It's Now or Never by June Francis

and so did he.’
    â€˜So who brought you up?’
    â€˜I was fostered and my mother kept her eye on me, not that I was aware of it at the time. She kept me secret from her father who was a cotton broker. He was a rich man, a widower, and he left her all his money. Later she caught religion and became something of a philanthropist,’ said Grace softly. ‘I didn’t know any of this for years.’
    â€˜And so you should have lived happily ever after when you were rescued by Sam’s father, married him and gave birth to Jeanette,’ said Dorothy, scribbling away.
    â€˜I wasn’t in love with George,’ said Grace frankly. ‘He was a lot older than me but I grew fond of him. We could have had a contented life if it hadn’t been for his aunt Ethel, but the least said about her the better.’
    â€˜Did you ever meet your mother?’ Dorothy could not resist asking.
    â€˜Oh yes, eventually, and I forgave her.’ Grace continued with her story and then faltered and smiled wearily. ‘Enough said if I add that we wouldn’t have this cottage if it wasn’t for my mother and she left me an annuity when she died.’
    Dorothy realized Grace was getting tired and closed her notebook. ‘Thanks, I really appreciate you telling me some of your, and your mother’s story. Other people’s lives always amaze me.’
    â€˜We all have a story to tell,’ said Grace seriously. ‘As I said earlier I’d be interested in hearing about you.’
    Dorothy wondered what Grace would make of her story but she was not about to unburden herself and tell it. Instead she said, ‘Do you know that Jeanette wants to rent a flat? A friend of hers is off to Italy in the summer and she needs someone to take over paying the rent while she’s away. Jeanette’s eager to spread her wings a bit but the difficulty is that she can’t really afford it. She’s trying to find someone to share with her but so far has been unlucky.’
    Grace looked surprised. ‘She hasn’t mentioned it to me.’
    â€˜Perhaps she will today.’
    â€˜It would do Jeanette good to be independent. Her father is a little too possessive where his daughters are concerned.’ She jutted her chin. ‘I need to make up for the years when I wasn’t there for her, so the least I can do is to talk to George about giving her some financial help and for him to see that his little girl is grown up. I think it could be a mistake making her and Davy wait until she’s twenty-one.’ Grace smiled. ‘Will you be at Hester and Ally’s wedding?’
    â€˜What’s this about Hester and Ally’s wedding?’ asked Jeanette, entering the room carrying a tray.
    â€˜I was just asking Dorothy if she will be there,’ said Grace, looking up at her daughter.
    â€˜The way our Hester’s carrying on, she’ll be getting married in last summer’s frock,’ said Jeanette. ‘She still hasn’t done anything about our outfits. She’s too wrapped up in Ally and checking how the renovations to the cottage are getting on.’ Jeanette handed a cup of coffee to Dorothy and then placed the tray across her mother’s lap before removing her own cup and sitting on the pouffe. ‘But when next I see her, I’m going to give her a nudge.’
    â€˜That sounds sensible,’ said Grace, sipping her coffee. ‘And what about you, Jeannie? Dorothy was telling me about your friend’s flat.’
    So Jeanette told her all about it and also suggested that Grace and George should have a word with Emma’s husband, Jared Gregory, about building an extension to Grace’s cottage.
    â€˜You do realize that if your father moves out here and you’re living in the flat, Sam will be left all alone with Ethel?’ said Grace.
    â€˜Yes, but it would save me looking for a house for when I marry Dot,’ said Sam from