Angels at War (11 page)

‘I know.’

‘And with old Mrs Racket no longer with us, she depends upon your help, Mercy, to cope with all the tasks demanded of her as a farmer’s wife. Life on a farm is hard and I know
it is particularly difficult for you, but will you promise me to at least try?’

Mercy mumbled something incoherent.

‘Is that a yes?’

‘A “please” and “thank you” occasionally might help.’

Livia sighed. This had all got very childish. ‘I’ll be sure to point that out to her. Now, why don’t I treat you to a cup of tea and a bun, since your visits to town are so rare? In fact, I’ll also suggest to Ella that she allow you to come into Kendal more often. You like visiting the store, don’t you?’

And as Mercy looked up, Livia was hit with a pang of genuine sympathy at seeing the heartbreaking appeal in her half-sister’s eyes.

‘Oh, aye, I love it. I wish I could work here instead of in Kentmere.’

Livia put her arm about the girl’s thin shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. ‘And I’d be happy to have you.’

Mercy’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘Would you really? Eeh, that’d be grand,’ and on a burst of happiness she threw her arms about Livia’s neck and gave her a warm, joyous hug of delight.

Pleased to see such enthusiasm, Livia laughed. ‘Hey, I don’t want to be accused of stealing you from Ella. Anyway, wouldn’t you need to talk
it over with George first? I know he loves the farm.’

The smiles and joy instantly faded. ‘Oh, I forgot for a minute. Aye, my George loves the dale. Farm work is his life. He could never do aught else.’

‘Perhaps you’ll come to love it too, as Ella did?’ Livia brightly suggested, but Mercy dolefully shook her head.

‘Nay, I can only hope to make the best of things, but then I’ve been doing that all me life.’

Livia experienced heartfelt pity for the girl. She could understand now the reason for the constant disagreements between these two sisters of hers. It wasn’t their fault at all. It was circumstance. In addition to all the problems of the past that still hung over them both, Ella had successfully adapted to life in a remote dale, but it seemed Mercy never would. As a result, she took out her resentment on Ella, perhaps creating mischief and conflict to bring some excitement into her life. ‘We must all accept what life throws at us, but this is a new beginning for you both so try to embrace it with open arms.’

‘Oh, aye, I will,’ Mercy agreed, which such little conviction in her tone that Livia knew their ‘little talk’ had been a complete waste of time. She’d achieved nothing at all.

Livia had been avoiding Grayson, hugely embarrassed by that little exchange between the two of them by the lake. What had she been thinking of to even consider allowing him to kiss her? She must have been influenced by the romantic setting, the autumn sunshine, or perhaps had drunk too much wine. Whatever it was, she deeply regretted her wanton behaviour. What would he think of her? Thank goodness Jack had arrived in the nick of time.

She’d have to face Grayson eventually, or Matthew as she was now supposed to call him. There were still arrangements to be made regarding the new plans for the store, and Livia wished to discuss her dream of completely redesigning the windows in time for Christmas.
She hadn’t seen him around much lately and wondered if perhaps he was likewise avoiding her.

Jack had been in a funny mood, too, ever since their visit, all because of that dreadful luncheon. Sometimes he’d laugh at the antics of Grayson’s mother, at others rail at her acid comments. ‘She’d no right to speak to you like that,’ he said, but Livia had brushed off his concerns.

‘What does it matter what a snobby old woman thinks? And I gave as good as I got.’

‘You certainly did. I was proud of you.’ His warm eyes shone with wicked delight, reminding her of why she loved him. But Imelda Grayson’s comments must have affected him a little because on her next day off he suddenly started talking about moving house.

‘I wouldn’t be against the idea, Livvy, if that’s what you want. We should perhaps think of bettering ourselves.’ He said this as they made their farewells before she returned to her lonely bed in the dormitory as usual. Livia guessed he was missing her, regretting the little time they saw each other now she was living in.

‘I’ll see to it the first chance I get,’ she’d promised.

Now it was Friday morning and Grayson was waiting for her as she left the lingerie counter for her midday meal. Livia could hardly look him in the eye, all too aware of how her heartbeat
quickened just watching him approach. What on earth was happening to her? A few compliments and a little mild flirtation by the lake surely shouldn’t turn her into a blushing school girl.

He grinned down at her. ‘I hope you haven’t had too hard a week, Livia, and that you were well rested after your visit the other Sunday?’

‘Perfectly, thank you.’ She’d hardly slept a wink since.

‘Good. I wondered if we could fix another meeting. There are still matters we need to discuss, some improvements I have in mind for the staff quarters, for instance. Are you free this weekend?’

‘Oh – I dare say further discussions might be useful, but not at your home. Surely we can talk in your office here? In fact, what’s wrong with right now?’ Livia was absolutely determined to keep her relationship with Grayson on a more businesslike footing in future.

