Read Online Promise Made by Linda Sole - Free Book Online

have lied to Vane about a thing like that . . . it isn’t right or fair.’
    â€˜I didn’t lie to him. He assumed that the child was Simon’s and I didn’t tell him otherwise.’
    â€˜It’s the same thing,’ Daniel said. ‘And it’s not like you, Emily. I wouldn’t have expected you to do something like that . . .’
    â€˜Oh, don’t look at me like that,’ Emily said, stung by his words. She already felt guilty enough without his censure. ‘I know I ought to have told him, but he was just recovering from a heart attack – and Amelia begged me not to disappoint him. He had just lost his only son and I hadn’t got the heart to hurt him like that.’
    â€˜I see . . .’ Daniel nodded but she could tell that he wasn’t convinced. ‘Well, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to me – but you know your own business best.’
    â€˜I can’t tell him now. He adores Robert,’ Emily said. ‘Besides, what harm can it do?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Daniel said. ‘As long as you can live with it I suppose it’s your affair.’
    Emily was uncomfortably aware that he was right, but she was upset that he seemed to think it was all her fault. He hadn’t been there – he hadn’t seen the pleading look in Amelia’s eyes or the delight in Vane’s. And she’d been particularly vulnerable at the time, unable to face telling Vane that she was carrying her lover’s child.
    â€˜Anyway, let’s forget it,’ Daniel said as she was silent. ‘I’m worried about Henry. He’s ill but he won’t admit it.’
    â€˜Yes, I know,’ Emily agreed. ‘Mary begged him to go to the doctor this morning, but he said he was too busy.’
    â€˜I think it will finish him when the farm goes,’ Daniel said. ‘You and Frances will lose out, Connor too.’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter about me, and Frances is all right,’ Emily said. ‘Connor is still at school but when he leaves I’ll do what I can for him.’
    â€˜You can’t help us all, Emily,’ Daniel said with a wry grin. ‘Besides, all that lad wants is to work on the land. He could do better for himself if he stopped on at school, went to college and earned a degree, as Frances wants him to – but he hates school and I doubt if he will stay past the end of the summer term. He would have left at fourteen if Frances had allowed it.’
    â€˜We’ll see what happens when it comes to it,’ Emily said. ‘Actually, I do have quite a bit of money going spare, Daniel. Not enough to save the farm – but I could help you out with the garage you want.’
    â€˜No, thanks,’ Daniel said swiftly. ‘I can manage for the time being. Cley owes me two thousand and I intend getting my money.’
    â€˜Cley isn’t like you or Henry,’ Emily said with a frown. ‘I don’t trust him these days – and he will wriggle out of paying you if he can.’
    Daniel coughed and swore beneath his breath. ‘I would have thrashed it out of him once – but I don’t think I could do it now.’
    â€˜You will get better,’ Emily said, looking at him anxiously. ‘Alice said the hospital told her there were no lasting effects of the rotten experiences you’ve had, Dan – or was that just for her sake?’
    â€˜No, I shall be fine once I get over this,’ Daniel said. ‘It’s the remnants of a fever I had when I was in hospital, but nothing to worry about. In a few months I shall be back to normal – but I don’t have that long to wait. I’ve told Cley I want my money now.’
    Emily nodded, looking doubtful. ‘Well, I wish you good luck,’ she said. ‘But my offer still stands. If you need money come to me. I will make it a loan if you would prefer, until you are as