Read Online The House by Princes Park by Maureen Lee - Free Book Online
Authors: Maureen Lee
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hundred. What’s it like outside? I told Arky not to open the curtains. My head’s splitting from last night.’ Last night, the Rowland-Graves had held a dinner party.
‘It’s nice outside, sunny and warm.’
Emily winced. ‘I’d prefer it dull and cold.’
‘I thought we could go shopping,’ Ruby said hopefully as she sat on the edge of the bed.
‘Sorry, dear. I’m going to a garden party this afternoon. I’m urgently in need of a rejuvenating bath and you know how long it takes me to get ready.’
It took hours of massaging the sagging skin, painting the ageing face, teasing the dyed hair into a satisfactory style, trying on at least a dozen outfits, deciding which shoes went best with the frock or costume that had been chosen, searching for appropriate jewellery, the most flattering hat.
‘I need new shoes,’ Ruby growled. ‘All the ones I’ve got now are too small.’
‘Oh, dear!’ Emily bit her lip, feeling guilty that she was neglecting the girl. If Mim and Ronnie Rowland-Graves hadn’t appeared on the scene, Emily would have leapt at the idea of shopping for shoes. But to her everlasting relief, Mim and Ronnie had. They’d led a fast, slightly
risqué
life in India and were set on doing the same in England. In their early fifties, their main aim in life was to have a good time. They paid no regard to the married status of their guests, nor their ages, as long as they shared their quest for excitement, which involved drinking too much, engaging in spicy conversation, and even spicier party games, all of which would have shocked Edwin to the bones were he still alive.
She stared at Ruby’s thin face, no longer cheerful, stilllooking as if she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in ages, and wondered if she was lonely by herself for so much of the time. Emily couldn’t possibly have taken her to the Rowland-Graves’s, which was no place for a young girl. She had an idea. ‘If you like, later, I’ll drop you off at Kirkby station and you can go to Liverpool and buy shoes yourself.’
Ruby couldn’t have been more delighted had she been offered the Crown Jewels. She leapt off the bed and danced around the room. ‘
Can
I? Oh,
can
I? Oh, Emily, I’d
love
to. I’ve never been on a train. What time are you leaving? Shall I get changed?’
‘But how will you get home from the station?’ Emily was already wishing she hadn’t been quite so hasty. Was she being irresponsible? No, she decided after a few seconds’ thought. Had Ruby gone into service, she would have been given all sorts of onerous tasks to do, shopping among them. It would do the girl good to go out by herself.
‘I’ll walk home from the station. It’s not far, only a few miles,’ Ruby said fervently, her big, dark eyes suddenly anxious that the wonderful treat might be denied.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely certain.’
The big train came charging into Kirkby station like a monster, snorting clouds of dirty smoke. Ruby, in her best dress – white, patterned with rosebuds – climbed into a carriage, hugging herself with glee. She had two ten-shilling notes folded in her purse, as well as a further five shillings in coins for her fare and any other expenses that might occur.
All the way to Liverpool, much to the irritation of the only other passenger, a woman, she flew from one side of the carriage to the other to look at the view, at the way it changed from soft green fields to rows of cramped brickhouses then to a forest of factories before drawing into Exchange station where she got off, marvelling at the vastness of the building and the steaming, panting trains.
Happiness bounced like a ball in Ruby’s chest as she made her way through the crowded, vibrant city to Lewis’s department store where, feeling terribly important, she bought a pair of Clarks’ sandals for four and eleven, and black patent leather shoes with a strap and button for seven and six. It had been
almost
true to claim she’d grown out of the
‘It’s nice outside, sunny and warm.’
Emily winced. ‘I’d prefer it dull and cold.’
‘I thought we could go shopping,’ Ruby said hopefully as she sat on the edge of the bed.
‘Sorry, dear. I’m going to a garden party this afternoon. I’m urgently in need of a rejuvenating bath and you know how long it takes me to get ready.’
It took hours of massaging the sagging skin, painting the ageing face, teasing the dyed hair into a satisfactory style, trying on at least a dozen outfits, deciding which shoes went best with the frock or costume that had been chosen, searching for appropriate jewellery, the most flattering hat.
‘I need new shoes,’ Ruby growled. ‘All the ones I’ve got now are too small.’
‘Oh, dear!’ Emily bit her lip, feeling guilty that she was neglecting the girl. If Mim and Ronnie Rowland-Graves hadn’t appeared on the scene, Emily would have leapt at the idea of shopping for shoes. But to her everlasting relief, Mim and Ronnie had. They’d led a fast, slightly
risqué
life in India and were set on doing the same in England. In their early fifties, their main aim in life was to have a good time. They paid no regard to the married status of their guests, nor their ages, as long as they shared their quest for excitement, which involved drinking too much, engaging in spicy conversation, and even spicier party games, all of which would have shocked Edwin to the bones were he still alive.
She stared at Ruby’s thin face, no longer cheerful, stilllooking as if she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in ages, and wondered if she was lonely by herself for so much of the time. Emily couldn’t possibly have taken her to the Rowland-Graves’s, which was no place for a young girl. She had an idea. ‘If you like, later, I’ll drop you off at Kirkby station and you can go to Liverpool and buy shoes yourself.’
Ruby couldn’t have been more delighted had she been offered the Crown Jewels. She leapt off the bed and danced around the room. ‘
Can
I? Oh,
can
I? Oh, Emily, I’d
love
to. I’ve never been on a train. What time are you leaving? Shall I get changed?’
‘But how will you get home from the station?’ Emily was already wishing she hadn’t been quite so hasty. Was she being irresponsible? No, she decided after a few seconds’ thought. Had Ruby gone into service, she would have been given all sorts of onerous tasks to do, shopping among them. It would do the girl good to go out by herself.
‘I’ll walk home from the station. It’s not far, only a few miles,’ Ruby said fervently, her big, dark eyes suddenly anxious that the wonderful treat might be denied.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely certain.’
The big train came charging into Kirkby station like a monster, snorting clouds of dirty smoke. Ruby, in her best dress – white, patterned with rosebuds – climbed into a carriage, hugging herself with glee. She had two ten-shilling notes folded in her purse, as well as a further five shillings in coins for her fare and any other expenses that might occur.
All the way to Liverpool, much to the irritation of the only other passenger, a woman, she flew from one side of the carriage to the other to look at the view, at the way it changed from soft green fields to rows of cramped brickhouses then to a forest of factories before drawing into Exchange station where she got off, marvelling at the vastness of the building and the steaming, panting trains.
Happiness bounced like a ball in Ruby’s chest as she made her way through the crowded, vibrant city to Lewis’s department store where, feeling terribly important, she bought a pair of Clarks’ sandals for four and eleven, and black patent leather shoes with a strap and button for seven and six. It had been
almost
true to claim she’d grown out of the
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