The Candle Factory Girl
Page 36
Charles and Hester Braithwaite had even accepted their invitation to the wedding, accompanied by Jessica and Patrick, who’d dressed in his colourful tribal robes for the occasion. They were courting openly now, and Jessica’s parents were slowly coming to accept that their daughter had found her own happiness in an unconventional way. The couple hoped to marry the following spring, and then take a boat to Nigeria for a second ceremony with Patrick’s family and tribe, but it was going to take some organising.
‘Not as much as I’m going to miss you, kiddo!’ Gert answered Hillie, enveloping her in a bear hug, and then pulled away, sniffing back a tear as she held her lifelong friend at arms’ length. ‘You look absolutely gorgeous. Can I borrow your dress for my wedding next year?’ she asked, dipping her head at the cream hem that frothed below Hillie’s knees. ‘Must’ve cost a pretty penny.’
‘Kit insisted I used some of the reward money I got for returning the diamonds. Said I deserved it after everything.’
‘And so you do. You’ve got a good man in my brother. You deserve him, too. Took you two long enough to get together, mind. And now you’re going to be the best sister-in-law ever! You know,’ Gert added, lowering her voice, ‘I think Belinda held a torch to Kit, but she looks to be getting on well with that friend of Kit’s from work,’ she smirked, using her eyes to indicate where Belinda was engaged in conversation with Kit’s now to be ex-colleague.
‘Sorry to break up the party,’ Kit interrupted the hubbub of chatter, ‘but my wife and I,’ he said, grinning down proudly at Hillie, ‘and the kids have a train to catch.’
‘Oh, come on, last hugs, then!’ Eva cried, bustling forward and crushing Hillie against her. ‘Nell would’ve been so proud of you today, girl,’ she whispered in Hillie’s ear as she released her.
Hillie felt a tiny twinge in her heart and was grateful when her darling Kit came up beside her.
‘Time to go, sweetheart,’ he said quietly, and her love for him spilled over.
‘I’m going to miss you all!’ she called out to everyone.
‘Well, you’re not going to have far to walk from your front door to get on a train!’ Gert called out in return.
Kit picked up their small suitcase. Everything had already been moved into the house next to Edenbridge Town Station, so it just contained a few personal items. The children grouped about Hillie and Kit, eager to be off on this new adventure themselves. Luke and Joan also carried a case each, and Trixie fell into line behind them, holding Daisy and Frances each by the hand.
Kit took Hillie’s hand in his free one and they walked to the corner of the street among a chorus of shouted good wishes. Hillie paused to give one last wave, choking back tears of mingled joy and sadness. Goodbye, Banbury Street.
Then she looked up at Kit. His handsome smile filled her with confidence, and they rounded the corner, Luke and the girls chatting excitedly as they followed, leaving their old life behind.
Their new, happy future stretched before them. This was just the beginning…
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Tania Crosse’s next book is coming in winter 2018
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Acknowledgements
Once again, I must thank my wonderful agent, Broo Doherty, and the lovely team at Aria for bringing this, my third novel with them, to life. There is nothing more wonderful for an author than seeing published a story that has been so much a part of their life for so long.
In this case, it couldn’t be truer as I was actually brought up in Banbury Street for the first five years of my life. Amazingly, I have some very vivid memories of living there, particularly the general area, Clapham Junction Station and visits to Battersea Park, although in later years, even though we had moved out to the country, my mother used to bring us back to visit the park on occasion. It is my brother, thriller writer Terence Strong, however, that I must thank for the idea of basing my story around Price’s Candle Factory. I had no memory of it, but being that much older, he remembered it well.
There are many other people who have contributed to this novel and to whom I must extend my sincere gratitude. Firstly, to dear, long-standing friend, Colin Skeen, barrister and magistrate, who once again delved into the laws of the past so that I could give an accurate picture of the legal matters in the book. If I have made any errors, they are my mistakes. Huge thanks also go to the Wandsworth Heritage Service at Battersea Library for digging out all kinds of obscure documents for me, including historic tram and bus route maps and detailed fire plans of the factory. The London Transport Museum also contributed details of public transport of the time. Railway historian, John Billard, suggested Kit’s career path, and my dear friend, Michael Willats, shared his experiences of having been a diamond sorter in his youth. Again, if I have misinterpreted any of their ideas, it is entirely my own fault. The Friends of Battersea Park provided a detailed history of the park from its beginnings to more recent years, which not only proved so useful for this book, but will also do so in the future. Because, yes, there will be a sequel set in Banbury Street in the years immediately after the Second World War!
The person I must thank most of all, though, is my fantastic husband, for all his love and support throughout the years. Without his encouragement, I would never have been able to pursue my dream of becoming a historical novelist.
Last but not least, I should like to thank you, my faithful readers, for sharing my imaginary worlds. I do so hope that you are enjoying this, my new series with Aria, as well as my earlier titles based on the history of my beloved Dartmoor. A little different from Battersea, but variety is the spice of life, as they say. Many thanks again and happy reading!
About Tania Crosse
Delaying her childhood dream of writing historical novels until her family had grown up, TANIA CROSSE eventually completed a series of published stories based on her beloved Dartmoor. She is now setting her future sagas in London and the southeast.
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A Letter from the Author
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for sharing my characters’ journey. I do so hope you enjoyed it.
I get so emotionally involved with my stories that to me they are real, and I hope you felt that way, too. If you would like to share that emotion with others, then please do write a review or spread the word on your preferred social media. I’d be most grateful and so would my characters!
I write gritty tales about women facing terrible challenges in real-life historical situations. Sometimes they already have a problem, or sometimes it’s historical fact that brings the problem to their door. Sometimes both! But in every case, they have to find the strength to survive whatever life throws at them.
For further details of all my novels, please drop by my website, where you can also sign up to my newsletter which will keep you up to date with publications and other matters of interest. I’ll look forward to meeting you there, just follow the links below.
Happy reading!
With love
Tania
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Addictive Fiction
First published in the United Kingdom in 2018 by Aria, an imprint of Head of Zeus Ltd
Copyright © Tania Crosse, 2018
The moral right of Tania Crosse to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN (E) 9781786694973
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