Page 40 of A Shop Girl’s Christmas (Pennington’s Department Store #3)
Cornelia gratefully accepted a glass of claret from Lawrence as he joined her and Esther in front of a roaring fire in Culford’s opulent drawing room.
‘Thank you, brother. This is just what I need after getting the boys to bed. They are beyond excited for Christmas Day.’ She sipped the wine and turned to Esther. ‘How on earth did you manage to settle Rose and Nathaniel so quickly?’
Esther laughed. ‘I think they’ve been so worried while I’ve being confined to bed that, now, they’re behaving like complete angels.’
‘Hmm, maybe they are at the moment.’ Lawrence sat in a wing-backed chair. ‘That won’t last long, what with tomorrow being Christmas Eve.’
‘Alfred and Francis spent the whole of their bath and story time guessing what they are going to get.’ Cornelia looked at the portrait of Harriet above the fireplace and sighed, suddenly and unexpectedly impatient to see her sister. She, Lawrence and Harriet had spent so much unnecessary time apart since their mother died. ‘I know I shouldn’t be upset by Harriet’s not being here tonight, but she could’ve easily have refused an offer of dinner at the Cambridges’. She knew of our coming over a week ago.’
Lawrence shook his head. ‘My dear sister, I fear you’ve forgotten Harriet and her ways. I, for one, am grateful for the lack of drama tonight. From tomorrow morning, it will be one histrionic episode after another, if I know our sister at all.’
‘True.’ Cornelia smiled. ‘But she’s young, rich and single. I expect she has her pick of suitors and has been thoroughly enjoying tormenting them.’
Esther put her teacup on the small table beside her. ‘Is there anyone in particular Harriet has in mind? The few times I’ve been with her, she’s spoken of little else other than marriage.’
Lawrence gave an inelegant snort and sipped his wine. ‘Harriet is certainly taking advantage of her new-found freedom. With mother dead, she can bide her time and wait for the man of her dreams. When she last wrote to me, she mentioned booking a suite on the Titanic. It wouldn’t surprise me if she has that all in hand by now.’
Cornelia stiffened. ‘The Titanic ?’
‘You’ve gone quite pale, my love.’ Esther touched her hand to Cornelia’s. ‘Do you know something we don’t?’
‘She can’t.’ Cornelia put her wine on the low table in front of her, her hand trembling. ‘David intends spending his honeymoon on the Titanic .’
‘What?’ Lawrence glared, his cheeks mottling. ‘He told you that?’
‘Yes.’ Panic coursed through Cornelia. ‘I don’t want him anywhere near Harriet, whispering his poisonous lies about me. What if she listens to him and I lose her as well as everything else?’
‘She won’t listen to anything he has to say.’ Esther squeezed Cornelia’s fingers. ‘Will she, Lawrence?’
He looked from Cornelia to Esther, his jaw tight. ‘I can’t say it’s impossible. There’s nothing Harriet enjoys more than gossip and scandal, but I really hope she’ll see it’s David who is at fault rather than you, Cornelia.’ He drained his glass. ‘I’ll see what I can do to dissuade her from taking the trip. The last I heard, she was negotiating with her friend, Susannah Varson, about the voyage.’
‘Negotiating?’ Cornelia frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, even Harriet wouldn’t be so bold as to travel to America unchaperoned. She has asked Susannah to come along, too. All expenses paid by Harriet, of course.’
‘Then why on earth would she refuse?’ Cornelia stood up and paced about. ‘According to the newspapers, the Titanic is the most luxurious ship the world has ever seen. Which is precisely why David will want to be on its maiden voyage.’
The drawing-room door opened and Harriet’s butler, Lucas Adams, entered. No more than thirty years old, with dark blond hair, blue eyes and a tall physique, he was a handsome man, and Cornelia couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Harriet’s newest member of staff.
He dipped his head. ‘Mr and Mrs Carter have arrived, sir.’
Lawrence stepped forward to greet Joseph and Elizabeth. ‘Welcome. Both of you. Come in and have a seat by the fire. You must be cold after the journey.’
‘We are. Even Joseph’s motor car doesn’t keep out these December winds.’ Elizabeth approached Cornelia, where she stood, waiting. ‘Thank you so much for welcoming us here for Christmas.’
‘Not at all.’ Cornelia smiled, her thoughts immediately turning to Stephen and what would happen once he arrived tomorrow. ‘Would you like some wine?’
