The Future King: Logres Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    ‘Oh, please don’t worry about it, darling. People like us don’t need
to concern ourselves with such things. Your father and I are more than capable
of looking after you. It’s only the small minority that end up homeless. We’ll
be fine.’
    The table fell to silence. The low whine of Llewellyn, their Catalan
Sheepdog, reverberated around the kitchen. His large eyes looked woefully for
food.
    ‘I need money for a school book,’ Gwenhwyfar blurted out. ‘It’s for History.
The teacher said it would be forty new-pounds.’
    ‘Forty?’
    Gwenhwyfar shrugged. ‘He said it would be sixty if we don’t get it
through the school. This way I’ll have it for Thursday. I need it to finish my
homework.’
    Eve looked to Garan. ‘I see,’ he murmured, reaching into the jacket
suspended on the back of his chair. He pulled the correct amount from his
leather wallet. ‘Here you go.’
    Gwenhwyfar thanked him sweetly and clasped the notes in her hand, comforted
by the feel of wealth against her palm. After supper she found herself
searching the national news for anything about the homeless and disabled, but
there was nothing, only reports about the Prime Minister’s recent charitable
activities and the dispute pertaining to the historical abolition of the
monarchy. It was gone ten when she finally abandoned her search, diverted by
online shopping websites. She ordered a few coveted items on a whim using her own
debit card, subbed on a regular basis by her father, and then switched off her
computer to settle into bed. Her mind played over her new possessions, putting
herself narcissistically into scenarios that involved the attention of an eager
Arthur as she flaunted her new top, mingling at an imagined party.

Logres

    The next two days settled Gwenhwyfar into her new routine. She started to learn her way around
the school grounds and forged fledgling friendships with teachers and students
alike, discovering that Arthur not only shared History with her but all three Sciences,
too. As Emily and Hattie became more and more enthused about her pursuit of Arthur,
she saw Charlotte less and less, and on Thursday morning all three girls were
of the opinion that the recently ‘vile’ Charlotte had to be off sick.
    ‘I just don’t know what’s the matter with her,’ Emily muttered
blackly. ‘I thought it was jealousy when she was being horrible to you, Gwen,
but now I think it’s something else. She’s been a right moody cow with me,
too.’
    They were sitting in their tutor room to escape the cold, and still
had some time before registration. Emily was taking the opportunity to perfect
her fingertips, scraping pink polish across her nails with a clotted brush.
    ‘Maybe she’s having problems at home?’ Hattie theorised.
    ‘She would tell us if she was, I’m sure of it.’ Emily twisted her
wrist to inspect her handiwork. ‘Besides, it’s no excuse to take it out on us,
is it?’
    ‘Maybe she’s ill,’ Gwenhwyfar suggested, wondering why Charlotte was
so determined to dislike her. ‘It’s not like we’ve done anything to upset her.
If one of us had said something, then it would make more sense, but we
haven’t.’
    ‘I haven’t,’ Hattie scoffed.
    ‘Me neither. When would I ever?’ Emily pushed the brush back into the
bottle and twisted it into place. She let her polished nails harden with
splayed fingers. ‘I’ll send her a text later and see what’s wrong. Maybe she’s
gone and got herself pregnant.’
    ‘What?’
    She sent Hattie a knowing smile. ‘I saw her in the girls’ toilets
yesterday morning, and she was definitely sick. Kept saying she didn’t feel well and everything. She was bent over the
toilet for ages .’
    ‘Never.’
    ‘It’s true!’
    Gwenhwyfar frowned. ‘But surely… wouldn’t she need a boyfriend for
that?’
    ‘Not necessarily.’ There was a short silence. ‘Well, either that or
she’s bulimic. I don’t know. All I know is that it’s getting