Читать книгу The Sweethearts Collection - Pam Jenoff - Страница 37

Chapter 27

Tired but happy, Colenso sank onto the little daybed, pulling the blanket over her. The room had been used as a store but, after clearing sacks and jars out of the way, Garren had apologized for the lack of furnishings and left her to settle in. It must have been fate that led her here, for hadn’t Mammwynn always declared that destiny dictated?

She yawned and stretched out, running her fingers through her hair and was gratified to find it now almost reached her neck. After the dramas of the previous night, this seemed like paradise, and she could hardly believe her good fortune as she thought back over the day.

After the old man had gone upstairs to rest his eyes, Garren had set about making more sugar syrup while telling her about his plans for building the business up again. She’d helped by washing down the sides of the pan with the brush, then winced as he’d put his finger in to test the boiling concoction.

‘They’ve got sugar thermometers in America but regrettably they’re very expensive. Still, who knows? One day,’ he grinned. ‘Now, let’s get this poured.’ She watched as he tipped the mixture out on the tin tables, which he explained were called cooling tables.

Then, by the light of the lantern, they worked together colouring, flavouring and kneading the mixture before cutting it into lengths. When she’d told him how Karla had formed them into crooks, he’d agreed they looked more decorative but explained that straight sticks could be packed into jars.

‘However, it’s good that you take an interest in what you’re doing. I can see you are going to be a real asset to the business, Colenso,’ he told her.

Now, with his words of praise ringing in her ears, she closed her eyes. She was just planning how she was going to help Garren set out the little shop, when there was a shuffling noise outside. Then came a rap on her door. She sat bolt upright, pulling the shawl around her shoulders. Garren had assured her she wouldn’t be disturbed and she’d thought him genuine, but then he was a man. Recalling the degrading sights of the day before, she shuddered. There came another, more insistent knocking. Well, if he thought she was that kind of woman, he could think again.

Jumping out of bed, she opened the door a tiny crack.

‘Oh,’ she cried when she saw the old man standing there, a bundle in his hands.

‘I’m sorry to bother you, my dear, but I can’t help thinking I was rather rude earlier,’ he said, smiling ruefully.

‘No, you were quite right, Mr Goss. I can’t serve customers looking like a scarecrow. Luckily Garren has offered to loan me an apron,’ she told him.

‘Well, I can do better than that,’ he said, grinning widely as he held out his offering. ‘I bought this for my Meggie’s birthday but she died before … I thought perhaps you could use it,’ he said, thrusting the parcel into her arms before shuffling away.

‘Thank you, Mr Goss,’ she called but he’d already disappeared into the darkness.

Impatient to see what he’d given her, she lit the candle. Pulling back the brown paper she saw a length of material, its vibrant pink reminding her of the thrift that garlanded the cliffs back home. Running her fingers over the soft cloth, she could visualize the dress she would make. Then she remembered the red shoes and delving into her basket brought them out and held them next to the material. They toned perfectly, the bright colours reflecting her excitement. ‘Oh Mara, if you could see me now,’ she whispered. Of course, it could have been coincidence that made the flame flicker, but she knew in her heart that it wasn’t.

Colenso was up bright and early the next morning and, covering her stained clothes with the big white apron, let herself out of her little room. Hearing pans and spoons clattering in the workshop, she let herself straight into the shop. Humming happily, she filled the jars with the sweets, marvelling at all the different types and inhaling their aromas. As well as the bullseyes, barley twists, Nelson’s buttons and the rose rock she was familiar with, there were also confections smelling of acid, peppermint and aniseed, reminding her of the herb Mammwynn used to make a tisane when she’d had a cough. Others were little jewel-like confections, their multi-coloured hues like the stained-glass windows in a church. Taking the filled jars over to the little bay windows on either side of the door, she set about arranging them in a way she hoped would catch the attention of passers-by. She was standing outside, trying to judge the effect, when a smartly dressed woman came out of the adjoining shop.

‘I hope you’re going to clean your frontage,’ she said haughtily. ‘We pride ourselves on keeping our facades pristine, and frankly yours lowers the tone of the place.’ Nodding curtly, she disappeared back inside. And good morning to you too, Colenso thought. Staring down at the ground in front of her, she saw that it was covered in mud and mess. Remembering she’d seen a besom in the yard the previous day, she hurried to retrieve it, and had just finished sweeping the muck into the gutter when Garren appeared in the doorway.

‘I don’t expect you to do that,’ he told her, taking the broom from her. ‘Goodness, that’s a fine display,’ he added, spotting the jars through the window. ‘Looks just like a rainbow. If that doesn’t draw in the customers then I don’t know what will.’

‘Glad you approve,’ she replied,

‘I came to tell you I’ve just made breakfast, so let’s go and eat.’ Before she could reply, he was heading down the side passage and she had no choice other than to follow. Inside the workshop-cum-kitchen the aroma of toast mingling with the smell of oranges and lemons made her mouth water.

