Read Online Promise Made by Linda Sole - Free Book Online Page B

Mother.’
    â€˜Yes, all right,’ she said. ‘Are we friends again?’
    â€˜Yes, of course. Come here, darling.’ Marcus drew her into his arms, and this time she offered her lips for his kiss. She sighed and nestled her head against his shoulder, feeling the relief flow over her. ‘I really am sorry about last night. I won’t let it happen around you again, Fran – but I can’t promise not to drink. I need it. It isn’t just what I’ve learned about Father, it’s the war . . . all your friends dying . . . the fear of waiting for the next call . . .’
    Frances looked up at him, seeing the haunted look in his eyes. ‘It must have been awful for you.’
    â€˜It was bloody,’ Marcus said. ‘I know it is over and that I’m home again, but it isn’t easy to forget. The drinking is a habit I picked up. We all did it whenever we got the chance, because it helped to deaden the fear – and the hell of going up, knowing that each day might be your last.’
    â€˜But you are home,’ Frances told him. ‘You’re here with me and Charlie – and you don’t have to worry about being shot down. We can be happy together if you let go, Marcus. You have to let go of all that . . .’
    â€˜I’ll try for your sake,’ Marcus said. ‘Anyway, I shall have to pull myself together, because I need to look for a job.’
    â€˜Look for a job?’ Frances was shocked. ‘But I thought you were going to work for Sam?’
    â€˜Yes, so did I,’ Marcus said. ‘But I’ve changed my mind. I would rather go into a factory after . . .’ He shook his head. ‘He thought he could buy me with his dirty money, but I told him to go to hell. Mother told me she thought something wasn’t right about that property in London, but I thought she was imagining things. She will be sickened when I tell her what I’ve discovered.’
    â€˜What have you discovered?’
    Marcus shook his head. ‘No, I can’t tell you, Fran. It is too disgusting. I’m not sure what to do about it at the moment, but I’ve told him what he can do with it. I don’t want to be involved in any of that . . .’
    Frances was puzzled. She had always sensed that there was a darker side to her father-in-law. He was so secretive about his business in London. She wished that Marcus would tell her, but he was obviously too angry and too distressed to discuss it for the moment.
    â€˜Emily wants to take us all out to the Lamb Hotel in Ely for dinner while she is here,’ Frances said, deciding to change the subject. ‘She said tomorrow evening – will that be all right for you?’
    â€˜Yes, why not?’ Marcus said and laughed, a genuine laugh this time. ‘Don’t look so worried, my darling. I promise to be a good boy and behave.’
    â€˜Oh Marcus . . .’ Frances shook her head at him. ‘I’m so glad you’re home. It was awful when you were away. I don’t want to quarrel anymore. Please, don’t let us quarrel. I love you so much.’
    â€˜We shan’t quarrel,’ Marcus said and put his arms around her. ‘I wouldn’t mind something to eat now. I have an appointment this afternoon. It’s a job managing a small farm machinery depot . . . doesn’t pay what I had expected to earn, but we shall be lucky if I get it.’
    â€˜I hope you do,’ Frances said fiercely. ‘I don’t want you to work for Sam if it makes you unhappy.’
    â€˜I’ve got a bit of money in the bank,’ Marcus told her. ‘We’re not on the bread line yet, old girl. Although, if he wanted, he could throw us out of the house.’
    â€˜He wouldn’t?’ Frances felt a little tingle of alarm. ‘It was supposed to be a wedding present.’
    â€˜Yes,’ Marcus