Read Online When the Heather Blooms by Gwen Kirkwood - Free Book Online Page A

a while before they got married but they’re in love. Anyway I reckon Billy needed Libby to be his wife. His needs are different to ours on account o’ the past. We needed Victoria and Mary to work beside us because we were short o’ money and labour was scarce during the war.’
    â€˜Unpaid slaves, that’s what we are,’ Victoria chuckled.
    â€˜Now I suppose I’ve put my foot in it,’ Willie sighed, ‘but that’s my spiel over.’ It was true that Willie usually spent his time observing and considering, rather than talking.
    â€˜Aye, you’d better shut up and eat up,’ Andrew grinned. ‘Here, have a scone.’
    â€˜Bet you didn’t know you were coming to such a crazy house?’ Fraser said in an aside to Peter.
    â€˜It’s wonderful. It makes me realise how serious we are in our house since Mother died, and even before that. My stepfather doesn’t have much humour, I suppose.’
    That first day at Langmune set the tone of Peter’s Easter holiday and he offered a silent prayer to his mother for introducing him to the family he had not known he possessed. She had almost left it too late. He thanked God she had acted in time, even though it had meant friction and going against his stepfather.
    ***
    Libby was home early and she hummed as she prepared Billy’s favourite steak-and-kidney pie for dinner. She felt like dancing and skipping. Everything had been so much simpler than she had expected; Doctor Burns had been so gentle and understanding. She did a pirouette around the table as she laid out the cutlery and glasses and added two candles in their heavy silver candlesticks. When everything was ready she skipped upstairs to have a bath. She added some of the scented bath essence which one of her college friends had sent for Christmas. It was wonderful to lay back and relax.
    She must have languished longer than she had realised. She heard Billy calling up stairs and sat up with a great swoosh, reaching for her bathrobe.
    â€˜You’re home early, Libby. Something smells delicious.’ She hurried to the top of the stairs, her cheeks flushed and eyes shining. She had pinned her glossy hair on top of her head but tendrils had escaped and curled around her face. ‘What are you doing having a bath at this time of day?’
    â€˜Come up and I’ll tell you.’
    â€˜That’s a bit risky …’ Billy chuckled, taking the stairs two at a time and imprisoning her in his arms as soon as he reached the top step. His eyes darkened with desire as he caught the scent of her skin and felt the softness of body beneath her robe. ‘You’re still damp,’ he said, moving his mouth down the graceful curve of her neck.
    â€˜You come and get in the bath too.’ Libby was already unfastening the buttons of his shirt and pushing aside the braces he always wore for working.
    â€˜Eh, what’s this then?’ His eyes sparked with passion.
    â€˜I want to bath you like a baby,’ Libby laughed, drawing him into the bathroom, already easing down his corduroy trousers, allowing her hands to linger as she felt him harden. ‘In you go,’ she pushed him towards the scented water.
    â€˜In there? Do you know what you’re doing to me, Libby?’ He sank into the water and looked up at her. Her robe had fallen open as she bent over him. Libby was shy about her body, about him seeing her, always insisting he turn out the light, yet here she was half naked and driving him to distraction. ‘Have you been drinking?’ he asked, pulling himself up a little. She pushed him back, laughing with delight.
    â€˜Of course I haven’t been drinking but I do feel intoxicated.’ She laughed and rubbed the sponge over his face, making him gasp, then over his chest, moving down and further down until he groaned at her detailed washing. ‘Shall I do your back now?’ she asked, her eyes holding