Page 32 of A Shop Girl’s Christmas (Pennington’s Department Store #3)

As Cornelia was walking through Pennington’s atrium on her way home, Elizabeth Pennington came down the grand mahogany staircase and strode towards her.

Cornelia’s stomach dropped. She had nothing new to tell her and the resolve in Elizabeth’s expression could not be mistaken.

‘Cornelia. Might I have a word before you head home?’ Elizabeth stopped in front of her, blocking her path to the door. ‘It’s about Esther.’

‘Esther?’ Cornelia relaxed her tense shoulders. Talking about her sister-in-law was much safer ground. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘As far as I know, but…’ Elizabeth glanced around them. ‘I spoke to her a couple of days ago and she asked me a lot of questions about Lillian. Did she pass the information on to you, as she said she would?’

Cornelia tensed again. ‘Yes, yes she did.’

‘And you passed it onto Mr Gower?’

Hopelessness swept through Cornelia. Esther had mentioned on several occasions just how determined Elizabeth could be. How immovable. The longer Cornelia acted as a go-between, the more likely it was that Elizabeth, or indeed Joseph, would lose patience and press Stephen directly. He wanted to avoid that at all costs, for the time being, and Cornelia would do all she could do respect his wishes.

‘I did, but…’ She gently touched Elizabeth’s arm. ‘Mr Gower is adamant that if expectations become too high, he’ll have no choice but to end his enquiries into Lillian’s death.’

‘But why? Doesn’t he see that Joseph needs to do something?’ Two spots of colour darkened Elizabeth’s cheeks, her expression annoyed. ‘Joseph is hardly the type of man to collapse under the strain of it all. He’s already carried this burden for many years. If he could do anything to help find—’

‘I hate to say this, but this isn’t just about Mr Carter and Lillian. It’s also about Mr Gower.’

Elizabeth frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

Cornelia sighed, hating to speak about Stephen behind his back but needing Elizabeth to understand that Stephen had to be free to work as he saw fit. ‘Do you know why Mr Gower is here? In Pennington’s?’

‘All I know he is left Scotland Yard and came here. Why?’

‘That’s the issue. Why did he leave London?’ Cornelia dropped her hand from Elizabeth’s arm and stood a little straighter, determined to match Elizabeth’s fervour for answers. ‘There must have been a reason. A reason that deeply affects him still. Why else would a promising sergeant of barely thirty years old leave such a prestigious job where every opportunity would be open to him?’

‘There could be any number of reasons.’

‘Such as?’ Cornelia raised her eyebrows as the fear she occasionally saw flash in Stephen’s eyes filled her mind. The man grappled with something. Something he fought with whenever his police work came into play. Which it had now, whether he wanted it to or not.

‘Well, I…’ Elizabeth slumped her shoulders, her gaze softening. ‘I don’t really know, and I’m not sure Joseph does either. Do you? Is that why you’re defending him so ardently?’

Cornelia turned away, lest her growing care for Stephen showed in her eyes. Every instinct screamed at her to protect him; to ensure he was kept from both physical and emotional harm. It was in her nature to protect those she cared for and, somehow, Stephen had been added to her list.

She faced Elizabeth. ‘I have no more idea why he left the police than you, but he has the right to keep his reasons to himself if he chooses. All I know is that if you want Mr Gower to help you, you must let him speak to Mr Carter himself. Whenever that might be.’

Elizabeth’s gaze hardened once more. ‘Otherwise, you’ll tell Mr Gower to stop investigating?’

‘Yes.’ Cornelia lifted her chin, her hands turning clammy around her purse. Could she be risking her job by being so forthright? ‘I will.’

Their eyes locked.

Elizabeth Pennington might be her employer and Esther’s friend, but for the time being Cornelia’s loyalty would remain staunchly with Stephen. When he’d asked her to trust him, it had touched her more than she’d believed possible. He clearly had no idea how difficult it would be for her fully to trust a man again after David, but the fact Stephen thought her capable of it gave her hope that he saw the woman she had once been.

‘Fine.’ Elizabeth nodded. ‘I will do all I can to ensure Joseph leaves Mr Gower in peace… for now.’

Cornelia released the breath she hadn’t realising she’d been holding. ‘Thank you.’

‘But Mr Gower is pursuing lines of enquiry at the moment?’

‘Yes.’

Elizabeth stared for a moment longer before she stepped to the side and waved towards the door. ‘Then I’ll bid you good evening and wait to hear more from you or Mr Gower.’

‘Wonderful. Goodnight, Miss Pennington.’

‘Cornelia?’

She stopped and turned. ‘Yes?’

‘Anyone Esther cares for, I do, too. When we speak about things not related to the store, I’d like you to look on me as a friend.’

Cornelia smiled. ‘I’d like that. Very much.’

‘Good, then I will see you tomorrow.’

Cornelia headed for the doors and walked outside. She breathed in the cold evening air and hurried towards The Circus, her mind filled with thoughts of Elizabeth, Mr Carter and, most of all, of Stephen and his plan to visit Pulteney Bridge that night.

A shiver ran along her spine, and she stepped up her pace.

She’d defended him and kept his intentions secret, but that hadn’t done anything to calm her fears for his safety. If he was attacked or hurt in any way, how would she know, until he failed to turn up at the store tomorrow? Sickness rolled through her, and she blinked back the tears that sprang into her eyes.

By the time she reached Lawrence’s house, she’d managed to settle her stretched nerves and when she pushed her key into the front door, the comfort of home enveloped her. At least she knew the children were safe.

‘Good evening, Miss.’ Charles emerged from the direction of the kitchen. ‘Mr Culford has asked that you visit his bedroom as soon as you arrive home.’

‘Is everything all right?’ She glanced towards the stairs. It was only seven o’clock, but the house was ominously quiet. ‘Are the children in bed already?’

