Read Online Promise to Obey by Stella Whitelaw - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stella Whitelaw
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the garden before it gets dark.’
‘I want to play in the dark,’ said Lily, jumping up and down. ‘I like the dark. It’s all spooky.’
Daniel said nothing. He was lining up raisins on the rim of his plate before eating them. It was a slow and deliberate procedure.
Lucas came in the kitchen with his cup and saucer. Lily was pretending to smoke the celery stick, giggling and coughing. ‘Have you got a light, mister?’
‘Bad habits already, young lady?’ he said, gravely. ‘We shall have to watch you. I’ll get you a nicotine patch.’
Lily blew out pretend smoke and started coughing again. Jessica fetched a glass of water from the tap. She drank it and the coughing eased.
‘Is there another inhaler for Lily?’ Jessica asked. ‘I think her current puffer is nearly empty. We’re going to have a lesson this evening on the best way to use it.’
‘I keep Lily’s inhalers in a safe place. I’ll get one for you before I go back to the hospital,’ said Lucas, closing the dishwasher door.
‘Another RTA?’
‘No, I had a list this morning. I’m going back now to check on them. They should be in recovery or transferred to their rooms by now.’ He spoke in a vague manner, miles away, mentally going over what he had to do. ‘I’ll catch a quick bite at the canteen. Don’t wait supper for me.’
Jessica discovered that Mrs Harris had left a cold supper tray for Lady Grace and all she had to do was heat some soup and take it up. She would have soup and another sandwich.
They played in the garden till the light began to fail. Jessica could only remember how to play
He
and
What’s the Time, Mr
Wolf
?
Lily threw herself into both games with a complete disregard for the rules. Daniel didn’t understand what they were doing but enjoyed shouting
What’s the Time, Mr Wolf
? Jessica noticed that his motor skills were not co-ordinated and he ran awkwardly, sometimes almost falling.
They danced and sang
Ring-a-Ring a-Roses
, which seemed to help his co-ordination, because they were inter-acting together. He didn’t know the words. Lily sang loud enough for two.
When she took Lily upstairs for her bath, Jessica told Daniel that he could stay up for another half an hour as he was older. He didn’t react.
‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’ he said.
‘Bedtime,’ Lily shrieked.
At this rate they would have Lady Grace banging on the floor with Fred.
It was quite late before Jessica took her supper on a tray into the library and settled herself into a comfortable armchair. Lady Grace had had her supper and was settled with a book.
One of the bookcases had a false door which opened and revealed a medium size television set. It was an older model but the picture was clear with a good signal and Jessica was happy to watch any programme.
She was lulled into deep relaxation with the undemanding programme, a pleasant supper by herself, a strenuous day and the fresh air activity. She was dozing off, halfway to a rambling dream about trains, when she jolted awake by a tiny noise.
Lucas was switching off the television.
‘Late night film,’ he said. ‘Were you watching it?’
Jessica shook her head. ‘No, I wasn’t. I fell asleep. What’s the time?’ She nearly added,
Mr Wolf.
‘It’s after midnight. Cops and robbers film, very violent. Not at all suitable for a young lady to watch.’
She struggled to sit up. ‘Heavens. I’d better clear up the supper things.’
‘Leave it for Mrs Harris in the morning,’ said Lucas. He waslooking at her with an expression that was impossible to fathom, his eyes full of warmth. ‘You don’t look nearly so fierce when you are asleep,’ he added.
Her heart began to beat faster as he came over to the armchair and held out his hand. He smelt fresh and manly. It was a heady scent. ‘Would you like me to tell you a bedtime story?’ he asked.
‘What story would it be?’ she said, her throat going dry. He helped her to her feet. She was quite unsteady.
‘I
‘I want to play in the dark,’ said Lily, jumping up and down. ‘I like the dark. It’s all spooky.’
Daniel said nothing. He was lining up raisins on the rim of his plate before eating them. It was a slow and deliberate procedure.
Lucas came in the kitchen with his cup and saucer. Lily was pretending to smoke the celery stick, giggling and coughing. ‘Have you got a light, mister?’
‘Bad habits already, young lady?’ he said, gravely. ‘We shall have to watch you. I’ll get you a nicotine patch.’
Lily blew out pretend smoke and started coughing again. Jessica fetched a glass of water from the tap. She drank it and the coughing eased.
‘Is there another inhaler for Lily?’ Jessica asked. ‘I think her current puffer is nearly empty. We’re going to have a lesson this evening on the best way to use it.’
‘I keep Lily’s inhalers in a safe place. I’ll get one for you before I go back to the hospital,’ said Lucas, closing the dishwasher door.
‘Another RTA?’
‘No, I had a list this morning. I’m going back now to check on them. They should be in recovery or transferred to their rooms by now.’ He spoke in a vague manner, miles away, mentally going over what he had to do. ‘I’ll catch a quick bite at the canteen. Don’t wait supper for me.’
Jessica discovered that Mrs Harris had left a cold supper tray for Lady Grace and all she had to do was heat some soup and take it up. She would have soup and another sandwich.
They played in the garden till the light began to fail. Jessica could only remember how to play
He
and
What’s the Time, Mr
Wolf
?
Lily threw herself into both games with a complete disregard for the rules. Daniel didn’t understand what they were doing but enjoyed shouting
What’s the Time, Mr Wolf
? Jessica noticed that his motor skills were not co-ordinated and he ran awkwardly, sometimes almost falling.
They danced and sang
Ring-a-Ring a-Roses
, which seemed to help his co-ordination, because they were inter-acting together. He didn’t know the words. Lily sang loud enough for two.
When she took Lily upstairs for her bath, Jessica told Daniel that he could stay up for another half an hour as he was older. He didn’t react.
‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’ he said.
‘Bedtime,’ Lily shrieked.
At this rate they would have Lady Grace banging on the floor with Fred.
It was quite late before Jessica took her supper on a tray into the library and settled herself into a comfortable armchair. Lady Grace had had her supper and was settled with a book.
One of the bookcases had a false door which opened and revealed a medium size television set. It was an older model but the picture was clear with a good signal and Jessica was happy to watch any programme.
She was lulled into deep relaxation with the undemanding programme, a pleasant supper by herself, a strenuous day and the fresh air activity. She was dozing off, halfway to a rambling dream about trains, when she jolted awake by a tiny noise.
Lucas was switching off the television.
‘Late night film,’ he said. ‘Were you watching it?’
Jessica shook her head. ‘No, I wasn’t. I fell asleep. What’s the time?’ She nearly added,
Mr Wolf.
‘It’s after midnight. Cops and robbers film, very violent. Not at all suitable for a young lady to watch.’
She struggled to sit up. ‘Heavens. I’d better clear up the supper things.’
‘Leave it for Mrs Harris in the morning,’ said Lucas. He waslooking at her with an expression that was impossible to fathom, his eyes full of warmth. ‘You don’t look nearly so fierce when you are asleep,’ he added.
Her heart began to beat faster as he came over to the armchair and held out his hand. He smelt fresh and manly. It was a heady scent. ‘Would you like me to tell you a bedtime story?’ he asked.
‘What story would it be?’ she said, her throat going dry. He helped her to her feet. She was quite unsteady.
‘I
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