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Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Margaret Dickinson
  3. Dedication page
  4. Contents
  5. Part One
  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. Part Two
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  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. Forty
  47. Forty-One
  48. Forty-Two
  49. Sow the Seed
  50. Note
  51. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  52. Copyright page

‘Now, why would I want to know how to start an engine, or how to steer it, Dad? It was bad enough having to row till we could get the sails up. Now there’s a motor in it, I’m just going to lie back and . . .’

‘If you ever get stranded out at sea, you might well be glad to know a little about how it works. You should learn, Kate. Any knowledge is useful. You never know when you might . . .’

‘Well, it’s unlikely I’ll ever be out at sea without Danny, and he’ll know.’

‘Haven’t you got some sewing you ought to finish before your class tomorrow night?’ Esther put in.

‘It’s Sunday, Mother, the Lord’s day,’ Kate answered pertly, mimicking the words Esther herself used so often, but taking the sarcasm out of her tone with a cheeky, infectious grin. ‘The Sabbath’s not for work. Sunday’s for rest and for meeting my – my friends.’

She bit her lip. She would have to be more careful; she had been about to let slip a hint of the change in the relationship between herself and Danny.

Esther’s normally generous mouth tightened visibly until it was a hard, straight line. Kate saw her open it to speak, but before the words came, she was out of the kitchen, through the scullery and banging the back door shut behind her. Yet it was not until she had crested the Hump and was running across the stretch of grass between the cottages and the river bank that she was able to forget the disapproval on her mother’s face, nor the lonely figure of her little sister, standing staring forlornly after her.

‘Kate! Kate!’ The sound of her name came bouncing across the breeze and she turned to see Rosie, a long-legged, coltish nine-year-old, galloping across the grass towards her. ‘Danny’s taking us both out in his dad’s boat to try out the engine.’

Kate was disappointed. She would not have Danny to herself. Then, as Rosie linked her arm through hers, Kate felt a stab of guilt. It was impossible to feel irritated with Rosie for many minutes. She was so pretty with her white-gold curls and merry laughter. She was their friend – hers and Danny’s. She mustn’t be selfish, Kate told herself sharply, wanting to exclude Rosie from their outing just because now there was something extra special between herself and Danny.

After all, she and Danny had the rest of their lives to be alone together. Kate felt an excited flutter just below her ribs.

The mere thought filled her with happiness.

Fourteen