The Sweethearts Collection. Pam Jenoff

one hand she hoped the woman had found happiness in the Summerlands with her lover, on the other it made her realize how much she missed her friend’s company and wise ways. Still, if there was one thing Colenso had learned from her, it was to make the most of the life you were currently living and not to dwell in the past. Unlike Jago, Garren paid her without fail every Thursday. Although it wasn’t much, not having to pay for her room or food meant she could save.

      The jangling of the little bell brought her back to the present and she smiled down at the two children who dashed in ahead of their mother.

      ‘Uncle Sam’s given us money for sweets,’ they chorused, holding out their precious farthing.

      ‘What a nice uncle. Now, what would you like?’ she asked, smiling as they stood gazing longingly at all the jars.

      ‘Come on, you two,’ their mother urged. ‘We’ve still more shopping to do.’ She turned to Colenso and shook her head. ‘I knew I should have gone to the market first but they were so excited. It’s a rare thing for them to be able to come in here. Oh, do come on,’ she urged as they dithered between barley-sugar sticks and the rose rock.

      ‘Why don’t you have half of one of each?’ Colenso suggested. They nodded eagerly and watched wide-eyed as she selected the two sticks and cut them, making sure the pieces were equal, before wrapping them.

      ‘Thank you so much,’ the mother said, smiling wearily and ushering them out of the shop.

      She’d just finished serving two elderly gentlemen with their twist of Nelson’s buttons and humbugs when Garren returned.

      ‘I have something for you,’ she greeted him. She was about to ask him if he would mind the shop whilst she went and got Jago’s receipt books when he held out a letter.

      ‘And I have something for you too,’ he replied. ‘Apparently, it’s been forwarded from Marazion. It was the name scrawled on the top that made the man in the post office ask if I knew who it might be for,’ he added, holding out an envelope. Recognizing the writing, her heart began thudding wildly, demanding to be freed from its cage.

      ‘Thank you,’ she stuttered.

      ‘I can see from your face it’s important, so why not take it to your room to read? I’ll mind the shop,’ he added, solemnly.

Chapter 29

      Colenso sank onto her bed and stared at the envelope. It was addressed to her c/o Hawkins Fair but Marazion had been crossed out and Penzance written in its place. Goodness, she hadn’t even known Big Al’s name was Hawkins. Beside her name, the question ‘Bonbon?’ had been added in another hand. With trembling fingers, she tore open the flap.

       Dear Colenso

       I was really happy when I received your letter. Forgive the delay in replying but so much has happened since then.

       It grieves me to have to tell you that Mother and Wenna met with a terrible accident when the drayman’s horses reared out of control. Sadly, they are both now buried in the churchyard.

       The good news is that Alys has secured her position at Bochym Manor while Daveth has been taken on by the seining company and is lodging with Mrs Trevallis. Which means, Cali, that at long last I am free from responsibility and can follow after you. I leave with the carter first thing in the morning. He has agreed to take me as far as Helston, after which I will head for Marazion and be with you as soon as I can.

       Love

       Kitto xx

      Poor Mrs Rowse and Wenna. What a terrible thing to happen. She let out a long sigh as she remembered how kind Mrs Rowse had been and the pranks mischievous Wenna had delighted in playing. Then her heart flipped. Kitto still loved her and he was on his way to Marazion. Only she wasn’t there. However, if his letter had been forwarded to Penzance, then surely the post office would direct him here too, she reasoned.

      She couldn’t wait to see him again. But when would he arrive? Snatching up the envelope she saw it was postmarked 30th October, the date they’d left Marazion. Why, that was nearly a month ago. If he’d secured a lift as far as Helston, what could be keeping him? Perhaps he’d had an accident on the way? Been hijacked even. Her imagination ran riot until another thought hit her. Perhaps he’d changed his mind, she thought, her spirits sinking.

      Remembering she’d left Garren taking care of the shop, she returned the letter to its envelope and placed it in her basket. As she did, she noticed Jago’s books and snatched them up.

      ‘Everything all right?’ Garren asked, staring at her intently when she joined him behind the counter.

      ‘Yes. It was a letter.’

      ‘Well, I gathered that,’ he grinned. ‘The postmaster asked if I knew anyone by the name of Bonbon, what with me having the confectioners. I remembered you saying you used to be called that at the Panam. Of course, the envelope also had your full name on, but he didn’t know anyone called Miss Carne.’ He looked at her quizzically.

      ‘It was just from an old friend,’ she murmured, not wishing to pursue the subject. ‘Anyway, talking of the Panam, you remember me telling you about Jago the journeyman? Well, these books here contain his grandmother’s receipts, some of which are for Christmas confections.’ Garren’s eyes lit up as she placed them on the counter.

      ‘It’s nearly noon so let’s shut up shop and take a break. We can peruse them in peace while we enjoy a cuppa,’ he said excitedly.

      As they sat at their customary seats at the table in the workshop, exclaiming with delight as they leafed through the pages, Colenso felt her earlier tension draining away. Of course, she’d have known if anything bad had happened to Kitto. Realizing Garren was talking, she pulled herself back to the present.

      ‘Jago’s grandmother must have been talented to pen such detailed illustrations,’ he marvelled, pointing to candied orange peel that looked as if it was shimmering with sugar.

      ‘And those sugar mice and jellied pigs look positively real,’ Colenso smiled. ‘I’m sure they’d sell well so shall we make some?’

      ‘Why not. Should be easy enough now we have synthetic dyes and colourings. Those natural plant ones were messy and time-consuming and didn’t always give even coverage.’

      ‘Can we make sugar plums and jewelled lollies as well? They’d look beautiful displayed in the window.’

      ‘They would,’ he agreed, snapping the book shut. ‘I’ll see about the ingredients right away and we’ve got plenty of decorative starch trays,’ he said, pointing to the moulds on the shelf.

      ‘I’ll look forward to seeing how those work,’ she told him.

      ‘Good, because you’ll be using them many times between now and Christmas. We’ll also make some cheap jellied sweets. Although sugar’s coming down in price, the orphanages and the workhouse still can’t afford it so we always ensure the children there get a few confections on Christmas morning.’

      ‘That’s nice of you,’ she replied, staring at him in surprise.

      ‘Well, Mother always used to say “there but for the grace of God”.’

      Colenso shivered, knowing the truth of that, for if she hadn’t been taken on by Garren, who knew where she might have ended up. Realizing he was speaking again, she once more pulled herself back to the present.

      ‘If we manage to make all the confections we’ve spoken about, our competitors won’t know what’s hit them,’ he grinned. His enthusiasm was infectious and Colenso found herself fizzing with excitement as she reopened the shop.

      Having made sure the jars were replenished, Colenso perched on the little stool behind the counter, mulling over the confections they were going to make and how