Valley Affairs by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911420187
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2019-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

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Sheila’s love for Maurice was as ardent as ever, but she sensed a cooling off in him. When they parted, she almost had to push him into agreeing to meet her again. Since she had moved into the flat, she had continued to sneak out after her parents were sleeping, but twice she had been unable to see him. She waited far into the night before walking home, her need for him a stressful ache.

Tonight she stood at the window and watched Ethel make herself a cup of cocoa, wind the clock and damp down the fire before going to bed. Sheila pressed her face against the cold pane to read the time on the clock. Almost one. The cold ate into her bones. She would give it another fifteen minutes, then go. It was already difficult to get up in the mornings, but without his loving she found it hard to sleep anyway.

How could she win Maurice over again? She wanted to be married so much, to be her own boss and not have her mother dogging her footsteps wherever she went. Not to have to get the bus into town every day and sell boring people boring dresses. Oh Maurice, she sighed silently, don’t let me down.

Inside, Ethel pulled on the chain and lowered the height of the flame around the gas mantle. The room sank into darkness, and not even the fire could be seen. Sheila felt tears begin to slide down her cheeks. She had been so sure Maurice loved her. What had gone wrong?

He came at last, carrying his bicycle on his shoulder as he walked up the muddy track. She hurried towards him, longing for his warmth.

‘Maurice, I’m so cold. Where have you been?’

‘You shouldn’t have come, Sheila. You’ll make yourself ill, standing around in this weather.’

‘Let’s go inside.’

‘No.’

She was alarmed by his attitude. He held her, but did not bend his head to kiss her. She stared at the door and moved towards it. ‘I’m frozen. Let’s just go in for a few moments, for me to warm up.’

‘You shouldn’t have come.’

‘I had to. I have to talk to you.’

‘It’s over, Sheila. It’s been fantastic fun, you’re a great girl, but it’s finished. Sorry.’

She drooped against him like a cut flower. He had to tighten his arms around her to prevent her falling. She pressed against him but he eased her away.

‘I’ve tried to hint – but there’s no easy way to say it.’

His thoughts were still with Delina Honeyman, who he had just left. They had been to a carol concert and his mind was bursting with the joyous music and the thrill of sharing it with Delina. He found it hard to listen to Sheila’s pleadings; she was already an embarrassment to him. But the effect of meeting the charming, beautiful and gentle Delina was so devastating that he was kinder to Sheila than he would otherwise have been. Delina had released in him a new compassion and he was kinder to Sheila because of it.

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