The Sea Shell Girl (27 page)

‘Goodness, thank you, sir,' she gasped. She was doing well, she showed promise. Her heart sang with joy in the knowledge she was at last making her dreams come true. Then she realized Mr Fairbright was still speaking.

‘As the store will be closed for Christmas and Boxing Days, I also took the liberty of telling them I felt certain you would be paying them a visit then.'

‘I will, sir. It is good to know they are both doing well.'

‘I am sure you will wish to write and thank them for their presents and let them know when they can expect you. I will be happy to convey your letter to them on my next visit. Now, allow me to wish you many happy returns for tomorrow and I trust you will enjoy your celebrations.'

‘Thank you, sir,' Merry said, hurrying back to her
position and placing her parcels behind the counter. What celebrations? Still, he wasn't to know Carey was away at sea, was he? And despite Nicco's prolific promises, he had never actually produced anything. Of course, in previous years, her mother and Grozen had always made a point of spoiling her with her favourite meal but life moved on, didn't it, she thought, staring around the store.

After another hour, with no more clients showing, Mr Didcot decided to close the doors.

‘I'm starving,' Prunella announced as they made their way to the staff-room for an early supper. Freckles had gone on ahead and they could hear the sound of merriment as they pushed open the door.

‘Here she is, the birthday girl,' Teddy cried. Merry stared in surprise at her friends, who were gathered around the table, which was spread with sandwiches, sausages rolls and all manner of tasty-looking titbits. Then she saw another tussie-mussie placed carefully in the centre. This one comprised carnations, white clover and fern, bound with a red satin ribbon. In the middle was one perfectly striped carnation.

‘Oh,' she cried, delightedly snatching it up and inhaling the heady fragrance.

‘Looks a bit sparse compared to the last one,' Freckles declared.

‘No, this message is …' Prunella began, but Chester, eager to begin the festivities, held up a bottle of cider.

‘Mr Didcot gave us this so that we could drink a toast to you, Merry,' he said, passing round tumblers of the amber liquid. ‘Happy birthday, girl,' he cried. As they all noisily toasted her, Merry couldn't help thinking of Carey and the tender way he'd gazed at her over the top of his crystal glass.

‘We didn't know what to get you so we clubbed together and bought this,' Freckles said, breaking into Merry's thoughts as she handed her a package wrapped in the store's paper.

‘And I made you this,' Joanie said, coming into the room bearing a large chocolate cake.

‘Oh, thank you,' Merry cried, quite overcome by their kindness.

‘Come on, open your present, whilst Joanie hands round the cake,' Freckles suggested. Merry eagerly tore at the wrapping and gasped in delight at the length of fur trimming.

‘We thought you could use it to edge your mantle for when you next go out with the lieutenant. We know you like to dress all posh-like for him,' Freckles cried. The others dissolved into hysterics as Freckles wiggled and giggled her way across the room.

‘I've got another one upstairs you might like to borrow,' Prunella whispered. Merry smiled at her friend.

‘This is delicious cake,' Teddy declared, far more interested in his stomach as usual. As the celebrations continued, the talk turned to how they would spend their free time the next day.

‘How about going on the train?' Teddy asked, turning to Merry. ‘You've never been on one before have you?'

Remembering the sooty, noisy things they'd seen hurtling over the bridge, Merry shuddered.

‘Perhaps you would prefer another tram trip or we could wander down to see the sights on the Hoe?' Chester suggested.

‘The Hoe would be lovely,' Merry agreed, remembering her last visit with Nicco, when she hadn't been allowed time to stop and stare.

‘A new pier has just opened and there's an old lighthouse you can climb up.'

‘How exciting,' Merry cried.

‘That's decided then: tomorrow after church, we'll go exploring and treat our Merry to a poke of chips, agreed?'

They all cheered and Merry smiled.

‘Thank you for spoiling me, everyone,' she cried, carefully collecting up her presents and the tussie-mussie. ‘I think I'll go upstairs now,' she said. She was itching to be by herself so that she could read Carey's note, for she knew the flowers could only be from him. To her dismay, Freckles caught hold of Prunella's hand.

‘Come along, old thing, we need you to tell us what those flowers mean.'

