The Sea Shell Girl

by Linda Finlay

  ‘One set of cutlery for each course,’ replied Freckles, laughing at Merry’s obvious disbelief.

  ‘There’s nothing to it,’ Prunella assured her. ‘You just work from the outside in.’

  ‘So what will you wear? You can hardly go to a swanky place in your Sunday threads, can you?’ Freckles pointed out. Merry shook her head and stared around the room as if seeking inspiration.

  ‘You may borrow my new bonnet and mantle,’ Prunella offered.

  ‘And I can put your hair up in that new style. I know, let’s have a dress rehearsal on Saturday night after work,’ Freckles said excitedly.

  Merry smiled gratefully at her friends. What had she been thinking by accepting Lieutenant Meredith’s invitation?

  For the rest of the week as Merry went about her work, her emotions fluctuated from the giddy desire to see him again to nerves at how she should conduct herself. Would she be permitted to keep Prunella’s mantle on during the meal? Even if she’d had the money to purchase new fabric, there was no time to make a replacement for her best dress. And what would she talk about? A lieutenant such as he would hardly be interested in hearing about the daily routine of the store. Round and round the questions rolled in her head until she thought it would burst.

  When the store finally closed its doors on Saturday night, Freckles led her excitedly upstairs to their room.

  ‘Well, how do I look?’ she asked some fifteen minutes later as she twirled in front of the candle.

  ‘She looks a dolly dazzler in your bonnet and mantle, doesn’t she, Prunella?’ Freckles declared.

  Prunella looked unsure but as she opened her mouth to say something, there was a sharp rap on the door and Mrs Stitches bustled into the room.

  ‘I’ve managed to get this finished,’ she puffed, holding out something in rose-pink material. ‘Mind you, it was touch and go whether I’d get it done in time. That Miss Meredith sent me a commu … communi … a note asking me to turn one of the lengths of silk into a blouse for you, Miss Dyer. Said as it suited her so well she knew it would be perfect for you and she wanted to thank you for finding her necklace.’

  Merry stared at the woman in surprise. ‘This is for me?’ she asked.

  ‘That’s what I said, dear. Worked all day to get it finished, I have, not that she said anything about you needing it for tomorrow, but I guessed you’d want to look your best.’

  ‘But how did you know my size?’ Merry frowned.

  ‘That Miss Meredith said to make it up the same as hers. Well, I’d best be off or the old man will be back from the alehouse and wondering where his supper is.’

  As the door closed behind her, Merry continued staring at the blouse in bemusement.

  ‘That must have cost a bit,’ Freckles whistled. ‘Well, hurry up and pop it over your dress, then you can put the mantle on top.’ Merry did as they suggested, then stood back for them to see.

  ‘That’s much better. The pink blouse makes all the difference, doesn’t it, Pru?’ Freckles pronounced.

  ‘Yes, you look all soft and womanly now,’ Prunella agreed.

  ‘And it hides those straining seams,’ Freckles chortled. ‘Now, you’d better get some beauty sleep or you’ll have bags like saucers under your eyes by the time his nibs arrives.’

  Promptly at noon Lieutenant Meredith’s brougham pulled up outside the store. As Merry approached, the driver opened the door and let down the step for her. If only her mother could see her being treated in such style, she thought.

  ‘How lovely it is to see you again, Miss Dyer.’

  ‘And you, Lieutenant Meredith,’ she replied, settling herself on the leather squab.

  ‘Please call me Carey. We can hardly dine together whilst being so formal. May I be so bold as to call you Merryn?’

  She nodded. ‘My friends call me Merry.’

  ‘Delightful, and it rather captures your sunny nature. However, Merryn is a pretty name and you’re a pretty girl so I shall call you that,’ he replied. As his aquamarine eyes gazed at her admiringly, she felt the heat of a blush creep over her cheeks. Flustered, she looked out of the window and was pleased when he called to the driver to drive on.

  The atmosphere inside the carriage was so highly charged she barely noticed the passing scenery. It was only when Carey began pointing out various landmarks that she relaxed enough to look at him again. Now he was gesturing towards a large ship with smoking funnels and tall masts that towered over the buildings in the distance.

