Honey's Farm Read Online Free

Will.’ She shrugged. ‘I know the oyster fishing is better now, but only a little. The villagers are still finding things difficult.’
    â€˜I know,’ Will said soberly, ‘and that doesn’t make it any easier for me to make a living, either. If it wasn’t for the customers Hari Grenfell sends me from Swansea I’d have been finished long ago.’
    Eline put her arms around his neck. ‘You are a fine man, William Davies, and you will be rich one day, I know it.’
    Will sighed heavily. ‘I can’t wait, Eline.’ He kissed her throat, and his voice became hoarse. ‘For one thing I can’t wait to get you into my bed.’
    Eline clung to him, feeling the usual sweet longing for him, and though she knew she was being unfair, playing with fire, she pressed herself against him.
    â€˜Let’s get married anyway, Will,’ she urged softly. ‘We’ll be all right, you’ll see.’ She kissed his mouth. ‘Between us, we’ll make a reasonable living.’
    Will moved away as though putting as much distance between Eline and himself as he could. ‘We’ll marry when I think I can support a wife,’ he said sternly. ‘I don’t want to have to take handouts from you, Eline, surely you can see that?’
    â€˜Don’t be so pig-headed!’ Eline replied, and then bit back the angry rush of words. This was an argument she’d had with Will many times, and she recognized it was an argument she would not win.
    â€˜Look, I’ve come to a decision,’ Will said, and there was something in his tone that alerted her, heightened her senses, bringing a tingling feeling of anxiety.
    Eline glanced at him, deliberately keeping her voice even. ‘What decision?’ she asked quietly.
    â€˜I’m returning to Swansea,’ he said. ‘I’ll give up the shop in Mumbles, cut my losses. Hari Grenfell is willing to take me on to manage part of her shoemaking empire.’
    Eline felt a pang of fear. Will could not move away, not now, just as she was establishing herself as a successful businesswoman in the area.
    â€˜Don’t look like that.’ Will smiled. ‘Swansea is only five miles away, you know, and Hari is a dear friend. She virtually brought me up.’ Will paused for a moment. ‘Come on, Eline, Hari would not be happy if I made a wrong choice. She is a fine, intelligent woman; I trust her judgement, and she feels as I do over this, the best thing is to pack up the business now.’
    â€˜I know you love and trust Hari Grenfell, and I respect her too, but, Will, you can’t give up your shop and move away.’ Eline caught his arm. ‘Please, Will, I can’t bear it if you are not here with me.’
    â€˜My mind is made up, Eline,’ he said firmly. ‘The business is not viable any longer. I’m not making a profit, I’m simply increasing my debts. I can’t go on like that, it’s simply not responsible.’
    Eline stared around her at the bright, sunlit room, at the large windows overlooking the sea, and suddenly she felt as though she was standing on shifting sands.
    â€˜I’ll hold a sale of my stock of boots and shoes,’ Will continued, ‘let the villagers have the benefit of it before I leave.’
    He took her hand and, turning it, kissed the palm lightly. Eline tried to suppress her anger; was it directed at Will, at herself, or at the fates that seemed intent on dragging them apart?
    â€˜Don’t you understand, Eline?’ Will said softly. ‘I can no longer afford even the small rent I’m paying Mrs Parks. Things are that bad.’
    â€˜Oh, Will, why don’t you let me help?’ Eline protested. ‘You could come here, live in these rooms above the gallery.’ She gestured around her. ‘You can see how pleasant they would be.’
    Will shook his head and, squaring his shoulders, moved to the