Langdown Manor (21 page)

I let go of his hand that I'd been clasping and rested my head against Starshine.

‘It's for the best, Poll.'

For whose best? Yours, or mine?

‘We can never be together here,' he said. ‘I can't bear to see you, knowing that. It hurts too much. Always having to meet in secret. Never knowing when I'll see you. Always having to pretend. I can't go on like this, Poll. I can't.'

‘So you do care, a bit.' My voice was muffled against Starshine's coat.

‘Oh, Poll, you know I do.'

But I felt as if I could already see the ocean separating us. Mile upon mile of water, as far as the eye could see. As if he was speaking to me from a long long way away. I swallowed.

‘Why Africa? Why does it have to be so far away?'

‘Because I could have a future there. There is a future there for young men like me. If I work hard…' He smiled, but he wasn't smiling at me, he was smiling at something far away, something I couldn't see, something I couldn't share.

Would I ever?

‘Will you come back for me?' He would never know how hard it was to ask him that.

He stepped towards me, and took my hand in his.

‘I've something I've been wanting to give you,' he said. He felt in his pocket and I saw him draw something out. He slid it on to the fourth finger of my left hand. I gazed at the simple band of gold on my finger. ‘It was Mam's,' he said. ‘Will you keep it safe for me…?'

‘Then?'

‘Yes, Poll. I will come back.'

He leaned his head close to mine. I studied his features one by one. Then I kissed the ring and entwined my fingers with his. ‘I will never take it off,' I said.

I picked up the dressing case. If I was careful, I'd get back to the house before anyone else saw me. Baxter would say nothing, some of the other servants might gossip, but it would blow over. And Aunt? Arabella? As I looked at the ring on my finger they seemed to dwindle. I could face them even now.

‘When will you leave?' I said. I felt sick just asking that. I dreaded what he might say. But I had to know.

‘I've to ask his lordship.'

‘So, not yet?'

‘Not yet.'

We smiled at each other. We squeezed each other's hands. Then we let them go.

I'd see him tomorrow. He'd be here in the morning. And the morning after that. It wasn't goodbye. Not yet. And I had his promise. It shone on my finger. He would come back for me.

‘I'll see you tomorrow,' I said.

 

 

 

 

While some events described and some of the characters in this book may be based on actual historical events and real people, this story is a work of fiction.

 

 

 

 

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Published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd., 2012

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Copyright © Sue Reid, 2012

 

eISBN 978 1407 13648 6

 

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