The Sea Shell Girl (26 page)

‘Well, I'm sorry but you've had a wasted journey for I have made prior arrangements,' she replied, anxiously looking around for any sign of Carey's arrival.

‘Oh?' he asked, his dark eyes narrowing. ‘And what could be more important than going out with me?'

‘I've already told you, I spend my day off with my new friends,' she said.

‘Is that all?' he shrugged dismissively. ‘Come on, climb up and we'll go for a ride.'

Merry felt like screaming at his high-handed manner.

‘Are you coming, Merry?' Prunella called. ‘Father's carriage will be arriving soon and we mustn't keep him waiting.'

Nicco stared at Prunella then back to Merry. ‘You're going out in a fancy carriage? No wonder you don't want to be seen in a mere donkey cart,' he muttered, his lips tightening into a line. ‘Far be it from me to keep you from your posh friend. I have other things to do anyway.' With a final glare, he picked up the reins and shouted to the donkey to get going.

Sighing with relief, Merry watched him trundle away. She was sorry if he'd had a wasted journey but she hadn't asked him to come, had she?

‘Come along, Merry,' Prunella urged, breaking into her thoughts.

‘Thank you so much, Prunella,' she said. ‘I don't know how I would have got rid of Nicco had you not inferred I was travelling with you.' Her friend smiled and together they made their way down the side path.

They'd only just pushed the door shut when they heard hooves clattering on the cobbles in the yard. Peering through the glass, Merry gasped in dismay.

‘He's early.'

‘Don't panic,' Prunella said, shrugging off her mantle and handing it to Merry. ‘Here, slip this on.' Smiling gratefully, Merry threw off her old cloak but as she
shrugged on the mantle, her hands were shaking so badly, she could hardly fasten the clasp. Prunella stepped in to help, then took off her bonnet. ‘Come on, this goes better with the mantle.'

‘I feel sick,' Merry muttered, swaying back against the banister. ‘I can't meet him feeling like this.'

‘Here, this will settle you,' Prunella said, taking a small bottle from her reticule and holding it under Merry's nose.

‘Crikey, whatever's that?' Merry spluttered.

‘Smelling salts, and they've worked a treat. You've got beautiful pink cheeks now, so off you go.'

‘Are you sure I look all right?' Merry asked, smoothing down her new skirt.

‘You look lovely. Now remember, a lady never panics nor hurries. Take a deep breath and glide serenely out of the door. A man's first glimpse of you should make his heart beat faster as he is enchanted by your sweet countenance. Well, that's what Mother always says, anyhow,' Prunella confessed.

Merry didn't know about Carey's heart beating faster; hers was pounding like crazy as she went outside and walked as elegantly as she could towards the carriage. His eyes lit up as he saw her approach and he reached out to help her inside.

‘I'm so pleased you could join me,' he greeted her. ‘The food at the Madison takes some beating therefore I've reserved a table there again. I hope that is all right with you?' As his aquamarine eyes searched hers for approval, she couldn't help thinking how different he was from Nicco, with his arrogant presumption that she would quietly go along with whatever he suggested.

‘That will be lovely,' she replied, settling herself onto the leather squab. Then she felt his gaze upon her and her pulses began racing again. ‘Thank you for the beautiful flowers.'

‘You got the message?' he asked, and she knew by the way he was staring at her that he meant their significance rather than the blooms themselves.

‘Yes, I did and I was immensely flattered,' she smiled, hoping she hadn't been too forward.

‘May I say how delightful you look,' he said.

‘I expect it's this new skirt,' she replied, running her hand down soft folds of the material.

‘You ladies and your attire,' he laughed. ‘To be honest, I hadn't even noticed what you were wearing. Very remiss of me, I know, but it was your confidence to which I referred. You seem more at ease with yourself somehow. Goodness, here we are already,' he said, peering out of the window as they pulled to a halt.

He waited until they had ordered their meal before pursuing their conversation.

‘I mentioned earlier how much more self-assured you seem, so what have you been up to since we last met?'

As his gaze held hers, she again felt that strange fluttering in her chest. How could she explain that it was wearing respectable clothes that made her feel more poised in his presence? He was always immaculately turned out and she didn't wish to show him up. She could hardly say that, though, for someone like him would take good clothes for granted.

‘We have been permitted to attend to clients ourselves rather than shadowing the manageress and supervisor,' she replied, hoping this answer would suffice.

