by Lesley Eames
‘I’ll admit I didn’t expect this,’ Artie said. ‘But I love Celia so how could I be less than delighted? I’m not going to allow her to throw herself into marriage with me, though. She needs time to be sure she’s made the right decision.’
‘You can’t be considering—’
‘Living with her unwed? Of course not. If she changed her mind about me, her reputation would be in tatters. No, I’m going to find respectable lodgings for her. I’ll start looking tomorrow, but for tonight…’
‘She can stay here,’ Lily confirmed.
Artie squeezed her hand. ‘Always the most generous sister.’
‘You’ll still be able to set up in business with Mr Melling?’
His face sobered. ‘I don’t know yet. Celia only has ten shillings in her purse. Naturally, I’m glad to support her but it’s bound to take a toll on my savings. I may need to look for a different job.’
‘Oh, Artie.’
‘A man can’t have everything he wants, and knowing Celia loves me will make up for any disappointment over the business.’
He smiled but Lily could see that it would cost him a real pang to let the business idea drop. And what if Celia decided she didn’t like what her parents had called a mean, sorry little life? Artie’s money would have gone and his dreams with it.
‘Celia can sleep in my bed,’ Lily said. ‘I’ll make up a bed for me on the floor.’
‘That won’t be comfortable for you, Lil.’
‘It’ll be fine. I can lie on cushions.’
‘Will you come and speak to Celia?’
‘Of course.’
Celia got up when Lily entered the tea room. ‘It’s good of you to help me,’ she said, calmer now though her lovely face was still ravaged by all the tears. ‘I went to Artie’s lodgings first but his landlady told me he wasn’t in. She wouldn’t allow me to wait for him inside so I came here. I hope you—’
She broke off at the sound of movement in the shop below. Elsie and Phyllis came upstairs. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Phyllis said. ‘We brought some soup.’ She was holding a covered pot.
‘Thank you,’ Lily told her. ‘Celia is staying here tonight.’
‘How nice,’ Phyllis said, though Lily could see she was concerned.
‘Celia can have my bed,’ Elsie offered. ‘I can sleep next door so—’
‘No, you can’t,’ Phyllis vetoed firmly.
‘I can sleep in Luke’s room.’
‘You’re not staying by yourself under the same roof as Pierre and that’s that.’
Elsie rolled her eyes.
‘Celia is having my bed. I’ll sleep on the floor,’ Lily explained.
‘It sounds mad to me when there’s a perfectly good bed lying empty next door but what do I know?’ Elsie asked. ‘At least I can go next door to borrow bedding.’
She returned with blankets, sheets and pillows. Phyllis warmed and served the soup then both girls withdrew upstairs.
Lily, Artie and Celia ate quietly. Shy but happy looks passed between Artie and Celia. Lily wished she could shake off the fear that the happiness wouldn’t last.
It had been a sad and exhausting day so Artie left soon afterwards. ‘I’ll be back in the morning,’ he said.
Lily went upstairs to prepare her makeshift bed and give them a chance to say a private goodbye.
The following morning Lily was carrying freshly baked bread and tarts up to the tea room when Celia appeared. The golden hair had been arranged with care but otherwise Celia looked subdued. Wary even.
‘I hope you got some sleep,’ Lily said.
‘Plenty, thank you.’
Barely able to sleep herself, Lily had lain awake listening to Celia’s soft breathing. ‘Now, what would you like for breakfast?’ Lily asked. ‘Mornings are busy here but we try to snatch a few minutes before we open to eat something. Nothing grand, I’m afraid. Just bread and cheese, toast or porridge.’
‘A little bread and cheese will be perfectly satisfactory, thank you. Perhaps with a cup of tea?’
Reaching the serving room, Lily put the tray of bread down and poured tea for Celia from the pot that she’d already filled.
‘Potatoes!’ Phyllis announced, entering with a basket of them.
She was followed by Frankie who’d brought up a big pot of soup that had been made in the kitchen that morning.
