One Penny Surprise (Saved By Desire 1) by Rebecca King Page A

issued a few cautionary words that she was never to allow Clarence to get his hands on any of it. It had been as though he was trying to warn her about something, or knew of the problems that lay ahead. Either way she would do as Peter told her to and use the money to leave the hovel. Now, after Clarence’s despicable behaviour this morning, she was going to use as much as she needed to keep a roof over her head, clothing on her back, and food in her stomach while she decided what to do with her life.
    “Poppy, get down here this instant or I shall come up there and fetch you.”
    Poppy reasoned that she had to go downstairs at some point anyway to fetch the precious bag. Before she did so, however, she took a moment to pack the remainder of her few precious belongings back into a second carpet bag and carried them with her as she descended the stairs. She placed those carefully in the cupboard beneath the stairs. It was the quiet click of the latch that alerted Clarence in the kitchen that she was there and he promptly appeared in the doorway.
    “You took your time,” he groused.
    “I am not beholden to you,” she retorted. “What do you want?”
    “Deliver this message for me,” he demanded holding out a piece of parchment to her.
    “Deliver it yourself,” she snorted. “I am not your messenger.”
    “You will deliver this for me or you will be out on your ear.”
    “Fine, I shall pack my belongings and be out of your hair then. See if you can cook a meal for yourself. The next time your creditor comes calling, you can deal with them, and while you are at it, you are all out of food so you need to go and purchase some with whatever money you have left.” She was proud of the keen disinterest in her voice as she spoke, and was aware that Clarence hesitated before he replied, but that didn’t detract him from trying to bully her once more.
    “If you expect to remain in my house then you will do as you are told. You are too bloody wilful for your own good and need to mind your manners. No wonder I cannot find a husband to take you on. Not only do you not have enough looks to attract a man, but you are too mouthy and don’t have the brains you were born with,” he snorted derisively.
    “Ha, I haven’t cost us the roof over our head in Cumbria,” she retorted.
    It was a wild shot in the dark but she knew from the look on his face that was in fact what he had done. Her heart broke at the thought that she had lost the beloved home that meant so much to her, but she couldn’t think too much about that right now or she might break down and cry. Instead, she turned the pain into anger and glared hatefully at the man who was soon to become a part of her past. “You had to go and push it didn’t you? You are supposed to be the man of the house and work to provide for the family. You are supposed to deal with the running of the finances, and ensure there are enough funds available to put a roof over our heads and food on the table, yet you couldn’t even manage to do that properly. Peter was right about you, you are a selfish ingrate.”
    She caught his hand before he slapped her again. This time she squeezed his wrist as tightly as she could in silent warning. “Don’t you ever touch me,” she breathed through clenched teeth as she tightened her grip as painfully as she could, and dug her nails in for good measure.
    Her eyes met Clarence’s for what she suspected was the last time. If she was completely honest, she wouldn’t be sorry to see the back of him. Eventually, when his stunned gaze flickered to her hand, she threw his wrist away and turned her back on him before he could say anything else.
    “You had a wonderful house in Cumbria, and a wife who loved you for what you were. Whatever she saw in you she stood by you but you didn’t even treat her properly. She died of heartbreak far too soon, not that you cared. I am sorry if I have been a disappointment to you but I didn’t ask to be born. You