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Back Sisters of Gold
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. Title page
  3. Dedication page
  4. A Week’s Work in Birmingham
  5. I
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. II
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Thirty-Nine
  46. III
  47. Forty
  48. Forty-One
  49. Forty-Two
  50. Forty-Three
  51. Forty-Four
  52. Forty-Five
  53. Forty-Six
  54. Forty-Seven
  55. Forty-Eight
  56. Forty-Nine
  57. Fifty
  58. Fifty-One
  59. Fifty-Two
  60. Fifty-Three
  61. Acknowledgements
  62. Further Reading
  63. About the Author
  64. By the Same Author

‘No,’ she said, drawing in a deep breath. She knew the fear was there: that this man she was beginning to know and care for would turn all at once, as Charles had done, into a terrifying stranger. Yet at the same time she trusted him deeply, and found herself longing to be with him.

‘I . . .’ He swallowed, seeming to lose courage. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m too rough a diamond, Margaret. I know there’re some that think so.’

‘Rough?’ she said, astonished. It was the very last thing she had ever thought him. A man who had the soul and skill to make things of such beauty! ‘No! Of course not.’

‘I feel . . .’ He gave a little laugh and looked towards the ceiling for a moment, as if looking for inspiration. ‘I feel somehow rough next to you. And old. And . . .’ He looked into her eyes again, fearfully, as if predicting rejection. ‘All I can think of is wanting to hold you.’

Moved, she rested her hands lightly on his forearms. ‘I’m sorry I’m not more . . . direct.’ She looked down, a blush rising in her face. ‘There have just been things which . . .’ She ground to a halt, unable to explain.

‘You mean, why you are here?’

She nodded. To her horror she felt approaching tears and had to swallow hard. Raising her face again she said, ‘I need to . . . to resolve . . . certain things. Then I’m sure I shall feel clearer.’

There was a moment’s tense silence. She knew she should resist him, but, seeing the look in his eyes, she could not. They moved forcefully into each other’s arms.

‘Margaret,’ he said, in a wondering tone. She felt his breath on her hair as he spoke. ‘Oh, at last – this is the first time I’ve managed to see you on your own.’

She moved back a little and looked at him. It was so much harder to be alone in a big town, she had discovered!

He smiled, appearing nervous, and drew in a deep breath. ‘My heart – it’s going like mad!’

She glanced round, afraid that someone would come in. ‘What about Mrs Flett?’

‘Not here at the moment.’ He smiled, gazing on her, his eyes full of a hunger she could not misunderstand. He reached to stroke her cheek as if he could not believe she was really there with him.