Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance Carol Rivers (great books for teens .TXT) 📖

plate and bit it into it, wincing at the concoction of fatty spam and sliced vegetable pressed inside the bread. Mrs Taylor, always so proud of the miracles she produced from her ration book, smiled at her husband.

'It's Doctor Carrot again, Neville dear. Fresh from the allotment.'

'Amazing little chap, isn't he? Don't know how we'd have managed without him during the war. I mean, Doctor Carrot even helped us to see in the blackout!'

Bella glanced at Dolly sitting beside her. Both girls smothered their laughter.

Mr Taylor munched noisily as he spoke. Bella had heard it all before as had every other person sitting in the room. The adventures of Doctor Carrot and Potato Pete, the brainchild of the government minister Lord Woolton, who had pioneered the famously indigestible vegetable pie.

'This is lovely, Mum,' Dolly said making a sly face at Bella.

'The best,' agreed Raymond as he patted his stomach, clearly full of the watery custard and anaemic looking spotted dick he had just consumed.

Bella nibbled and between gulps of air, attempted to keep the food down. The Taylors always ate their sandwiches last, to "fill an empty gap" as Mrs Taylor put it.

'Well now, better clear the dishes,' said Mrs Taylor rising to her feet.

'Where is my newspaper, Mother?' Neville Taylor rose too as if they were joined at the hip. He brushed the crumbs from his immaculate grey suit. As a white-collar worker at Poplar town hall, he always wore the same clothes, always a tie and freshly pressed white shirt with detachable collar. A custom, Bella noticed, that Raymond had begun to follow.

'Over there, dear.' Mrs Taylor indicated the direction. 'By your chair, next to your pipe.'

'We'll do the washing up, Mum.' Dolly winked at Bella. 'You put your feet up.'

'That's nice of you, dear.' Dorothy Taylor beamed at her daughter. 'Your father and me will sit down, then. Raymond, turn on the wireless.'

'I'm going to stretch my legs,' Ray said, jumping to attention. Bella looked at Dolly who was also trying to hide her laughter. 'Be back later though, to say goodbye to the girls.'

'Don't stay out too late,' Mrs Taylor replied predictably. 'You've got to be up bright and early for work.'

Raymond pecked his mother on the cheek. Following the girls out to the kitchen, Ray paused by Bella. 'What you doing tomorrow?'

'Breathing, I hope.' Bella lowered the cups and saucers into the bowl.

Dolly giggled, causing Ray to scowl at his sister. 'You know what I mean, it's Saturday.'

'I know it is. Because today's Friday.'

Ignoring the sarcasm, he moved closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. 'Fancy coming to the Troxy?'

'To do what?' Bella asked, wide-eyed.

'To see a flick of course.'

'What's on?'

'Dunno, a double feature, p'raps.'

Bella shook her head solemnly. 'You don't even know what's showing, do you?'

'Give us a chance, Bella. We'll find out when we get there.'

'And then what?' Bella demanded. 'A grope in the back seats for two hours? No thank you.'

Raymond Taylor's face turned scarlet. 'That's not what I meant!' he yelled, humiliated.

Dolly was clattering the dishes noisily but turned round at the disturbance. 'What's going on, you two?'

'Nothing,' Bella said indifferently. 'Much to your brother's disappointment.'

'Now, now.' Dolly came between them. 'Keep it down or Mum'll be in.' She pushed her brother back. 'And anyway, Bella's spoken for. You're wasting your time, Ray.'

It was Bella's turn to look annoyed. Her expression darkened. 'Shut up, Dolly.'

'Well you are, aren't you?'

Before Bella could reply Ray caught hold of Bella's arm. 'Micky Bryant is trouble with a sodding great T, Bella. Him and his family. You'll end up on the wrong side of the law. Why can't you see that?'

'And you are the world's biggest snob for looking down on them,' Bella retorted angrily. 'What do you know of the Bryants or what they've done for me? I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for them and that's the plain truth.'

'Have it your way,' he agreed sullenly, 'but don't say I didn't warn you.'

Raymond Taylor had hit a nerve but Bella wasn't prepared to show it. Instead she retaliated like she always did when she felt she was being attacked. 'Listen Ray, you're no different to any other bloke wanting to get his leg over, but you won't admit it. Added to which you've got a cheek to stand there and critisize me for the way I live my life when there's one or two whispers I've heard about you and a certain blackmarket butcher you're in with. It would give your mother a right old turn if she thought her darling boy was on the fiddle.'

'You little - ' Raymond stepped forward angrily, but Dolly jumped between them. Bella smiled in triumph; she had brought him down a peg and she was overjoyed at the result.

Dolly pushed against her brother's chest. 'Come on you lot, shake hands and be friends. Please.'

But Bella shook her off. 'No thanks, Dolly. I've had enough for one night.'

She flung the dishcloth down and strode into the hall, snapping her bag from the stand on her way out.

Bella walked with her head held high, satisfied she had had the last word although she would have preferred to give Ray Taylor the argument he deserved. How dare he tell her what was good for her and more importantly, what was not? He wasn't averse to flogging an off-cut of beef or pork on the quiet, pocketing the proceeds as fast as he made them. A fact that didn't quite fit with Mrs Taylor's image of her perfect son.

Bella blew out a long breath allowing her anger to cool. It was a beautiful summer's night. Why should she let Raymond Taylor spoil it? The street was full of children rummaging in the derelict houses of the bombed sites, just like she and Terry had once done. But she was older and wiser now and would never stand for such humiliation again. It was jealousy that made people like the Taylors look down their noses at others. And it