‘Got to keep up supplies,’ Garren said, gesturing to the sweets he’d just made. ‘I call them St Clements Drops,’ he added. ‘My speciality is stuffed dates. Popular with the genteel ladies but time-consuming as they need making up every day. Still, got to keep everyone happy. Now, help yourself to toast.’

‘Is your father not joining us?’ Colenso asked, taking a seat at the little table. He handed her a mug of tea then shook his head.

‘Said he had a late night and needed to rest his eyes. I heard him moving about his room, pulling out drawers and muttering to himself long after I’d retired. Goodness knows what he was doing.’

‘I think he might have been looking for the material he brought me. He suggested I make something to wear in the shop.’

‘Don’t tell me he visited your room?’ Garren groaned.

‘Well yes, he said he was worried he might have been a bit rude earlier.’

‘A bit,’ Garren exclaimed then shook his head. ‘I’ll have to have a word with my father about propriety.’

‘Please don’t, he was merely being kind. And he was right, I do need to look decent, although I shall have to wait until I can purchase cotton and scissors. I didn’t bring anything with me.’

‘No, I noticed you were travelling light,’ he grinned. ‘Leave it with me and I’ll see what I can do, although I’m not in a position to advance you any wages.’

‘Good, because I’m not in a position to accept charity,’ she retorted.

‘Father was right, you do have Mother’s bite,’ he grinned. ‘Now, if you’ve finished eating, I think it’s time we opened up,’ he added, getting to his feet. Scooping the sweets he’d made earlier into a jar, he led the way through to the shop.

Although Colenso knew she should be grateful for his generosity, she was fed up with taking things from other people. She couldn’t wait to receive her wages and start paying her way.

‘This is where we keep the cash,’ he said, taking out a little tin box from a drawer under the counter. ‘We start with a £2 float so that we can give change to anyone who requires some. All the prices are written on the labels, as you’ve probably already seen. Now to the scales.’ He picked up one of the little brass weights and set it down on one side, then using a serving scoop, dropped some of the orange and lemon sweets onto the other until they balanced. He then tipped them onto a square of paper, brought up the corners and twisted them together at the top.

‘On the Panam, we used to pop sweets into a cone so that they were all ready to hand over.’

‘I’m sure that was all right for a fair, but you’ll find the customers here like to see their sweets being weighed in front of them. Protocol, I think it’s called. Of course, barley-sugar twists and rock sticks you can sell individually.’

‘Of course,’ she replied, but he had turned away and was frowning at the wall behind the counter.

‘Good grief,’ he murmured, snatching down a black cloth. Immediately the room was flooded with light reflected from the windows. ‘We covered that mirror out of respect when Mother passed, and completely forgot about it. Now, if you’d like to turn the sign around to open, I’ll go and make more sweets.’

‘More?’ she gasped, staring at all the full jars.

‘Got to keep supplies up. Nothing worse than a sweetshop without sweets,’ he grinned. ‘I’ll leave you to it. Call me if you need any help.’

Colenso turned the sign then, with a final check that all the jars were neatly aligned, took herself back behind the counter. As she stepped in front of the mirror, she nearly did a double-take. The woman staring back scarcely resembled the one she remembered. Her eyes sparkled, her skin still bore the tan of a summer spent in the fresh air, while her hair curled softly beneath the green scarf, the golden hoops shining as they caught the light. Why, if it wasn’t for her torn hem and stains on her blouse, she’d look quite presentable, she thought happily.

The ringing of the little bell interrupted her musing and, spinning round, Colenso smiled as an elegant woman in her early twenties entered. She perused the jars before asking: ‘Do you have any of those delectable dates? Mother so adores them.’ The woman’s smile turned to a frown as Colenso tried to remember seeing any.

‘Ah, good morning, Miss Veryan,’ Garren said, appearing from the workshop. ‘I have just this moment finished making them.’

‘That is most opportune,’ she replied, a dazzling smile replacing her frown.

‘As if I would let my favourite customer down, Miss Veryan. Your mother is keeping well, I trust?’

‘If her grumbling is anything to go by, she is hale and hearty,’ the woman replied, with a roll of her eyes. While they exchanged pleasantries, Garren weighed out the dates and wrapped them.

‘Here you are, Miss Veryan. I have added an extra one for yourself,’ he told her.

‘How kind you are, Mr Goss,’ she said, handing him a coin. ‘Good day to you.’ Without a glance in Colenso’s direction, she glided from the shop.

‘Well,’ Colenso muttered.

‘She is a good customer so I often add a little treat. But not for everyone, you understand, or I would soon be out of business,’ he replied, completely missing her point.

The bell jangled and two grubby little boys came in, eyeing Garren hopefully.

