felt strong enough to look at it again. She was no longer feeling weak from the accident, and more importantly she felt more certain about Mark. Their argument over the ring still troubled her, but not sufficiently to make her fee l afraid. She felt at home here, and she felt strong. Whatever memories the music brought to the surface, she felt she could cope.
    She pulled out the bag.
    Mrs Voronowski , she thought, as she opened it. She was my music teacher. She lived in the attic flat, and we had the one on the first floor .
    But who were we ?
    She sat back on her heels and thought. She focused her mind, picturing the shabby flat she had lived in as a child - and as a woman. A battered old sofa covered in crushed velvet had been pushed against one wall. A small table had been pushed into the bay window. They used to eat there, her and her father . . . Her father! Yes, she remembered him. A grey-haired man with kindly eyes. But the memory was a sad one, because she remembered that her father was dead. But there was something else, something that had come after his death, somet hing she could catch glimpses of just at the edge of her memory . . . What was it? And why did it make her afraid?
    She looked around the beautifully-furnished bedroom to give herself courage. Here there was no need to be frightened. Whatever there was in her past that had alarmed her, it could not reach her here.
    She looked down at the bag of music and,