for eight weeks a couple of winters ago, she had offered no more and waited to see what Betty would do. But she was as soft as clarts, Betty. After her stepmother had mentioned she’d be grateful for a bit more to tide them over the bad spell, she hadn’t mentioned the matter again. And why should she stump up extra to feed and clothe the brats Betty turned out like clockwork?
Prudence opened her eyes, remembering how Barney had doubled his board to Betty. She’d warned her brother he was stupid and that he’d be expected to keep it up once their da was in work again, but that was Barney all over. Governed by his heart and not his head, and always a sucker for a sob story. You got nowhere in life like that.
She glanced round the expensively furnished private sitting room, frowning slightly. It might take years but one day she’d buy her very own place. You had to make things happen in this life and the end always justified the means - and there was one thing she meant to bring about in the very near future. She didn’t intend to share her room any longer with that little baggage her Aunt Vera had foisted on them.
Prudence didn’t include Gertie in the thought; the younger child’s presence had barely impinged on her consciousness, but from the second she had set eyes on Josie’s fresh glowing face, framed by its mass of wavy golden-brown hair, she’d felt immediate antipathy.
But for Vera’s interference Betty would have been looking to offer the lads’ room to a lodger once Barney was gone; that had been the original plan, Prudence told herself bitterly. The twins and Robert would have managed perfectly well on a desk-bed in the kitchen, and apart from Freda and Clara on their little pallet, she would have had the room to herself. As it was, you couldn’t move for bodies at night. It wasn’t to be borne.
Prudence moved irritably on the stiff horsehair sofa she was sharing with her brother, screwing her fleshy buttocks into the seat, and in doing so caught Pearl’s eye once more. Her friend’s pretty, slightly babyish face again signalled caution, but this time the emotion it brought forth from Prudence was one of testiness.
With her pale blue eyes and curly chestnut-brown hair, Pearl had been spoilt by her doting parents from the day she was born. What did Pearl know of being forced to share a bedroom with virtual strangers, or existing day after day in a household of morons? Prudence became aware her hands were clasped together so tightly her knuckles were shining white, and forced herself to relax her fingers one by one until they were loose in her lap. She felt she would go mad at times, stark staring mad, and since that mealy-mouthed little madam of Vera’s had arrived, the feeling had increased tenfold. Wheedling her way in with Betty, offering to do this and that, and simpering at her da until she’d got him eating out of her hand. She thought she was so clever, Josie Burns, but she’d got a shock coming.
Prudence now sat very still as she allowed herself to reflect on the journey she had taken the previous weekend, and the satisfactory outcome which had ensued. It had been sweet, very sweet to find out she had been right all along - that what she’d suspected from the first day the baggage had arrived was true.
Her Aunt Vera was a fool, they all were - even Barney because he wouldn’t hear a word against Josie - but she had seen straight through the little strumpet. All that talk about her da and Gertie, what did Josie take them for? Well, the others might not have the sense they were born with, but she was on to Josie’s little game. The chit had got tired of looking after her mam and running the household in Sunderland. She’d decided to get away and, knowing Vera had a sister in Newcastle, had told a pack of lies and duped them all. All except herself, Prudence Robson. Her lips formed in a mirthless smile. Young Josie was going to find out very soon that Prudence Robson wasn’t as
Prudence opened her eyes, remembering how Barney had doubled his board to Betty. She’d warned her brother he was stupid and that he’d be expected to keep it up once their da was in work again, but that was Barney all over. Governed by his heart and not his head, and always a sucker for a sob story. You got nowhere in life like that.
She glanced round the expensively furnished private sitting room, frowning slightly. It might take years but one day she’d buy her very own place. You had to make things happen in this life and the end always justified the means - and there was one thing she meant to bring about in the very near future. She didn’t intend to share her room any longer with that little baggage her Aunt Vera had foisted on them.
Prudence didn’t include Gertie in the thought; the younger child’s presence had barely impinged on her consciousness, but from the second she had set eyes on Josie’s fresh glowing face, framed by its mass of wavy golden-brown hair, she’d felt immediate antipathy.
But for Vera’s interference Betty would have been looking to offer the lads’ room to a lodger once Barney was gone; that had been the original plan, Prudence told herself bitterly. The twins and Robert would have managed perfectly well on a desk-bed in the kitchen, and apart from Freda and Clara on their little pallet, she would have had the room to herself. As it was, you couldn’t move for bodies at night. It wasn’t to be borne.
Prudence moved irritably on the stiff horsehair sofa she was sharing with her brother, screwing her fleshy buttocks into the seat, and in doing so caught Pearl’s eye once more. Her friend’s pretty, slightly babyish face again signalled caution, but this time the emotion it brought forth from Prudence was one of testiness.
With her pale blue eyes and curly chestnut-brown hair, Pearl had been spoilt by her doting parents from the day she was born. What did Pearl know of being forced to share a bedroom with virtual strangers, or existing day after day in a household of morons? Prudence became aware her hands were clasped together so tightly her knuckles were shining white, and forced herself to relax her fingers one by one until they were loose in her lap. She felt she would go mad at times, stark staring mad, and since that mealy-mouthed little madam of Vera’s had arrived, the feeling had increased tenfold. Wheedling her way in with Betty, offering to do this and that, and simpering at her da until she’d got him eating out of her hand. She thought she was so clever, Josie Burns, but she’d got a shock coming.
Prudence now sat very still as she allowed herself to reflect on the journey she had taken the previous weekend, and the satisfactory outcome which had ensued. It had been sweet, very sweet to find out she had been right all along - that what she’d suspected from the first day the baggage had arrived was true.
Her Aunt Vera was a fool, they all were - even Barney because he wouldn’t hear a word against Josie - but she had seen straight through the little strumpet. All that talk about her da and Gertie, what did Josie take them for? Well, the others might not have the sense they were born with, but she was on to Josie’s little game. The chit had got tired of looking after her mam and running the household in Sunderland. She’d decided to get away and, knowing Vera had a sister in Newcastle, had told a pack of lies and duped them all. All except herself, Prudence Robson. Her lips formed in a mirthless smile. Young Josie was going to find out very soon that Prudence Robson wasn’t as
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