But as she followed him into what had once been her father’s office, her gaze lingering on the breadth of his shoulders, narrowness of his hips and the length of his legs, she had to admit that business was the last thing on her mind. She told herself that he was only exercising his charms in order to win her round to his way of thinking in his plans for the store. But she really couldn’t trust herself to get too close to this man,
as the desire to melt into his arms was shamingly strong.

‘I truly believe we should put fewer products in the window,’ she said, the moment the door was closed and they were alone in the office. If she went into battle with sufficient strength from the start, this dangerous sense of vulnerability would surely evaporate.

‘I cannot agree,’ he mildly responded, taking a position behind the desk as if to illustrate that he was the one legally nominated to be in charge. ‘It’s important that we show our full range, and putting price tickets on each item, as you suggested at our last meeting, rather insults the customer and may actively put them off. I’m sure Miss Caraway would think so. Can I tempt you to a small sherry?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘You did enjoy your day at my home, I trust?’

‘Of course. The pricing could be discreet and Miss Caraway’s views are not the most up-to-date.’

‘I would hate to think that my mother’s somewhat robust manner might have put you off from coming again.’

‘Not at all.’ Livia greatly wished that he would concentrate on the matter in hand. She brought him back to it with a sharp glare. ‘Nor is Miss Caraway interested in widening our appeal to other than the county set. Surely
it is important to display goods with style and panache to give an indication of how a garment should be worn, and to encourage any potential customer to see that she too can afford to be fashionable at surprisingly modest cost.’

His eyes narrowed as he considered her. ‘I can see that may appeal to the young matron. Next time you come I shall take you out on
Enterprise
, my steam yacht. Would you like that?’

Livia chose not to respond to this invitation, wishing he would stop reminding her of that
so-dangerous
walk by the lake. ‘I would like the store to appeal to every office girl and factory miss. More young women have money in their pockets these days, even if they don’t yet have the franchise. It’s a new modern world.’

Grayson chuckled. ‘Don’t start spouting your propaganda at me, Livia. We agreed that I may call you Livia, now that we are friends? I’m not the liberal government, nor your enemy.’

Stirred quite against her better judgement by his use of her name, Livia lifted her chin in a gesture of defiance. ‘I’m pleased to hear it because I
do
plan to attend that suffrage meeting in Manchester. Many of the girls are going. It’s next Thursday, our day off, so I doubt it will inconvenience you.’

‘You don’t need my permission.’

‘I had no intention of asking for it.’

‘Quite.’ He seemed infuriatingly relaxed about the whole thing, almost as if he approved, which sat oddly with her views of him as a tyrant manager. And having ignored her for two weeks, being absent much of the time, why was he again pursuing her to visit his house? He really was a most disturbing man. Livia resolved to let him see that she wasn’t so easily won over by fickle charm.

‘I would also like to see Angel’s use more local suppliers,’ she continued, keeping very firmly to the business in hand. ‘Why buy from the big boys when we can benefit local people? And have you considered selling foodstuffs? Local honey, or damson jelly for instance.’

Grayson shook his head. ‘Local suppliers are all very well for certain items, such as the knitwear we buy from your friends in Staveley for instance, but can rarely compete on price with the “big boys”, as you call them. Which naturally reduces our profit margins. As for foodstuff, they’re far too troublesome. They take up a great deal of space and if stock isn’t sold when fresh, it has to be thrown out, which in hot weather can lead to huge losses.’

‘But—’

‘So “no” to both those ideas,’ he told her with a smile. He then spoke of his plans for improving the overcrowded living quarters for
the staff by renting other suitable premises in town, and Livia had to admit these sounded most impressive.

‘Following our previous discussions, in addition to taking on board many of your other ideas, I’ve already set in motion efforts to find a new cook and better food suppliers.’ He pushed a piece of paper across the desk towards her. ‘Opening through the lunch hour may well be feasible in time, when we are in a position to adjust staff work schedules without causing too much disruption. I’ve also put out to tender for a costing of the installation of a tea shop and powder room. Does that about cover it?’ His grey-green eyes were unsmiling but shone with a challenging twinkle that had a strange effect upon her stomach.

‘I confess you’ve been most fair,’ Livia was forced to acknowledge in a breathless rush. ‘And the window?’

He rolled his eyes in exasperation. ‘You are a most determined woman.’

Her lips twitched as, despite her better judgment, she found herself responding to his smile. Livia decided to press home her advantage by reminding him that Christmas would soon be upon them. ‘Although you’d never guess it from the windows of Angel’s Department Store. Will you allow me to at least dress them to herald the
approach of the festive season? You can call it a test, if you like. If trade doesn’t improve as a result, you can go back to filling every corner of it with your jumbled displays.’ This last with a cheeky grin that made him laugh out loud.

