Read Online A Fool and His Money by Marina Pascoe - Free Book Online Page A

window – I miss my own view.’
    â€˜Yes, we can go back in after lunch apparently, sir.’
    Boase swivelled on his new chair and took another bite from his pork pie.
    At the recreation ground, everyone was miserable, particularly Chester Martin who wasn’t making any money. Superintendent Greet had forbidden the troupe to leave the town. However, he had given them permission to continue with their shows. Apart from the recent events putting a dampener on everything within the circus, the people of Falmouth had obviously decided that they wanted nothing more to do with it. And so it was that Chester Martin reluctantly pasted a sign outside saying that there would be no more performances in the town.
    Anne Warner hadn’t been able to sleep. She had lain in bed all night getting more and more angry, tired and upset. Now morning, she turned and looked at the small alarm clock beside the bed. It was half past ten. She was usually up and about by now but today she didn’t feel like it. She really missed her dear friend, Clicker. She sat up and wondered why anyone would do something like that. He was such a lovely man. She’d bet any money that his daughter had something to do with this. Clicker must have told her that he knew about Margaret Field . And what of Edward James? He never liked Clicker – the old man had told her so many times that the two didn’t get along. Clicker just put up with him for the sake of being close to his daughter. He had waited for years to see her for the first time and had been prepared to do anything to keep her in his life – yes, even so far as to give her all his money.
    Anne got up and made some tea. Her sisters had left a note propped up against the mirror saying they’d gone shopping and didn’t want to wake her. She had been awake and heard them go but didn’t feel like striking up a conversation with them. They meant well and they both loved her very much but, at the moment, she wanted to be alone with her thoughts. To the two older sisters, she had seemed to be so upset and tired over the last couple of days and they were growing more worried for her.
    Anne drew her dressing gown tighter and sipped her tea. She hadn’t eaten anything, couldn’t eat anything. She felt hungry but didn’t want anything. The last time she had felt like this was when her parents died – and Clicker had helped her to get over that a little. Now she was going through it all over again. As she watched the rain trickling down the caravan window, she saw someone hurrying across the grass. She looked closer. The woman was holding a raincoat over her head. As she watched, the figure disappeared from her sight. Seconds later there was a knock at the door. Anne rose and went to see who it was. As she opened the door, a gust of wind blew over a small vase on a nearby shelf. She pushed the door further and was surprised to see Molly James standing there. This was someone she liked less now than she had before.
    Molly seemed far from pleased to see Anne. She spoke first. ‘I was wondering if Betty or Joan were in?’
    â€˜No. They’re not. What do you want?’
    â€˜They said before just to look in if I needed anything.’
    The woman was holding a small jug.
    â€˜Milk?’
    â€˜If you can spare any – Edward hasn’t had a cup of tea yet. He’s going mad because I forgot to get milk yesterday.’
    â€˜You’d better come in – I do have some.’
    â€˜Thank you.’
    The woman removed the coat from her head, shook it outside and came in. She looked uncomfortable and so did Anne, who worked quickly to fill the jug, spilling some of it onto the counter. Molly glanced around the small caravan, trying to avoid looking at the girl. The jug was filled and handed back.
    â€˜Thanks – you’re very kind.’
    No reply was offered as the door was opened, and the woman hurried back out into the rain.