Celia darted out of his way.
Frankie gaped at her, doubtless thinking her lovely, then roused himself and returned to the bakery kitchen.
‘Feel free to sit in the tea room,’ Lily told her.
Celia duly moved away so Lily could get on with the morning’s preparations. As soon as she had a moment free Lily prepared slices of bread and cheese for Celia and herself and took them into the tea room where Celia was sitting at a window table. ‘Do you have plans for the day?’ Lily asked, joining her.
‘Artie is taking me to look for lodgings then I need to go shopping. I didn’t manage to pack anything from home.’
‘We’ll be open all day if you need to come back.’
‘Thank you.’
Lily bolted her food and got back to work having told Celia she had no need to rush her meal.
‘Has she offered to help?’ Phyllis asked.
Lily gave her a cynical look.
‘Quite the spoiled little madam, isn’t she?’
‘She loves Artie. That’s a point in her favour,’ Lily reasoned, but hours later she was appalled when Celia returned carrying several bags and a hat box. Two of the bags bore the Selfridges name. How much of Artie’s money had she spent?
‘Artie’s gone to see that man who works for my father,’ Celia reported. ‘We found lodgings for me not far from here. It’s a plain sort of place but it’s only temporary and I’m treating it as an adventure. Tell me what you think of this hat.’
Celia took it out of the box and put it on. The hat was straw-coloured and decorated with cream flowers. ‘You don’t like it?’ she asked.
‘No, it’s lovely. It’s just… Excuse me. Those customers need serving. Do sit down, Celia. I’ll bring you some tea.’
Celia sat but looked deflated. Would she complain to Artie that Lily had been unkind?
Artie gave no sign of having heard a complaint when he called in to collect Celia later though perhaps she’d save her grumbling for when they were alone. ‘How was your meeting with Mr Melling?’ Lily asked
‘We haven’t cancelled our plans yet, but I’ve warned him that my circumstances have changed. Thanks again for all you’ve done for Celia.’
Lily hugged him, placed a dutiful kiss on Celia’s soft cheek and waved them off.
It wasn’t until she was getting ready to sleep in her own bed again that Lily remembered the envelope Marion’s solicitor had given her. With all that had happened since then, it had slipped her mind. Lily opened it, expecting nothing more than a note confirming Marion’s gifts of the Bible and ring but was surprised to find two letters inside. One of them bore Marion’s careful handwriting so Lily began to read that one first.
Moments later she gasped.
THIRTY-SIX
Lily chose to keep Marion’s letter to herself for the time being. Deciding what to do about it would require careful thought and Lily wanted neither to rush into a decision nor confuse herself with the opinions of her friends, however well meant they might be.
When morning came she went about the business of getting the tea room ready as usual, trying to clear her head by thinking of pleasant things. After all, amid all the uncertainty and worry there was much to appreciate. The tea shop was doing well, Phyllis and Michael’s wedding was approaching swiftly, and Elsie and Pierre were blissfully happy.
Elsie soon brought more good news. ‘I’ve got it!’ she yelled, pounding up the stairs.
‘Got what?’ Phyllis asked, coming after her.
‘My ring, of course. A messenger just delivered it from the jeweller. Look. Isn’t it the most beautiful ring you ever saw?’
‘We would,’ Lily and Phyllis told her.
‘It’s a lovely ring,’ Lily said.
‘Gorgeous,’ Phyllis agreed.
Elsie walked over the window to see how the stones sparkled in the daylight.
‘Are there no customers in the chocolate shop today?’ Lily asked, winking at Phyllis.
‘Pierre can look after them.’
‘If you leave him with all the work, he might decide he wants his ring back,’ Phyllis suggested.
‘Tough. He can’t have it. Anyway, I’m his fiancée now. He should be falling at my feet in gratitude. I’d better go and show Mr B and Frankie the ring or they’ll be wondering what all the fuss is about.’ Still holding her hand aloft, Elsie floated out of the room, murmuring to herself as she went. ‘Me, a fiancée!’
