A Mother's Promise Read Online Free Page B

very late. I heard the church clock strike midnight before I fell asleep, and you still hadn’t come home.’
    ‘Me and Nat went to the Four Feathers for a drink. Then we had a pie and eel supper.’
    ‘And then what?’
    ‘That’s none of your business, I’d say, Hetty.’
    ‘I’m the eldest and Ma told me to look after you and the boys.’
    ‘Well, when I’m Mrs Nathaniel Smith, I’ll be the married woman and it will be me telling you what to do. He’ll have to marry me now.’
    Hetty felt her heart miss a beat and she seized Jane by the arm. ‘What have you been and gone and done?’
    Jane pulled her left hand from beneath her shawl and waved it in front of Hetty’s face. ‘We got engaged last night, me and Nat,’ she said, her voice throbbing with suppressed excitement. ‘Ain’t you happy for me, Hetty? Nat wants to marry me as soon as he gets his promotion.’
    ‘And when might that be?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ Jane pushed her away, pouting. ‘And don’t look at me like that. You’re just jealous because a man has asked me to marry him, and I’m younger than you. I’ll be a married woman and you’ll be an old maid.’
    ‘It’s not that and you know it,’ Hetty said in a low voice. ‘You – you didn’t do nothing silly, did you, Jane?’
    One of the almost unrecognisable figures in front of them turned her head to give Jane along, searching look. ‘I’d say she got more than just a cheap glass ring last night.’ Mrs Briggs let out a loud cackle of laughter, causing heads to turn.
    ‘Shut up, you old witch,’ Jane cried angrily. ‘Who asked you to stick your nose into our business, anyway?’
    Mrs Briggs nudged the woman at her side. ‘Jane Huggins will be needing your services in nine months’ time, I’ll wager.’
    ‘Ignore them,’ Hetty said hastily as Jane’s lips began to tremble. ‘They’re having you on.’
    ‘You don’t think she could be right, do you, Hetty?’
    ‘Oh, Jane, you never – you know what. Did you?’ Hetty whispered.
    Tears sparkled on the tips of Jane’s long eyelashes and she nodded her head. ‘But you can’t get in the family way the first time you do it.’
    Mrs Briggs doubled up with laughter. ‘That’s all you know, ducks.’
    Hetty stifled a groan. ‘How could you be so silly, Jane? Ain’t we got enough trouble without you giving in to the first bloke who buys you a pie and eel supper?’
    ‘He’s going to marry me,’ Jane whispered. ‘Nat give me a ring and said he wanted to do it proper.’
    ‘Oh, he’s done you proper, all right, girl.’Mrs Briggs uttered a derisive snort. She leaned over to Hetty, lowering her voice. ‘If the worst comes to the worst, ducks, I know a woman who can fix her up. I shouldn’t take too much notice of the ring neither. In my experience, blokes will say and do anything to get what they want.’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘Know what I mean?’
    Hetty drew herself up to her full height. ‘When I want your advice, Mrs Briggs, I’ll ask for it.’
    ‘Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
    At that moment the factory gates swung open and the queue moved forward before Hetty had a chance to retaliate.
    Later, when they arrived back home, Hetty sent the boys out to buy bread for breakfast, and she gave them enough money to buy a pot of beef dripping as a treat. As soon as they were out of earshot, she turned to Jane. ‘How could you, Jane? How could you be so – so silly?’
    Jane’s lips drooped like those of a sad baby. ‘You’ve ruined it. You and that old bitch, Briggs. Nat loves me, he said so, but you’ve made me feel dirty.’
    Hetty hurried round the table to give Jane a hug. ‘No, of course it’s not dirty if you love each other, but you mustn’t let him have his way with you again, not until you’ve got thatwedding ring on your finger. We can’t feed another mouth, even a tiny one.’ She managed a wobbly smile. ‘Cheer up, love. It might never happen.’
    ‘That’s