‘Um, yes, I believe so.’

The way Charles couldn’t quite meet her gaze and quickly turned to hang her coat on the stand by the door deepened Cornelia’s concern. ‘I see. Then I’ll go straight up.’

She walked upstairs and heard Lawrence and Esther’s murmured voices behind their closed bedroom door. She knocked.

‘Come in.’

Esther was in bed and Lawrence sitting in his robe in an armchair. A newspaper lay open in his lap, his usual glass of evening cognac beside him. They both looked relaxed and happy and some of Cornelia’s anxiety dissipated.

At least, it did, until they both turned from one another to look at her.

Their smiles instantly vanished.

She forced a soft laugh, her worry rising once more. ‘Do I really look so bad? It’s been a tiring day, but I hope my appearance doesn’t merit the horrified way you’re both staring at me.’

Lawrence was the first to regain his composure and he stood, his arms outstretched. ‘Sister, come and give your brother a hug.’

A hug? She and Lawrence were close, but his invitation did not feel at all natural. The room now simmered with tension. His proffered embrace was either to comfort or commiserate. Neither of which she welcomed.

Hesitating, she slowly stepped into his arms and let Lawrence hold her, while watching Esther over his shoulder. She seemed intensely interested in the embroidery on their eiderdown all of a sudden.

Cornelia eased back from Lawrence and looked him in the eye. ‘What’s going on?’

His dark blue gaze travelled over her face before he pulled her by the hand towards a second chair alongside the bed. ‘Have a seat. Would you like a drink?’

Annoyance simmered deep in the pit of her stomach. If she had become a protector, so had Lawrence. Their turbulent childhood had brought the tendency out in them both as the elder siblings. Harriet, on the other hand, had adopted willpower and ambition as a means to survive. Maybe all three of them possessed the same traits. Only time would tell.

Slowly, she sat, keeping her back braced for whatever came next. ‘I asked you a question, Lawrence,’ she said, ignoring his offer of a drink. ‘What has happened?’

He glanced at Esther before facing Cornelia again. ‘It’s David.’

Dread dropped like lead into her stomach. ‘What about him?’

‘He brought the children here from school this afternoon.’

Cornelia shot to her feet, her heart racing. ‘What?’

‘Cornelia,’ Esther said quietly. ‘Please don’t upset yourself.’

‘Upset myself? What is likely to upset me more than David taking the children from school without my permission?’ She faced her brother. ‘Why was he here? Tell me.’

Lawrence took her trembling hand. ‘The school tried to get a message to you at the store, but when they received no return message or call, they tried David.’

‘I’ve been run off my feet all day, but no one came to me with a message.’ She glanced from her brother to Esther, sickness coating her throat. ‘Are the boys all right?’

‘Yes, but Francis had such an outburst that they are threatening expulsion.’

‘What?’ Cornelia’s chest grew tight. ‘Expulsion? Oh, my God.’ She sank back onto her seat. ‘How could this happen? He was such a happy boy.’

‘I know, and that boy is still there, I’m sure,’ Esther said softly. ‘This will pass. Once he understands about the divorce and sees that David will spend some time with him, Francis will come around.’

‘But what did David say? Because there was more, wasn’t there?’ She looked at Lawrence, anger unfurling inside her. ‘Well?’

He passed his hand over his face and straightened his shoulders. ‘He threatened to take the children to Middleton Park for the holidays.’

‘What?’ Cornelia’s temper snapped and she shot to her feet a second time. ‘Over my dead body.’

‘And mine, too.’ Lawrence’s jaw tightened. ‘It will not happen.’

‘But if he pursues this—’

‘He won’t. You have been granted custody of the boys. I can’t see that he, or his lover, will want another day in court.’

‘Did you say as much to him?’

‘I did.’

‘And?’

‘And he left without as much as a comforting kiss or embrace for his sons. The man sickens me.’ Lawrence walked to the bed and picked up his glass, took a hefty gulp of cognac. ‘So, if he plans to take the boys for Christmas, we’ll take them elsewhere.’

Cornelia stilled. ‘Culford?’

‘Yes.’ A slow smile curved her brother’s lips, a twinkle lighting his eyes.

Love swelled in her chest, as relief washed through her. David would never dare to set foot in her ancestral home. ‘You’ll really go?’

‘For the boys, yes. For you, yes.’ He shook his head. ‘Believe me, there is no other reason on earth I would do so.’

‘Oh, Lawrence, thank you. It’s all Alfred and Francis have asked of me.’ She rushed to him and embraced him. ‘But what of Harriet? I can’t imagine she’ll—’

‘I gave her little choice. We will get through the ball this weekend and then leave a few days before Christmas. Esther tells me you are due to finish at Pennington’s for the holidays on the twenty-second. Correct?’

‘Yes. Elizabeth has been incredibly generous with my time off. I suspect her kindness has a lot to do with the divorce and the children.’ Her thoughts shamefully darted to Stephen. How could she disappear when she’d been so insistent she wanted to help him, to be with him?

‘Good, then I’ll tell Harriet to expect us the day before Christmas Eve.’ He smiled and brushed past her to the drinks cabinet. ‘Now, sit down and have a drink with us. You’ve had a nasty shock.’

Cornelia stared towards the night sky through the open drapes. How would Stephen react? Would he miss her? She was woman enough to admit she would miss him. She liked him. Had a sneaking, wholly hopeful notion that they might come to know each other better, grow closer.

Was she behaving like a fool? She had so many responsibilities that must take priority over romantic love.

Damn David.

Would there ever be a time she was not dictated to by him? Would he forever remain in her life, through their children?

Well, whether he did or not, she wouldn’t allow him to control her this way.

She had to show him just how strong a woman she’d become.