  ‘That’s the transatlantic Royal Mailboat anchored offshore.’

  ‘Why does it have to wait out there?’

  ‘It is simply too big to enter the inner harbour,’ he said.

  They rounded a corner, and an imposing limestone building with towering chimneys and a turret at one corner appeared in view. ‘Our destination,’ he proudly announced.

  She blinked in amazement. Were they really going in there?

  No sooner had the driver pulled to a halt than a uniformed porter hurried over to greet them. He led them up three steps and through the revolving doors, where another uniformed man stepped forward to greet them.

  ‘May I take your mantle to the cloakroom for you, madam?’

  ‘Oh, yes, thank you,’ she said, fumbling for the clasp. Smiling, Carey leaned forward to help and she caught a whiff of his spicy cologne, felt the warmth of his touch through the thin material of her blouse. Quickly she smoothed down the folds of her dress, glimpsing her clumpy black shoes in the process. Hopefully nobody would notice, she thought as a well-dressed woman wearing elegant jewel-encrusted slippers passed by.

  ‘Allow me to show you through to the lounge,’ the man said, leading the way along a burgundy-carpeted corridor.

  ‘May I get you some drinks, sir?’ he asked as they took their seats in the comfortable lounge overlooking the water.

  ‘As we are celebrating I think we will have a bottle of elderflower champagne at the table, if that’s all right with you, Merryn?’ Carey asked, looking to her for confirmation. Champagne? Goodness, she thought, accepting the embossed leather-covered menu the waiter handed her. She almost gasped in dismay when she saw the numerous dishes listed.

  ‘I can recommend the venison pâté with melba toast, followed by the turbot,’ Carey suggested. ‘And I’m told the roast sirloin is particularly good here, unless you would prefer to select from the à la carte menu, of course?’

  She shook her head in disbelief that there was even more choice.

  ‘Whatever you suggest will be fine,’ she replied, thinking that no matter how delicious it was, she’d never manage half of it anyway. Although the blouse covered the upper part of her dress, she was still mindful of the straining seams across her hips. The man finished noting down their order and moved away.

  ‘What a delightful view,’ she said, looking out over the harbour to Plymouth Sound and the Breakwater beyond.

  ‘I see we share a love of the sea,’ he said. ‘My sister did let slip that you hail from Porthsallos, which is a fishing village, I believe,’ he enquired, looking at her as if her answer really mattered.

  ‘Yes, it is, and the pilchards have been plentiful this year providing plenty of work.’

  ‘Your father is a fisherman?’

  ‘My father died before I was born,’ she said quietly.

  ‘I am sorry; that was clumsy of me,’ he replied, looking upset.

  ‘You weren’t to know. I lived with my mother, Karenza, and Grozen before coming to Plymouth.’ He quirked a brow and she told him how she’d come to call her grandmother by that name.

  ‘She can be a bit formidable but is as soft as silk underneath. Mother’s easy-going – as long as you tell the truth, that is. She has a right thing about honesty.’

  ‘Good for her,’ he applauded. ‘The world would be a better place if more were like her.’

  Their conversation was halted by the arrival of a smart black-suited gentleman with a white bow tie.

  ‘Your table is ready, si
r,’ he announced, giving a little bow.

  They followed him into a bright, airy room, where a silver-haired man in a white jacket was playing a piano softly in the corner, and were shown to a table for two in the bay of the window. Merry couldn’t believe it when her chair was pulled out for her and a snowy white napkin was placed on her lap. She watched in fascination as the man took a bottle from a cooler beside the table, gently eased the cork from the bottle, then poured the fizzing liquid into their glasses. Only then did she notice the array of shiny cutlery and other crystal glasses set in front of her.

  ‘I would like to propose a toast,’ Carey said, breaking into her thoughts as he raised his glass. ‘Here’s to your honesty, Merryn, and to a lovely lunch in elegant company.’ He chinked his glass against hers.

  ‘I do believe that is two toasts,’ she replied, to cover her awkwardness.

  ‘Then we shall have to chink again,’ he grinned. ‘And partake of another glass of bubbly, I think.’

  ‘Oh, no, this will be enough for me,’ she replied, quickly covering the glass with her hand.

