Straw in the Wind (5 page)

On one side of the agency stood a jeweller's establishment. The premises on the other side provided accessories for gentlemen, such as hats and gloves, cigar cases, snuff boxes, and the like. Both were well patronized.

Positioned across the road, Adam gave the woman beside him a faintly self-conscious smile. ‘What do you think, Celia?'

His sister smiled. ‘I think it's perfect, exactly what you deserve. I'm so pleased you left the esquire off, despite mother's insistence. She's invited Edgar Wyvern over to dinner again on Saturday. They get on remarkably well, I think.'

‘I've noticed. Would you mind if something came of it?'

‘Not if it makes mother happy. You know how much she loves entertaining. Edgar has asked her to act as his hostess next month. I believe he intends to introduce her to his colleagues and their wives.'

‘I think Edgar is just what our mother needs, but that aside,' and Adam smiled at his sister as he brought her back to the matter at hand. ‘You know, there will be much more accounting than you're used to doing now we are an agency. I'm going to hire a clerk to work under your direction.'

‘Dearest Adam, you can have no idea how much I'm looking forward to getting out of the house, being useful and having the opportunity to earn my own salary. Now mamma has made her own circle of friends at Chiswick and is in demand, she no longer needs me. And thank goodness she's stopped trying to find a husband for me. Having a spinster daughter on her hands is an embarrassment to her, I think.'

He took her hand in his and squeezed it in silent sympathy. ‘Marriage for the sake of convenience would never work for either of us. You're only a couple of years older than me, Celia, and I'm certain you'll meet the perfect man before too long.'

‘Is there such a thing as a perfect man? I would be quite contented with an imperfect one if he was the right one. What about you, Adam?'

‘I haven't met her yet, but if I had—'

‘She would be a mixture of the sisters, Charlotte Hardy and Marianne Thornton.'

‘Two clever and lively women who adore their husbands and children.' He smiled at the thought. ‘What more could a man want?'

‘Beauty perhaps,' she said a little wistfully.

His sister was of average height and slightly angular. Her hair fell midway between light and dark brown and was straight, whereas he'd inherited curls. Eyes as grey as his own shone with intelligence, her fair skin was without blemish, and her mouth and nose were well shaped.

Celia had her own quiet elegance, but her shy manner tended to make her fade into the background. She'd be a wonderful wife for any man who'd take the trouble to win her heart.

‘The Honeyman sisters certainly have that,' and he said it with so much enthusiasm that Celia laughed.

‘Oh dear, Adam. I do hope you're not smitten with either of them.'

‘Only in an openly admiring way. It wouldn't do me much good if I were seriously smitten, since they're happily married to men who adore them. By the way, we've been invited to the official opening of Nick Thornton's new emporium, followed by supper, next week.'

‘Will we attend? I've heard so much about them from you that I've been longing to meet them.'

‘Then we'll go. We've been invited to stay overnight so will be comfortable. I want you to buy yourself a new gown for the occasion.'

‘What about the agency?'

‘We won't be open for business until next week, when my investigators arrive. I'm about to put a notice in the window to that effect, but I already have enough work lined up to keep them busy.' He handed her the key. ‘After you, Celia.'

When they crossed the road and let themselves in, Celia said, ‘I know you won't have lace curtains, but I still think your clients would appreciate some privacy. Could we have some half curtains at the downstairs office windows? At least that would shield them from prying eyes. Gold would be pleasant; it would go with the lettering and with the fittings. You could always draw them back if you need more light.'

‘Hmmm . . . I might compromise on dark green.'

‘Then we'd look like a funeral parlour. Light green,' she said firmly, knowing that she'd already won the argument.

He laughed as he fixed the notice to the door. ‘You'll be wanting a plant in a pot next.' She'd already given it consideration if her expression was anything to go by.

She said, ‘The sisters were involved in that child stealing case you had, weren't they?'

‘That was Seth Hardy, Charlotte's husband. It turned out to be all above board, though the boy's grandfather took some convincing. Unfortunately, he died a year or so after the case was settled and the custody was sorted out. Edgar Wyvern is one of the trustees to the boy's estate.'

