Page 44 of A Shop Girl’s Christmas (Pennington’s Department Store #3)

With her stomach entirely stuffed from the huge Christmas lunch Harriet’s staff had prepared, Cornelia collapsed back on the sofa in the drawing room, the remainder of a glass of wine in her hand. Her heart swelled as she watched Stephen laugh and play with the children and their new toys at the foot of the Christmas tree, warmth spreading through her to see Alfred and Francis so happy.

They had barely mentioned their father, but it pleased her that David had at least seen fit to telephone the boys on this special day, even if he’d spoken to them for barely more than ten minutes. It seemed that Stephen was providing at least a little relief from Alfred and Francis missing their father… not that David would have ever indulged in such boisterous carpet play.

A waft of floral perfume alerted her to Harriet’s approach and Cornelia smiled. ‘Your staff have done you justice. Lunch was astounding.’

Her sister gave a dismissive wave, her eyes narrowing as she studied Stephen. ‘Oh, who cares about food when you have invited such a delicious distraction?’

Cornelia considered Harriet and the way her skin skimmed over her cheekbones, accentuating her thinness. Despite her too-slender frame, she was still beautiful. Her dark hair shining and perfectly styled, her subtle make-up bringing out the blueness of her eyes and pinkness of her bow lips.

Still so sophisticated.

Cornelia was assaulted by a stab of fear that Stephen might come to see that too and quickly pushed it away. ‘There is no need for you to eye Stephen so hungrily. He’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.’

Harriet turned, her smile almost lupine, her eyes glittering with mischief. ‘Is he your lover?’

‘Of course not.’ Heat warmed Cornelia’s cheeks as she drained her wine. ‘Any man I have interest in will be so much more than a lover. I have the children to consider.’

‘I see. So, you’re behaving foolishly once again.’ Harriet’s laugh tinkled and she lifted her glass in a toast. ‘Well, here’s to one of the Culford daughters who will never learn.’ She drank. ‘Did Mama not teach you anything?’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Annoyed, Cornelia fought to keep her temper. ‘Stephen and I work together, and he was alone this Christmas. Is it so wrong that I asked him here? The children are clearly enjoying his company and I suspect Lawrence likes him well enough, too.’

‘Likes him?’ Harriet patted Cornelia’s knee. ‘Our dear brother is merely sizing up the man who has clearly taken your heart. The man who will undoubtedly end up breaking it, just as David has.’

Cornelia glared as Harriet resumed her examination. ‘If you only joined me to provoke my temper, Harriet, I think it best I leave you alone.’

Harriet placed her hand on Cornelia’s knee. ‘I apologise. I just wanted to warn you, that’s all. You are my beloved sister, after all.’

‘Your tone implies the opposite.’

Harriet’s gaze softened and, slowly, the spite left her eyes. Abruptly, she stood. ‘Come with me.’

‘Where are we—’

‘Let’s get our coats and take a stroll outside. Come on, the children will enjoy some fresh air.’ She clapped her hands. ‘Do you mind if we steal the children for a while, Mr Gower? Cornelia and I thought we’d take them outside for a spell.’

Stephen rose and brushed at his knees. ‘Not at all, Miss Culford.’

Cornelia briefly met Stephen’s quiet gaze before she rose, every nerve in her body on high alert. For all Harriet’s wealth, status and influence in the local area, she was still the Culford child who had spent years being manipulated by their mother.

The children raced out of the room ahead of them as Cornelia’s suspicion gathered strength. Her sister hadn’t meant to start their conversation with such spite. There was something much deeper bothering her. Something was most definitely wrong.

Stepping forward, Cornelia forced a smile. ‘Right, shall we go to the pond? If it’s not too icy, maybe you children can walk along the wall, like we did in the summer. What do you say?’

Their shouts echoed around the hall until Adams opened the front door and Alfred, Francis, Rose and Nathaniel rushed outside into the cold afternoon.

Harriet walked confidently forward and offered Cornelia her elbow. Giving in to the inevitable, Cornelia slipped her hand beneath her sister’s arm and they strolled outside into bright sunshine. The morning’s frost had been melted by the mild temperature and, a blessing considering the time of year, the pathways were secure under Cornelia’s boots.

She kept her counsel and waited for Harriet to speak. It was never very long before her sister had something to say. Whatever the circumstances.

‘So,’ Harriet smiled. ‘For all your protestations, are you secretly keen on Mr Gower?’

Cornelia studied her. Would there really be any harm in confessing her feelings to Harriet? ‘I am.’

‘You would consider marrying him?’

Cornelia’s smile dissolved. She’d considered making love with Stephen. Thought about how he played and interacted with the children. Had even considered the days out they might have, evenings in front of a blazing fire… but marriage?

‘I doubt such a thing has entered his mind, any more than it has mine.’

