Riches of the Heart Read Online Free Page A

raged, ‘And what do you mean, coming to work like that? You look like the wreck of the Hesperus .’
    ‘I can’t help it,’ Lily cried. ‘At least I came, and I’m early.’ She began to shiver.
    Rachel hustled her inside the shop. Throwing a towel across to her she said, ‘Get out of them wet things and towel yourself down afore you catch pneumonia.’ She started sorting through some clothes. Seeing Lily hesitate, she snapped, ‘For heaven’s sake, girl, go on. I won’t look. After all, you ain’t got no different from me, ’cept yours is in better condition.’ She cackled at her own joke. ‘Here.’ She threw a skirt and jumper at Lily, and a pair of knickers. ‘It’s not for free, you’ll …’
    ‘Have to pay for them out of my wages,’ quipped Lily. ‘I know. I won’t have any bloody wages at this rate!’
    Mrs Cohen hid a smile. ‘You don’t have to pay me all at once. So much a week will do.’
    Lily let out a sigh. ‘What about my shoes?’ She held them out for inspection, almost ready to weep. She’d been so proud of them.
    ‘Give us them here and I’ll pack them with newspaper. They should be dry by tonight. You won’t need them working inside.’
    Warm and cosy at last, Lily drank the cup of tea thrust at her by her employer. As she went to thank her, Mrs Cohen said sharply, ‘Can’t have you going sick. If you can’t work, you can’t pay what you owe me.’
    Shaking her head, Lily said, ‘My, but you’re a hard woman.’ But in her heart, she knew it wasn’t true.
    That evening, when she put on her shoes, they still felt damp, but at least they no longer squelched.
    ‘Where you sleeping tonight, then?’ Rachel asked suddenly.
    ‘With my aunt,’ Lily lied.
    ‘Like you did last night, I suppose?’
    Lily met Rachel’s gaze unflinchingly. ‘That’s right.’
    ‘Your aunt’s place … got a roof, has it?’
    Puzzled, Lily said, ‘Yes, of course it has. What are you getting at?’
    ‘It rained last night, girl. If you were at your aunt’s, why did you come here this morning soaked to the skin?’
    ‘It poured with rain when I left home.’
    Mrs Cohen shook her head. ‘No, it didn’t. It stopped around six this morning. I know ’cos I was up. You’ve been sleeping rough, haven’t you?’
    Lowering her gaze, Lily felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. ‘Yes,’ she admitted in a whisper.
    Her employer tutted loudly. ‘Stupid girl. Don’t you know how dangerous it is out there? The place is full of foreigners, criminals, drunks and pimps.’
    Lily’s eyes blazed. ‘Don’t you think I know that? Christ! Do you think I would have done it if I’d had a choice?’
    ‘It’s your drunken bastard of a father’s fault, all this. What was he thinking of, kicking you out?’ She saw the tightening of the girl’s jaw. ‘Well, that’s your business, but I’ll not see you on the street. You can sleep in the back of the shop.’
    Overcome by such kindness, Lily could only stare at her benefactor.
    ‘Of course, I’ll have to charge you a bit for rent.’
    Lily was indignant. ‘What do you mean, rent? There’s no bedroom, so what are you charging me for?’
    ‘The roof over your head, girl. The one what’s going to keep you dry, not like last night. I told you, you don’t get nothing for nothing in this world.’
    Remembering her discomfort of the night before, Lily was silent.
    ‘Here,’ said Rachel. ‘There’s twopence out of your wages. Go and get a pie for your supper. I don’t want you starving to death on me.’
    ‘I’m surprised I’ve got any wages left.’
    ‘Go on, get off with you afore I changes me mind.’
    Lily skipped off down the road singing. ‘Thank You, God,’ she cried. ‘You aren’t so bad after all.’
    Lily was happy. In the three weeks since she’d worked for Rachel Cohen, she’d made many friends with the local traders. The man in the fruit shop was so captivated with her, he was always giving her ‘free samples’ as