Blood Ties Read Online Free

special,’ Erin interrupted. ‘Not just because of her music . . .’ She checked herself and reached out for Ruby’s hand. ‘Just special.’
    Robert shot her a look, tantamount to drawing a sharp line across his neck, and nodded, signalling Miss Aucott to continue.
    ‘You’ll be in a class of eight other girls, Ruby, all musically gifted. We like to arrange the groups according to their talents. Lessons begin at eight thirty and finish at four.’ Miss Aucott drew breath, removed her glasses again. ‘You’ve had the tour, seen our prospectus. Do you have any questions?’
    Robert expected a barrage of motherly interrogation from Erin but all she did was shrug.
    ‘It all seems perfect,’ she finally said. ‘Greywood is just what Ruby needs. It’s going to be a fresh start for her.’
    ‘Yes,’ Miss Aucott said, her voice dragging like a sudden limp. Robert’s heart quickened as the headmistress once again replaced her spectacles and leafed through the file. ‘I have the report from your current comprehensive school. Your mother is right, Ruby. Judging by what’s written here, a fresh start is certainly in order. Are you willing to give Greywood one hundred per cent?’
    ‘With my heart and soul, miss,’ Ruby said, some of the zest bleeding from her dark eyes. ‘What happens to me at my other school isn’t my fault,’ she continued, a pleading tone to her voice. The muscles under her eyes flickered, an indication of how much could come tumbling out, ruin everything.
    Robert willed Ruby to stop. If she chose, Miss Aucott could delve further into events and reconsider her offer of a place at Greywood. Instead, she reached out a hand and took hold of the child’s fingers.
    Ruby smiled, that unruly strand of ebony falling across her face again, her cheeks flushing, perhaps from embarrassment, perhaps from relief. She swallowed audibly and moved closer as Miss Aucott beckoned her in.
    ‘Greywood will become your life,’ the headmistress whispered. ‘You won’t have a moment to get into trouble.’
    Robert wanted to intervene, to protect Ruby. In his head, as if he was defending in court, he presented the evidence to prove that she hadn’t done anything wrong. He was ready to lay blame on the guilty parties and even opened his mouth to speak but Erin shot him a look that mirrored the one he had just given her. Reluctantly, he remained silent and monitored Ruby instead, fearful of her reaction. Her cheeks were on fire now, her black eyes smouldering. But that rosebud smile sweetened everything.
    ‘I’ll be good,’ Ruby promised. Robert and Erin exhaled.
    ‘That’s settled then. We shall see you next Monday, Ruby.’ Miss Aucott turned to Erin, startling her as she spoke. ‘That gives you nearly a week to sort out uniform, Mrs Knight. We’re going to need the enrolment forms completed and returned along with copies of Ruby’s vaccination record and birth certificate. Perhaps you could see that the school secretary receives these before your daughter starts.’ Finally, Miss Aucott turned to Robert. ‘We shall be sending you a prorata invoice for what’s left of the term, Mr Knight. Likewise, if you could see that we receive payment promptly.’
    ‘Of course.’ Robert took the cue to stand and shake hands. Things were winding up. ‘Ruby won’t let you down.’ He held on to Miss Aucott’s bony hand for a beat too long but when it was offered to his wife he saw that, without prompting, she wasn’t going to take it. ‘Erin?’ he said. ‘It’s time to leave.’
    But Erin remained motionless, her face drained of its usual colour, her pale eyes suddenly translucent with a skim of tears collecting on their surface. Robert didn’t think he’d seen her so ashen since he’d surprised her with tickets for a honeymoon in Barbados. Sadly, Erin’s pathological fear of flying had prevented the holiday.
    ‘Are you ready, Erin?’ To break his wife’s sudden trance, shock at the good news, whatever