  Their hors d’oeuvres arrived and as he carefully spread the pâté, she watched and followed suit.

  ‘This is delicious,’ she said, trying not to shower crumbs on the snowy cloth.

  ‘So tell me, if you were happy at home what made you leave?’ he enquired.

  She hesitated, but the way he had of looking at her as though what she had to say mattered, encouraged her to open up.

  ‘I’ve always had this desire to forge my own way in life, see something outside Porthsallos. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely place, but all my friends think the be-all and end-all to life is marrying and having children.’

  ‘And you don’t want that?’ he enquired.

  ‘Not for years, if ever. It seems like a life sentence of drudgery to me,’ she said with feeling. ‘I have been given this opportunity to fulfil my dream and I intend to work hard and make the most of it.’

  ‘Goodness, you sound like Queen Victoria. She believes women should have the chance to fulfil themselves,’ he quipped, his lips curling into a smile.

  ‘Then it’s up to us to make sure we do.’ Her reply came out more sharply than she’d intended for it was important he understood.

  CHAPTER 25

  There was silence for a moment and Merry wondered if she’d overstepped the mark, but then their fish course arrived and Carey turned his attention to eating. Again she watched which cutlery he selected, then followed suit. Prunella had been right when she said to work from the outside in, she thought.

  As they ate their way steadily through the meal, Carey turned the conversation to lighter subjects, which enabled Merry to relax and enjoy the delicious food. She ate far more than she would ever have imagined possible and hoped the seams on her skirt would hold.

  ‘Shall we have our coffee in the lounge?’ he suggested, placing his napkin on the table.

  He waited until she’d settled herself once more in the comfy chair and then asked about her job in the store.

  ‘I’m sure a man like you wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in the day-to-day running of a high-street draper’s,’ she exclaimed.

  ‘A man like me?’ he asked, quirking his brow in the way she’d come to recognize.

  ‘Yes, a lieutenant in the navy. You must be a very clever man to have a job like that.’

  To her surprise, he threw back his head and laughed.

  ‘It’s not as glamorous as you imagine, I’m afraid,’ he said, waving his hand dismissively. ‘Actually, Merryn, we have quite a lot in common, if you think about it.’

  ‘We do?’ she frowned. ‘I don’t see how.’

  ‘We both have to wear uniform, obey instructions, deal with the day-to-day minutiae of the running of things, albeit you in a store and me on a ship,’ he explained, looking so earnest it was her turn to laugh.

  ‘But I’m only a trainee assistant. I don’t run the store.’

  ‘Nor I my ship. So you see, Miss Dyer, we do have quite a lot of things in common. And talking of obeying orders,’ he said, taking out his pocket watch and grimacing, ‘I promised Mr Fairbright to have you back at the store by five o’clock so we’d better be making tracks.’ He signalled to the maître d’hôtel.

  Outside, the carriage was pulled up alongside the steps and once again, as he helped her inside, Merry’s skin tingled from his touch. To cover her confusion, she stared out of the window. It was already beginning to grow dark and candles and gaslamps shone out from windows as they passed. Suddenly she became aware of his gaze upon her.

  ‘I still can’t get over the likeness between you and Saphira. Although, if I may be so bold, I feel bound to say you are far prettier,’ he murmured.

  ‘Oh, hardly,’ she demurred, certain he must be mocking.

  ‘I mean it, Merryn. Fond as I am of Saphira, she can be something of a minx and I find your company more stimulating.’

  ‘Oh?’ she asked, staring at him for any sign he was teasing. ‘You will miss her when she embarks on her travels, I am sure.’

  ‘I shall indeed. However, it would be more than my life’s worth to let her know that,’ he grinned.

  ‘It must be nice to have a sister,’ she said, as they made their way ever closer to the store.

  ‘Yes, but Saphira can be quite a handful.’ She was about to ask him about his parents and if he had any other siblings when the carriage drew to a halt.

  ‘Goodness, we’re back at the store already,’ she said, staring out of the window in surprise.

  ‘I have enjoyed this afternoon enormously, Merryn, and do hope we may meet again,’ he said.

