Page 13 of A Shop Girl’s Christmas (Pennington’s Department Store #3)

Cornelia carefully watched Esther where she sat up in bed with her breakfast tray across her knees. Her brow seemed to be permanently furrowed these past few days and when she’d picked up her teacup, Cornelia noticed her sister-in-law’s hand trembled. The tension in the house had been strained ever since Esther’s harassment, and no matter how Cornelia tried to reassure Lawrence all would be well, he wore a constant scowl.

She laid down the morning paper in her lap. ‘Is there anything I can do for you? You look so tired.’

Esther’s eyes were wide and uneasy above the rim of her cup. She sipped her tea. ‘No, I’m fine.’

‘You are far from fine. What is it?’

Esther briefly closed her eyes and when she opened them again, tears shone on her lashes. ‘I feel as though I’m losing myself, Cornelia. Which is something I feared happening over and over again when I began to fall in love with Lawrence. Now, it seems, everything I wanted to avoid has come to fruition.’

‘Like what?’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Esther glanced nervously towards the closed bedroom door. ‘I just feel so utterly useless. How am I supposed to support Lawrence and the others at the hotel with regards to the ball? How am I to discuss and make plans with Elizabeth and Amelia when I am away from Pennington’s? I am little more than a burden to everyone the longer I remain confined to bed.’

‘You are not a burden and never will be. You must rest. You had a bleed yesterday and the doctor said bed rest was imperative. We have to be extra vigilant for the sake of the baby. I know, as does Lawrence, how hard it is for you to be confined to bed like this, but it won’t be forever.’

‘But I need to do something. I have worked ever since I left home, and I cannot stand being so unoccupied.’

Since Esther’s bleeding, the entire household had been consumed with fear for the baby and, as much as Cornelia understood her sister-in-law’s frustration, she could not allow Esther to take any risks. ‘Why don’t I go to The Phoenix after work and ask Lawrence for one or two tasks that you could do for the ball? There must be something that needs organising or ordering that you can do from your bed.’

‘He would never agree.’

Cornelia lifted her eyebrows and stared hard at Esther. ‘Since when have you bowed down to that brother of mine? We will insist. If I am side by side with you in your need to work, then Lawrence will have little chance of dissuading us. Wouldn’t you agree?’

A tentative smile lifted Esther’s lips, her eyes shining a little brighter. ‘Well, when you put it like that…’

‘Leave everything to me. Now, what could you do in the way of helping Elizabeth? Doctor Rubinstein hasn’t said you will be well enough to return to work anytime soon, but I’m sure Elizabeth can be persuaded it will be a good idea for me to bring some light work home for you. How about I bring your sketchpad and pencils? You can easily work on your designs.’

‘Oh, Cornelia. You’re a marvel. I barely slept last night fretting over this and that, instead of concentrating on what I can do, rather than what I can’t. If I can work in some small way, it will hasten the time and my confinement considerably.’

‘Good. Then I will come home this evening armed with tasks for you to do.’ She stood and leaned over the bed to kiss Esther’s cheek. ‘Now, I must go before I’m late. I’ll take your tray downstairs and tell Helen you are resting. Please, close your eyes and try to get some sleep.’

Esther’s brow creased again. ‘There is one more thing.’

Cornelia lifted the breakfast tray. ‘Yes?’

‘How are things at the store in general?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m worried about Elizabeth and Joseph and hate that I can’t be there to support them. She sent me word that things will go along just fine without me, but I very much doubt it. She and Joseph are not getting along as they usually do.’

Cornelia frowned. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

‘Maybe, but not yet. I just want you to keep an eye on Elizabeth. If you think she is in any way unhappy, you must tell me.’

‘Of course.’ Cornelia nodded, curious. ‘But you’re aware of what it is that is causing them problems?’

‘Yes, and if I feel I must tell you in order to help them, I will. I promise. Joseph and Elizabeth are very dear friends of mine and I hate to see them this way.’

‘Well, I am always here, you know that. I will see you later.’ She turned towards the door and stopped, her mind on her employers and the oddness in Stephen Gower’s expression during his conversation with Elizabeth. ‘You know, I thought about mentioning your attack to Mr Gower. He worked for Scotland Yard before he came to Pennington’s. I overheard Elizabeth mention it to him. There might be something he could do to help us find the man who hurt you.’

‘Yes, she told me, but don’t bother the poor man with what happened to me. It’s not something I want him to be concerned with.’

‘But he might be able to—’

‘The man is at Pennington’s to do his work and leave at the end of the day. It’s not fair to unnecessarily burden him… unless we have to.’

Something in Esther’s tone suggested that she might have to ask for Stephen’s help at some time, but not right now.

Cornelia lowered the breakfast tray to the bed. ‘I also thought to speak to him about the divorce hearing. If he’s an experienced police officer, he might have some idea of what could occur in court. Any advice he can give me could help in my defence against David.’

‘Hmm, that’s true.’ Esther collapsed back against the pillows. ‘Maybe it would be beneficial to speak to him about that, but not about me. It also wouldn’t hurt for you to get to know him a little better.’ Her tone turned pensive. ‘It would certainly be far easier for you to do that than Elizabeth.’

‘Elizabeth wants to know Mr Gower better? But why?’

Esther’s cheeks reddened. ‘I will share with you what I can in good time. You should go or you will be late. Have a good day, won’t you?’

Cornelia picked up the tray, her mind full of the implications of why Elizabeth Pennington would have an interest in Mr Gower. ‘I’ll see you this evening, then.’ She feigned a glare. ‘And, in the meantime, behave.’

Cornelia left the room and quietly closed the door. Some way or other, she would speak with Stephen Gower. Today.

Because there was definitely something going on…