The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,88

don’t want you to do it, Livvy.”

“D-Don’t you like Mr Skewes?” Livvy asked, for none of the children had ever mentioned him one way or the other as far as she knew. She didn’t think they were even aware of the situation, but then in a family like this, secrets were hard to keep for long.

Susan wrinkled her nose.

“None of us do! He’s so… ugh. He treats us all like charity cases and… and he keeps patting me on the head like… like a dog!” she said with a burst of indignation.

Livvy bit her lip, aware that a girl on the cusp of womanhood would not appreciate being treated like a child. Mr Skewes’ particular brand of condescension was enough to make Livvy want to throw things, so why not Susan too.

“Oh, Susan, you have no idea how it gladdens my heart to know what a sensible girl you are. No, I shall not marry Mr Skewes, well… unless things are very desperate indeed. Even he would be better than the workhouse…I think,” Livvy said, a touch doubtfully.

“Are things as bad as that?” Susan said, and Livvy cursed herself for her wayward tongue.

“Oh, no,” she said at once, but Susan’s shrewd gaze stopped her. She took a breath. “No, not so dreadful as that, but the truth is I don’t know how bad. Your father has not told me, but… but I suspect we must leave this house in the New Year. It must be rented out. Hopefully, the income will be enough to keep us and pay off your father’s debts, but….”

Susan swallowed hard but did not cry. “Will… Will I need to… to go to work?”

Livvy felt emotion bubbling up in her chest again, threatening to explode in another wretched scene. She forced it back down.

“No,” she said, her voice firm. “I won’t let that happen. We’re not done yet, Susan.”

Susan nodded and grasped Livvy’s hand. “I know if anyone can find a way, you can.” She hesitated then. “You could marry King.”

Livvy smiled and fought back the tears that prickled behind her eyes. “I’m afraid King is no better off than we are, love.”

“Oh. Well, I’d marry him anyway,” Susan said dreamily. “He’s wonderful.”

Yes, Livvy thought. He is.

Having sent Susan off to check Jane had recovered from her fright, Livvy thought she’d best look in on Ceci. She was a tender-hearted creature, and little Jane must have frightened her half to death this morning. Livvy’s heart was still jittering, and she considered herself nigh on unshakeable. She knocked on the door of Ceci’s room and went in, finding Ceci standing and gazing out of the window. Birdie was asleep on the bed, barricaded in with pillows and bolsters so she couldn’t roll off.

“Adorable,” Livvy said with a sigh, watching the baby sleep.

Ceci turned and smiled, a wistful expression on her soft features. Livvy frowned, noting Ceci’s eyes were still red.

“Ceci, is everything all right?”

Ceci’s lip quivered. “I l-lost the baby, Livvy.”

Livvy stared at her in shock.

“Oh, oh, my dear.” She ran to her sister-in-law and hugged her tightly as Ceci clung to her and sobbed. “But when? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Ceci shrugged, pulling away to wipe at her eyes. “Last night, and there didn’t seem any reason to. There was nothing you could do. I wasn’t very far along after all, and it’s hardly the first time it’s happened. There seemed no point in bothering anyone, only… only I wish Charlie had been here.”

Livvy opened her mouth to say that Ceci ought to have come and fetched her, but then thought better of it. Goodness, what a night it might have been. Perhaps it was an omen, some strange force telling her that King was not to be hers, even for a short while.

“Livvy,” Ceci said, taking her attention once more. “I feel so guilty.”

“Why?” Livvy exclaimed in astonishment.

“B-Because I’m glad. It’s not that I wouldn’t mind more babies, but…. Oh, Livvy, we’re poor, aren’t we?”

Livvy sighed, looking into Ceci’s frightened eyes. She wrestled a handkerchief out of her sleeve and handed it to her. “Yes, love, I rather think we are.”

Ceci nodded and wiped her eyes. “Is it my fault? Charlie keeps telling me not to worry but… he keeps going away and he’s s-so changed. He doesn’t sleep.”

For a moment all Livvy’s old resentments rose in a wave as she looked about the opulent room, but that wasn’t entirely Ceci’s fault.

“I’ve been trying to tell you for some time, Ceci,” she said, as gently