‘Lovely, thank you.’
Adams walked towards the drinks cabinet and Cornelia quickly intercepted him. ‘I’m quite happy to see to our guests, Adams. Would you mind taking Mr and Mrs Carter’s cases upstairs?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
As she filled two glasses with wine, Cornelia thought once again of Harriet. How was she to dissuade her from boarding the Titanic ?
She stoppered the decanter.
‘So, Cornelia…’ Joseph Carter took the glass of claret she offered him. ‘I was surprised yet happy, when Elizabeth told me Mr Gower has also accepted your invitation to spend Christmas here. Are you…’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Romantically connected, by any chance? It would be wonderful if Pennington’s brought more couples together.’
Heat leapt into her cheeks. ‘Um, no…’ She laughed. ‘We’re just friends and colleagues. Nothing more.’
Joseph lifted the glass to his lips, gaze glittering with amusement above the rim. ‘Well, I think I’ll keep an eye on you two, regardless.’
Cornelia picked up Elizabeth’s glass.
‘So, when is he arriving?’ Joseph pressed.
‘Tomorrow afternoon. Today is his last shift at the store. He’ll make the trip to Oxfordshire as soon as he can tomorrow.’
‘I see.’
‘I’ll just take Elizabeth her drink. If you’ll excuse me.’
Cornelia joined Elizabeth and Esther in front of the fire.
‘Here you are.’ She handed Elizabeth her wine before sitting in an armchair beside her. ‘After we’ve eaten, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.’
‘Thank you.’ Elizabeth sipped her drink. ‘Did Joseph mention Mr Gower to you?’
Cornelia nodded as, once again, her worry rose that she’d made a mistake asking Stephen to Culford. She could imagine him being cross-questioned to the point where he’d be forced to leave.
Annoyance passed over Elizabeth’s face as she glanced at her husband before inching closer to Cornelia. ‘And?’
She held her employer’s shrewd gaze. ‘And I told him Mr Gower is expected tomorrow.’
‘He didn’t ask about the investigation? Mention Lillian?’
‘No,’ Cornelia said, lowering her voice. ‘And Mr Gower must not be made to feel he cannot relax while he’s here. It’s Christmas. He deserves a holiday as much as any of us.’
‘Absolutely.’ Elizabeth’s brow furrowed. ‘And Joseph has promised me as much. I just hope he doesn’t go back on his word once Mr Gower arrives.’
Esther leaned closer. ‘Is Joseph really becoming so entrenched in this investigation that he won’t enjoy himself for a few days?’
Elizabeth stared at her husband’s turned back. ‘It’s most likely my fears that are making me doubt him. I just want the investigation resolved. Not for me, but for Joseph. The whole ordeal is taking its toll and I love him so much.’
Esther took Elizabeth’s hand. ‘Everything will be all right. We must leave Mr Gower to do what he can.’
Cornelia frowned. What could she say or do to help the Carters? To help Stephen and protect him from their questions? Maybe a distraction was needed. Something that Elizabeth and Esther would find just as engaging as looking for a killer.
Romance was never far from any woman’s mind. Not even the minds of her forward-thinking employer and sister-in-law.
She cleared her throat. ‘I care for Mr Gower. Probably more than I should.’
Their eyes instantly lit up, as Cornelia suspected they would.
‘So…’ She lifted her chin, nerves leaping in her stomach now that she’d admitted aloud what burned in her heart. ‘I would very much appreciate you helping me to make Mr Gower’s time here an enjoyable one.’
Esther grinned. ‘Oh, we will.’
‘Most definitely.’ Elizabeth touched Cornelia’s knee. ‘I will do my utmost to divert Joseph. A potential romance is just what we need to brighten things up. Well, that and the children, of course. I can’t wait to see them again. Are they well, Esther?’
Pleased the topic had turned to the children, Cornelia sipped her wine and leaned back on the sofa, only paying the smallest attention to Esther and Elizabeth’s conversation. Instead, her mind was consumed with thoughts of Stephen.
The memory of his kisses tingled on her lips and her body warmed at the thought of being held in his arms again. Didn’t she owe it to herself, and her boys, to seize life with both hands? Time was short, precious and, deep in her heart, Cornelia believed she and Stephen had come to Bath, to Pennington’s, for one reason and one reason only… Each other.