BooksBarbecue
Back Goodnight Lady
Chapters (60)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Praise
  4. Dedication
  5. BOOK ONE
  6. Prologue 1989
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. BOOK TWO - 1925
  17. Chapter Ten - 1925
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-one
  29. Chapter Twenty-two
  30. Chapter Twenty-three
  31. Chapter Twenty-four
  32. Chapter Twenty-five
  33. Chapter Twenty-six
  34. Chapter Twenty-seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-one
  39. Chapter Thirty-two
  40. BOOK THREE - 1947
  41. Chapter Thirty-three
  42. Chapter Thirty-four
  43. Chapter Thirty-five
  44. Chapter Thirty-six
  45. Chapter Thirty-seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-eight
  47. Chapter Thirty-nine
  48. Chapter Forty
  49. BOOK FOUR - 1968
  50. Chapter Forty-one - 1968
  51. Chapter Forty-two
  52. Chapter Forty-three
  53. Chapter Forty-four
  54. Chapter Forty-five
  55. Chapter Forty-six
  56. Chapter Forty-seven
  57. Chapter Forty-eight
  58. Chapter Forty-nine
  59. Chapter Fifty - 1970
  60. EPILOGUE

‘What a wicked, wanton child, madam! Like her mother, I’d say. I can well understand the need for secrecy. Such a scandal! Not a word of it will pass my lips, madam, I do assure you, and you can pass that on to Mr Dumas as well.’ He tutted. ‘Poor Mr Dumas, to have his kindness repaid like this.’

He shook his head for maximum effect. ‘Well, I have done all I can. I’ll return in the morning to see her once more. I’ll say goodnight to you, madam.’

Mrs Horlock saw him to the door and then went back into the morning room where she helped herself to a large whisky. The child was pregnant. She had another drink to help her think. Well, maybe she’d lose it tonight. Then they’d all be able to get back to normal.

‘I’m what!’ Briony’s voice was incredulous.

She looked from one face to the other. Cissy’s looked as shocked as her own, but Mrs Horlock’s face was closed.

‘I can’t be, there must be some mistake.’ Briony was close to tears and Mrs Horlock took her into her arms.

‘There’s no mistake, my love. You must have fell just as your body was coming to womanhood, I’ve heard of it before.’

She didn’t say she’d experienced it before and had helped get rid of the offending child. She knew Briony’s temperament too well to say anything like that.

‘What am I gonna do?’ It was a childish wail.

‘Now don’t you worry, my angel, I’ll sort it all out for you.’

This was comforting to Briony and she settled back against the pillows plumped up around her and held tightly on to Cissy’s hand. For the first time in her life she was frightened, really frightened.

They heard the front door shut and Mrs Horlock smiled at the two girls and left the room. The sooner Henry Dumas knew what was happening, the better. He looked up at the old woman as she descended the stairs.

‘What’s the to do, Horlock? Is the child ill?’

He’d been dragged from his place of work by a note twenty minutes earlier and now he was worried.

‘In a manner of speaking, sir. Would you join me in the morning room? I took the liberty of getting a tea tray ready, I’ll just get the hot water.’