Free The Amber Keeper by Freda Lightfoot

believe teaching is really me.’
    ‘I rather thought you’d say that, so I’ve booked you in for a secretarial course in Manchester.’
    ‘What? You’d no right to do such a thing, not without speaking to me first.’
    ‘I have every right. I’m your mother.’
    ‘Ah, so this is about power, is it? You just want to keep the jewellery business all to yourself.’ Abbie had felt a hot anger bubbling inside her. ‘You really don’t care what I do so long as I’m as far away from here as possible, do you? Well, don’t worry, I’ll make sure of that.’
    Kate had gone deathly pale. ‘Don’t say such things. Of course it’s not about power, and I don’t want you to go away forever. I want only what’s best for you.’
    ‘Best for yourself, you mean.’ At just seventeen and hopelessly in love, Abbie hadn’t been prepared to admit that she’d only thought of joining the jewellery business because she couldn’t think what else she’d like to do with her life, although a passion for art and fashion did seem to be growing in her. Throughout the summer she’d been helping in the bar of a local hotel while she tried to make up her mind what to do next. It was here that she’d met Eduard, and fallen in love, hoping to persuade him to stay on in the Lake District. But if there was no job for her here, Abbie could see no reason for either of them to remain. ‘No doubt sharing the profits with me is much less fun than putting it all into your own pocket.’
    Kate had given a harsh little laugh at that remark. ‘There aren’t many profits to share.’
    ‘Don’t lie.’
    ‘I’m not lying, Abigail. Things are not always as rosy as you might think. Life can be quite complicated at times.’
    ‘Well, you can stop worrying about me. I am one complication you can forget. Keep the business all to yourself if that’s what you want. See if I care. I have other plans, which do not include a secretarial course in Manchester,’ she’d responded, with typical teenage rebellion.
    ‘And what might they be, might I ask?’
    She’d looked her mother full in the face, heart pounding, as she’d answered with a deliberate casualness. ‘As a matter of fact, I’m planning on getting married.’
    There’d been a stunned silence for all of five seconds before Kate had burst out laughing. ‘Goodness, now where have I heard that before?’ At the time, Abbie hadn’t understood this remark. Now of course she saw how Kate was thinking of her own history. ‘And who is the lucky bridegroom?’
    ‘Eduard Grimont. He’s the new French chef at the Ring of Bells.’
    ‘Don’t talk ridiculous. You’re only seventeen. Why on earth would you wish to marry so young, let alone someone you’ve only just met?’
    ‘Because I’m pregnant with his child.’ At which point, Abbie had stormed off before her mother could respond.
    Too late now to regret having told her so bluntly, or leaving home before she’d had time to properly get to know her mother as an adult. Now her thoughts sadly returned to the issue most troubling her. What had possessed Kate, so happily engrossed in the community, to end it all in that terrible way? Abbie could only hope that her grandmother’s story would eventually throw some light upon the mystery.

    The moment they arrived at Carreck Place, Aimée rushed off to tell her cousin Jonathon her news. In her excitement she nearly bumped into Fay, who was on her way out with the pushchair just as Aimée charged through the door. Abbie apologised and explained.
    ‘Ah, well it seems they’ll be attending the same school. Robert has decided we are not to return to our flat in Windermere, but will stay on for a while here in Carreckwater so that your father won’t be lonely.’
    ‘How very generous of him,’ Abbie drily remarked, not sure whether this news pleased her or not. She rather liked Fay, despite her lack of tact at times. Her brother, however, was a different matter . What a chicken-head he was,