Phyllis shook her head, smiling, then went down to the shop. Alone in the tea room Lily refused to contrast Elsie’s happiness with her own uncertainty over Luke and Artie. She was thrilled for Elsie.
Customers came and went, keeping Lily busy all day long. Even so she couldn’t stop her thoughts from returning to Marion’s letter occasionally. She’d read it so many times last night that she knew the words by heart.
Dearest Lily,
I’m writing this while I’m still able to hold a pen because I suspect my remaining days on earth will be few. By the time you receive this letter they’ll have passed but I don’t want you to grieve for me. Neither Hilda nor I had the knack of making friends but we were blessed when you came into our lives because you opened up a whole new world of interest to us. We love you and we’re proud of you, and if we can help you on your way through life then we wish to do so.
This brings me to the purpose of this letter because it isn’t just to thank you for your friendship. I hope to do that in person before I’m recalled to my Maker. It’s to explain why Hilda and I are leaving everything we own to you. It doesn’t amount to a fortune – mostly it’s the house in Hastings – but it’s yours. Mr Percival will sell the house and you can do as you choose with the proceeds. We wish you well, Lily. You’re the daughter of our hearts if not our bodies and we love you.
Marion x
How amazingly kind of the sisters! Whatever she did with the money, Lily would be eternally grateful for their generosity.
Mr Percival’s letter had confirmed that she was to inherit the entire estate and asked for instructions on whether the house and contents should be sold immediately. Lily had written back to ask him to delay a sale until she’d had a chance to decide which of the contents she might keep. She’d sent the letter this morning, snatching a moment to run to the post box across the street.
If Artie and Celia were to set up home together, they might be in need of the furniture as well as the pots and pans. Could Celia even cook, though? If not, she’d just have to learn.
The tea shop was closing when Lily was startled to realise Celia was hovering by the door. ‘Sorry,’ Celia said. ‘I didn’t mean to make you jump.’
‘You took me by surprise, that’s all, but come in. Sit down.’
‘I don’t want to get in your way but I do have something to say to you.’
‘Oh?’ Had she given up on Artie already?
‘Can you spare me five minutes?’
‘Of course.’
Lily put the tray down, sat at a clean table and gestured to Celia to join her. ‘How can I help?’
‘I want you to know I took most of the things I bought yesterday back to the shops.’
Lily hadn’t expected that.
‘You looked dismayed when you saw them and I gradually realised why. I was extravagant and Artie can’t afford extravagance. I bought cheaper things instead and not many of those. I know I need to be more careful in future, especially if Artie is to set up in business with Mr Melling. I don’t want his dreams to change because I’ve been impulsive.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘I may not be used to economy but I’ll train myself. Artie is worth the sacrifice.’
Clearly, there was more to Celia than Lily had thought. She should have trusted Artie’s judgement all along.
‘I know you don’t like me much, but I really do want to make Artie happy,’ Celia said. ‘Oh, you don’t need to deny it,’ she added, as Lily opened her mouth to reply, ‘I’ve been horribly spoilt and selfish, and I know I’ve been a snob so I don’t blame you for not liking me. I hope you’ll give me a second chance, though. For Artie’s sake, if not for mine.’
‘Of course I will,’ Lily said, smiling. ‘Make Artie happy and I might even come to love you.’
She was even more surprised when tears glistened in Celia’s eyes. ‘I’ll certainly try. Well, I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you any longer.’
They walked to the door together. ‘Goodbye,’ Celia said, offering to shake hands.
‘Oh, come here.’ Lily drew Celia closer and kissed her cheek.
It was a weight off Lily’s mind to know that Celia was neither shallow nor superior. It meant Artie had every hope of being happy. Phyllis, Elsie and now Artie happy. Which only left Lily. But she wasn’t going to brood on that.
