Read Online East End Angel by Carol Rivers - Free Book Online Page B

and I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind a little light relief from the day?’
    ‘There’s no dinner ready yet,’ she said, feeling even more guilty.
    He laughed. ‘That’s not the kind of relief I meant.’
    ‘Oh, Jim, I love you so much.’ She threw her arms round his neck. ‘You always say the right thing.’
    ‘Dunno about that, but I’m bloody freezing. Let’s go where it’s warm.’ He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
    ‘What about me clothes?’ she laughed.
    ‘Leave them to me. Get under.’
    In no time at all they were making love and he was kissing every inch of her body. Pearl forgot her misery and guilt as Jim made her forget the world and Ricky too.
    Later they sat together beside the fire and Jim spoiled her with slices of bread and dripping, and, thanks to Gwen, an extra helping of sugar in their tea.
    She had no regrets about buying a new dress now. What did it matter? You had to live every minute as though it was your last. She might even go to market, where coupons weren’t necessary, and look for a coat. Ruby was right: there were bargains to be had if you searched hard enough.
    Before long they had run out of coal. Rather than go down in the foggy dark to get some, they climbed back in bed. Feeling happier, Pearl linked her arms around her husband’s waist and smiled. They had the whole night to lie in each other’s arms.
    By the time the dance came round, Pearl had bought a new wardrobe, including a grey second-hand astrakhan coat with a velvet collar, which looked out of this world. Parading around the living room with only her bra and French knickers on underneath, she’d had a very positive response from Jim. He hadn’t cared a fig that she’d broken into the housekeeping. Instead he’d assured her that he was a lucky man to have such an adventurous wife.
    On the afternoon of the dance, Pearl prepared well in advance. Jim had said he would be home by four o’clock and she managed to leave work before twelve thirty. The bus brought her home in ten minutes and she hurried to drag in the tin bath. But in her haste she forgot the fire. She was freezing by the time Jim came home.
    ‘Blimey, did I take the wrong turning? Is this the North Pole?’ He rubbed his gloved hands together.
    ‘I had a bath and forgot the fire,’ Pearl admitted as she shivered in her towel.
    Jim threw down his things and laughed. ‘I’ll soon warm you up.’
    Pearl giggled through chattering teeth. ‘Trust you, Jim Nesbitt.’
    ‘Don’t say I ain’t obliging.’
    ‘I’ve got me hair to dry yet.’
    Jim kissed her. ‘I like you just the way you are.’
    ‘I’m a dope, that’s what. Fancy forgetting the fire.’
    He lifted the strands of her wet hair. ‘You know what, you’re just like a playful puppy. And that’s what makes me love you. I wanna look after you and see those sweet lips turn up in a smile.’
    Pearl giggled even though she was freezing. And it wasn’t long before they were kissing and cuddling. By the time they thought about going out, they were starving. Jim’s tummy was rumbling as he tried to loop his tie in the mirror. Pearl felt excited despite her hunger as she smoothed down the skirt of her black dress.
    When Jim turned round she took a breath at the sight of her handsome husband. He’d definitely lost weight since they’d married. But it suited him better than when he stuffed himself full of his mother’s cooking. Not that Jim had lived at home much before they’d married, as he’d travelled round a lot and lived in digs. She straightened his tie. ‘That’s better. It’s the woman’s touch that counts.’
    ‘I’ll have your touch any day.’
    ‘You’re a lemon, you are.’
    ‘Gonna squeeze me, then?’
    ‘Don’t start that again,’ she giggled. ‘We’re late already. We’ll have to have something to eat at the dance as I ain’t got time to cook.’
    ‘I can live on love,’ Jim teased her. ‘Can I kiss you?’
    ‘No,