The lad’s mouth dropped open, and then he closed it again. He glanced towards the crowd of lads, who were beginning to split up and wander off. He swallowed and licked his lips.
‘Yeh,’ he whispered. ‘He’ll be all right wi’ me. You can depend on it, mister. I’ll wait here in ’yard.’
Noah dropped the penny into the boy’s palm and then made a slitting gesture across his own throat and a jabbing gesture with his forefinger. The boy took the reins and led the horse to the yard, away from the eyes of his mates.
Noah hitched up his coat collar and took off his hat, ran his fingers through his long dark hair and pushed open the hostelry door.
READ THE COMPLETE BOOK – AVAILABLE NOW IN HARDBACK AND EBOOK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has published eighteen novels and has become one of the most popular authors in the UK.
Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley.
When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities.
Find out more about Val Wood’s novels by visiting her website at www.valeriewood.co.uk
Also by Val Wood
THE HUNGRY TIDE
ANNIE
THE ROMANY GIRL
EMILY
GOING HOME
ROSA’S ISLAND
THE DOORSTEP GIRLS
FAR FROM HOME
THE KITCHEN MAID
THE SONGBIRD
NOBODY’S CHILD
FALLEN ANGELS
THE LONG WALK HOME
RICH GIRL, POOR GIRL
THE HARBOUR GIRL
THE INNKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
HIS BROTHER’S WIFE
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
A Random House Group Company
www.transworldbooks.co.uk
THE MAID’S SECRET
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781473508200
First published in Great Britain
in 2013 by Transworld Digital
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Valerie Wood has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Addresses for Random House Group Ltd companies outside the UK can be found at:
www.randomhouse.co.uk
The Random House Group Ltd Reg. No. 954009