‘Got any broken bits, mister?’

‘As a matter of fact, I have,’ he winked. Taking a little bag from behind the counter, he handed it to the older one.

‘Cor, thanks, mister,’ they chorused, almost running out of the shop in their haste to eat their treats.

‘But they didn’t pay,’ Colenso exclaimed.

‘They’re from the orphanage. I collect up the bits from the bottom of the jars each evening so it doesn’t really cost me anything. Now, I’ll leave it to you to make our fortune,’ he grinned and disappeared back to the workshop.

There was a lull during which Colenso carefully placed the dates into a clean jar and put it in the window. She had just returned to her place behind the counter when a harassed-looking woman entered, followed by three young children who immediately ran over to the sweet jars, gazing longingly at the contents.

‘Three barley-sugar sticks,’ the woman said, giving Colenso a weary smile.

‘Aw Mamm, can’t we have some of these?’ the little boy said, gazing longingly at the sugar-glass sweets.

‘No, we wants these,’ the girls chorused, pointing to the Nelson’s buttons.

‘Which is why you’re having a barley stick each,’ she replied. ‘If you’re good you can eat them in the park on the way back.’

‘Do you want them wrapped?’ Colenso asked, unscrewing the lid and counting out the three sticks.

‘No ta, be lucky if they last as far as the park.’ Eager hands grabbed the sweets, and the children immediately began to devour them. ‘See what I mean?’ the woman sighed, proffering her money.

‘Good morning,’ she called, as the little bell rang their departure. Her first sale, she thought, carefully placing the coins in the cash box. It wouldn’t make Garren a fortune, but it was a start.

For the rest of the morning, the little bell hardly stopped jangling and she was rushed off her feet, serving well-heeled ladies and gentlemen stuffed dates, Nelson’s buttons and humbugs. Then came a surge of busy mothers with excited children wanting barley-sugar twists and rock sticks. By the time Garren closed the shop for lunch, the jars were almost empty.

‘Well done,’ he said, grinning as he looked around. ‘While you’ve kept the customers happy in here I’ve had time to make plenty more.’

‘I was surprised how many ladies came in with their children,’ Colenso told him.

‘Pay days are always busy. Mothers call in here after they’ve been to the butcher’s. Sugar is a cheaper way of filling up hungry bellies, which of course they don’t complain about. The women can then feed their men more meat, which keeps them happy too.’

‘Really?’ Colenso asked. How different things were here, she thought, recalling Mammwynn’s fresh herbs and vegetables, fish when the boats could get out or the pilchards showed up, scraps of meat from old Buller in return for a few hours’ help.

‘There is a lot of industrial work around here, which is hard graft, and the men need nutrition to keep them going. Talking of which, I’ve prepared luncheon. Just a bit of bread and ham,’ he said when he saw her expression.

‘This is becoming a habit and I can’t keep eating your food,’ she replied, taking her place at the table.

‘Board and room is part of the deal, remember? However, I gather from your earlier comment that you find it awkward accepting things, whether it be material or human assistance. But perhaps you could look at it from my point of view. I can’t be in two places at once, and whilst you’ve been serving the customers, I’ve been able to make more sweets than I have since Mother died. As you’ve gathered, Father tries but he’s really too old to be of much use.’

‘I know, but it was kind of him to give me that material.’

‘It was. However, he has no idea that dresses take time to make and he will expect you to be wearing the new one when he next sees you.’

‘What …’ she began, but he held up his hand to stop her.

‘I know, these things don’t happen just like that,’ he said, snapping his fingers. ‘And you’re probably waiting until you get paid to purchase things like thread and buttons or whatnot.’ She stared at him, surprised a man would know about such matters. ‘Mother made all our clothes, which is why I was going to ask if you would like to look through her sewing drawer and see if you can make use of anything – and before you protest again, you really do need to look the part of a smart shopkeeper. I believe you met Miss Chenoweth from the shop next door.’

‘Oh yes, she commented on the state of the pavement.’

‘And later she saw fit to comment on the state of your dress. She prides herself on running an upper-class establishment and expects everyone else around here to conform to her standards. I wouldn’t mention it other than she implied you would be letting the street down if you continued looking like a … well, dressed like that.’

‘And we can’t have that, can we?’ Colenso retorted. ‘In order to save embarrassment all round, I would be pleased to look through your mother’s sewing drawer, provided you deduct the cost of anything I use from my wages.’ He gazed at her intently, a smile hovering on his lips. ‘You think that funny, Mr Goss?’

‘Actually, Miss Carne, I am impressed by your integrity. Most of the women I know would be only too pleased to be handed things on a plate.’

‘Well, I am not most women,’ she retorted.

‘Indeed, you are not,’ he replied quietly, and Colenso saw the spark of admiration in his eyes. Having been rejected by Kitto, it was solace to her soul.