Sarah sniffed. Her mother had warned her to keep her legs shut, and after the pain she’d just experienced, she could understand why.

Roger smiled softly and pulled her into his arms. ‘Forgive me?’

Sarah nodded. Maybe he was right, she should have stopped him before it went that far.

‘I can’t stay. I’ve got an early start in the morning, but how about we go for a drive on Sunday?’ Roger said.

‘I can’t. I’m having dinner with George and Lena.’

‘All right, but do you want me to come to Tommy’s funeral with you on Monday? It means I’d have to shut up my stall for the day and lose a good day’s business, but if you want me with you …’

Sarah got the impression that he didn’t really want to accompany her, and she was deeply hurt. She hid her feelings and said shortly, ‘No, don’t bother. I’ll be fine.’

‘Look, I’m sorry about earlier, but I’ll make it up to you next time. How about I call in on Tuesday?’

‘If you want,’ Sarah answered, but she was feeling hugely disappointed.

As Roger left and the door closed, Sarah collapsed onto her bed and screamed into her pillow. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! Tommy shouldn’t be dead, and Roger shouldn’t have been so callous. He’d acted as if he didn’t care, about her or about Tommy.

Worse, Roger wasn’t going to the funeral. He didn’t seem to realise how much she would need his comfort and support, and now she began to question whether he really loved her. She’d let him brutally take her virginity when all she’d wanted was love and tenderness. ‘What have I done?’ Sarah moaned, and once again cried her heart out as she longed to see her brother just one more time.

Chapter 42

‘It’s a bad state of affairs, Albert. The poor girl is bereft,’ Lena said as she straightened her black hat in her mantel mirror.

‘Has George gone to pick her up?’

‘Yes, we thought it would be better to leave from here. I don’t like the thought of her being on her own after the funeral, so I’m going to suggest that she sleeps here tonight too.’

‘You’re a good woman, Lena. Are you sure I should be coming with you in the car? I’m not family.’