‘That's marvellous. Saphira said you had immediately grasped what she wanted, which is in itself a miracle, for she changes her mind as often as her brooches. You must tell me more about it during our meal,' he said getting to his feet as the
maître d'hôtel
arrived to show them to their table.

Merry enjoyed herself so much that the time sped by and almost before she knew it, they were on their way back, then pulling up in the yard. Again she appreciated the way he didn't question her use of the staff entrance.

Then she froze, certain she could feel someone watching her. Turning to look out of the window she thought she saw a shadow lurking in the corner of the stables. She pressed her head to the glass but all she could see was the hay piled up against the wall. Then, with a jolt, she realized Carey was speaking.

‘Thank you for a splendid afternoon, Merryn,' he said, leaning forward and patting her hand. ‘Saphira told me you will be celebrating your birthday mid-month.'

‘Why, yes! So much has happened recently, I'd almost forgotten,' she laughed.

‘As my ship is being deployed in two days' time, regrettably I shall be away. I hope therefore you will accept this small gift and allow me to take you out by way of a late celebration when my ship returns? ' he asked, holding out a small package.

‘Thank you,' she said, staring at the beribboned parcel in surprise.

‘I trust it will be to your liking. If not, you may blame Saphira for she helped me to choose. Now no peeking until the day itself,' he said, jumping down from the carriage and holding out his hand to help her down. At the
touch of his fingers, she felt that funny tingle travel up her arm. ‘Many happy returns, my dearest Merryn. I shall be thinking of you.' He leaned forward and took her hand. As he slowly raised it to his lips, a delicious feeling of warmth spread through her body. With a rueful grin he jumped back into his carriage.

‘And I you,' she whispered, hugging her present closer as the carriage pulled away.

‘Blimey oh rimey, girl, you're all lit up like a gas globe,' Freckles said, joining her as she made her way inside. ‘No need to ask if you had a good time. Mind you, we did too. Come on, let's get inside, it's freezing,' she cried, stamping her feet.

A gust of wind howled through the passage by the privy, shaking the last of the leaves from the trees and Merry noticed for the first time that it had got very cold.

‘Went all the way to the ferry port, this tram did, then Chester and I shared a poke of chips to warm us up. Where did you go?' Freckles continued as they made their way up the stairs.

‘The Madison,' Merry replied.

‘You got a decent spread then. Either that Carey ain't got the imagination to think of somewhere different or he's trying to impress you by taking you to the best hotel again. Blimey, gifts as well?' Freckles asked, pointing to her package.

‘It's a birthday present,' she said without thinking.

‘When's the big day then?' Freckles asked, her green eyes sparking curiosity.

‘Not till next weekend, but Carey's ship is being deployed so I won't be seeing him,' Merry sighed.

‘Never mind, girl, we'll have a celebration here, eh?' Merry smiled, knowing her friend was trying to cheer her up. ‘Aren't you going to open it then?' Freckles asked, lighting the candle, then staring at Merry expectantly.

‘Carey said not to until the day itself.'

‘Oh, go on, he won't know, will he?' her friend urged, but then the door creaked open and Prunella came staggering into the room, half hidden behind a huge box.

‘Coo, what you got there, girl?' Freckles asked.

‘Mother and Father are moving residence so I took the opportunity to bring back a few extra clothes,' she said, collapsing onto the bed and taking off a bonnet and mantle they hadn't seen before.

‘Are you all right, Prunella?' Merry asked, noticing her friend's pallor.

‘Father's allowance doesn't run to tipping the driver so he refused to help me carry them up. I haven't missed supper, have I?'

‘No, you're all right. Didn't they roast the fatted calf then?'

Prunella sighed. ‘Mother's had to let the cook go and she just about managed to serve up cheese and biscuits.'

‘Poor old thing, you should have come with us; we had chips. Mind you, I'm starving now. By the way, Merry, we saw that Nicco of yours lurking around here earlier. Looking livid, he was.'

Remembering the shadow in the stables, Merry's heart thudded. Surely he hadn't been watching her? Then a low boom sounded, breaking into her thoughts.

‘Oh, good, there's the gong. Are you coming, Merry?' Freckles asked.

‘Sorry, I couldn't eat another thing,' she admitted, relishing the prospect of time to herself to reflect on her afternoon with Carey. He was just wonderful, she thought, running her fingers over the crisp wrapping paper and wondering what her present could be.

