Kitty Neale 3 Book Bundle. Kitty Neale
become the in place to be.
It was great to be a part of a new, emerging music scene and now Carol felt that she was really living again.
Rose was excited. They’d already exchanged contracts on the new house in Battersea and as it was an empty property, they’d soon be moving in. ‘If it’s all right with you, I’ll pop down to see Phyllis in the morning. I want to find out if she’s made up her mind about coming to work for us.’
‘My dear,’ Samuel said, ‘you don’t have to ask my permission every time you want to go out.’
‘I know, but I don’t like leaving you on your own for too long. You could come with me.’
‘No, Rose. As you know, I’ve just evicted one of my tenants on Lark Rise and feelings might be running high among his neighbours.’
‘I suppose it’s possible,’ Rose said, wondering if as Samuel’s wife, she’d take some stick too. ‘I did try to dissuade you, but you wouldn’t listen to me.’
‘Rose, I run a business, not a charity, and I can’t allow my tenants to accrue rent arrears that they’ll never be able to repay.’
‘I know, I’m not criticising you.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Now you go along to see Phyllis in the morning and don’t worry about me. I’m not so doddery that I need constant care. You’re my wife, Rose, not my nurse.’
Rose grinned, ‘I’d say that what we got up to last night proves you don’t need nursing.’
‘My father never did,’ Samuel said. ‘He lived into his late eighties and was comparatively healthy until the day he died.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Rose managed to enthuse, though inwardly thinking that if Samuel lived that long, it would be many, many years before she became a rich widow. Still, as things were at the moment she wasn’t complaining. Samuel was generous, her extensive new wardrobe proved that, along with her weekly allowance. He’d also recently suggested driving lessons so that she could have her own car.
She had soon adapted to living in luxury, Rose thought, and when she went to visit her cousin now the contrast in their lifestyles was starkly obvious. Though she knew she could help her cousin financially, Rose also guessed that Phyllis would be too proud to accept handouts. At least in offering her the job as their cleaner, Phyllis would be earning more money, and that was a start.
She’d just have to be devious, Rose decided, in finding other ways to help Phyllis, if not financially then in other areas. She looked around the sitting room and an idea came to mind, one that would serve them both. She’d have to get around Samuel, but she’d already found that as long as he was in the right mood, it wasn’t too difficult.
Rose smiled. When they went to bed, she knew just how to make Samuel amenable to her suggestions. She glanced at the clock – it was far too early to retire yet, but later she would get her own way.
At ten thirty that evening, after going to the cinema with Tommy, Amy was snuggled up to him in his van, parked outside her house. The summer was over and the autumn evening chilly, but in the van they were protected from a fall of light rain.
‘Sorry,’ Tommy said after yawning widely.
‘You’re tired, and with the hours you’re working I’m not surprised.’
‘I’m fine and as it’s Sunday tomorrow I can have a lie in,’ he said.
Amy placed her hand gently on his cheek, saying softly, ‘That’s something I suppose. At least you aren’t working seven days a week.’
‘If it could bring the date of our wedding forward, I would.’
‘We haven’t discussed a date,’ Amy told him.
‘If business continues to go well, and if I get a nice big contract again, how do you feel about next spring … perhaps April?’
‘I’d love that, but what if you don’t get a large contract?’ Amy asked as she drew away from Tommy. ‘I know we’re not going to have a big wedding, but we’d still need a firm date to book the registry office.’
Tommy bit his lower lip in thought and then said, ‘Do you think Rose’s husband meant it when he said he’d rent us one of his houses?’
‘Yes, I’m sure he did.’
‘Well then, new contract or not, if we start off in something small, maybe a one-bedroom flat, the rent would be low.’
‘We’d have my wages too,’ Amy pointed out.
‘I don’t expect you to work when we’re married.’
‘Tommy, there’s no need for me to stay at home just to clean a one-bedroom flat.’
‘I still don’t like the idea, but we can talk about that another time. For now, come here and give me a kiss,’ he said.
Amy went willingly into his arms, melting as their kisses grew deeper, until aware of Tommy’s rising passion, she breathlessly pulled away. ‘I … I’m sorry, Tommy. I want to wait until we’re married.’
‘I know,’ he groaned, and though obviously frustrated he added, ‘I do too, so let’s make a firm date for the second Saturday in April.’
Amy willingly agreed and soon after she slipped out of the van to go indoors, still smiling with happiness.
Stan had just come in from the pub, followed shortly by Amy, and seeing the look on her daughter’s face, Phyllis said, ‘You look chuffed about something.’
‘I am,’ Amy said, her eyes sparkling. ‘We’ve set a date for the wedding.’
‘What! Already!’ Stan exclaimed.
‘It’s all right, Dad. It won’t be until next year … in April.’
‘But you’ve hardly been engaged for five minutes,’ he protested.
‘It’s been four months, and by next April it will have been ten.’
Unlike Stan, Phyllis was happy about the date, and said, ‘That gives us six months to sort out all the arrangements.’
‘Mum, I’ve already talked to Tommy and we’ve decided on a small, registry office wedding.’
‘No, Amy,’ Phyllis protested. ‘I want to see my daughter walking down the aisle in church, wearing a beautiful, flowing white gown that’s fit for a princess.’
‘I’m sorry, but it isn’t what we want.’
‘Tommy might want a simple wedding, but I can’t believe it’s what you want, Amy. Every girl dreams of a huge white wedding.’
‘But don’t you see, Mum, it wouldn’t be huge. There’s just us, Rose and Samuel, along with a few friends. On Tommy’s side of the church, if his mother refuses to come, the pews would be virtually empty too.’
‘She’s got a point, love,’ Stan said.
Phyllis didn’t want to admit it, but Amy was right – a church wedding would be a very spartan affair. As for Celia Frost, it made her fume that she still chose to ignore Amy and she hoped the woman would end up alone and lonely as she deserved. Pushing Tommy’s mother from her mind, Phyllis said, ‘Fine, a registry office it is, but I still want it to be a special day, Amy, with you in a lovely dress, and flowers, lots of flowers.’
‘All right, Mum, whatever you say, and afterwards we could sort of copy Rose and go to a restaurant.’
Phyllis was happy with that, and with something she knew that she was keeping as a surprise. Unbeknown to Amy, Rose had already had a word with Samuel, but he hadn’t been happy about the length of time that could be involved. Now though, with the wedding only six months away, Phyllis hoped her plan could come to fruition. If it did, everything would be just