Abigale Hall Read Online Free PDF Page A

send us away from everything we’ve ever known. He never—’
    â€˜He made me your legal guardian, which means I can raise you however I see fit. But, as you are an adult now, Eliza, I suppose I can’t force you to go. Yet I needn’t let you stay. From this point on, you’re no longer permitted to live here.’
    They didn’t have to leave London, she thought, thank God. And they didn’t have to live with Bess, either. Peter’s parents. They could stay with them in Shepperton. Peter was right about his apprenticeship. He’d be earning a good wage soon. Surely then he’d propose. That was all he was waiting for. She and Rebecca would pack tonight. Leave this wretched place forever. Live with people who truly cared for them. This was a blessing, really. A blessing . . .
    â€˜As for Rebecca,’ Aunt Bess interrupted her thoughts. ‘She is under my care until she is of legal age. I am her guardian. Not you. And, regardless of what you choose to do, she will be going to Wales.’
    â€˜No!’ Rebecca threw herself at Aunt Bess, stabbing her in the leg with the sewing needle then scratching at her stomach and face. ‘No! No, you won’t take Eliza away! I won’t let you! No!’
    â€˜Rebecca!’ Eliza pulled at her sister’s shoulders, tried to get her arms around her waist, but the girl’s wiry frame was tense with rage. She could not get a hold of her.
    â€˜Bitch bitch bitch!’ Rebecca screamed, now kicking Aunt Bess’s legs. Aunt Bess raised her hands in front of her face but otherwise did nothing to defend herself.
    â€˜Rebecca, stop!’ Eliza begged. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned and saw Mr Drewry standing next to her. He pushed her aside and reached for Rebecca, but Eliza shoved him back.
    â€˜No!’ She threw her entire body over Rebecca and dragged her away from their aunt.
    â€˜I hate you!’ Rebecca screamed. ‘I hate you, I hate you, I hate all of you!’ She broke free from Eliza’s hold and ran into their bedroom.
    The slam of the door was the full stop to her outburst. The room went quiet. Laughter from Mrs Granderson’s wireless trickled through the ceiling.
    Eliza watched as Aunt Bess bent over and extracted Rebecca’s sewing needle from her thigh. A sheen of red glistened on the thin metal. Aunt Bess went pale then carried the needle to the kitchen sink. Eliza retreated to the bedroom. She closed the door softly behind her and rested her head on the cold wood, listening to Rebecca sobbing on the bed.
    She could leave all this behind tonight.
    She turned to her sister. ‘You know you mustn’t use such language. It’s very rude.’ She took her handkerchief and wiped Rebecca’s face clean of tears.
    â€˜You won’t leave me, will you, Eliza?’
    Rebecca was so small for her age. Such a fragile thing, easily broken. Eliza could still see the cracks from before. Rebecca absolutely wouldn’t survive being away from her again. Eliza took a breath.
    â€˜Never, dearie. We’ll stay together. Always. I promise.’
    An hour later and the room was empty save a ratty blanket, their gas masks and Aunt Bess’s derelict furniture. Their entire lives fitted into two brown suitcases, except her books. There wasn’t enough room. They remained on the shelf, abandoned, begging to be brought with them. The paperback Peter had bought her that afternoon lay abandoned on the shelf, unread and out of place. Eliza had to look away, unable to bear the sight. She wrapped up her hair in a headscarf and slipped on her ragged mauve coat. Into the pocket, she slipped one novel – a gift from Father. Forgotten in that pocket was a government pamphlet, one she received during her evacuation – Information on Bed-wetting for Householders Taking Unaccompanied Children . She considered saving it, then tossed it into the bin instead.
    Aunt Bess sat in