Free Promise Made by Linda Sole

agreed. ‘If he’d put the deeds over to us at the start it would be settled – but I shan’t beg him, Fran, and I’m not going to work for him. If he cuts up nasty, I shall find us somewhere else to live.’
    Frances turned away to make some sandwiches for their lunch. She didn’t mind that Marcus had quarrelled with his father, or that he wouldn’t be earning as much as he had expected – but she would hate to lose the house. It was a question of pride. Frances couldn’t bear to be pitied, and she knew how people would talk if they had to move out into a smaller place. But perhaps Marcus would make up with his father or find a job he really liked. It wasn’t fair, because the house was supposed to be theirs.
    â€˜Lose the farm?’ Connor stared at his brother in dismay. ‘But Henry can’t lose the farm. He was going to give me a job when I leave school . . .’
    â€˜I’m afraid Henry doesn’t have much choice,’ Daniel said. ‘The bank is calling its money in and that means everything will have to be sold. He hasn’t told Mary yet, but he only just heard this morning. He will be lucky if he can cover the debt and hang on to his house.’
    â€˜I shall have to work for someone else then,’ Connor said. ‘I might ask Alice if her father will take me on . . .’ He looked gloomy, because he had been so sure that he would be working for Henry. ‘You’ll be short of money too then?’
    â€˜Yes, it will be tight for a while,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ve scraped up enough to put a deposit on the house Alice wants, but I’m not sure how we shall manage. I’ve still got those fields along the Ely road, which I’ve signed over to Alice to make sure they don’t get seized by the bank as well as the family land.’
    â€˜Couldn’t I work for you then?’ Connor asked looking hopefully at him. ‘I wouldn’t want more than a few bob and my keep.’
    Daniel hesitated. He had intended giving his fields to Connor when he got sorted out, but with the bankruptcy hanging over them and Cley refusing to pay what he owed, he couldn’t afford to do it yet.
    â€˜I was thinking of renting them out on a short lease,’ he said. ‘Henry put them down to grass and someone asked if he could have them for grazing this year. I’ve said yes, on the provision that I get them back next year. I might put them down to arable then, Connor, but for the moment I can’t afford it.’
    â€˜Oh . . .’ Connor turned away, his disappointment obvious to his brother. ‘All right. I’ll talk to Mr Robinson, ask him if he has any work – or if he knows of someone who will give me a job.’
    â€˜Have you considered staying on at school for another year?’ Daniel said to his retreating back. He felt guilty because he was aware that Connor had been expecting to live with him and Alice. Daniel knew that Alice wouldn’t have minded having him with them, but he didn’t feel it was fair. She had a new house to cope with as well as their son and him. Besides, Daniel wanted some time alone with her. They had never had a real honeymoon, except for one night at the Lamb Hotel in Ely, because he’d had to go back to his unit. Yes, they needed a little time to get used to each other. Perhaps in a couple of months or so. ‘Think about it, Connor. It might be the best thing . . .’
    Connor didn’t answer him. Daniel felt as if he’d let his brother down. It might have been different if he’d had the money Cley owed him. He could have started the little business he wanted and let Connor farm the fields he still owned. As it was, he wasn’t sure how long he would be able to hang on to them. He might have to sell, though they wouldn’t bring in even enough to finish paying off what he owed on the house.
    â€˜I