me in a place of our own, and in Chelsea too. I wouldn’t mind a job in a boutique on the King’s Road, and at least you won’t be stuck in a boring library.’
Jenny knew that leaving the opportunity of thelibrary job behind would be her only regret and doubted she’d get such a chance again. For a moment she was saddened but then again staying at home would be far worse. Perhaps she’d be able to find a job in a bookshop and that would be some compensation. Cheered by the thought she said, ‘Right then, I’m off home to sort out what clothes I’m taking. I’ll see you in the morning.’
The two of them retraced their steps and parted outside the flats. Jenny continued on her way, undecided whether to tell her mother she was leaving when she got home or wait until she was packed and ready to go in the morning.
Chapter Ten
Delia was upstairs, just leaving the bathroom when Jennifer returned from her walk. She hadn’t wanted to overplay her hand and so had shown nothing but kindness recently towards Jennifer. However, the girl would be sixteen tomorrow and it was time to bait her again – time to strike.
She followed Jennifer into her bedroom but, not having had a chance to rehearse her words, Delia had to think quickly.
‘Jennifer, I’m not happy that you went out without telling me where you were going. I know you were upset, and Robin thinks I was harsh with you, but I’m not prepared to make excuses for your father. He isn’t coming home, accept that and pull yourself together.’
‘I…I just went out for a walk, that was all.’
‘It was more like you went off in a sulk. You are not a child now and I suggest you stop behaving like one. You’re sixteen tomorrow and thankfully can leave home if you want to.’
‘Thankfully? It sounds like you want me to go.’
Delia smiled sardonically, deciding to move this forward. Going out to the hall she raised her voice to a loud wail. ‘I can’t stand this again. I really can’t. Your behaviour is just too much…too much…’
As Delia had hoped, Robin came running upstairs. ‘Mother, what’s the matter?’
‘I tried to apologise, to explain why I was so harsh, but now Jennifer seems to think I want her to leave home. I don’t, Robin, but…but she was so nasty…so…so rude to me.’
‘Mummy, calm down and let me take you downstairs,’ Robin urged, and then shouted at Jennifer, ‘As for you, I’ll deal with you later.’
Delia clutched her son’s arm as they went into the drawing room. He was making a fuss of her and she enjoyed it, letting him think he had managed to soothe her.
‘If you’re all right now, Mummy, I intend to see that Jenny apologises for her behaviour.’
‘Thank you, darling,’ Delia said, glad that once again Jennifer had proved no match for her. The girl was too young and innocent to work out what was really going on, and Robin was the same, easily fooled.
While Robin went to get Jennifer, Delia composed her expression to one of wounded hurt. When the girl appeared, Delia waited for the apology. It didn’t come. Instead when Jennifer spoke it was with defiance.
‘I know you planned all this,’ she said, ‘but you needn’t have bothered.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘That I’d already decided to leave home.’
‘But you can’t, Jenny,’ Robin protested.
‘Oh yes I can. It’s just what your mother wants.’
‘Don’t be silly. She did once suggest it and had her reasons, but then we agreed that you’re too young. Mother, tell her,’ Robin urged.
‘If Jennifer wants to go there’s nothing I can do to stop her,’ Delia said. Then, seeing the expression on her son’s face, she could have bitten off her tongue. She quickly back-pedalled. ‘Of course I would prefer her to stay, and hope we can persuade her to do just that.’
‘If you believe that, Robin, you’ll believe anything,’ Jennifer told him. ‘I’ve never made her life a misery. In fact it’s the reverse and
Jenny knew that leaving the opportunity of thelibrary job behind would be her only regret and doubted she’d get such a chance again. For a moment she was saddened but then again staying at home would be far worse. Perhaps she’d be able to find a job in a bookshop and that would be some compensation. Cheered by the thought she said, ‘Right then, I’m off home to sort out what clothes I’m taking. I’ll see you in the morning.’
The two of them retraced their steps and parted outside the flats. Jenny continued on her way, undecided whether to tell her mother she was leaving when she got home or wait until she was packed and ready to go in the morning.
Chapter Ten
Delia was upstairs, just leaving the bathroom when Jennifer returned from her walk. She hadn’t wanted to overplay her hand and so had shown nothing but kindness recently towards Jennifer. However, the girl would be sixteen tomorrow and it was time to bait her again – time to strike.
She followed Jennifer into her bedroom but, not having had a chance to rehearse her words, Delia had to think quickly.
‘Jennifer, I’m not happy that you went out without telling me where you were going. I know you were upset, and Robin thinks I was harsh with you, but I’m not prepared to make excuses for your father. He isn’t coming home, accept that and pull yourself together.’
‘I…I just went out for a walk, that was all.’
‘It was more like you went off in a sulk. You are not a child now and I suggest you stop behaving like one. You’re sixteen tomorrow and thankfully can leave home if you want to.’
‘Thankfully? It sounds like you want me to go.’
Delia smiled sardonically, deciding to move this forward. Going out to the hall she raised her voice to a loud wail. ‘I can’t stand this again. I really can’t. Your behaviour is just too much…too much…’
As Delia had hoped, Robin came running upstairs. ‘Mother, what’s the matter?’
‘I tried to apologise, to explain why I was so harsh, but now Jennifer seems to think I want her to leave home. I don’t, Robin, but…but she was so nasty…so…so rude to me.’
‘Mummy, calm down and let me take you downstairs,’ Robin urged, and then shouted at Jennifer, ‘As for you, I’ll deal with you later.’
Delia clutched her son’s arm as they went into the drawing room. He was making a fuss of her and she enjoyed it, letting him think he had managed to soothe her.
‘If you’re all right now, Mummy, I intend to see that Jenny apologises for her behaviour.’
‘Thank you, darling,’ Delia said, glad that once again Jennifer had proved no match for her. The girl was too young and innocent to work out what was really going on, and Robin was the same, easily fooled.
While Robin went to get Jennifer, Delia composed her expression to one of wounded hurt. When the girl appeared, Delia waited for the apology. It didn’t come. Instead when Jennifer spoke it was with defiance.
‘I know you planned all this,’ she said, ‘but you needn’t have bothered.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘That I’d already decided to leave home.’
‘But you can’t, Jenny,’ Robin protested.
‘Oh yes I can. It’s just what your mother wants.’
‘Don’t be silly. She did once suggest it and had her reasons, but then we agreed that you’re too young. Mother, tell her,’ Robin urged.
‘If Jennifer wants to go there’s nothing I can do to stop her,’ Delia said. Then, seeing the expression on her son’s face, she could have bitten off her tongue. She quickly back-pedalled. ‘Of course I would prefer her to stay, and hope we can persuade her to do just that.’
‘If you believe that, Robin, you’ll believe anything,’ Jennifer told him. ‘I’ve never made her life a misery. In fact it’s the reverse and
Similar Books
