Free The Best of Sisters by Dilly Court Page A

sir.’ Freddie held his hand out to Eliza. ‘I’ve heard enough and I know who I believe. Come, Eliza and Millie, we’re finished here.’
    Flinging his arms out across the door, Enoch glared at Freddie. ‘Take this child from me and I’ll have you charged with kidnapping. Eliza is my dead brother’s daughter and I am her legal guardian.’
    ‘How much?’ Freddie demanded, putting his hand in his pocket. ‘How much do you want for her, you old villain?’
    ‘You insult me, insinuating that I would sell my own flesh and blood.’ Enoch’s eyes gleamed with greed. ‘But I will take a nominal sum to compensate me for all the expenses involved in her upbringing and education. Four pounds.’
    ‘That seems a rather large nominal sum.’
    ‘Two pound ten.’
    ‘Two guineas and that’s my last offer.’
    ‘Done!’ Enoch held out his hand.
    Freddie produced two golden sovereigns and two shilling pieces, dropping them into Enoch’s outstretched hand. ‘Now move aside, sir. Our business is concluded.’
    Enoch sidled past Freddie, casting a scornful glance at Eliza. ‘Good riddance.’
    Dizzy with relief and barely able to believe that she was really and truly free of Uncle Enoch, Eliza tossed her head. ‘Same to you, you oldskinflint.’ Holding tightly to Millie’s hand, she followed Freddie out into the street. ‘Did you really buy me?’
    ‘I bought your freedom, Eliza. Now you go on home to Dolly, and I’ll find myself some new lodgings.’
    ‘You will come round tonight, like you said?’
    ‘I will indeed. Freddie Prince always keeps his word.’ With a cheery wink and a smile, Freddie strolled off carrying his cases and whistling.
    Millie tugged at Eliza’s hand. ‘What about me, Liza? You won’t let them send me back to the workhouse, will you?’
    ‘Of course not,’ Eliza replied staunchly. ‘We’ll go and talk to Dolly; she’ll make Ted see sense.’
    They arrived home to find Dolly had come downstairs and was sitting in her usual seat by the range. ‘That medicine is truly wonderful,’ she said happily. ‘Your Dr Prince is a miracle worker.’ Reaching for her spectacles, Dolly set them on the bridge of her nose, peering at Millie who was loitering in the doorway. ‘Come in, dear. There’s nothing to be scared of in my house.’
    ‘Can she stay, Mum?’ Eliza pleaded. ‘I’ll look after her and Dr Prince has offered us both a job helping him to peddle his cures, only …’
    ‘Only what, ducks?’
    ‘Dad wouldn’t give him a direct answer. Saidhe has to come back after supper and he’ll think about it.’
    ‘We’ll see about that,’ Dolly said, getting slowly to her feet. ‘Fetch me my bonnet and shawl, Eliza. We’re going to market and I’m going to buy some material to make dresses for both of you. My own little girls.’
    Eliza stared at her in amazement. ‘But you never go out.’
    ‘That was before I had my blood purifying medicine. I’m a new woman, Eliza. A new woman and a mother.’
    When Ted returned home that evening, Eliza and Millie were seated on the floor surrounded by scraps of cotton print and calico. Eliza had mastered backstitch and, with her tongue held between her teeth, was concentrating on sewing a straight seam, but Millie was having difficulty with simple tacking and was sucking her finger where she had pricked it on her needle.
    ‘Hello, what’s going on here?’ Taking off his peaked cap, Ted shot a questioning look at Dolly.
    Dolly smiled up at him as she plied her needle. ‘I’ve been out to market, Ted. Me and the girls went together, and we bought some material to make them clothes suitable for their new employment.’
    ‘But Dolly, you haven’t been out of the house for years unless I was there to go with you, letalone go to market.’ Ted’s eyes rounded in surprise and he sat down on his chair beside the range. ‘And you ain’t touched a pair of scissors since you had to give up sewing because of your eyes.’
    ‘Well, it’s