Down Weaver's Lane Read Online Free PDF Page B

‘We both know that’s not true. You’ve been doing it for years. And who got you the job in the boozer anyway? I’ve only to say the word and you’ll lose it again.’ As she stared at him in shock, he changed tactics and said persuasively, ‘Ah, Madge love, give it a chance with me. The room is just a start. When I’m making more money, I’ll move you somewhere decent, I promise. And I’ll make sure your customers pay well, pick and choose them myself - not like now. If it wasn’t for the girl you could live over the alehouse with my other lasses, but you said you didn’t want her there and I can see why.’
    There! He’d said it openly. Her customers . Tears came into Madge’s eyes and she stared down at the folds of her skirt. ‘I wanted to - stop having customers. Just be with you, George.’
    His voice grew sharper. ‘Madge lass, I’d far rather keep you for myself, you know I would, but how can we get any money together if you don’t help out? You do want us to have money, don’t you?’
    She was weeping now, tears sparkling on lashes that were still long, brimming in eyes that were still pretty. ‘Promise me you’ll move me out of that house as soon as you can, George. Promise me you’ll let me stop doing that as soon as we can afford it.’ She took a deep breath. ‘You said once you’d marry me.’ She felt him stiffen against her and it was a moment before he spoke.
    ‘Well, I can’t marry you or anyone because I’ve got a wife already. When she took bad I thought I’d be free and I would have wed you, but she up and got better, the bitch. She can’t compare with you, Madge, an’ I pay her to stay away from me - her and her sharp tongue.’ His wife had died the year before, but he kept up the pretence that she was still alive because there had been a few women after him. He kissed Madge’s lips and wiped away her tears with one callused fingertip. ‘I will move you somewhere better, though, just as soon as I can. I promise.’
    She sagged against him. ‘Oh, George, I did want us to be married properly. I love you so much.’
    He rolled his eyes at the ceiling. Stupid bitch! Did she think he’d marry someone as old as her? He enjoyed her company because she was not only good in bed but fun to be with. Best of all, though, he knew he could make money from her. She might be old, but she knew her trade.
    He kept soft-talking her, choosing his words carefully. ‘Mmm, I know, love. I wanted us to get wed, too. But it wasn’t to be.’ He let her snuggle up to him for a minute or two more, stroking her hair, which he knew she liked, then said more briskly, ‘So are you coming to Northby or must I find myself someone else?’
    ‘I’ll come.’ But she sighed even as she spoke.
    ‘Right then, my cousin Gus will come and pick you up tomorrow morning about ten o’clock. He’ll drop off a couple of crates and some straw tonight for you to pack your things.’ He looked round and said pointedly, ‘You’ve not got much stuff to move, have you? Stick with me and I’ll buy you some much prettier things. You and Emmy will be settled in Northby by teatime tomorrow.’
    Madge tried to look happy, but the idea of living in the town where she’d grown up - though it had been a large village then, without the new rows of mill houses George talked about - still worried her. ‘I wish it were somewhere else,’ she muttered, ‘anywhere but Northby. I don’t want to see my family again.’
    ‘Ah, there’s only your brother left. He might not even recognise you - or you him.’
    She could see that George’s patience was running out, so summoned up a smile. ‘He’ll probably ignore me completely, knowing him. I don’t know what I’m worrying about, really.’
    ‘Nor do I, lass. Things are only going to get better for us. Now, how about saying thank you properly?’
    It didn’t occur to him to ask who her brother was, any more than it occurred to her to tell him. As far as she was