Free Mistress of Greyladies by Anna Jacobs Page A

rather thin. She liked his face, which had an intelligent look to it.
    After a while, she decided she’d better get back to the hotel and stood up.
    Someone called from the street. ‘Phoebe? Is that you?’
    Oh, no! It was Frank. Why did she keep bumping into him?’ She watched him amble across, not hurrying, but still making her feel like prey being hunted.
    ‘Mrs Falshaw said you’d gone to the corner shop.’
    ‘Why would she tell you anything about me?’
    ‘Because I went round asking at places where you might have found a room. I was worried about you. Your old neighbours haven’t seen you. Why did you lie to me?’
    ‘Because I want to find my own job, make my own life.’
    ‘Sit down. I need to talk to you.’
    ‘I don’t want to talk to you, Frank. I’m tired and I’m going to bed.’
    In spite of her protests and struggles, he took hold of herarm and dragged her to the nearest bench, sitting her down on it forcibly. ‘I’m
not
having you wandering around this part of town on your own at night.’
    ‘It has nothing to do with you whether I
wander
or not.’
    ‘Oh, yes, it does. I promised Horace and Mum I’d keep an eye on you. They’re worried about you, what with the war and everything. Anyway, I’ve found you a job and you can start tomorrow.’
    ‘Doing what?’
    ‘Working in a laundry.’
    ‘I don’t want to work in a laundry.’
    ‘It’s just temporary till we get married.’
    She gaped at him. ‘Who said we’re getting married?’
    ‘I told you before. I know I should have asked you properly but I realised when I took you and those curtain materials out to the farm how well we’d suit. You’re a clever woman and pretty with it, and you haven’t been going with anyone else. I’m going to need a wife like you after the war, and it makes sense for us to get married straight away, because the married men won’t be called up yet. By the time they are, I’ll have worked out how to avoid going into the army.’
    Was this his idea of a marriage proposal? Well, it wasn’t hers. She was so astonished by his arrogance that she couldn’t speak for a moment, then she bounced to her feet. ‘We are
not
getting married, Frank – not now, not ever. You aren’t my type, and anyway, I don’t want to marry anyone.’
    He gave her a sneering smile. ‘Of course you want to get married. All women do. They need a breadwinner.’
    So she said it bluntly. ‘I’ve been trying to be polite, but the truth is, I don’t want to marry
you
, Frank. I don’t think we’d suit at all.’
    He scowled at her. ‘You’ll get used to the idea.’
    ‘I won’t! I don’t even like you to touch me.’
    His expression grew ugly. ‘You’ll get used to that, too. Women do, once they’re broken in.’
    ‘No, I won’t. I’m
not
marrying you.’
    ‘You’d better, because if you
don’t
agree to marry me, you won’t be able to find a job in Swindon at all. I’ve worked hard to make useful connections in the town, and that includes the police. I shan’t hesitate to make things uncomfortable for you.’
    She could only gape at him.
    He gave her a nasty smirk of a smile. ‘When I want something, Phoebe, I find a way to get it. Always.’
    He was so confident of himself, she began to get seriously worried. He didn’t really have the power to stop her getting a job, did he? Then she looked at his face and shivered at how confident he looked. ‘If I can’t get a job in Swindon, I’ll go elsewhere. I am
not
going to marry you, Frank.’
    He was on his feet now, facing her. ‘You will, you know. I’ll be a good provider, you won’t find better. But you’ll have to learn to obey me, Phoebe. A man is master in his own home.’
    ‘You can be as masterful as you like, but it’s not going to be with me. Now, leave me alone.’ She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her and dragged her back.
    ‘I reckon I’d better make you mine now, then you’ll
have
to marry me.’ He pulled her into the shadows