Read Online Act of Will by Barbara Taylor Bradford - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Taylor Bradford
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head closer to Audra’s, whispered in a conspiratorial manner, ‘As I keep telling you, I think our Charlie really fancies you, Audra. And quite a bit, at that.’
Audra blushed furiously. ‘Don’t be so silly, Gwen, of course he doesn’t.’
‘He does too! He’s always asking questions about you!’ Gwen shot back with unprecedented fierceness, giving her friend a stern glare. ‘He’s
definitely
interested in you, I just know he is.’
‘Oh,’ was the only thing Audra could think of to say, feeling flustered all of a sudden.
‘Well, you could do worse, you know.’
‘Yes,’ Audra murmured, and then clamped her mouth shut as the waitress hove in view.
Much to Audra’s relief the young woman headedstraight for their table, carrying a laden tray. She began to unload the tea things with a great deal of fuss and clattering, and this curtailed their conversation for a few moments. Gwen threw Audra a disgusted look and made a face, indicating her disapproval of the noisy waitress, who seemed hell bent on irritating them.
Audra bit back a smile and glanced away. Once the waitress had departed, she picked up the large brown pot and began to pour tea into Gwen’s cup, remarking, ‘I suppose I could say
she
’s just had the last word.’
‘Oh no she hasn’t, not by a long shot,’ Gwen said with a sly little smile. ‘Wait until it’s time for her tip.’
CHAPTER 5
Gwen Thornton was a sweet affectionate girl, open hearted and generous of nature, and she genuinely cared for Audra Kenton.
From the first moment she had met her, Gwen had been drawn to Audra. She had recognized there was something very special about the small, delicate-looking girl with the extraordinary blue eyes and the shy smile that could dazzle at times.
Gwen had quickly come to understand what it actually was that made Audra stand out in a crowd. It was her background and upbringing. Coming from an ordinary, though solid, middle-class family as she did, Gwen knew that Audra’s air of breeding was downright impossible to imitate. You either had it or you didn’t. It simply could not be acquired. And it not only gave Audra distinction, but explained her aristocratic aloofness, her manners and her self-assurance, which were bred in the bone.
However, Gwen admired and loved Audra for a variety of other reasons, all of which added to her uniqueness. Audra was a superior young woman in every way, one who was inordinately loyal and loving; she was also the most indomitable person Gwen had ever met.
Yet, despite these commendable traits, Gwen could not help worrying about Audra sometimes. She chiefly worried because Audra was without a family. Gwen knewmore than anyone how much this bothered Audra. She sorely missed her brothers, yearned to
belong
in the way she had when her mother had been alive. This was why Gwen went out of her way to make her best friend feel like a real member of the Thornton clan, to make her truly understand she was as much loved as her baby sister Jenny-Rosalie, and her brothers, Charles, Jeremy and Harry.
Ever since Charlie, the eldest, had shown an interest in Audra, Gwen had been encouraging him, endeavouring to foster a relationship between them, to fan the flames. But from time to time Gwen had had to admit to herself that the interest was a trifle one-sided thus far; and she sometimes wondered if her sweet but rather dull brother was the right match for Audra. Inevitably, Gwen managed to convince herself that he really was ideal. Certainly there was no question in her mind that Charlie was a good catch, since he was such an admirable young man, and one with an assured future, after all. He would not stay a bachelor for very long, once he had qualified as a doctor, and he would make a wonderful husband and father. Gwen had always known in her bones that Charlie was cut out to be a family man.
And in Gwen’s mind, the crucial word was indeed
family
. This was what Audra longed for the most and so she was
Audra blushed furiously. ‘Don’t be so silly, Gwen, of course he doesn’t.’
‘He does too! He’s always asking questions about you!’ Gwen shot back with unprecedented fierceness, giving her friend a stern glare. ‘He’s
definitely
interested in you, I just know he is.’
‘Oh,’ was the only thing Audra could think of to say, feeling flustered all of a sudden.
‘Well, you could do worse, you know.’
‘Yes,’ Audra murmured, and then clamped her mouth shut as the waitress hove in view.
Much to Audra’s relief the young woman headedstraight for their table, carrying a laden tray. She began to unload the tea things with a great deal of fuss and clattering, and this curtailed their conversation for a few moments. Gwen threw Audra a disgusted look and made a face, indicating her disapproval of the noisy waitress, who seemed hell bent on irritating them.
Audra bit back a smile and glanced away. Once the waitress had departed, she picked up the large brown pot and began to pour tea into Gwen’s cup, remarking, ‘I suppose I could say
she
’s just had the last word.’
‘Oh no she hasn’t, not by a long shot,’ Gwen said with a sly little smile. ‘Wait until it’s time for her tip.’
CHAPTER 5
Gwen Thornton was a sweet affectionate girl, open hearted and generous of nature, and she genuinely cared for Audra Kenton.
From the first moment she had met her, Gwen had been drawn to Audra. She had recognized there was something very special about the small, delicate-looking girl with the extraordinary blue eyes and the shy smile that could dazzle at times.
Gwen had quickly come to understand what it actually was that made Audra stand out in a crowd. It was her background and upbringing. Coming from an ordinary, though solid, middle-class family as she did, Gwen knew that Audra’s air of breeding was downright impossible to imitate. You either had it or you didn’t. It simply could not be acquired. And it not only gave Audra distinction, but explained her aristocratic aloofness, her manners and her self-assurance, which were bred in the bone.
However, Gwen admired and loved Audra for a variety of other reasons, all of which added to her uniqueness. Audra was a superior young woman in every way, one who was inordinately loyal and loving; she was also the most indomitable person Gwen had ever met.
Yet, despite these commendable traits, Gwen could not help worrying about Audra sometimes. She chiefly worried because Audra was without a family. Gwen knewmore than anyone how much this bothered Audra. She sorely missed her brothers, yearned to
belong
in the way she had when her mother had been alive. This was why Gwen went out of her way to make her best friend feel like a real member of the Thornton clan, to make her truly understand she was as much loved as her baby sister Jenny-Rosalie, and her brothers, Charles, Jeremy and Harry.
Ever since Charlie, the eldest, had shown an interest in Audra, Gwen had been encouraging him, endeavouring to foster a relationship between them, to fan the flames. But from time to time Gwen had had to admit to herself that the interest was a trifle one-sided thus far; and she sometimes wondered if her sweet but rather dull brother was the right match for Audra. Inevitably, Gwen managed to convince herself that he really was ideal. Certainly there was no question in her mind that Charlie was a good catch, since he was such an admirable young man, and one with an assured future, after all. He would not stay a bachelor for very long, once he had qualified as a doctor, and he would make a wonderful husband and father. Gwen had always known in her bones that Charlie was cut out to be a family man.
And in Gwen’s mind, the crucial word was indeed
family
. This was what Audra longed for the most and so she was
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