With the weather taking a turn for the worst, few clients ventured out and the store was quieter than usual. Even the manageress and supervisor, with no cause to compete, were quiet, and the trainees were tasked with tidying out all the drawers and cabinets. By Saturday, everywhere was so tidy Merry wondered how they would pass the day.

‘I think we will take ourselves off to the stockroom and run a check on the linen, Mrs Winter,' Mrs Smale said.

‘What are we to do, then?' Freckles asked.

‘Look after things in here, of course, Miss Brice,' the manageress replied, hurrying from the room.

‘Not sure we'll be able to cope with so many clients,' Freckles said, staring around the empty store. Merry laughed, then noticed Prunella frowning out of the window at the snow-lined paths.

‘You all right?' she asked for the umpteenth time that week. Prunella nodded quickly and turned her attention to the already tidy display. Merry sighed. Whatever was on the girl's mind she was keeping it to herself. She'd certainly been preoccupied since she'd returned from her visit home. Home! If she'd been at home her mother would have been busy making her a birthday cake and Grozen would be grumbling at her extravagant use of the butter and eggs. Merry wondered how they were and if it was snowing back in Porthsallos.

Then the door burst open and two women swathed in fur coats were blown in on a gust of wind. They were chatting like magpies and hardly paused for breath as they stamped their booted feet on the bristle mat.

‘Stiff in his bed, he was. Always was an awkward man. Of course, he couldn't have been considerate and died in the summer when the weather was warmer. Oh, no, he had to wait until we had a snow storm, didn't he? Typical of him,' the larger woman sniffed. ‘He probably hopes I'll catch my death at his graveside.'

‘There, there, dear, don't go upsetting yourself,' her companion answered.

‘Good afternoon, how may I be of assistance?' Merry asked. She'd long since shortened the greeting to what she considered was polite but not long-winded.

‘My friend's husband has just died,' the smaller woman said, in hushed tones.

‘I am so sorry,' Merry said. ‘You will be requiring some suitable attire for the funeral?'

‘I'll be taking a yard of black ribbon,' the larger woman sniffed. ‘I haven't got money to waste on things I won't be wearing again.' Merry stared at the well-dressed woman in surprise. ‘One yard of black ribbon and not an inch more, and do be quick about it, girl, before we freeze to the floor.'

‘Yes, of course, madam,' Merry said, carefully unrolling the band along the measure stick on the counter.

‘Blimey, they look like a couple of hooded crows,' Freckles said. The trainees watched the women, heads bent close as they continued chatting, leave the store and climb into a phaeton that was pulled up outside. ‘Bet the
old fella died just to get a bit of peace. Poor thing probably worked all his life to provide them riches, an' all. Just think, if you marry that lieutenant of yours, you could spend your days riding around in something like that.'

Merry stared at her friend in horror.

‘Miss Brice, you are not paid to gossip,' Mrs Smale snapped, as she came back into the room.

Merry turned back to her tidying. What a notion for Freckles to suggest! Having finally achieved her independence the last thing she wanted was to give it up. Yet she couldn't deny that she liked Carey. As ever, though, when she thought of Carey, she found herself wondering how he was and now she wondered where his ship was being deployed. It was a shame he'd be away on her birthday but he had taken the trouble to buy her a present and she couldn't wait to open it.

‘Miss Dyer, a word if you please.' She looked up to see Mr Fairbright beckoning her from the corridor. What had she done now, she wondered.

‘I have just returned from Porthsallos, Miss Dyer. An arduous journey it was too, for I hardly need tell you what the roads are like when it snows. Anyhow, I understand it is your birthday tomorrow and your mother and grandmother send their best wishes along with these gifts. They weren't sure if you intended visiting, and though they would love to see you they wouldn't want you risking an accident in this weather.'

Merry felt a pang of guilt for she'd been so caught up in her new life, she hadn't considered going home for the day.

‘Thank you, Mr Fairbright,' she said, taking the proffered parcels.

‘You will be pleased to hear they are still attaining their knitting targets and being paid accordingly. Something, I understand, they will be relying upon more now that the pilchards have disappeared.'

‘Yes, sir, that is true.' Again she felt guilty for she hadn't thought about that either.

‘Now the weather has grown colder, we have decided to sell a selection of their garments in our menswear department, which we hope will boost sales and sustain that source of income.'

‘That is wonderful news,' agreed Merry gratefully.

‘Anyway, they enquired as to your progress and if they were likely to see you at Christmas. I told them you showed great promise and that if you maintain the high standard of customer service you have so far shown, then I anticipate you making good progress, perhaps even to management one day.'