‘You are incorrigible.’

‘Is it a deal?’

His smile now sent shivers of raw excitement running down her spine, which brought Livia swiftly to her feet, desperate to escape what suddenly seemed to be a suffocatingly small room. ‘I’ll take that as agreement, shall I?’ She was halfway to the door when she heard his softly spoken reply.

‘You have only to ask, Livvy, and if it is in my power, I will do anything I can to please you.’

Her reaction to his teasing and welcome cooperation disturbed her so much it quite put her off her midday meal. Livia had little appetite for the lamb stew, although it smelt tasty enough. She made her excuses and hurried back to work. Was he deliberately trying to unsettle her with his idle charm and relaxed manner, which sometimes sat at odds with his obstinacy over certain matters of business? It was true that she had greatly enjoyed her visit to his home by the lake, but Livia guessed it might be extremely dangerous for her to go again.

Wasting no time, she began her self-appointed
task of dressing the window by visiting all the different departments and discussing with each supervisor which items they favoured putting in a Christmas display.

‘I aim to keep to a colour scheme of red and gold, if you would bear that in mind when selecting your stock.’

She agreed to collect the items later that day, and the following afternoon had the window emptied and swept out, the glass cleaned and polished. She could tell everyone was curious as she noticed several of the girls whispering behind their hands, obviously wondering what she intended to do.

‘You think yourself an expert on window displays now, do you?’ Connie caustically remarked as they took their places at the dinner table on Saturday evening as usual.

Livia gave a self-deprecating laugh. ‘Hardly, but I’m willing to have a go to try and improve it.’

‘We’ve been doing that window for years, and there was us thinking we were doing a good job already,’ Stella commented.

Livia flushed. It hadn’t occurred to her to consider who had done the windows before. ‘I meant no offence and I’m not criticising your displays, I’m saying maybe it’s time for a change, something different to lift sales before Christmas.’

‘And of course we humble shop girls can’t be trusted to do such an important task. You know best, eh, like all the nobs. Confidence over experience being your byword.’

Livia said nothing, not wishing to offend sensibilities any further. With the store now closed, she quietly set to. She could only hope that she could prove her case by doing a good job.

She’d already made a careful plan, bearing in mind the selected items. Livia soon found this needed to be adjusted as the task turned out to be far more complex than she’d expected, but on the whole her ideas worked well. She carefully pinned dresses into place on the mannequins, adding accessories such as fans, shawls or bags to make them seem as real as possible despite their knob heads.

Livia was careful not to overcrowd the display, devising a scene of a family enjoying Christmas together, and making sure that every item was visible to a potential customer. She’d had one of the young pages fashion her a sledge and she filled this with various items sold in the store, from household goods to cricket bats and toys. She stood a Christmas tree decorated with gold tinsel and shiny baubles in one corner, and added a cardboard fireplace with crinkly red paper to imitate a fire, with stockings hung in
place ready for Santa Claus. For a final festive touch she added sprigs of holly and crimson bows here and there. It was well past midnight by the time she’d finished and climbed the stairs wearily to her bed, but she was delighted with the result, and hoped the new look would attract attention and improve sales.

Sunday morning came, and before even taking breakfast Livia hurried outside to view her display in daylight, only to stare at it in disbelief. It had been completely wrecked. The pretend fireplace had been knocked over, as had the Christmas tree, with all the baubles smashed. The sledge had been upended, and the goods she’d positioned with such care were now strewn about all over the place. Shock ricocheted through her. Who would do such a thing? And why? Who could hate her with such venom?

‘Oh dear,’ said a mild voice at her elbow. ‘What a pity, and just when you thought you were so clever, too.’

She turned to find Stella and Connie giggling together. It was very plain to Livia that these two girls were the perpetrators of this mindless vandalism. They’d made their views only too clear over supper last night, now they’d acted on them, presumably out of jealousy and spite. They simply weren’t prepared to accept her as one of
them. Nor did they think of her as an employer whom they must please and obey.

Some instinct warned Livia that it would do no good to rant and rail; it might even make things worse. She refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing how they’d hurt her, so she said nothing as, arm in arm, the pair sauntered away to enjoy their Sunday off.

For Livia there was no day of leisure, no time to dress up in her best Sunday costume as Connie and Stella had done, and no possibility of cooking Jack a lovely lunch then spending the afternoon making love, as she had hoped and planned to do. Instead, she had to set to and start on the window display all over again.

Apart from the Christmas tree baubles, no serious damage had been done, goods simply knocked over or scattered about. Even so, it took most of the day to put it right, as some of the gowns had become creased and needed pressing to make them look pristine again. As the light began to fade Livia realised she hadn’t eaten all day. No wonder she was exhausted, and it would be a miracle if Jack ever spoke to her again.