Read Online Love or Duty--A saga set in 1920s Liverpool by Rosie Harris - Free Book Online Page B

the bandstand.
    She wondered if she would be able to persuade Arnold to accompany them. It would be a wonderful opportunity for him to get to know Kelly right away from the pressure of her mother or father’s presence.
    Later in the afternoon when Penny arrived back home she found that Mary had already set the table in the morning room for Kelly’s supper. There was a plate of egg and cress sandwiches and a piece of chocolate cake.
    â€˜Do you want a glass of milk to drink with that?’ Penny asked.
    Kelly shrugged her thin shoulders. ‘Not really, I’d sooner have some lemonade,’ she said hopefully.
    After she had finished her meal Penny took her upstairs and washed her hands and face.
    â€˜I’ve never gone to bed this early before,’ she protested as Penny helped her to undress and put on her nightdress.
    â€˜You don’t have to go to sleep right away,’ Penny told her. ‘I’ll see if I can find you some picture books to look at.’
    â€˜You didn’t have your tea with me so are you going downstairs now to have some grub with your mam and dad?’ Kelly asked when Penny came back with a pile of magazines.
    Penny felt her cheeks redden. ‘Yes, that’s right,’ she said almost apologetically.
    â€˜They don’t want me down there with them because they don’t like me, do they?’ Kelly muttered defiantly.
    â€˜Of course they like you,’ Penny protested. ‘It’s just that they aren’t used to having young children around the place … not since I grew up,’ she added lamely.
    She bent over the bed and kissed Kelly on the brow. ‘Would you like me to sit down and read you a story?’
    â€˜Do you mean from a comic?’ Kelly’s blue eyes widened excitedly. ‘Sometimes my mam brings one of them home for me when she goes cleaning offices and she finds one thrown out in the rubbish bin.’
    â€˜Your mother goes out cleaning?’
    â€˜Of course she does; she has to earn money for grub and her booze. She only goes out cleaning at nights though and usually Lily and Brian are asleep by then. She leaves a bottle all ready for me to give the baby when it starts grizzling.’
    â€˜Does this happen every night?’ Penny quizzed her.
    â€˜Nearly every night in the week except on Saturdays; that’s when me mam goes to the pub for a bevvy with some of her friends.’ Her brow creased into a frown making her look old beyond her years. ‘I don’t know how she’ll manage without me there to look after the little ’uns when she wants to go out. Perhaps she’ll make Paddy do it.’
    â€˜Paddy? I haven’t met him. Is he your older brother?’
    â€˜That’s right. He always skedaddles off somewhere with his mates when they come out of school and we don’t see him until bedtime. If he does that then me mam will have to take the baby with her.’
    â€˜You mean she’ll leave Brian and little Lily on their own?’ Penny asked aghast.
    â€˜Yeah and they get scared on their own so they’ll probably both be screaming their heads off by the time she gets back home.’
    Before Penny could think what to say in response, Mary knocked on the bedroom door. ‘Sorry to disturb you Miss Penny but Mr Arnold has arrived and he’s asking for you.’
    Arnold Watson, smartly dressed in white flannels and a dark green and white striped blazer, was waiting in the hall. He was twirling his panama boater hat with an air of impatience.
    Penny paused as she descended the stairs and felt a surge of emotion. He looked so handsome that it made her heart beat faster and a smile played on her lips as she greeted him.
    â€˜Why aren’t you ready?’ he asked looking at her critically as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. ‘We’re going to be late at the club,’ he added tersely.
    â€˜Late for what?’ Penny asked a puzzled look