The Sweethearts Collection. Pam Jenoff

holding up lengths of thread knotted at the top.

      ‘They’re mine,’ Colenso replied, snatching them up.

      ‘But what are they for?’

      ‘To mark the days until Kitto returns.’ She didn’t add that it was only the removal of one each night that kept her going through the long weeks.

      ‘Seeing that nice Mr Fenton is more important than worrying about when your friend’s coming back.’ As eyes similar to her own stared accusingly at her, Colenso shook her head.

      ‘No, Mamm, you’ve got it the wrong way round. Kitto is more important than Fenton. He’ll be back for the Cuckoo Fest at the beginning of May and I intend going to it with him.’ There was a heavy silence then Caja let out a heavy sigh.

      ‘You’ll not get another chance to make a better life for yourself. Your father’s already pointed out the benefits of marrying nice Mr Fenton.’

      ‘But he’s not nice,’ Colenso protested. ‘He’s old, smells and has hands like a ferret.’

      ‘That’s not much to contend with when you can have a fine house, servants and no money worries. Besides, we’re relying on you to get us away from this place,’ Caja said, looking around the room with disdain. ‘What can Kitto offer you in comparison?’

      ‘Love and kindness for a start, but married to Father, you wouldn’t understand attributes like that,’ she cried.

      ‘Believe it or not your father had his moments. Shame that’s all they were,’ Caja sighed. She reached out and grasped Colenso’s hands. ‘But they don’t pay the bills, do they? You won’t get another chance like this.’

      ‘Aren’t you presuming an awful lot? Fenton hasn’t even mentioned marriage yet.’

      ‘No, but he will. And when he does, maid, best you accept. You’ve all the romantic notions a young girl has of marriage, but believe me, real life’s not like that. None of my patients can afford to settle their bills so we’ve not got the money to pay the quarter’s rent. We’re relying on you.’

      Colenso stared helplessly at her mamm. She was well and truly trapped, the silk thread slowly but surely being wound ever tighter.

Chapter 12

      Despite the lavish meal, Colenso was unable to eat a thing. She’d been seated directly opposite the Ferret and each time he raised his fork to his mouth he gazed intently at her chest. Thank heavens she’d kept the spider-gauze overlay on her blouse. She winced as her father tucked into his food like a pig at a trough, while her mamm simpered down the table at Fenton.

      ‘Nice bit of beef this, Mr Fenton, sir,’ Peder said, looking longingly at the remains of the roasted meat on the silver carver.

      ‘Do help yourself to more,’ Fenton offered, looking aghast as the man speared the leftover joint with the carving fork and popped the whole thing onto his plate before helping himself to the last of the crispy potatoes.

      ‘Tasty,’ Peder grinned through a mouthful of food. Colenso looked away in disgust. Really there was nothing to choose between the two men, she thought. Both were swine out to sate their differing appetites. Feeling the Ferret’s eyes on her again, she stared boldly at him.

      ‘Is something wrong, Mr Fenton?’ she asked. He raised his eyes.

      ‘Far from it,’ he smiled. ‘I was merely thinking that a gold necklace would look more becoming than that heavy star thing you always wear.’

      ‘It belonged to my grandmother and is the dearest thing I have,’ she cried, her fingers automatically reaching up to touch it. His gaze followed her move and she quickly put her hands in her lap.

      ‘I would be delighted to buy you something more, er, delicate and dearer,’ he replied, deliberately choosing to misunderstand.

      ‘Very kind, Mr Fenton, sir,’ Peder said quickly.

      ‘But I don’t …’

      ‘That’s very generous of Mr, er … Henry, isn’t it, Colenso?’ Caja said, shooting her a warning look before turning back to him. ‘Our Colenso’s made a fine job of your drapes and covers.’

      ‘I would expect no less,’ he replied.

      ‘You’ll find an invoice with them,’ Colenso told him. ‘I had to purchase tape and thread and of course there was my time.’ Taking no notice of her mamm’s sharp intake of breath, she continued. ‘I’m sure you will agree that I have now more than repaid your debt?’ He raised his brows but chose to ignore her question.

      ‘I expect your cooking is far superior to the humble fare we’ve just eaten.’

      ‘But I was …’ she began, seeking an answer to her question.

      ‘Cooks lovely, she does,’ Caja interrupted. ‘Would be the perfect hostess too,’ she said.

      ‘I’m sure she would,’ Fenton agreed. ‘Now if you’ve had enough to eat,’ he said, looking pointedly at Peder’s plate before smiling at Caja and Colenso. ‘Perhaps you ladies would like to adjourn to the parlour and I’ll get Mrs Grim to bring some tea. Mr Carne, if you would like to join me for a port or brandy, there is something I wish to discuss with you.’ Her father beamed knowingly at Colenso and her spirits plummeted.

      ‘Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Off you go, women,’ he said, shooing them away like dogs. Charming, Colenso thought, although she was only too pleased to escape the confines of the dining hall.

      ‘This is a lovely room, isn’t it?’ Caja enthused. ‘Although it will look a lot better when those nice drapes are hung. You could make some matching cushions for these chairs, put up some pictures, make it real homely.’

      Colenso, busy staring out of the window, didn’t reply. Down below, she could see that construction of the showroom was already taking place and the workshops had been extended. The Ferret obviously worked quickly. She wondered how Kitto was getting on in London. Dare she ask if he’d heard anything?

      The arrival of Mrs Grim with the tea tray interrupted her musing. Her mamm, presuming the role of lady of the manor, was telling the housekeeper exactly how she liked her tea.

      ‘No good if you can’t stand your spoon up in it, oh and I’ll have three sugars, if you’re asking.’

      ‘I wasn’t,’ the housekeeper sniffed, making a great show of measuring out the sugar. ‘What about you, Miss Carne, do you have any specific wishes as to how you’d like your tea served?’ she asked curtly.

      ‘In a cup, please,’ Colenso smiled.

      ‘Oh, ha, Colenso, that’s funny,’ Caja chuckled. Clearly the housekeeper thought otherwise, for having poured the tea, she sniffed again and strode from the room.

      ‘Seen happier corpses,’ Caja mused, holding her cup high and eyeing the bottom. ‘Ooh, Royal Worcester, no less.’ Hearing the door to the dining hall open, Caja put down her cup and turned to Colenso. ‘That didn’t take long,’ she whispered.

      ‘Ah ladies,’ Fenton greeted them. ‘I’m wondering if we should be celebrating with something more festive.’

      ‘Celebrating?’ Caja squeaked, almost falling off the chair with excitement.

      ‘Indeed. Your husband has just given permission for me to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage,’ he said, beaming so widely Colenso felt sick.

      ‘Course I did. All we has to do now is set the date. June be a really good month for a wedding,’ he declared, rubbing his hands together.

      ‘But I haven’t said anything yet,’ Colenso began.

      ‘Forgive me, my dear. We are being somewhat presumptuous. You wish for time to think?’ Fenton asked, although from