Read Online Copper Kingdom by Iris Gower - Free Book Online

you to the gate,’ he said, taking her arm firmly. ‘I don’t think my manager would be very pleased to find that someone had slipped past him, Ben prides himself on his vigilance where the works are concerned.’
    She listened to his strong, masculine voice as he talked to her. She knew he was being polite, making conversation with the daughter of one of his coppermen, but he spoke pleasantly and she was happy to listen.
    There was a pause and she looked up at him, suddenly aware that he had asked her a question. Flustered, she waited for him to repeat it. He smiled slowly and his eyes seemed to look deep inside her.
    â€˜I was wondering if you had another name, apart from Miss Llewelyn,’ he prompted pleasantly. She felt her colour rise.
    â€˜Mali,’ she said quickly, ‘but I know it’s a strange name, Welsh you see.’
    â€˜Mali,’ he said and the sound of it was magic on his tongue.
    They were amid the huddle of the buildings now, hidden from sight. Here there seemed to be quietness and Mali felt conscious that she was alone with Mr Richardson. She glanced up at him, her heart beating uncomfortably fast and he returned her gaze with disconcerting openness.
    â€˜You are very pretty, Mali,’ he said and he seemed to move a little closer to her. Suddenly Katie’s warnings loomed large and threatening in her mind and she backed away from him, stumbling a little in her haste.
    He caught her in a steadying grip but she pulled away from him quickly as though his touch burned.
    â€˜Leave me be, you think I’m some cheap little flossy don’t you? I know your sort. I’m a respectable girl and I don’t care if you are the copper boss, I wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole.’
    He gave a short laugh. ‘I don’t think you are a – flossy, was it? Indeed, I don’t think of you at all. There’s the gate.’ His tone was dry.
    Humiliated, Mali retaliated the only way she knew how – her booted foot shot out and caught him a sharp blow on the shin. Then she was running, through the gate and along the street, wanting only the sanctuary of her own hearth.
    Once indoors, she stoked up the fire and pushed the big kettle onto the flames. Her hands were trembling and she knew deep within her that she was beginning to take too much interest in Mr Richardson. He was a boss, a rich, handsome man and doubtless he would want nothing to do with a girl of her sort except for a quick tumble as Katie had said. And yet the pleasant way he’d made conversation with her and the coolness of his eyes as they’d looked into hers were all imprinted on her mind.
    A strange feeling uncoiled within her and she wondered desperately what was wrong with her judgment. Here she was, a silly little fool, fancying a man she scarcely knew. The sooner she put him out of her mind the better.
    She sat in the rocking chair wishing Mam was here to advise her but Mam was lying beneath the trees in Dan-y-Graig Cemetery. And those last days had been so hard to bear, with Mam coughing her life away, afflicted by the Dolur Ysgyfaint that stole the breath and burnt out the lungs.
    There was a sudden rapping on the door and Katie’s voice calling from outside. ‘Let me in afore I catch a chill.’
    Mali realised that in her haste she had pushed the bolt in place as though she could shut out her very thoughts.
    â€˜What’s wrong Katie?’ she asked as she flung open the door, ‘why aren’t you at work?’
    Katie shrugged. ‘Been sent home,’ she said with maddening calm. ‘Big Mary said I could have some time off.’ She looked casually at her hands, as though examining her nails and Mali stared down at her friend with a smile stretching the corners of her lips upwards.
    â€˜Come on Katie, there’s a good girl, you’ve got news for me haven’t you?’
    Katie pouted. ‘You’re no fun so you’re