My Name Is Rose Read Online Free PDF Page B

things she might be confronted with. When she did, she saw the runway and alongside it a wide stretch of grass. It was so like the runway she had left behind, she half expected to see the rabbit. She gazed long and hard, willing it to appear, but it didn’t.
    â€˜Let me help you take your belt off, Anna,’ said Mrs Luca, leaning across and fiddling with it.
    Rose pushed her hands away yet again and opened the catch herself.
    â€˜I’m glad to see you’re being independent.’ Mrs Luca said graciously. ‘We’ll soon have you fit and well, then you’ll be able to do everything for yourself. I know how tedious it is having to rely on everyone else to do things for you.’
    As they made their way off the plane, Mrs Luca turned to her again. ‘Welcome to England, Anna,’ she said.
    This is it, then . Rose grimaced. Nobody even knows I exist any more .

Chapter 9
    Rose couldn’t believe her eyes when the chauffeur-driven car they had hired drew up in front of a pair of high wooden gates, which opened as if by magic to let them through. On the other side, a long, yellow gravel drive – seemingly almost as long as the airport runway – stretched ahead of them, ending in a circular sweep around a fountain shaped like a whale, its open mouth gushing out water. The house at the top of the drive was so big that Rose thought it must be a hotel.
    â€˜At last,’ said Mrs Luca. ‘Welcome to your new home, Anna. I can’t wait to show you around.’
    â€˜Never mind that,’ said her husband. ‘Let’s just get inside and have Marina run a bath for me. This leg’s killing me.’
    â€˜Think how much worse it would be if we weren’t able to travel first class,’ observed Mrs Luca.
    â€˜What do I care how much worse it might have been?’ growled Mr Luca.
    â€˜Anna’s not making a fuss and I’m sure she couldn’t have been comfortable,’ Mrs Luca continued.
    â€˜I wish you’d stop these pointless comparisons,’ Mr Luca snapped at her. ‘She’s a child. It’s easier for her.’
    He pushed open the door of the car and ordered the driver to help him out. At the same time, the door of the house opened. A young woman in a grey uniform appeared.
    â€˜Ah, Marina,’ Mrs Luca called. ‘Come and give Anna a hand, will you?’
    Marina hurried down the steps and came towards them.
    â€˜Welcome back, sir, ma’am,’ she said. ‘We’ve missed you.’
    â€˜It’s good to be back,’ said Mrs Luca. ‘And this is Anna, the young girl I told you about. Help her into the house, would you?’
    Marina smiled at Rose. ‘Take my arm, miss,’ she said. ‘I can take your weight.’
    Rose shook her head. I can stand on my own two feet. I’ve had enough of being treated like an invalid .
    â€˜Don’t be stubborn, Anna, please.’ Mrs Luca intervened.
    Just at that moment, though, a tall, fair-haired girl, several years older than Rose, ran from the house and towards the car.
    â€˜Daddy! Mummy!’ she cried. ‘You’re back! I’ve been so worried about you.’ She threw herself into her father’s arms. ‘Poor Daddy,’ she said. ‘How’s your poor leggy?’
    â€˜It’s been a nightmare, darling. A double break and muscle damage, according to the medics, but I’m sure it’ll mend more quickly now I’m here.’
    â€˜I hope they’ve thrown the other driver in prison,’ said the girl. ‘And how are you, Mummy?’
    â€˜I’m fine, darling. A few bumps and bruises, but nothing serious. Now, let me introduce you to Anna. Anna, this is our daughter, Victoria.’
    The girl stared hard at Rose, then shrugged. ‘I still don’t know why you had to bring her here,’ she muttered.
    She turned her back and continued in a language that Rose didn’t understand, her voice