The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear (the best electronic book reader TXT) 📗

need to summon Freddie’s mother to the street to let her into the entrance hall. Freddie was not at home,though it seemed that Iris had just been dropped off by the caretaker’s wife.

“Lovely to see you, Miss Dobbs. Come in—I’ve just put the kettle on. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“I’d love a cup, thank you, Mrs. Hackett,” said Maisie. “And where’s Freddie?”

“Just nipped down to the shop for a pint of milk.”

“Mrs. Hackett, I heard your husband came to the house and was troublesome. Do you feel safe enough? Are you all right here?”

“There’s two doors between him and us, so yes, once I’m inside the flat I feel safe, Miss Dobbs. But not so much when I’mout.”

“Is that why Freddie isn’t at school? Is he going to your place of work to make sure his father doesn’t come near you?”

Grace Hackett pressed her lips together as she fought tears. “Yes, he does. I’ve told him I want him to go to school, buthe walks with me to the bus stop and then to the house, and after that he gives me a hand—he just won’t leave my side in casehis father comes after me. He worries that he’s watching us.”

“And do you think he is?”

“I suppose I worry, but I also know what he does with his day—he looks for work until the pubs open, then he hangs around hoping someone else will buy him a drink. Sometimes he picks up a job here and there, but not every day. And as for finding the right mark to buy him that drink—it’s not as difficult as you might think.”

“What do you mean?”

“My husband is a bit of a con man, Miss Dobbs, but of course you know that. He can chat to people quite easily when he likes—he’sgot that gift of the gab. Draws them in, and before long, they’re buying the rounds. People who drink in pubs generally likea bit of company while they’re downing the pints, and my husband can always see that need for companionship in people.”

Maisie wondered if Hackett had seen the need in Grace, had identified a mark and drawn her in with his patter. The money settledupon her after Freddie’s birth was not a fortune, but attractive to a man who had little. Maisie was about to ask anotherquestion when Iris—who was sitting at the table, turning the pages of a picture book back and forth—looked up at Maisie andgave her a broad, toothy grin. The little girl then held up her arms, opening and closing her fingers as if she wanted something.

“Would you like to sit on my lap, Iris?” said Maisie, pulling out a chair next to the child. “Come on, let’s look at yourbook.”

“I’ll make the tea,” said Grace Hackett, smiling as Iris clambered onto Maisie’s lap.

Freddie returned with a bottle of milk just as Grace went into the kitchen and Maisie began reading to Iris, who clapped herhands and called out “Freddeee” when her brother came into the sitting room.

“Miss Dobbs!” Freddie seemed to pale when he saw Maisie.

“I thought I’d drop in and say hello—see how you’re all getting along here, Freddie. And I wanted to have a quick word withyou.”

“I’ve just got to take this to Mum.” Freddie lifted the bottle, and walked at speed past Maisie into the kitchen.

Maisie turned back to Iris, who had watched her brother and began to suck her thumb, and as Maisie continued reading to the little girl, she could hear raised voices in the kitchen.

“But I don’t want to go to school, even if she is here to make me go,” said Freddie.

“I promise you, Fred—I will be safe.”

“How do you know that? He’s a nutter.”

Maisie began pointing to characters on the page, asking Iris to say each word after her, while at the same time trying tofollow the conversation unfolding in the kitchen.

“Don’t speak to your mother like that,” said Grace.

“I’m fed up with school anyway. It’s all really easy stuff. I’m not learning anything I couldn’t learn from a book in thelibrary. And I’m a man now. I’ve got to look after you—it’s not as if he ever did, is it?”

“Freddie—he’s your father!”

There was silence in the kitchen. Maisie stopped reading, and Iris looked behind her toward the kitchen door.

“I don’t care, because he isn’t my real father, is he? And we both know he’s bad.”

Maisie started as she heard the sharp slap of hand on face, and Grace gasping.

“Mum!”

“I’m sorry, Fred—I’m sorry. Look, love, let’s talk about this later—we’ve to take in tea for Miss Dobbs. She wants to havea word with you. And you show her some gratitude, because if it weren’t for her, we’d still be back there with him.”

Maisie heard the rattling of crockery, and Freddie appeared, holding a tray with teacups and saucers, his mother followingwith the teapot and milk jug.

“Miss Dobbs, every time I make tea or put the dinner on, I’m so grateful to you for offering us this flat.” Grace set down the tray and pulled out a chair. As soon as she was seated, Iris jumped down and went to her mother. “It’s very nice here, and really it’s too good for the likes of us.” She began to pour tea.

“No—it’s perfect for you for as long as you need it, and it would otherwise be standing empty, so I’m the one who’s grateful,because any home should be lived in,” said Maisie. “I understand you were once a governess, Mrs. Hackett.”

Grace Hackett looked at Maisie for several seconds before handing a cup of tea to her. “Yes, I actually trained to be a teacher,so I can do more than clean, you know.”

“Oh, thank you,” said Maisie. “I’ve had a busy morning and not stopped for even a glass of water.” She took a sip of tea andset her cup in the saucer. “You could still teach, if you wanted to,” she continued. “You seem to be doing well with Iris.There are a number of children coming back