Read Online Always And Forever by Betty Neels - Free Book Online

guests took for granted. Tiger, accommodated in the corner of his master’s room, settled down for the night, leaving his master to go down to the bar for a nightcap and a study of the city.
    The pair of them explored its streets after their breakfast. It was a fine day, and the doctor intended to drive to the coast that afternoon, but exploring the city would give him the opportunity of getting to know it. After all, it would probably be in York where Amabel would find a job.
    He lunched in an ancient pub, where Tiger was welcomed with water and biscuits, and then went back to the hotel, got into his car and drove to Bolton Percy.
    Amabel had spent the morning doing the small chores Aunt Thisbe allowed her to do, attending to Oscar’s needs and taking Cyril for a walk, but there was still time to worry about what she should wear for her outing. Her wardrobe was so scanty that it was really a waste of time to worry about it.
    It would have to be the pleated skirt and the short coat she had travelled in; they would pass muster for driving around the country, and Dr Fforde never looked at her as though he actually saw her. It had been lovely to see him again, like meeting an old friend—one who listened without interrupting and offered suggestions, never advice, in the friendliest impersonal manner of a good doctor. He was a doctor, of course, she reminded herself.
    He came punctually, spent ten minutes talking to Miss Parsons, suggested that Cyril might like to share the back seat with Tiger, popped Amabel into the car and took the road to the coast.
    Flamborough stood high on cliffs above the North Sea, and down at sea level boats sheltered in the harbour. Dr Fforde parked the car, put the dogs on their leads and walked Amabel briskly towards the peninsula. It was breezy, but the air was exhilarating, and they seemed to be the only people around.
    When they stopped to look out to sea, Amabel said happily, ‘Oh, this is marvellous; so grand and beautiful—fancy living here and waking up each morning and seeing the sea.’
    They walked a long way, and as they turned to go back Dr Fforde said, carefully casual, ‘Do you want to talk about your plans, Amabel? Perhaps your aunt has already suggested something? Or do you plan to stay with her indefinitely?’
    â€˜I wanted to ask you about that. There’s a problem. You won’t mind if I tell you about it, and perhaps you could give me some advice. You see I was told quite unwittingly, by Mrs Bluett who owns the village shop, that Aunt Thisbe had plans to spend the winter in Italy with a friend. I haven’t liked to ask her, and she hasn’t said anything, but I can’t allow her to lose a lovely holiday like that because I’m here. After all, she didn’t expect me, but she’s so kind and she might feel that she should stay here so that I’ve got a home, if you see what I mean.’
    They were standing facing each other, and she stared up into his face. ‘You can see that I must get a job very quickly, but I’m not sure how to set about it. I mean, should I answer advertisements in the paper or visit an agency? There’s not much I can do, and it has to be somewhere Cyril and Oscar can come too.’
    He said slowly, ‘Well, first you must convince your aunt that you want a job—and better not say that you know of her holiday. Go to York, put your name down at any agencies you can find…’He paused, frowning. ‘What can you do, Amabel?’
    â€˜Nothing, really,’ she said cheerfully. ‘Housework, cooking—or I expect I could be a waitress or work in a shop. They’re not the sort of jobs people want, are they? And they aren’t well paid. But if I could get a start somewhere, and also somewhere to live…’
    â€˜Do you suppose your aunt would allow you to live at her house while she was away?’
    â€˜Perhaps. But how would I get to work? The bus service