Read Online The Lie by Linda Sole - Free Book Online Page B

wedding gown that every girl wanted but few got. Frances was so lucky, but then the family was rich, or so everyone thought in the village. Alice’s mother had warned her about getting her hopes up too high only that morning, when she’d told her that she was just going to slip into church and sit at the back on her own.
    â€˜Don’t let that Searles lad turn your head, love,’ Mrs Robinson had said, sensing Alice’s hurt that Daniel hadn’t asked her to sit with him in church. ‘I know he’s asked you out a couple of times, but that doesn’t mean much. His brother Clay had a name for going with the girls, and look at him now. I pity the lass he married, a baby every year and him  . . . well, I’m not one for gossip, but I wouldn’t want you to be in the same case, Alice.’
    â€˜Daniel isn’t like that,’ Alice told her. ‘He’s nice, Mum, honestly.’
    â€˜Then why hasn’t he asked you to sit with him today?’
    â€˜I don’t know – perhaps because he knows I’m going to leave as soon as they go into the vestry so that I can get back to the house and help when the guests start arriving.’
    â€˜Because that’s the way he sees you? As one of the hired help?’
    â€˜I do help out there,’ Alice said sensibly. ‘It doesn’t matter to Daniel or me. I know he likes me a lot.’
    â€˜But does he love you – does he respect you?’ Her mother gave her a straight look. ‘I can’t see him asking you to marry him, Alice, and that’s a fact.’
    â€˜Maybe he doesn’t want to get serious yet, Mum. There’s a war on – and I’m young. You and Dad would say I was too young if he asked me, wouldn’t you?’
    â€˜Yes, we probably would,’ her mother admitted, and she smiled. ‘I’ve nothing against Daniel, love. I just don’t want to see him break your heart.’
    â€˜He might hurt me,’ Alice said. ‘But I shan’t let him break my heart – besides, he isn’t like that.’
    â€˜Have it your own way then.’
    Alice had dismissed her mother’s warnings, but inside she couldn’t help feeling a little hurt that Daniel hadn’t asked her to sit with him in the church. He could easily have waited for her, walked her over from the house, but he hadn’t mentioned it, even though he’d said they might go out one day next week.
    Was he using her to pass the time away while he was home? Was he only going out with her because he was bored? She hadn’t thought he was like that, but it was a bit disappointing that he seemed to have drawn back. She had thought he was really interested at first, but now  . . .
    Alice became aware that the bride and groom were going into the vestry to sign their names. That was her cue to slip out and get back to the house. Millie was coping on her own for the moment, but she couldn’t do it all.
    Emily took her place next to the bride and groom for the photographs. There was an official man from the photographer’s studio in Ely who everyone used for occasions like this, and several amateur ones snapping away with their box cameras. The photographer was asking for a picture with the bride and all her brothers now so Emily moved away, standing next to Simon.
    â€˜At least they’ve got a good day for it,’ he said, glancing at her. ‘You look lovely, Emily. I like that dress.’
    â€˜Yes, I was lucky,’ she said. ‘I think it’s pre-war actually. They got it out for me from a back room. Frances and I have shopped there a lot in the past so I expect we get special treatment.’
    â€˜Yes, I thought it looked better than most of what’s in the shops now.’ He raised his brows at her. ‘You are coming with me later, aren’t you?’
    â€˜Yes, of course,’ Emily said. She was feeling better about it now