Up in their little room, Freckles lit the candle, then sank down on the bed beside Merry and Prunella. ‘Well?' she asked, impatiently.

‘Carnations mean fascination; white clover, think of me; fern, secret love; and that striped carnation in the centre means thinking of you and wishing I could be with you.'

Merry's heart skipped a beat. What lovely sentiments, she thought, inhaling the heady fragrance once more.

‘Must have cost a fortune at this time of year,' Freckles said. ‘Blimey oh rimey, girl, if I had a toff like that sending me all them flowers I'd want to know what he wanted in return,' Freckles giggled, tossing her auburn curls.

‘I'm sure the lieutenant's intentions are honourable,' Prunella declared, frowning at Freckles.

‘Ah, what a shame,' Freckles pouted. ‘Anyway, what does lover boy have to say in his card?'

‘Perhaps Merry would prefer to read it by herself?' Prunella ventured, and Merry shot her a grateful look.

‘Don't be daft. He might be intending to whisk her away and we'll need to know where she's going, won't we?' Freckles reasoned.

Seeing she was beaten, Merry slid the card from its envelope and quickly scanned the contents.

Happy 18th birthday, dearest Merryn. I'm sorry I can't be with you in person but please be assured my thoughts are. I shall be counting the days until we can next be together.

Ever yours, Carey xx

‘Oh,' she gasped, flushing with pleasure, then quickly placing the card in her pocket.

‘Spoilsport,' Freckles muttered. ‘So what else did he give you?'

But Merry was too busy unwrapping the present from her mother to answer. Smiling, she held up the blue shawl knitted in warm worsted wool.

‘That'll be ideal this weather,' Prunella said.

Merry nodded. Her grandmother's gift revealed matching gloves. Knowing how long they would have taken her grandmother and mother to make, she sent her thanks winging through the air to Porthsallos. When she next got paid, she'd choose them something really nice from the store to take home for Christmas.

‘Come on, then,' Freckles urged, bouncing on the bed impatiently as Merry picked up the beribboned parcel from Carey.

Carefully she peeled back the paper. ‘Oh,' she gasped, shaking out folds of lacy cashmere that shimmered in a sea of greens and blues.

‘Blimey oh rimey, there's no comparison between them, is there?' hooted Freckles, holding up the blue shawl. Feeling a pang, Merry snatched it back. Whilst the home-made shawl and gloves were not of the same quality, her mother and grandmother would have scrimped and saved to buy the wool and then knitted long into the night. She would write a letter to thank them and ask Mr Fairbright if he could take it with him when he next went to Porthsallos.

‘That blue suits you a treat, Merry, and the shawl and gloves will keep you lovely and warm this weather, especially if we take the tram tomorrow,' Prunella pointed out. ‘And the other will look beautiful over your blouse and skirt when you next dine with Lieutenant Meredith.' Again Merry smiled gratefully at her friend.

‘No present from that Nicco, then?' Freckles asked.

Merry shook her head and laughed. ‘He doesn't go in for that sort of thing. Says words mean more.'

Freckles snorted. ‘Except he didn't turn up to say anything, did he? Well, I'm for me bed. I think Chester is beginning to notice me at last, so mind you two stay out of the way tomorrow.'

However, when they woke the next day, it was obvious nobody was going anywhere.

‘Blimey oh rimey, it's so bright me eyes are hurting,' Freckles said, glaring at the light streaming in through the skylight. ‘I never drank that much cider, surely?'

‘It's so quiet,' Merry said, peering out through the glass. ‘Oh my, everywhere is white and my feet are freezing.'

Dressing quickly in their warmest clothes, they hurried downstairs to find the boys already tucking into bowls of porridge. As Joanie poured their tea, Merry wrapped her icy hands gratefully around the mug.

‘What'll we do today then?' Freckles asked, looking at Chester.

‘Perky told us we had to clear the yard,' Teddy moaned. ‘Apparently Mrs Smale nearly slipped on her way to the privy yesterday. He said she could have had a nasty accident.'

‘She would have if she didn't make it in time,' Freckles hooted. ‘She'd have been a right old smelly then.' Merry saw Prunella and Nicholas exchange exasperated looks and wished their friend wouldn't be quite so crude. ‘We can have a snowball fight with the snow you pile up.'

