BooksBarbecue
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

‘You won’t get a train for a good while yet, m’dear,’ he said. ‘It’s Sunday morning – I’m not sure if they run ’em, least not ’til church time is over.’ She could see him wondering why a young woman like her was running about on the streets at this hour.

She stared at him. ‘I’ll just have to . . . to wait, I suppose,’ she said.

‘’Ave you got your fare?’

She looked at him, this reality not having occurred to her. She had a little money, but she had no idea how much the fare was.

‘I . . . I don’t know . . .’ She felt very cold suddenly and close to tears.

‘Look – you could go and wait for a bit in my house – my missus wouldn’t mind. It’s only just along there.’ He pointed back along the street.

‘Oh – thank you. That’s very kind. But no.’ The thought of entering another strange house filled her with desperation. She needed to know she was on her way. ‘If you could just tell me the right direction?’

He pointed, explaining. Just as she was about to thank him, he fished in his pocket. ‘Here, miss – take this. Can’t give you more, but you look as if you could do with it.’

He handed her a two-shilling piece, backing away when she tried to return it, protesting.

‘Go on,’ he said. ‘Good luck to yer.’

‘Bless you,’ she whispered as he flicked the reins and the cart moved away. ‘May God bless you abundantly.’ His kindness brought her to tears.

Fifty-One

Fifty-One

The previous day, Annie had hurried back to number twenty-six from her morning at Masters, Hogg & Co. Aunt Hatt was clearing away Den and Ivy’s plates so that she could lay the table for everyone else’s dinner. The children had already gone home. Annie hung up her coat and hat, hungry as ever.

‘Where Maggs?’ she said, coming to the table.

Aunt Hatt looked at her, eyes full of coy meaning and a half-smile on her lips.

‘Margaret,’ she said, ‘has gone out for the day with a gentleman – a very charming young man, at that.’

Annie frowned at her. ‘What d’you mean? Who?’

‘Well,’ Aunt Hatt said, as if knowing she was party to secret information. She put a handful of spoons down on the table and began to lay them in their places. ‘I know there’s been a bit of a rift – your father not approving and all that. But I’m sure that can all be got over. He seems such a nice man.’

Annie’s heart began to pick up speed. ‘Auntie –’ Aunt Hatt looked up, startled at her tone. ‘Who was it? Who’s the man?’

‘Well – Mr Barber, of course. The one Margaret told me she wants to marry . . .’