Read Online Across a Summer Sea by Lyn Andrews - Free Book Online Page A

full swing; no doubt it would end up in Hetty’s husband’s pub when all the drink Nellie and Fred had provided was exhausted, and that wouldn’t be long now.  
    Richie was in the yard, smoking a Woodbine.  
    ‘I was just going to come and look for you, Mary. Where’ve you been? What’s been going on? Hetty looks furious.’  
    Briefly Mary told him. ‘Well, now they’re safely in bed perhaps I can go back to enjoying myself,’ she finished.  
    ‘So can I. I missed you.’  
    She pealed with laughter. ‘Oh, Richie! The place is coming down with pretty young girls! And you missed me! You’re a terrible flatterer!’  
    ‘Mary, you really don’t know just how beautiful you are, do you? I’ve been noticing a lot of admiring glances in your direction all day and night.’  
    She blushed and laughed self-consciously. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! We’d better get inside.’ She turned away and in her embarrassment tripped over the head of the yard-brush.  
    Richie caught her before she fell but quickly she recovered her composure.  
    ‘Oh, I’m getting so clumsy!’  
    ‘So, this is where you are and what you’re up to!’ Frank’s bellowed accusation rang out over the yard.  
    ‘Frank! I tripped over! It’s not what it seems.’  
    ‘Don’t be telling me bloody lies, woman! I’ve got eyes in my head!’ He staggered towards them and Mary realised he was very drunk.  
    ‘Tommy was sick so I took them all home and put them to bed. I came into the yard and saw Richie, then I tripped up. That’s the God’s honest truth, Frank. There’s nothing going on. I honestly don’t know what’s the matter with you lately.’  
    ‘You expect me to believe that? The pair of you out here on your own and him with his arms around you! You brazen bitch! And I know all about where you were last night when you told me you’d been shopping. Shopping, my bloody arse!’  
    ‘Frank, there’s no need for language like that and what Mary’s telling you is true—’  
    ‘Oh, I know you were off drinking in the Britannia last night. Don’t you deny it! And that’s not all, I’ll bet!’  
    ‘Who told you that?’ Mary demanded. The noise had already drawn a few of the guests outside.  
    ‘Does it bloody matter? But it was young Nora Phelps, if you must know.’ He was livid. How dare she carry on like this? How dare she make a fool of him in front of the whole street?  
    ‘And you believed her ? She’s a stupid, jealous kid,’ Richie shouted back angrily.  
    ‘Yes, I believe her. Why the hell would she lie?’ Frank grabbed Mary roughly by the arm. ‘I’ll teach you, you bloody hussy!’  
    Mary screamed. Frank raised his fist but before he could bring it down Richie hit him hard on the side of his head and he stumbled and fell, cursing.  
    ‘Frank! Richie! Stop this, both of you!’ Mary shrieked.  
    ‘I won’t stand by and let him belt you for something you haven’t done, Mary!’ Richie stormed.  
    Frank was staggering to his feet. ‘I’ll swing for you, you bloody little upstart! I’ll teach you, both of you!’ He made a swipe at Mary but Richie hit him again and this time he lay sprawled out on the wet flagstones.  
    Within seconds a group of men had appeared. A few tried to get Frank to his feet, the rest gripped Richie’s arms.  
    ‘That’s enough, the pair of yez!’ Fred Jones shouted.  
    Mary was near to tears. ‘Fred, I don’t know what got into Frank. He . . . he tried to hit me! Richie was only defending me. Oh, God! What a mess! I’m sorry, so sorry!’  
    ‘All right, girl! He’s had a bellyful of ale. He’ll be all right when he’s sobered up.’  
    ‘Oh, I’m mortified!’ Mary sobbed. She had never seen Frank like this - she had never known him to be capable of such unreasonable behaviour. And he’d never raised a hand to her before.  
    Nellie and Queenie joined the men.  
    ‘Nellie, I’m sorry. Oh, what a family! First Tommy and now Frank.’