Read Online The Girl with the Creel by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online Page B

It’s only natural to enjoy the first night, isn’t it? I’m sure you and Father enjoyed yours.’
    The last remark involving him, Willie Alec considered that his son had overstepped the bounds of decency. ‘That’s not the kind of talk I like in my house, Mick,’ he said, sharply.
    â€˜Ach, I was just joking, Father.’
    â€˜It’s not a joking matter.’
    â€˜Don’t quarrel,’ Lizann pleaded. ‘It was only a bit of fun.’
    â€˜You’re right, lass.’ Willie Alec’s expression changed as he lifted the whisky bottle again. ‘You’ll have another dram, Peter?’ he grinned.
    â€˜I don’t think I should.’
    â€˜If you’re worried about going home drunk, I’ll tell Bella Jeannie the morrow it was my fault.’
    Sure that Lizann’s father would be a match for his mother, Peter held out his glass, and after topping it up, Willie Alec turned to Mick. ‘I was ower hasty, son, and we’ll forget about it, eh?’
    With harmony restored, the jollifications continued, and by the time Lizann was undressing for bed, she was sure she had done the right thing in promising to marry Peter.
    â€˜Mam wants you to come for your supper the morrow,’ Peter told Lizann on Thursday, ‘though she says it’ll not be anything special.’
    â€˜That doesn’t matter,’ she exclaimed, pleased that Bella Jeannie was being friendly. She wasn’t to know that Peter had pressurized his mother into asking her.
    When Hannah was told about the invitation she said, ‘I’m surprised Bella Jeannie hasna kicked up a fuss about this engagement. I’d have said she wouldna think there was a lassie in the whole o’ Scotland good enough for her Peter. She’s for ever telling folk about him learning to be a draughtsman.’
    Lizann smiled proudly. ‘She likely thinks he could do a lot worse than marry into a good family like the Jappys.’
    Nevertheless she was apprehensive when she was taken into the Taits’ kitchen on Friday. Bella Jeannie was dozing by the fire, her vast body jammed into an armchair, still in a stained wrap-around overall, her sleeves rolled up, revealing the wobbling blubber of her upper arms. Giving a start, she opened her eyes. ‘I didna expect you yet,’ she said accusingly. With many grunts and groans, she succeeded in separating herself from her chair, but when Lizann asked if there was anything she could do to help, she snapped, ‘I’ll manage.’
    â€˜Let her see the ring, Lizann,’ Peter said, nerves making his voice rise in pitch a little.
    Shyly, she went forward and held out her left hand, but the woman gave it only a cursory glance and snorted, ‘Have you tell’t Willie Alec yet? The bride’s father’s to pay for the wedding, you ken.’
    Lizann looked helplessly at Peter, who said, still a trifle nervously, ‘He gave me his blessing when I asked him, and Hannah was pleased about it, and all.’
    â€˜Hannah’s never been able to see past Willie Alec. Naebody understood why he chose her, for she was a plain wee moose, and dozens o’ lassies had their eye on him. He was a right handsome man in his young days … still is.’
    Suspecting that Bella Jeannie had been one of the girls whose eye had been on him, Lizann let the slur on her mother pass, but she still felt a bit rattled that Peter had spoken to her father before she came home.
    Taking her frosty expression as dismay at his mother’s reaction, he prompted, ‘Are you not going to congratulate us, Mam?’
    Waddling across, she put her fleshy arms round him. ‘Congratulations, son, but I hope you ken what you’re doing.’ Then she turned to Lizann. ‘You’re getting the finest man in the land. I’ve done everything for him from the day he was born, and I hope you’ll look after him right.’
    Peter