The children ran in circles around each other on one of Culford’s vast lawns and Cornelia drew Harriet to a slow stop. She released her arm and took her sister’s hand.

‘What’s wrong?’

Harriet’s eyes shone with what looked to be unshed tears before she looked towards the children. ‘I want to marry.’

Cornelia frowned, concerned by the desolation in Harriet’s tone. ‘And you will. You’re beautiful. Rich. Strong and decisive. How can you think there is the slightest chance you will not marry one day?’

‘Not one day.’ Harriet faced her. ‘I want to marry as soon as possible.’

‘But why?’

‘Because I’m afraid.’

‘Of what?’

Harriet slipped her hand from Cornelia’s and gripped her gloved hands in front of her. ‘Of the very real possibility Mama has ruined my life.’

Cornelia slumped her shoulders, hating that her sister bore the same insecurities as a result of their upbringing as she and Lawrence. For all her bravado, Harriet hadn’t escaped those years any less scarred than her siblings. She gently touched her arm. ‘That will only happen if you allow it. Mama’s gone. Your life is your own now.’

‘Is it?’ Harriet’s eyes flashed with undisguised fury. ‘I go to dances, balls, fancy dinners and soirées, but not once has a gentleman displayed any amorous intentions towards me. There’s every possibility Mama has made me so forthright, so determined to succeed, that I’ll never find a man I respect enough to spend my life with.’

‘Mama was a bully, Harriet. A tyrant and a villain-in-arms alongside Papa. You are not her and, if you chose it, never will be. A man will come into your life when you least expect it.’

‘Like Mr Gower has into yours?’

‘We’re talking about you, not me.’

‘Fine.’ Harriet whirled away, turning her back and covering her face in her hands before she abruptly dropped them and stepped close to Cornelia again. ‘Lawrence has said he doesn’t want me to travel on the Titanic . That David will be on board. I don’t care, Cornelia. I have no interest in what David has to say. Please, you must persuade Lawrence that you don’t mind me going. Susannah has persuaded her parents to accompany us. This is the perfect opportunity to get away from here and meet a man so much better travelled than any I might meet in Oxfordshire. A good man. A rich man. A man who can oversee the estate as only a gentleman could.’

‘As only a gentleman could?’ Cornelia stared, incredulous. ‘God forbid Esther should hear you talk that way. Or me, in fact. Lawrence gave you a third of this house, Harriet. He knows you can look after the estate and its tenants as well as he ever could. Lord knows, you are more au fait with the running of this place than Lawrence or I would be nowadays. You don’t need a man to oversee Culford, but you might want a man because your heart longs for it. Could that be true?’

‘Maybe.’ Harriet sighed and looked again at the children. ‘You have to consider everything you do with the utmost care because you’re a mother. I don’t have that responsibility, but I want it.’ She turned, her eyes glassy once more. ‘I want a family of my own, a husband who loves me. Is that so much to ask? Can’t you allow me travel to America and let me have an adventure? You divorced David. You’ve taken control of your life. Let me do the same, please.’

You have to consider everything you do with the utmost care because you’re a mother.

Harriet’s words echoed in Cornelia’s mind as her sister continued to talk. Yet, Cornelia could no longer hear Harriet over the thudding of her heart. Her sister was right. She had to think of Alfred and Francis, always.

Her boys ran screeching and laughing across the grass as they chased Rose and Nathaniel, their cheeks rosy-red and their smiles wide. Why shouldn’t Harriet have an adventure? She deserved it after living alone with their mother for so long. As for Alfred and Francis, Cornelia couldn’t deny how happy they were here. Just as they’d been in the summer.

Was she being selfish by remaining in Bath? Should she return to Culford and raise Alfred and Francis in a home that might one day be theirs? Yet, in Bath, she had thrived… come alive. Fear squeezed her heart. Could a parent ever truly guarantee their child’s safety? Their happiness?

‘Cornelia? Are you listening to me?’

She blinked and faced Harriet. ‘Sorry?’

Harriet rolled her eyes. ‘I asked if you will convince Lawrence I should board the Titanic in April? I will ensure all is taken care of here. Adams, Cook, Ruth and the other staff are more than capable—’

‘Yes.’

‘What?’

Cornelia drew in a long breath, realisation, truth and reality sweeping over her. ‘Yes, you should go.’

‘Really?’ Harriet clutched Cornelia’s hand in a hard grip. ‘You mean it? You’ll speak to Lawrence?’

‘Yes. Yes, I will.’

‘Oh, thank you.’ Harriet pulled Cornelia into an embrace and squeezed her tightly. ‘Thank you so much.’

With a parting squeal, Harriet took off across the grass to play with the children, leaving Cornelia staring blindly after her. Harriet had the right to a life of her own making. She was young and free, her entire future stretched out ahead of her.

Cornelia inhaled a shaky breath. As for me? I have a decision to make and the guiding factor has to be the children.