Thornton's Emporium was in the main shopping street and covered the sites of what were once several small shops. Inside the main door was a small, crowded foyer. Behind, a staircase leading to the upper floor served to accommodate a brass band.

Refreshments were set out. Bunting had been hung. Savouries, sweetmeats, punch and lemonade were being served by waiters bustling about with trays.

Celia could see why her brother admired the sisters, especially the younger one. Marianne Thornton, blue-eyed and petite, her face framed by dark hair, kissed Adam's cheek. When they were introduced, Celia found herself being embraced too. Marianne linked arms with her. ‘What a lovely gown; that lavender shade is so soft and pretty. Adam has told us so much about you. You must come and meet my husband . . . you won't mind if we abandon you for a short time, will you, Adam?'

Nicholas Thornton was tall, black-eyed and handsome, and had recently retired from being a sea captain after being shipwrecked.

‘Nicky, my darling man, this is Adam's sister, Celia.'

His arm went around his wife's waist. Gently he pulled her against his side and grumbled in her ear, ‘Aria, my love, haven't I told you that it's undignified to call me Nicky in public?'

Marianne giggled. ‘You wretched creature, that tickles, and you are totally undignified, that's one of the reasons I adore you.'

A roguish grin came her way. ‘Hello, Celia. I'm pleased Adam brought you. It's about time. I was beginning to wonder if he considered us worth meeting.'

Her eyes widened. ‘I assure you, Mr Thornton, Adam has great respect for you.'

‘Stop being such a wicked tease, Nick,' Marianne scolded him. ‘You thought no such thing.'

Nick chuckled, took Celia's hand in his and bore it to his lips. ‘Has Aria taken you round the emporium yet?'

‘Lor, Nick, Celia has only just stepped over the threshold. Besides, it's not open until the mayor has done the speeches, the sandwiches and cake have been eaten, and everyone is prepared to spend their money. I'm going to buy that little box with the mother-of-pearl inlay.'

‘You're not supposed to spend the profits before we make any.'

‘You can give it to me for a birthday present instead, then it won't cost me a penny.'

Amusement filled his eyes. ‘There's something wrong with your logic.'

‘I'm sure that
you're sure
that you're right, but one way or another that box is going to be mine. I want to introduce Celia to my sister. Can you see Charlotte anywhere?'

Nick's height gave him an advantage. ‘Charlotte is over by the fountain looking bored. Miss Stanhope has cornered her and is yapping like a fox terrier.'

‘Oh, good, then we'll rescue her.' She kissed his cheek. ‘I'll be checking up on you from time to time so behave yourself. Follow me, Celia.'

He chuckled, and called after them as they sauntered away, ‘Don't forget to let Celia get a word in edgeways.'

‘Nick is such a dear,' Marianne said, as they threaded through the crowd. ‘We have a son who looks just like him. It must be wonderful having Adam for a brother; he's so sweet, and agreeable and he never looks bored when I chatter at him, though he probably is.'

‘I hold a great deal of affection and respect for my brother. He stepped in to support my mother and myself when our father died.'

‘I understand that you help him by keeping the books for his business. How clever of you. I wouldn't know where to start.'

‘Now his business is expanding I'm to have an office and a clerk to help out. It's the least I can do, and I'm really looking forward to working outside the home.'

‘Ah, there you are, Charlotte.'

At the sound of Marianne's voice Charlotte Hardy looked up. Celia's first impression was that the woman had a guarded expression. Then she smiled, and her face puckered with mischief. ‘Marianne . . . you remember Miss Stanhope, don't you?'

‘Only too well,' she said under her breath, then, ‘How could I forget her? How do you do, Miss Stanhope.'

‘I was just saying how pleased I was to get an invitation as a special guest to the opening, Mrs Thornton. So kind, and unexpected,' she gushed. ‘We've been panting to see the goods you have for sale. My sister said a ship came in and the entire cargo was for Thornton's Emporium.'