  ‘I’d like that,’ she replied, her heart flipping. ‘Thank you so much for the delicious meal.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ He helped her down from the carriage. It didn’t move away, though, and as she made her way round to the staff entrance she could feel his eyes burning into her back.

  Her heart still fizzing, she opened the door and made for the stairs. All she wanted was to steal up to her room and reflect on the wonderful time she’d had.

  ‘So there you are,’ Mrs Smale called from the hallway.

  It was as if she’d been lying in wait, Merry thought, her heart flopping. However, she pinned a smile on her face.

  ‘Yes, here I am, Mrs Smale,’ she called brightly. ‘Lieutenant Meredith ensured he got me back on time.’

  ‘Pah, I don’t know why you’re looking like so pleased with yourself. He merely used getting his precious family necklace back as an excuse, an opening, if you like. Men like that only take the likes of you shop girls out for one reason,’ she spat. Then her eyes narrowed. ‘You look extremely flushed, Miss Dyer. Have you been imbibing alcohol?’

  ‘I had only one small glass of elderflower champagne,’ Merry replied.

  ‘And that is one glass too many. It is strictly against the rules of your indenture, Miss Dyer.’

  ‘Whatever are you doing here on a Sunday afternoon, Mrs Smale?’ Mr Fairbright said, peering over the banister.

  ‘I had things to attend to, Mr Fairbright,’ she replied. ‘Have you seen that shop display?’

  ‘Indeed I have. A great improvement, if I might be so bold as to say, and the window is looking much more in keeping with the changing season. It is already feeling much colder, don’t you think?’

  ‘Oh …’ the manageress stuttered. ‘Well, I’m pleased you like it. Of course, I do pride myself on my displays,’ she gushed. As she stood there preening like a puffed-up peacock, Merry wanted to point out that it was Mrs Winter who was responsible for the change; then she saw the twinkle in Mr Fairbright’s eye and realized he knew all along.

  ‘Did you have a nice afternoon, my dear?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, thank you, Mr Fairbright,’ she answered.

  Mrs Smale opened her mouth to speak but Mr Fairbright beat her to it.

  ‘Good. I see Meredith kept his word and brought you back on the dot of five o’clo
ck. It is most conscientious of you to see your staff return safely home, Mrs Smale,’ he added.

  ‘Oh, yes, well, of course that is another thing I pride myself on,’ the manageress gushed.

  ‘Good, good. Well, you get off home now for I am sure Mrs Rose will be waiting for you. How is she getting on in her new position?’ he enquired.

  ‘She is much happier as companion to Mrs Crawford, thank you, and most grateful for your recommendation.’

  Mr Fairbright beamed. ‘Well, it seems everything worked out then. I did feel Mrs Rose’s caring nature would be more suited there. Now I really must insist you go home, Mrs Smale, and I’m sure Miss Dyer has things to attend to before the store reopens tomorrow. Good evening, ladies.’

  As the manageress stood gaping after him, Merry stifled a grin and took the opportunity to run up the back stairs to the little room in the attic. For once she was relieved the others were out, for she wanted to think back over her wonderful afternoon with Carey. Despite the early hour, she undressed quickly, clambered into bed and closed her eyes.

  Immediately she saw his aquamarine eyes staring into hers and, recalling the heat of his touch as he’d helped her on with her mantle, she sighed contentedly. The way he’d gazed at her as if she was the only woman in the room, listened attentively to all she said, responding with his dry sense of humour and self-deprecation – why, he’d made her feel as if she was someone important. She couldn’t help comparing that to Nicco’s high-handed manner and the way he dismissed her opinions as being of little worth. There was no doubt about it: Carey Meredith, with his quiet intelligence and easy good manners, had drawn her in. Then she remembered what Mrs Smale had said and her heart plummeted. He probably had just been kind, taking her out as a reward for finding the necklace, and it was hardly likely she’d hear from him again.

  She must have fallen asleep for the next thing she knew, Freckles was tugging at her bedclothes.

  ‘Come on, Merry, it’s time to get up. We are dying to hear all about your assignation with the dashing lieutenant.’

  ‘Hmm,’ she murmured, the thought of him immediately conjuring up his easy smile …