By the time she went to bed three possibilities had occurred to her about how she might use her inheritance:
She could look into buying the bakery and tea room from Mr Bax. He might be willing to let her pay the balance in instalments over time if she didn’t have enough to pay him the total value all at once though she’d have to be careful not to embarrass him if he needed payment in full in order to house himself and his sisters. She also needed to decide if she could bear living next to Luke.
She could set up a tea room of her own in a place where property was cheaper. Perhaps even in Hastings. That would take her away from Luke but would mean leaving her other friends behind. Artie and Celia too.
She could use the money to help Artie in his business. His savings wouldn’t last forever, especially now he had Celia to maintain, and Lily’s money might be the difference between the business succeeding or failing, particularly if it took some time to find clients.
To help her own dreams or to help Artie’s? It was a terrible dilemma and Lily needed time to think her options through.
*
Rain threatened on the day of Phyllis and Michael’s wedding but nothing could dampen the joy of the occasion. Phyllis wore a simple white dress that Michael’s mother had made together with the veil and wax-flowered headdress Mrs Picton had worn at her own wedding.
Michael wore his best suit with a carnation pinned to the lapel. Frankie had bought a suit for the occasion too as he was to be his brother’s best man. He looked smart but endearingly bashful.
The number of guests was small – just Michael’s family and a handful of friends – but a warmer-hearted group of people would have been impossible to find. After the ceremony they walked to the upper room of the George Tavern for a modest but welcome meal. ‘I want you all to be able to sit down and enjoy the day as guests,’ Phyllis had said.
She had, however, accepted a cake, baked by Mr Bax and decorated with Pierre’s help. It was a beautiful creation.
They all waved Phyllis and Michael off on a three-night honeymoon in a Brighton guest house then said their goodbyes.
Mr Bax and his sisters settled into taxis. So did Michael’s family. Lily, Artie and Celia walked home with Elsie and Pierre walking behind them, bickering in the old good-natured way about what they wanted at their wedding.
‘The best pastries for pudding,’ Pierre suggested.
‘I want trifle.’
‘But—’
‘You’re in England now. That means trifle.’
‘The English eat pastries too.’
‘But they prefer trifle.’
They reached the chocolate shop. ‘I’m
going to sit with Pierre for a while,’ Elsie announced.
‘And I’m going to walk Celia home,’ Artie said.
Celia looked as though she wanted to come into the tea room to talk. ‘You don’t need to rush off for my sake,’ Lily said.
Celia hesitated, glanced at Artie then said, ‘It’s been a long day. Perhaps we’d better get on.’
‘Goodnight, then,’ Lily said.
She assumed Artie wanted to spend time alone with Celia, perhaps to talk about the wedding they’d have when they were in a position to marry, but Lily was curious about why Celia had wanted to stay.
Elsie arrived home half an hour later. ‘Lovely wedding,’ she declared, ‘and who’d have guessed Celia would turn out to be human?’
‘She’s proved me wrong about her but I’m glad,’ Lily said.
Luke had been right to advise caution.
Luke. The thought of him made Lily’s heart feel hopelessly raw. But life went on.
The next morning brought Celia back to the tea room. She looked unsure of herself. ‘I hope I won’t embarrass you by asking,’ she began, then trailed off.
‘Asking me what?’ Lily prompted.
‘It occurred to me that you must be short-staffed with Phyllis away on honeymoon.’
‘Frankie is going to work in the shop but yes, it’s going to be a challenge.’
‘Might I help?’
Another surprise.
‘Sorry,’ Celia said, turning away. ‘I shouldn’t have asked. I won’t—’
‘Don’t go! If you really want to help, I’ll accept the offer gladly.’
‘You don’t need to pay me. I just want the experience because it might help me to get a job somewhere else. It isn’t right that Artie should be paying for my lodgings. I’d like to earn enough to pay for them myself so Artie can use his money for the business.’
Lily found an apron and cap for Celia then set her to work preparing tables. She was slow and clearly not yet at ease serving customers, but Lily could see that she was trying hard. Doubtless she’d soon loosen up, and quicken up too.