‘Great idea,' Chester said brightening. ‘Come along, you lot,' he said, jumping to his feet.

As the others followed him out of the room, Prunella turned to Merry. ‘I think I'll go upstairs and sort out the things I brought back with me.'

‘Want some help?' Merry offered.

Prunella smiled. ‘You don't fancy a snowball fight either, then?'

While Prunella emptied the contents of her box onto the bed, Merry tidied her birthday things away into her drawer of the closet. She was already wearing her new shawl and the gloves would certainly be useful this cold weather too. As she neatly folded the cashmere stole, she thought again of Carey and wondered how long it would be before she saw him. Catching sight of her flowers she thought
again of their message. Was he thinking of her now? Did he really find her fascinating? She couldn't think why. As for secret love, the very thought sent shivers tingling all up and down her spine.

A sob broke into her thoughts and she saw Prunella gazing at her bed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

‘Prunella, whatever's wrong?' she asked, hurrying over and putting her arm around the girl's shoulder.

‘It was seeing these clothes,' she sobbed. ‘It reminded me how much my life's changed. Mother and Father have removed to that ghastly house and …'

‘You'll still be able to visit them, though, won't you?'

Prunella stifled another sob with her lace kerchief. ‘Not if I marry the man they've found for me.'

‘They've found a man for you?' Merry gasped. Of course she knew such things went on, especially among the upper classes, but this was the eighteen eighties after all. ‘Is he nice?'

‘According to Father, he will make a marvellous match. I've yet to meet him, though, for he lives miles away in Gloucestershire.'

‘Surely that's not so far by carriage?'

‘But he's sixty-one and bed-ridden,' Prunella sobbed.

‘Then why … ?' Merry began, then the penny dropped. ‘He has money?'

‘And a title,' she squeaked. ‘Just when Nicholas and I …' She stared down at the bed.

So her suspicions had been correct, Merry thought.

‘Look, let me help you put your things away and we can talk whilst we work,' she said, remembering Grozen
telling her how it was easier to open up about things that were worrying you when you're hands were busy.

‘I shan't go,' Prunella declared. ‘That's why I brought all these things with me.'

‘You do have some lovely clothes,' Merry whispered. ‘Come on, let's get them hung up or you'll have to borrow Joanie's smoothing iron.'

‘But I don't know how to use one,' Prunella wailed. ‘My maid always ensured my attire was laid out ready for me to step into.'

Merry blinked at her in surprise. ‘Oh, I see,' she replied, and began shaking out the creases.

‘If Nicholas and I …' Prunella began. ‘Well, if we … I suspect I'll have to learn how to do all these things, won't I?'

‘And if I am lucky enough to go out with Lieutenant Meredith again, I shall need to learn how to conduct myself correctly, so we can help each other, can't we?' Merry replied.

The two girls looked at each other and smiled. And even if she was being presumptuous about Carey, Merry decided, it would do no harm to learn how to act more like a lady, would it?

Although the weather remained cold there was no more snow, and people began venturing into the store again. Merry was pleased to be occupied for, truth to tell, she was spending far too much time thinking about Carey. She hadn't heard anything from him since her birthday but guessed that, he being in the navy, that was
something she'd have to get used to. If he wanted to see her again, that was. His flower message had implied that he did.

‘Miss Dyer, if it's not too much trouble perhaps you would assist Mrs Winter,' Mrs Smale's strident tones cut into her thoughts.

‘Yes, of course, Mrs Smale,' Merry replied, hurrying over to the supervisor, who was leading a rather rotund woman towards the dressing room. ‘How may I help, Mrs Winter?'

‘Madam requires some new undergarments but is not sure of her size,' the supervisor whispered. ‘Please be on hand to fetch and carry. This may take some time.'

Merry spent the next hour traipsing from the dressing room to the corset closet – as Freckles had named it – and back again.

‘This is testing even Harracks's ingenuity, not to mention my patience,' Mrs Winter whispered, as Merry handed her yet another size.

‘This is the largest we stock,' Merry murmured, handing over the garment, then resuming her place a discreet distance from the dressing room. Even from here she could hear the frustrated sighs and groans as the woman endeavoured to squeeze her body into the corset. Finally the client admitted defeat and emerged red-faced.