Love or Duty--A saga set in 1920s Liverpool by Rosie Harris Page A

Road, Penny wasn’t sure.
    â€˜I want to go straight to bed because I feel so tired and now my arm is hurting as well as my leg,’ Kelly said in a piteous little voice.
    â€˜Yes, I’m sorry about that,’ Penny said gently. ‘It was my fault for leaving you out in the playground while I talked to Miss Grimshaw.’
    â€˜It wasn’t your fault,’ Kelly defended. ‘It was them two girls that did it.’
    â€˜What do you mean?’ Penny stared down at Kelly in surprise. ‘You still haven’t told me exactly what happened, have you?’ she added gently.
    â€˜They pushed me so hard that I fell over. They said they didn’t want any slum kids in their class.’
    â€˜They did what!’ Penny felt indignant. The two girls she had asked to look after Kelly were the best behaved in her class. She could only surmise that they had overheard their parents discussing the reason why she was looking after Kelly following her accident.
    An hour later when Penny came back down the stairs, after consoling Kelly, taking up her supper tray and then tucking her into bed and making her as comfortable as possible, she could hear Arnold’s voice and then her mother’s coming from the direction of the sitting room.
    They seemed to be deep in conversation about something but they both stopped abruptly the moment Penny entered the room.
    Arnold stood up and walked over to greet her and gave her a light peck on the cheek.
    â€˜I popped in to tell you some good news and to remind you that there is a meeting of the Drama Society tonight.’
    â€˜I’m afraid I won’t be able to come,’ Penny said apologetically, ‘I have to stay with Kelly.’
    â€˜I thought that you were taking her back to her own mother in Liverpool once you started back at school,’ Arnold responded with a frown.
    â€˜Yes, that was the plan but the situation has changed. I took Kelly into school with me today and there was an accident in the playground and she has broken her arm and is now in a worse state than ever.’
    Arnold frowned as if he didn’t understand what she meant.
    â€˜Because of her broken arm Kelly can’t use her crutches and she isn’t able to walk without them so she will be staying in my care until she is better,’ Penny explained.
    Arnold’s handsome face darkened. ‘This really is too bad of you, Penny. I’ve been without a partner at the tennis club all through the summer season because you didn’t bother to come out with me and now you’ve found another excuse.’
    â€˜From what I’ve heard you’ve managed to find yourself plenty of partners so I hardly think you have noticed my absence all that much,’ Penny retorted spiritedly.
    Arnold’s scowl deepened. ‘It is very important that you attend the Drama Society tonight. We are putting on a Shakespearean comedy and as I was telling your mother I have been given the lead part and of course I insisted that you should star opposite me. The rest of the cast are being selected tonight and we will be starting rehearsals next week as soon as we’ve had a chance to learn our parts.’
    â€˜Oh, Arnold, how wonderful,’ Penny exclaimed delightedly, knowing how keen he was on amateur dramatics. Then her face clouded. ‘But I’m afraid my accepting a part is out of the question because of Kelly.’
    He stared at her in disbelief, his dark eyes narrowing. ‘Surely, once you have put her to bed at night that is the end of the matter until next morning. You don’t have to be here or stay with her,’ he snapped.
    â€˜That’s not quite right. If Kelly needs anything or has to get out of bed to go to the bathroom then I must be here to help her.’
    â€˜Absolute rubbish, Penny! Surely one of your maids can see to her?’
    Penny shook her head and looked appealing at her mother. Leonora Forshaw’s mouth