Page 49 of The Winter Bride

‘Can we go on the rides now?’ Tim’s girls implored. ‘Oh please!’

‘I don’t see why not. It’s Sunday and we’ve nowt to rush home for,’ Tim told them as he led them outside.

Barney was working the swing boat and beckoned them over. ‘Come on, let’s see if we can touch the sky, eh?’ He laughed as the girls and Nancy clambered in, but Adam was too small so Annie held on to him. Soon Barney had the children soaring high and their laughter echoed around them. They rode on the carousel next and while they were there Mercy approached them. She looked radiant and gave Annie a hug. They’d taken to each other the first time they’d met and they were always happy to see each other.

‘How long are you here for?’ Mercy asked.

‘Only until tomorrow morning, I’m afraid,’ Annie told her. ‘We have to catch the train back to London first thing then it’s back to work in my new shop on Tuesday.’

Suddenly Annie sensed someone standing behind her and she turned to see Reggie. Her stomach sank and all the joy went out of the day, and she just wanted to leave.

‘Here, let me hold my nephew for you. He’s getting heavy now.’ Without waiting for permission, Reggie lifted Adam from her arms.

Annie flushed. It would have sounded churlish to refuse him, but she felt like snatching the child back anyway. He seemed to have forgotten that not so long ago he’d told her that he didn’t believe Adam was his nephew.

‘I was going to suggest you come and meet my parents. It’s time you all got to know each other,’ Mercy said.

Annie shook her head, keeping a close eye on Adam. ‘Thank you. Perhaps next time? I’d have loved to meet them but I think it’s time I was getting Adam back to Peggy’s for his tea and bath.’ Without another word she took Adam back from Reggie and the minute Nancy joined her she said, ‘Right, it’s time we were off now.’

Nancy looked disappointed and Annie felt guilty for dragging her away, but she couldn’t stand to be in Reggie’s presence a moment longer.

‘In that case, I’ll walk back with you,’ Reggie volunteered.

Thankfully Susan heard him and arrived at Annie’s side. ‘It’s all right,’ she said coldly. ‘Me an’ Tim have had enough now so we’ll see her back.’

‘Yes, goodbye, Reggie,’ Tim said firmly, and after saying their goodbyes to Barney and Mercy they walked away leaving Reggie with a face as dark as a thundercloud.

Once they’d put a safe distance between them, Annie sighed. ‘Now I remember why I left for London,’ she said gloomily.

‘I just hope he didn’t hear you telling Mercy you were catching an early train,’ Susan said quietly. ‘I wouldn’t put it past that bugger to try to follow you.’

‘Oh, I don’t think even he would go to those lengths to find out where we’re living,’ Annie said, praying she was right.

Chapter Twenty-Five

‘Eeh I wish yer didn’t ’ave to rush off so quickly,’ Peggy said sadly the next morning as Annie packed the rest of Adam’s clothes into her carpet bag.

‘Never mind, I promise I’ll come back just as soon as I can.’ Annie kissed her cheek as Levi came down from his room to join them.

‘I’ll walk yer all to the station an’ carry yer bags,’ he offered.

Annie wouldn’t hear of it. ‘No, you won’t. You have to get ready for work and it’s no distance. We’ll manage perfectly well,’ she told him, having a last check round that she hadn’t forgotten anything.

‘We’ll miss yer.’ Peggy sniffed back a tear as she kissed Adam and Nancy, and then Annie ushered the youngsters ahead of her and they set off.

It was only a short distance to the station, but she found herself glancing about nervously for any glimpses of Reggie. Luckily there was no sign of him and when they reached the station the platform was deserted too, so she breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Reggie, he’d probably still be tucked up in bed and she’d probably been worrying for nothing. The train was exactly on time and as soon as it pulled up, Annie settled the children in an empty compartment.

‘I bet there won’t be many travelling this early in the morning,’ she told Nancy. ‘So hopefully we’ll have this all to ourselves.’

Nancy nodded, stifling a yawn, and within minutes of the train setting off both she and Adam had dropped off to sleep again. Annie smiled as she settled down to read her newspaper.

The journey was uneventful and they arrived back at the shop to find Marie serving a customer. While Nancy took Adam up to their rooms, Annie asked, ‘How has it been? Have you managed?’

‘I am delighted to say it’s been quite busy,’ Marie assured her when the customer had gone. ‘And of course I ’ave been all right. I quite enjoy working ’ere. It can get lonely at ’ome with my John working such long hours. But now I ’ave something to ask you – John and I are holding another dinner party on Wednesday and we would like you to come. It will be just some of his work friends and their wives. Could you make it?’

When Annie looked undecided, she rushed on, ‘Adam would be quite ’appy with Nancy. And you know what my mother always said: “All work an’ no play makes Jack ze dull boy!” Please, you must start to make a little time for yourself.’

‘Well . . . I suppose I could.’ Annie had left Nancy with Adam many times, but only while she was working or buying for the shop, and she felt a little guilty about leaving him with her for pleasure.