‘Yes. It's been such an exciting time. My husband arranged the shipment of rare and exotic oriental artefacts. Aunt Daisy has her eyes on a sweet little silver and lapis lazuli card case. It's awfully expensive and I meant to put it to one side, but we've had so much to do that I completely forgot until just now. Anyway, I thought I might buy it for Aunt Daisy's birthday. I do hope it doesn't sell before I can get there.'

When Miss Stanhope's eyes began to gleam Charlotte smothered a laugh behind her hand.

‘Oh, isn't that your sister Lucy by the door? I do believe she's looking for you. She said to tell you she'd learned something important when I last saw her. Oh, and before you race off, Miss Stanhope, may I introduce Miss Chapman from London. She works for a detecting agency.'

Miss Stanhope's eyes rounded. ‘My goodness how terribly exciting, and such unusual employment for a woman. You must tell me all about it. Are you working on a case now?'

‘Really, Miss Stanhope, you don't expect Miss Chapman to discuss her cases. Just imagine . . . she might be investigating a skeleton in your very own closet.'

Alarm chased across Miss Stanhope's face, and she was gone before Celia could assure her that she was doing no such thing.

Charlotte, who had lighter hair and similar features, but who lacked the fine bones of her sister, laughed. ‘That was really too bad of you, Marianne. I could hardly keep a straight face. She'll rush to buy that case to prevent Mrs Phipps from having it.'

‘Oh, I'm counting on it. Nick ordered several of them. Miss Stanhope always gets into an absolute froth when we run into each other. It's something to do with the fact that she was revealed as the gossiping creature she is after Nick returned home and she was proved wrong over some rumour she started.'

Charlotte's face reflected some private inner anguish as she reminded Marianne, ‘Nick put me in my place too, but at least he let me off lightly.'

‘That's different. You're my sister and I expect you to jump to the wrong conclusion because you practically brought me up, and you always have. We've spent half of our lives quarrelling and making up again. Char, you know I love you dearly.'

Celia was aware of the earlier love triangle with Nick Thornton, the one that had caused a serious rift between the sisters. But it was all over now.

Marianne's quick smile came. ‘Lor, I'm so bad mannered. This is Celia, Adam's sister; aren't they alike? I wish I was a little taller like you, Celia; height is so elegant, don't you think so, Charlotte?'

‘Yes, indeed. I'm so happy to meet you at long last, Miss Chapman. Adam has spoken of you often. May I call you Celia?'

‘Of course you may. I'm led to believe that you don't stand on ceremony, so I shall use your first names in return if you don't mind.'

‘We were very grateful for Adam's help in finding our dear stepson last year, you know.'

‘Adam doesn't usually become personally involved, but in your stepson's case he felt partly responsible for the worry he caused you, and for John's disappearance. It was a pity that the boy's grandfather died before he could get to know him well, but at least he got to meet him.'

‘He did, indeed.'

‘Oh, there's Aunt Daisy and the Reverend Phipps.' Marianne waved to them. ‘They look so happy now they've finally wed, and they didn't tell anyone; they just got a special licence from his bishop, and said the words in front of the altar.'

‘Hurried marriages must be a Thornton family trait,' Charlotte said darkly, but with laughter in her voice.

‘Hah! What about you and Seth? You proposed to him about an hour after you met and you didn't even tell me what you had in mind, you hussy.'

Charlotte gazed to where a man with an upright bearing was talking to Adam. When he caught her eye and smiled, her face as well as her voice softened. ‘Seth was the best idea I've ever had.'

Although Celia smiled, envy stabbed at her. To have a man look at her in such a warm and tender manner would be wonderful. Being with these two beautiful sisters made her feel all the more ordinary, and they didn't seem to be in the least aware of their fortunate looks. But then, neither did they seem to be aware of her indifferent ones.

Her mother had formed a close friendship with the lawyer, Edgar Wyvern, and it now seemed inevitable that their relationship would develop into something more. If Adam married, which he probably would one day, she would come second to his wife and children. She didn't think there would be much call for female clerks. So who would support her then?

‘The mayor is shaking hands with the people outside,' Charlotte said to Marianne. ‘You'd better go and join Nick. He's already got the beginnings of a frown on his face and is looking around for you. I'll take care of Celia.'