Hold on to your Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

it’s time your debts were honoured.’
    All the colour drained from Edward’s face. When hetried to speak, his father thrust a sheet of paper in front of him. ‘I am told that this is the amount you owe. Is it correct?’
    Edward read it and could not look his father in the eyes. ‘Yes it is. I’m sorry—’
    ‘It is too late to be sorry! After giving me a beating to impress upon me the urgency of the matter, they have threatened to harm your sister. The full amount must be paid within a week.’
    ‘I’ll go and see them, Father—’
    ‘Don’t ever call me that again.’ Sutton spoke with quiet fury. ‘You are no longer my son. We have given you every advantage in life. I had hoped you would come into the business and take over after me, but that wasn’t good enough for you, was it? You have put your family in jeopardy and tarnished our good name.’
    ‘I’ll never gamble again. I promise.’ Edward was shaking, hardly able to stand upright.
    ‘I don’t care what you do!’ Sutton rounded on his son. ‘I’ll pay the debt in full, and that is the last thing I will ever do for you. You have an hour to pack your things and leave this house, never to set foot in it again.’ Then he turned his back on his son. ‘Go now before I give you the thrashing you deserve.’
    A cry of distress came from Florence as her son left the room. ‘Oh, Sutton, please don’t do this. What is to become of him?’
    ‘I won’t have him under this roof. He must learn to fend for himself.’ He sat down heavily, his brow wet with perspiration.
    Seeing the distress her father was in, Gertrude ran to the servants and sent one of them for the doctor, then she hurried back. She was horrified by what had just taken place, and as worried as she was for her brother, she was more concerned for her father. She hadn’t been able to catch sight of the paper, but Edward’s debt must be enormous for her father to disown his son.
    Florence was holding her husband’s hand and crying uncontrollably.
    Gertrude put her arms around her mother and reached out to touch her father’s shoulder. ‘I’ve sent for the doctor.’
    ‘Thank you, my dear. It feels as if those thugs have cracked my ribs.’
    ‘Sit very still.’ Gertrude moved to the other side of her father and wiped his face with her clean handkerchief. Then she asked gently, ‘How much does Edward owe?’
    ‘Over three thousand guineas.’
    Florence gasped, and Gertrude felt as if the floor had shifted beneath her feet. How could her brother have lost so much? Had he no thought for his family?
    ‘We can’t find that much,’ Florence whispered, hardly able to speak. ‘All our money is tied up in the business.’
    ‘You must use my inheritance,’ Gertrude insisted.
    ‘No, my child. It would not even cover a fraction of the debt, but I’ll find the money, have no fear.’
    ‘I’m not afraid for myself. I expect the threat to me was to frighten you into paying the debt.’
    ‘Maybe, but I will not take that risk.’ He placed both hands across his ribs, obviously in great pain.
    ‘Where’s that doctor?’ Florence turned her wholeattention to her injured husband. ‘Go and find out, Gertrude.’
    Before she could reach the door it swung open and the doctor strode in. He took one look at Sutton and turned to the maid. ‘Find me a male servant. I’ll need his help. The ladies can leave.’
    ‘I’m staying with my husband. You do not order me around in my own home!’ Florence was determined and nothing would move her.
    Gertrude spoke quietly in her father’s ear. ‘May I have your permission to see Edward before he leaves?’
    He gave a slight nod.
    ‘Thank you. I’ll see you again when the doctor’s made you comfortable.’
    As soon as she was out of the room she ran up the stairs and along the passage to her brother’s room. She burst in without knocking. Edward had his back to her and was packing a case.
    ‘Where will you go?’ Her voice trembled with