The Ten Commandments Read Online Free Page A

I'm hoping to adapt some of their ideas for Ashbourne. We must discuss them as soon as we have a moment.'
    There was a pause. Hannah said, 'Thank you for going to see my parents.' They had emigrated to Canada twenty years previously.
    'It was a pleasure, especially to find them so well. They wanted to hear every last detail about you.'
    'But they already know it! I write regularly and we speak on the phone at least once a month.'
    'Well, they still had plenty of questions.' A sly, sideways look. 'They wanted to know if you had a "young man".'
    Hannah smiled. 'And what did you say?'
    'That if you had, you were keeping him to yourself.' She added gently, 'They want grandchildren, Hannah, and you're their only chance.'
    'A pretty slim one, by now.'
    Gwen reached for her glass and stared thoughtfully into it. 'Do you ever feel you're missing out, not being married?'
    Hannah raised her eyebrows. 'No; do you?'
    Though they'd been at school together, Gwen was in fact five years Hannah's senior, a prefect when she herself was in the first form. To Hannah's knowledge, there had never been a man in her life; but then, she reminded herself, Gwen knew nothing of David. Close though their friendship had been, there was an unspoken ban on discussing intimate subjects, and Gwen's question now had taken her by surprise. She was even more surprised that Gwen hadn't immediately answered hers.
    'Do you, Gwen?' she repeated, turning to face her.
    Gwen was staring dreamily down the length of the garden. 'A year ago, I'd have said of course not. Now, I'm not so sure.'
    'Don't tell me you've fallen for a Mountie!' Hannah teased, and was amazed to see her friend flush.
    'Take no notice,' Gwen said quickly. 'I'm getting maudlin in my old age. Now, I want to hear all about Ashbourne.'
    So, since the moment could no longer be delayed, Hannah took another sip of her drink and began her report.
    'Darling?'
    Gillian Coburn looked up from her easel as her husband's voice reached her from two flights below.
    'In the studio,' she called.
    She met him in the doorway, his jacket slung over one shoulder and his tie loosened.
    'Sorry, love, I didn't hear the car.'
    'Deaf to all else when the muse strikes, eh?' He kissed her. 'Did you meet the plane all right?'
    'Yes, it was on time, thank goodness.'
    'How are your parents?'
    'Exhausted, poor loves, but they'll soon bounce back. The tour seems to have been a great success. Not only that, Pop's making strides with the new book, too.'
    'I hope I have as much energy at his age.' He paused, his eyes on her face. 'Did they ask about Alex?'
    'Of course.'
    'What did you say?'
    'As little as possible. They'll see for themselves soon enough.'
    'I wish there was something we could do,' Hugh said worriedly. 'It's grim having to sit on the sidelines while they destroy each other. Can't you talk to her?'
    'I've tried, but you know Alex; she can be very prickly, specially when she's unhappy.'
    'She wasn't at the house to meet them?'
    'No, she'd arranged to take the twins to London today; they wanted to go round the Tower.'
    'In this heat? She's a saint.'
    'She said she'd ring them when she gets back, and call round tomorrow.'
    Hugh moved past her and stood looking at the painting on the easel. Gillian was making quite a name for herself as an illustrator of children's books, and, an architect himself, he was fascinated by the way she built up a picture.
    'It's coming along well, isn't it? Are you pleased with it?'
    'Fairly; I'm not quite happy with the little boy. He's a complex character for a children's story, and I don't think I've got him quite right.'
    She came to stand beside him, frowning slightly, until the slamming of the front door broke their concentration.
    'Hello?' came their daughter's voice. 'I'm home! Where is everybody?'
    Hugh and Gillian exchanged a smile. 'Coming!' they called back, and, with Hugh's arm round his wife's shoulder, they went together down the stairs.
    Unusually, Hannah arrived back at