Free Always And Forever by Betty Neels Page A

would be later, she conceded. In the meantime she was grateful to Dr Fforde for his help. It was a pity she couldn’t see him and tell him how grateful she was. But he had disappeared back into his world, somewhere in London, and London was vast…
    Convincing Aunt Thisbe that the offer of work from Miss Trent was exactly what she had hoped for was no easy task. Aunt Thisbe had said no word of her holiday, only reiterating her advice that Amabel should spend the next few weeks with her, wait until after Christmas before looking for work…
    It was only after Amabel had painted a somewhat over-blown picture of her work at Miss Trent’s shop, the advantages of getting one foot in the door of future prospects,and her wish to become independent, that Miss Parsons agreed reluctantly that it might be the chance of a lifetime. There was the added advantage that, once in York, the chance of finding an even better job was much greater than if Amabel stayed at Bolton Percy.
    So Amabel sent off her references and within a day or so the job was hers, if she chose to take it. Amabel showed her aunt the letter and it was then that Aunt Thisbe said, ‘I shall be sorry to see you go, child. You must spend your Sundays here, of course, and any free time you have.’ She hesitated. ‘If I am away then you must go to Josh and Mrs Josh, who will look after you. Josh will have a key, and you must treat the house as your home. If you need the car you have only to ask…’
    â€˜Will you be away for long?’ asked Amabel.
    â€˜Well, dear, I have been invited to spend a few weeks with an old friend who has an apartment in Italy. I hadn’t made up my mind whether to go, but since you have this job and are determined to be independent…’
    â€˜Oh, Aunt Thisbe, how lovely for you—and hasn’t everything worked out well? I’ll be fine in York and I’ll love to come here, if Mrs Josh won’t mind. When are you going?’
    â€˜You are to start work next Monday? I shall probably go during that week.’
    â€˜I thought I’d ask Miss Trent if I could move in on Sunday…’
    â€˜A good idea. Josh can drive you there and make sure that everything is all right. Presumably the shop will be empty?’
    â€˜I suppose so. I’d have all day to settle in, and if it’s quiet Cyril and Oscar won’t find it so strange. They’re very adaptable.’
    So everything was settled. Miss Trent had no objection to Amabel moving in on Sunday. The key would be next door at the patisserie, which was open on Sundays, and the room had been furnished; she could go in and out as she wished and she was to be ready to open the shop at nine o’clock on Monday morning. Miss Trent sounded friendly enough, if a trifle impatient.
    Amabel packed her case and Miss Parsons, with brisk efficiency, filled a large box with food: tins of soup, cheese, eggs, butter, bread, biscuits, tea and coffee and plastic bottles of milk and, tucked away out of sight, a small radio. Amabel, for all her brave face, would be lonely.
    Aunt Thisbe decided that she would put off her holiday until the following week; Amabel would spend Sunday with her and she would see for herself if she could go away with a clear conscience… She would miss Amabel, but the young shouldn’t be held back.
    She would have liked to have seen the room where Amabel was to live, but she sensed that Amabel didn’t want that—at least not until she had transformed it into a place of which her aunt would approve. And there were one or two things she must tell Josh—that nice Dr Fforde might return. It wasn’t very likely, but Aunt Thisbe believed that one should never overlook a chance.
    Saying goodbye to Aunt Thisbe wasn’t easy. Amabel had been happy living with her; she had a real affection for the rather dour old lady, and knew that the affection was reciprocated, but she felt in her bones that she