by Gracie Hart
‘America! She’s gone to America, leaving you with all the worry. Aye, lass, you are going to have something on, you just on your own. Ada bent down and looked at the baby now nearly back asleep with the bottle teat still in its mouth. ‘Is it a girl or a boy?’
‘A girl, Victoria. She’s a good one really, doesn’t cry that much.’ Eliza looked with love at her bundle.
‘Victoria, named after our good lady herself. Well, let’s see if I’ve silver threepence with her name on it.’ Bert reached into his pocket and placed a silver threepence in the baby’s tight gripping pink hand. ‘Silver for luck.’
‘Thank you. I’ll see we spend it wisely.’ Eliza looked up at the old couple that had been interfering in her life for as long as she had known them, but knew she felt strangely glad that they were her neighbours. At least she knew they’d be there if ever she really needed them.
‘On your way home, are you?’ Ada spouted. ‘Did you see the queen in all her glory? Wasn’t it wonderful?’
‘Yes, yes, we did, and yes we are going home. It’s been a long day.’ Eliza stood up and put the bottle back in her pocket and hugged Victoria tightly to her.
‘Then walk back with us. Come in home too. I’ll put the kettle on and you have a rest. You know we will always be there for you, especially now with the baby …’ Ada looked at her as she walked along.
‘Thank you. I’ll go home, but it’s good to know I can count on you as neighbours.’ Eliza smiled. Home was where she wanted to be, just to be with baby Victoria and her own thoughts. She’d seen the queen, made her peace with Ada and Bert and ensured that she would be supplied with second-hand goods through Ma Fletcher.
Mary-Anne might be travelling halfway around the world but Eliza’s heart lay at home with the people that she was just beginning to realise loved her. She’d raise Victoria with the same love that she was shown. A new life was just beginning for Mary-Anne, but for herself it too would be one full of promise and hope, if she had anything to do with it … a good life for her and Victoria until her mother came to claim her. Until then she would be her daughter and be loved by her and her alone.
As for Tom, she hoped that over time he would realise his love for her and understand why the love of her sister had become between them.
Until then she would wait for him.
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Epub ISBN: 9781473554825
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Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing
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Copyright © Diane Winn Limited, 2018
Diane Winn, writing as Gracie Hart, has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
First published by Ebury Press in 2018
www.penguin.co.uk
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781785038068