Read Online An Island Apart by Lillian Beckwith - Free Book Online Page B

have seen the minister,’ he advised in a low voice. ‘He will be willing to marry us the day after tomorrow.’
    â€˜On Thursday?’ she exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. ‘That isn’t possible. It is much too soon!’
    â€˜Was I not after telling you I need to be back on Westisle for the cattle sale on Thursday next,’ he reminded her firmly. ‘We shall need to be away from here no later than Tuesday to be certain of reaching the Island by then.’
    â€˜But I cannot leave here on Tuesday.’ The denial escaped from her lips in a shocked whisper and, seeing his puzzled expression she added hastily, ‘You don’t understand about these things. I am required to give her a week’s notice before I can leave here.’
    He looked at her, a little pityingly she thought, and appeared to dismiss her protest. ‘Seeing I was nearby I called in at the railway station to book for you a ticket. I myself have the other half of the return ticket which brought me here.’
    She felt momentarily breathless. ‘But I shall not be able to travel with you then,’ she insisted but even as she spoke she was conscious of a degree less conviction in her tone and a sudden vindictiveness darted, unbidden, into her mind. Wouldn’t it serve Isabel right if she left without giving due warning? And since she was intending to cut her links with ISLAY sooner or later why shouldn’t she cut them suddenly? Isabel deserved neither loyalty nor consideration and her own loyalty now must surely be to the man whom she was pledged to marry. And wasn’t the day after tomorrow the day she was due her afternoon and evening off anyway? Apart from the rush he couldn’t have fixed a more suitable time.
    She felt him watching her keenly, no doubt waiting for her to reveal whatever was passing through her mind. Drawing a deep breath she looked straight at him. ‘I will be ready to go with you to Westisle on Tuesday as you wish,’ she said resolutely, ‘but neither of us must say one word about the matter until that day.’
    â€˜That will be the way of it,’ he confirmed touching her shoulder lightly.
    When she took his strupak into the Smoking Room she put an extra cup on the tray for herself. She could always drink a cup of tea in company no matter how many she might have drunk previously. There was still so much she wanted to find out about him and this seemed a good opportunity. After they’d been talking casually for a few minutes she said, ‘Tell me, do Island women work as hard these days as I remember my Granny working when I was a girl? I’m meaning outside work.’
    â€˜Ach, I’d say there is not so much,’ he said dismissively. ‘Maybe the hens and the milking and the calf feeding.’ He paused for a second before adding, ‘But only if they have a mind that way.’
    â€˜I should be willing to see to the hens and the milking and calf feeding since those things my Granny taught me to do and I daresay I could lend a hand at planting and harvest time, but I would not wish to be at the sheep dipping or the shearing and nor would I care to be at the calf cutting.’ He seemed to realise she was voicing not a wish but a refusal.
    â€˜That is all men’s work,’ he snorted. ‘I doubt you would be needed or welcome at such times. My brother and myself have always managed these things without help.’
    After another short silence she said, ‘I will need to get myself a portmanteau. There is very little I would wish to take from here but there will be a few things.’
    â€˜Just so,’ he assented. ‘Will I get a portmanteau for you and keep it in my bedroom? It would not look strange for me to do that seeing I am to be leaving soon enough.’
    â€˜That would be the best way,’ she agreed, nodding her head in approval. ‘But you must promise to tell me the cost so I can