haven’t read any books by Arnold Bennett before.’ She studied the first page, then nodded. ‘Looks as if it’ll be good.’
‘You have to put your name on the borrowers’ list when you borrow a book and cross it out when you bring it back.’
Renie did as she was shown then put the book down by her chair. ‘I need to write a letter to my sister first. I’ll go and get my writing things.’
‘No need to do that if it’s to your family,’ the same woman said. ‘They encourage us to write home. They not only provide paper and envelopes, but pay postage too. Though don’t try to slip in a letter to a friend. They know all our families’ addresses.’
‘How kind of them!’
‘They’re not all of them kind,’ Daff muttered.
Renie ignored that remark. People she’d met had been very kind indeed. She wrote a quick letter to Nell. The same woman took her out to show her where to leave the letter for collection in the morning.
‘Don’t take too much notice of Daff. She always finds something to complain about. They’re very fair employers here, even though they work you hard. Mr Greaves might be old, but he’s a good manager and keeps everyone on their toes.’
As the days passed, Renie was surprised not to receivea reply by return of post, but perhaps it would arrive tomorrow. She planned to write to Nell every week without fail, knowing how her letters would cheer her sister up.
When no reply had arrived after three days, Renie wrote again, and this time she did hear from her sister, explaining what had happened and how Cliff had destroyed the letter and address. She was furious to think her brother-in-law had thrown her letter in the fire and not for the first time wished poor Nell hadn’t had to marry Cliff.
Nell hadn’t said whether Cliff was angry about Renie leaving, but he must have been, and he’d have taken it out on his wife.
But there was nothing she could do about her sister’s situation except make sure she was never a burden to Nell, let alone in Cliff’s power. And she’d never, ever let either of her sisters down by misbehaving. Mattie had taught them both the right way to behave and why Nell had given herself to Cliff out of wedlock still puzzled Renie. But that wasn’t something you could ask about, certainly not in a letter that he might get his hands on.
She was missing little Sarah as well as her sister. That child was such a little love.
Renie had never even been inside a big hotel like this one. The King’s Head in Rochdale, bought when the Carlings were just starting up, apparently, was nothing to this place. She felt very ignorant during her first few weeks there, but with temporary staff around, hired just for the festive season, she wasn’t the only one needing to ask her way, so at least she didn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Gil refused to join his family in London for Christmas and Walter couldn’t change his mind, whatever he said or did.Gil didn’t share his family’s love of the social whirl. He preferred a quieter life in the country.
Mrs Rycroft came down to see her youngest son one day, staying overnight, but she had to rush back to London for a ball the following evening.
She made time to speak to Walter. ‘He’s very depressed, isn’t he?’
‘Yes, ma’am. I do my best, but he’s had to face some big changes, and he was never an indoor lad.’
‘No. If you need anything, think of anything we can send, just let me know.’
‘I will, ma’am.’
He watched her go, wishing they’d insisted on Gil joining them in London.
It was going to be a very quiet Christmas.
The Rathleigh was almost completely booked out for Christmas, and there were parties held in several of the big private dining rooms every evening.
The female waitresses, normally kept away from serving dinner, had to work in the evenings as well, but they were paid extra for it, so Renie didn’t mind. Of course, she was too junior to actually wait on the posh
‘You have to put your name on the borrowers’ list when you borrow a book and cross it out when you bring it back.’
Renie did as she was shown then put the book down by her chair. ‘I need to write a letter to my sister first. I’ll go and get my writing things.’
‘No need to do that if it’s to your family,’ the same woman said. ‘They encourage us to write home. They not only provide paper and envelopes, but pay postage too. Though don’t try to slip in a letter to a friend. They know all our families’ addresses.’
‘How kind of them!’
‘They’re not all of them kind,’ Daff muttered.
Renie ignored that remark. People she’d met had been very kind indeed. She wrote a quick letter to Nell. The same woman took her out to show her where to leave the letter for collection in the morning.
‘Don’t take too much notice of Daff. She always finds something to complain about. They’re very fair employers here, even though they work you hard. Mr Greaves might be old, but he’s a good manager and keeps everyone on their toes.’
As the days passed, Renie was surprised not to receivea reply by return of post, but perhaps it would arrive tomorrow. She planned to write to Nell every week without fail, knowing how her letters would cheer her sister up.
When no reply had arrived after three days, Renie wrote again, and this time she did hear from her sister, explaining what had happened and how Cliff had destroyed the letter and address. She was furious to think her brother-in-law had thrown her letter in the fire and not for the first time wished poor Nell hadn’t had to marry Cliff.
Nell hadn’t said whether Cliff was angry about Renie leaving, but he must have been, and he’d have taken it out on his wife.
But there was nothing she could do about her sister’s situation except make sure she was never a burden to Nell, let alone in Cliff’s power. And she’d never, ever let either of her sisters down by misbehaving. Mattie had taught them both the right way to behave and why Nell had given herself to Cliff out of wedlock still puzzled Renie. But that wasn’t something you could ask about, certainly not in a letter that he might get his hands on.
She was missing little Sarah as well as her sister. That child was such a little love.
Renie had never even been inside a big hotel like this one. The King’s Head in Rochdale, bought when the Carlings were just starting up, apparently, was nothing to this place. She felt very ignorant during her first few weeks there, but with temporary staff around, hired just for the festive season, she wasn’t the only one needing to ask her way, so at least she didn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Gil refused to join his family in London for Christmas and Walter couldn’t change his mind, whatever he said or did.Gil didn’t share his family’s love of the social whirl. He preferred a quieter life in the country.
Mrs Rycroft came down to see her youngest son one day, staying overnight, but she had to rush back to London for a ball the following evening.
She made time to speak to Walter. ‘He’s very depressed, isn’t he?’
‘Yes, ma’am. I do my best, but he’s had to face some big changes, and he was never an indoor lad.’
‘No. If you need anything, think of anything we can send, just let me know.’
‘I will, ma’am.’
He watched her go, wishing they’d insisted on Gil joining them in London.
It was going to be a very quiet Christmas.
The Rathleigh was almost completely booked out for Christmas, and there were parties held in several of the big private dining rooms every evening.
The female waitresses, normally kept away from serving dinner, had to work in the evenings as well, but they were paid extra for it, so Renie didn’t mind. Of course, she was too junior to actually wait on the posh
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